All user reviews for the G&L L-2500

I found a classified ad for a 2001 G&L L-2500 for $450 and thought that it had to be a tribute model. Turns out that some poor sap was getting divorced and needed to sell his 5 string that was designed by Leo and built right here in Fullerton, CA... Sweet deal for me! I probably could have talked him down lower, but felt sorry about the divorce thing...we settled for $400

If you haven't had the pleasure of playing a G&L bass before, do yourself a favor and at least test one. I have owned an L-2000 for about 3 years and it is my favorite bass. With 2 nice humbucker pickups and a myriad of settings to choose from (see below), just about any sound can be coaxed out of this guita. Punchy, slappy lows (not quite Musicman, but close) resonant mids and a nice clear, bright highs can all be had on this rig.
I really like the neck setup on this thing as well. It has a very substantial neck, yet it is as fast as any Warwick, musicman, Fender or Ric that I have played to date. It just seems right to me. I can pull just about any sound I want out of this bass and in my opinion, it is a "jack of all trades" bass. It slaps, picks and growls with anything else I have played.

Just a few things...this bass leans towards the heavy side. I knew this going in (from having owned an L-2000). spend enough time playing and your shoulder will start to let you know. I got a big fat strap and it pretty much eliminated any issues with weight and fatigue.
One other dislike on this bass is found in the active-treble boost mode. there is a background white-noise that I know most G&L owners are familiar with...it is there on my 4 string as well. The activeboost mode gives unbelievable bright sound, but the hiss is clear to my ear. I love to play in the straight active mode, which eliminates the slight hiss found in the activeboost mode, and the passive mode gives some really nice rich, dark, woody tones, so to be honest I wouldn't think of too many occasions to play in the treble boost setting. Anyhow if it didn't hiss, I might find a reason to use it more often.
Lastly, the electronics in the back aren't shielded...how can you make a $1200 bass and not shield the electronics? I haven't picked up any wierd noises thus far, but when I get a chance, I will take some time and shield it myself.

2 G&L Magnetic Field humbucking pickups, Swamp Ash top on American Tilia back, Maple neck, G&L "Ultra-Lite" aluminum tapered string posts, G&L Saddle Lock with string through body, G&L Tri-Tone active/passive electronics, 3-way mini-toggle pickup selector, series/parallel mini-toggle, preamp control mini-toggle (off/on/on with high end EQ boost).
This rig has a beautiful blueburst finish, very solid neck. Overall a very solid bass.

sweet bass. The nicest overall sound I have found in a 5 string. It is a jack of all trades, and a master of many.... I would love to give this a 5, but unless it is a custom Alembic or some other custom rig, I can't see giving anything a 5!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this bass from Rutland Music in Valdosta, GA for about $1200. This is my second 2500; I use my older one (swamp ash figured top, birdseye maple neck) for gigging. This one (cherry burst with a quilt maple top and gun oil maple neck) stays at home!

This bass is extremely easy to play, and you can get nearly any sound you want out of the dual humbuckers with active electronics. I also have a Fender Precision Bass (with Jazz Bass neck) and a new Rickenbacker 4003, but I always go back to the G&L. You can't beat the 2500 for a 5 string bass.

I can't think of a thing I dislike.

G&L offers many configurations and options. This one has a gun oil maple neck which is a little darker than the standard maple and gives it somewhat of a vintage look. It has a quilt maple top with a cherryburst finish. The scale length is 34", the neck width at nut is 1 3/4". It has 21 jumbo frets and G&L Ultra Lite tuners.

G&L makes great basses!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

solid body 5 string pickups Korean 6vis screwed us handle (or 5?) 22 frets

super bridge tailpiece as on all g & l

active electronics "disengaged" flight, bass tone trteb + / - 3 pos mini swith 1.2 micro switch or both ser / parallel switch tone passive or active or active mid boost

UTILIZATION

all bon.un bit heavy (5 strings, wood shaft, good fat and scrap metal everywhere basse.le humbucker sound, see my g & l.suivez regard.je am not alone in worship.
this one is one that is closest to the music man saber, which unfortunately is more produced, alorzs that the stingray is still there ... things that escape me.

SOUNDS

she can do anything, and she did not deprive

OVERALL OPINION

terrib '

The brand-dernire Lo Fender.
Ultra-Mcaniques lgres (balance), with aluminum reels.
Flip-lock latral pontets.Deux of mounting options string: either by traversing chevalet.soit.
-Basswood body, table frne marshes (swamp ash).
Bolt-in Rabl.
Rosewood-21 cells. (In Saddle or bne).
Two micro-G & L (magnetic field) high output levels, adjustable pads and coils made by hand.
Electronics-active "Triton", active / passive three selectors: mini-micro slecteur 3 positions, mini slecteur SERIES / parallle, mini slecteur of CONTRL prampli ( off / on, and boost it with the mdiums-acute).
CONTRL-volume, acute, severe (both with feature cut-boost).
Comes in molded-tui.

UTILIZATION

A round-trs enjoyable play, Access in an acute perfect.
Super-low, not too heavy, balance.
-Sound, a grain incredible prsence an extraordinary sound of a great precision.

SOUNDS

-All types of game (fingers, slap, tapping) are honored with a sound that fits beautifully in all styles of music.
I use an Ampeg SVT classic with a 8X10 speaker, an Avalon U5 DI.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 years in the studio or on scne.
-I have tried many basses before acqurir.
However, I sell despite its wonderful services.
-I will do it again without hsiter choice.

- Handcrafted in the USA.
- 21 frets.
- Bridge G & L to pass the strings through the body or not, with a mechanism to block the "saddles" for stability.
- 2 humbuckers bobinnés by hand by Mrs. Fender, certificate in support: P
- Settings: switch a passive / active / active + treble boost, bass boost switch 1, a selector switch for pick ups. A master volume pot, a pot acute, serious one pot.
- Maple neck with rosewood affects.
- Swamp ash body (ash swamp?)

UTILIZATION

The handle is wide enough, which can interfere with some, for my part, it is working very well and I like the spacing between the strings that results. Access to acute is very good. The balance of the instrument is good, it is a bit heavy for example, but you get used to, only later, when an instrument contains more unladen, it seems that it is a toy! : P
The sound is his greatest strength propablement ...

SOUNDS

It suits every style! the settings are truly effective. I used a tube amp is the height of happiness, for example, a transistor amp, much more difficult to get a good sound. Can one become more difficult after hearing the beast of an amp any lamp? Sure thing: it's about amp, no bass.
You can have all the sounds: the funky sound "picky", pointed to the sharp biting at his walk round the grave well, to sound "jazzy" a little deaf.
Being a great lover of disco / funk, I love her funky obtained with the bass boost and the bridge pick up alone. Delicious!!

Small weakness quickly we forget: When going from passive to active, the difference in volume is very large, it must be manually swing ...

The so serious is impressive, depending on the strings (the strings of origins are rather low quality ...)

OVERALL OPINION

I have been 6 months already, and I like it a little more each day. This is the kind of instrument that makes you practice! I love the look and settings.

Weakness: none, apart perhaps the price: it is a low $ 2000 CAD, and for students (like me) is not given. I wonder if the model is equivalent TRIBUTE. It must be seen as an investment!

I is not tried many models before buying, some yamaha and ibanez and it had many features I was looking for!

The price / quality ratio is very good, but we expect no less of a bass at this price. I reffer this choice eyes closed, as I will work with this instrument very long, but for someone who practice music as a hobby, maybe it's a big investment. Finally, everything is relative to the budget of each! : P

I invite you to read the comments below that summarize very well the technical, but I summarizes the electronic part:
The bass is equipped with 2 steak type musicman ", the settings are:
3 knobs:
- Master volume
- Low Pass Filter (treble attenuation)
- High pass filter (roll-off)
3 Switch
- Neck pickup selector 3 position, Both, Bridge pickup
- 2 position selector circuit electronic parallel or series (the sound is different but do not ask me to explain!)
- 3 position selector Passive, Active, Active with Boost (and it's hard!)

UTILIZATION

At the game it is true that the spacing between the strings is more important than some low, making the game more challenging fusion type / "knitting", but for the mediator and slap it is terrible!
There are many possible settings, so you have time to accustom the different possibilities and tonal flexibility.
The feel of the instrument is to everyone's taste, some do not like others are in love, you have to test!

SOUNDS

For my part I play all styles of music in various groups, so I was looking for greater versatility. I also wanted a bass with the "body" (or presence) for the stage, without having added 50 effects and amp settings.
I play on a Mark Bass head lamps and a classic Ampeg 4x10 cabinet and send it!
Here are some settings very effective:
the two microphones selected assets and knobs has boosted the bottom, here's a big rock at the flea funk or electro funk and fat enough now
the neck pickup in passive attenuation with a low accuracy its vintage rock
bridge pickup with liability in the break downs and acute (for medium) for a sound to the Pastorius
And tons of possible settings for any style!

OVERALL OPINION

in my possession for a year, and I tried many model before finding this one!
I would say that the lower part between a Fender Jazz bass and a musicman.
It is certainly expensive, but you pay the quality!
on the other hand I had quite a problem violin, so if you buy this new instrument to do things here and DO NOT:
if you mount the strings through the body (because there is a choice between rack or rear of the body) should be fitted strings "Long Scale" (the pitch of the rope, no relation to the tyrant) otherwise the saddle morfle, mine broke after a concert!
Then make a habit of relaxing the strings when it is idle, so you do not handle settings.
Attention also has the jack, mine has had bad contacts I do not know why, but do not twist it with a jack!

(Originally written by Ben_137/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Hand-made in the USA.

- 21 frets.

- G&L bridge that allows you to lead the strings through the body or not. The saddles have a locking system that increases tuning stability.

- Two humbuckers hand-wound by Miss Fender herself, with certificate :P

- Settings: one passive/active/active + high boost switch, one bass boost switch, one pickup selector. One master volume control, two tone controls.

- Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard.

- Swamp ash body

UTILIZATION

Very wide neck. I find it comfortable and I like the string spacing. Very good access to the upper frets. Very well balanced instrument. Perhaps a bit too heavy but you'll get used to it. Lighter instrument feel like toys afterwards! :P

The sound is the main asset of this instrument...

SOUNDS

This bass guitar is great for all music styles! Its settings are very effective. I used it with a tube amp and it was a delight. With a solid-state amp it was much more difficult to get a good sound. Maybe I became more demanding after testing it with an all-tube amp? One thing is for sure, it was a problem of the amp, not the bass.

You can get every sound with it, from picky funk sounds with biting highs to round ballad sounds and dark jazzy sounds.

I'm a disco/funk fan so I love the funky sound resulting from the bass boost and the bridge pickup combination. What a treat!!!

A small disadvantage is that when you switch between passive and active operation, the volume difference is considerable so you have to adjust the volume manually...

The low B sounds impressive but it also depends on the strings (the instrument was provided with low-quality strings...).

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it for six months and I like it more and more every day. It really make you want to play! I love its looks and the settings.

I can't think of any defect, except for the price, which is very high for a student like me. I wonder if the Tribute model offers the same value. Consider it as an investment!

I didn't try out many instrument before buying it, some Yamaha and Ibanez but this one had many of the features I was looking for!

Very good value for money, which is normal considering the price. I would buy it again with my eyes closed because I'm sure I'll use it a long time. It might be too big an investment for a hobby musician. It depends on your budget! :P