G&L Pearl LE, Some dubious content as per the norm!

[stingrayPete1977]

Well I received the Bassdirect email for the december update (Thanks Poptart!) and found this.....

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/G%26L_L2000_30th.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...L2000_30th.html[/url]

[i]After Leo Fender sold his brand to CBS in 1964 he spent time designing the Musicman basses before selling that company to Ernie Ball. In 1980 he set up his final and most esteemed company with his long term business partner, George Fullerton. G&L gave Leo Fender a chance to create the finest instrument he had ever built utilising the 50 years experience he had gained in the industry. He left behind the "mass produced" concept behind Fender and Musicman and concentrated on building hand made instruments in smaller quantities with huge improvements in both the design of the instruments and the components, including vastly superior bridges, custom wound pickups and superior bridges and tuners over those on his previous instruments.
Today, every USA made G&L bass and guitar is hand built by craftsmen and women in Fullerton, California in the factory built and designed by Leo Fender and George Fullerton - the ultimate "Custom Shop" Fender designed instrument - when you make your order you can choose from many wood and colour options, many of which are standard cost making them amazing value!
The Tribute series are manufactured in Indonesia using many USA made components and are some of the finest "budget line" instruments available today.
To honour this "Pearl" anniversary G&L have created a special edition L2000 bass in Pearl White with Pearl dot markers - a truly stunning bass![/i]


I like it alot apart from the eye gouger headstock my only issue which is with G&L not Bassdirect is the bumpf that goes with them, [b][i]most esteemed[/i][/b]? They are nice but they are never going to have the following (Or be prized as in the dictionary context) that a pre CBS Fender has or Musicman which are IMO are held in esteem to a fraction of a Fender yet still better known etc than a G&L. Ask a man in the street if he has heard of Fender,Musicman or G&L and we all know the answer. That part of it is subjective and Im already waiting for the "I would rather have a L2000 Tribute than any of my Rays" comments but the hand built in the factory designed and built by Leo fender & George Fullerton is surely just cluthing at straws? Did he do the bricklaying and even if he did would that make a difference for better or worse of the outcome of the instruments?

So for me I like the bass but just get a bit bogged down with all the Leo Fender connections they appear to need to sell there products. I would seriously like to try one of the pearl LE's though.

Edited December 12, 2010 by stingrayPete1977

[kjm]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1056216' date='Dec 12 2010, 05:13 PM']Well I received the Bassdirect email for the december update (Thanks Poptart!) and found this.....

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/G%26L_L2000_30th.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...L2000_30th.html[/url]

[i]After Leo Fender sold his brand to CBS in 1964 he spent time designing the Musicman basses before selling that company to Ernie Ball. In 1980 he set up his final and most esteemed company with his long term business partner, George Fullerton. G&L gave Leo Fender a chance to create the finest instrument he had ever built utilising the 50 years experience he had gained in the industry. He left behind the "mass produced" concept behind Fender and Musicman and concentrated on building hand made instruments in smaller quantities with huge improvements in both the design of the instruments and the components, including vastly superior bridges, custom wound pickups and superior bridges and tuners over those on his previous instruments.
Today, every USA made G&L bass and guitar is hand built by craftsmen and women in Fullerton, California in the factory built and designed by Leo Fender and George Fullerton - the ultimate "Custom Shop" Fender designed instrument - when you make your order you can choose from many wood and colour options, many of which are standard cost making them amazing value!
The Tribute series are manufactured in Indonesia using many USA made components and are some of the finest "budget line" instruments available today.
To honour this "Pearl" anniversary G&L have created a special edition L2000 bass in Pearl White with Pearl dot markers - a truly stunning bass![/i]


I like it alot apart from the eye gouger headstock my only issue which is with G&L not Bassdirect is the bumpf that goes with them, [b][i]most esteemed[/i][/b]? They are nice but they are never going to have the following (Or be prized as in the dictionary context) that a pre CBS Fender has or Musicman which are IMO are held in esteem to a fraction of a Fender yet still better known etc than a G&L. Ask a man in the street if he has heard of Fender,Musicman or G&L and we all know the answer. That part of it is subjective and Im already waiting for the "I would rather have a L2000 Tribute than any of my Rays" comments but the hand built in the factory designed and built by Leo fender & George Fullerton is surely just cluthing at straws? Did he do the bricklaying and even if he did would that make a difference for better or worse of the outcome of the instruments?

So for me I like the bass but just get a bit bogged down with all the Leo Fender connections they appear to need to sell there products. I would seriously like to try one of the pearl LE's though.[/quote]


Who cares what the man in the street thinks, does that matter at all in comparing brands he knows nothing about. The Leo Fender legacy at G&L is important why should they not mention it ? and yes I have a G&L and have tried both legacy and usa versions and they are superb instruments relative to there price bands. Mass following ? why does that matter in relation to somethings worth ?

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Sometimes the marketing dept tries too hard & it comes out a bit clumsy. In this case, I expect they don't have a dedicated marketing dept, but someone in admin who's been asked to write something.

[Musicman20]

That bass looks great, but I've never clicked with the G&L like I did instantly with Musicman.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='kjm' post='1056284' date='Dec 12 2010, 06:18 PM']Who cares what the man in the street thinks, does that matter at all in comparing brands he knows nothing about. The Leo Fender legacy at G&L is important why should they not mention it ? and yes I have a G&L and have tried both legacy and usa versions and they are superb instruments relative to there price bands. Mass following ? why does that matter in relation to somethings worth ?[/quote]

I agree it doesnt matter but thats what "Esteemed" meens? They are using that term and I feel is untrue in all contexts. In terms of value now, Possible future value(Id still have my money on 60's Fenders) and a general following of the brand G&L is less than Fender by miles. It wouldnt stop me buying one in fact I have been very close on many occasions to buying one and almost certain it will happen one day.

Im not saying they shouldnt mention it and if he said they were the best he ever made thats fine but the fact he designed the workshop is neither here nor there for me.


[b]OK maybe im getting worked up about the marketing lets forget about that then, What do you think of the bass itself?[/b]

[MB1]

MB1.
Price on application?...Why the Secrecy?

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='MB1' post='1056326' date='Dec 12 2010, 06:57 PM']MB1.
Price on application?...Why the Secrecy? [/quote]

Calling Poptart! ..........

[stingrayPete1977]

You know what I [b]really[/b] like it! HHhmmm It also has my beloved missing fret marker from the 21st fret

[jezzaboy]

I think that they need to do some work on their profile. Example: I was speaking to a bass player in another band and we got talking about gear. After admiring his Jazz, he asked me what I was playing. G&L I replied. What`s that? was the response. He had never heard of them. (Of course he could be thick!).

Having said that, people will play what they like regardless of poularity. They make a very good product imo. They should mention the Leo connection in their blurb but they will never be regarded in the same way as Fender or Musicman.

Jez

Edited December 12, 2010 by jezzaboy

[Chris2112]

G&L do make nice instruments but thats a bit much. I personally think Leo's designs peaked with the stingray.

[Bassnut62]

I hate marketing! I have to do it as part of my job too - yuk!
I love guitars though, especially ones designed by Leo.
I have all three being discussed here - a pre-CBS Precision, a pre-EB Stingray and pre-BBE G&L Asat Bass.
They are all great and all desgned by Leo and built when he was in charge of the companies. They're all great guitars and there is a completely natural progression of Leo's DNA in all three. I reckon the one you find yourself playing the most is probably the best. It was cheapest of the lot; but guess what the G&L wins. What an incredible instrument. Beautiful to play, great electonics and pups. Cool looking too.

Leo died in his workshop at G&L - his wife still owns the company and signs off all the authenticity certificates for the USA built instruments. I reckon they're entitled to crow about the Fender connection.

These instruments are that good that they inspired me to buy a USA G&L Asat Special guitar too (basically a hot rod telecaster); in a commitment to learning 6 strings properly.

I can't rate G&Ls highly enough, due to quality and sound not marketing. I also hope they remain a musicians' secret so the tourists don't start collecting them and putting them out of reach of the pocket of us mere mortals.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='Bassnut62' post='1056543' date='Dec 12 2010, 09:02 PM']a pre-CBS Precision, a pre-EB Stingray and pre-BBE G&L[/quote]

Thats where Im aiming but only a 3rd of the way there! The next obvious one is an early G&L then wait for the big Lotto win for the P-Bass! Im intrigued with the pearl LE though, There might be a trip to Leamington on the cards.......

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1056504' date='Dec 12 2010, 08:41 PM']G&L do make nice instruments but thats a bit much. I personally think Leo's designs peaked with the stingray.[/quote]
Yep it's very hard to improve on the Stingray.... but that accomplishment was just one facet of Leo's work.

He was an innovator and not the sort of guy interested in churning out the same basic models over and over. What he did with G&L was go back and re-invent and re-work what he would have done if he still had Fender. People who "get" G&L know they are evolved Fenders, and those that pass them over because they aren't a "big" name are quite literally losers. Three little words people "Magnetic Field Design".

In a way I'm glad G&L aren't as well known as they deserve to be, if they were I'd probably be drawn to the next over-achieving under-dog.... only there are no other under-dogs with the pedigree that G&L has.

[Chris2112]

There is no doubt that G&L make fantastic instruments. After all, the managed to capture the Stingray tone whilst expanding on it quite nicely. That said, I like the Stingray because it strikes me as so abrupt and simple. Everything that the clumsy, awful sounding P bass that preceded it should have been!

[3below]

Perceptions, perceptions, I once lent my G&L SB1 (before tribute era) to another player (only for an hour..) to have the comment "why do you have a copy bass". Enough said, he was quite happy with his Squire Jazz, me with with my G&L. Nowadays I do not bother about the labels, I just play them, does it sound good, will it fall apart is my test. There are some beautiful basses about (I always wanted a Wal, alembic, EB3, jayDee...), I would be heartbroken if I had one and it was damaged / stolen at a gig or otherwise. Currently we are spolt with Yamaha, Ibanez, vantage. Vintage, G&L tribute etc, etc.... quality at knock down prices. Can I replace my 85 G&L SB1 - unlikely, can I replace the aforementioned - easily. Play it, if it feels good and sounds good ignore the label, more so if it's dirt cheap. 21 years with the G&l and having done 58 EB2, 77 Precision, 81 John Birch and 78 Ric bass for me its the keeper. It was also the second cheapest (EB2 was only £85 or so in 1975)

Edited December 12, 2010 by 3below

[neepheid]

[quote name='Bassnut62' post='1056543' date='Dec 12 2010, 09:02 PM']I have all three being discussed here - a pre-CBS Precision, a pre-EB Stingray and pre-BBE G&L Asat Bass.

...

I can't rate G&Ls highly enough, due to quality and sound not marketing. I also hope they remain a musicians' secret so the tourists don't start collecting them and putting them out of reach of the pocket of us mere mortals.[/quote]

THE FOLLOWING TEXT REPRESENTS MY OPINION, NOT FACT:

The perpetuating of the ridiculous "pre-whatever company came in and messed things up in my (attempt to influence popular) opinion" nomenclature will not help. While CBS arguably dropped the ball a bit in terms of quality control, this pre-EB and pre-BBE nonsense is just bandwagon jumping ridiculousness perpetrated by people wishing to see an artificial inflation of prices based upon something completely arbitrary (being the ownership of a company) and trying to make out that their older instrument is somehow superior because of this.

The value of "pre-Volkswagen" Skodas must be going through the roof by that logic. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

[Chris2112]

[quote name='neepheid' post='1057059' date='Dec 13 2010, 11:12 AM']THE FOLLOWING TEXT REPRESENTS MY OPINION, NOT FACT:

The perpetuating of the ridiculous "pre-whatever company came in and messed things up in my (attempt to influence popular) opinion" nomenclature will not help. While CBS arguably dropped the ball a bit in terms of quality control, this pre-EB and pre-BBE nonsense is just bandwagon jumping ridiculousness perpetrated by people wishing to see an artificial inflation of prices based upon something completely arbitrary (being the ownership of a company) and trying to make out that their older instrument is somehow superior because of this.

The value of "pre-Volkswagen" Skodas must be going through the roof by that logic. They just don't make 'em like they used to.[/quote]


I think you're exactly right. It's like the old Stingrays, pre EBMM. They're nice, but nowhere near as nice in general as EBMM basses. EBMM were able to make an absolute science of their quality control and raised the bar for the basses as a whole. Nostalgia seems to have attached a massive surcharge onto the price tag of a pre-EBMM bass but in truth, the second hander 90's or 00's 'Ray will likely be a better buy!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='neepheid' post='1057059' date='Dec 13 2010, 11:12 AM']THE FOLLOWING TEXT REPRESENTS MY OPINION, NOT FACT:

The perpetuating of the ridiculous "pre-whatever company came in and messed things up in my (attempt to influence popular) opinion" nomenclature will not help. While CBS arguably dropped the ball a bit in terms of quality control, this pre-EB and pre-BBE nonsense is just bandwagon jumping ridiculousness perpetrated by people wishing to see an artificial inflation of prices based upon something completely arbitrary (being the ownership of a company) and trying to make out that their older instrument is somehow superior because of this.

The value of "pre-Volkswagen" Skodas must be going through the roof by that logic. They just don't make 'em like they used to.[/quote]
Nice one Matt. It's a silly thing but it's just some people's bag. Fender fan boys dream of the day when they can take out a mortgage on a beat up old pre-CBS which will play and sound pretty much like any other similar spec Fender, some MM fanboys feel better about their pre-EB Stingrays because.... well they are pre-EB and cost more. And now recently we've seen pre-BBE being de regure if you have a hankering for an old G&L. For those that don't know, I have a pre-BBE (by 10 years) L-1000 and totally love it (more than I thought I ever would) and I can see now that this is what Leo wanted his P bass to sound like. Would a BBE L-1000 (yes I know that officially BBE ceased production of the Wunkay) be any worse? No. The fact of the matter is after Leo's death and management was passed on to BBE, USA G&L's continued to be hand made by the same guys in the same way with a few additional innovations, and more importantly G&L's co-founder George Fullerton remained active in the company up until his death last year keeping an eye on that the old standard of quality never dropped.

The pre-xyz theory is all well and good for CBS, EB hmmm (they've had their ups and downs), but to say pre-BBE kicks post-BBE ass when the biggest difference to production was who signed the pay cheques is laughable.

On the other hand pre-eye-gouger G&Ls (like mine) are streets ahead of their younger siblings.... I mean they have lighter headstock for starters.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Ou7shined

[Chris2112]

The thing that always struck me about the L-1000 though was the fact that the pickup was too close to the neck. Had it been in the Stingray position it would have sounded amazing!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1057176' date='Dec 13 2010, 12:38 PM']The thing that always struck me about the L-1000 though was the fact that the pickup was too close to the neck. Had it been in the Stingray position it would have sounded amazing![/quote]
You'll be thinking aboot the L-1500 mate.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Ou7shined

[Chris2112]

Yes, it'll be an L-1500 I'm after then! Leo thought of everything!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1057183' date='Dec 13 2010, 12:41 PM']Yes, it'll be an L-1500 I'm after then! Leo thought of everything! [/quote]
I think the L-1500 had it slightly closer to the bridge than necessary to be honest. From what I've read (not heard one in the flesh) they are a bit Marmite... but that may just be down to some experimental electrics (capacitor replacements are common).

Oh and the L-1000 pup is bloody well pap on.... IMHO.

[dub_junkie]

I've really grown to love my '97 L-1500. For a while I thought the L2K was the only 4 string I needed and maybe the single pickup model was a bit surplus,but the 1500 has a unique tone all of its own. and sounds great in a band setting or mix. It cuts through better than the L2K (or any MM for that matter) and works perfect played fingerstyle or with a pick,just need to be careful with the active setting and treble control to tame the top end - a really underestimated bass imo

re G&L in general,and just my take on it - why shouldn't they advertise the Leo Fender connection? Features like the MFD pickups,tri-tone preamp and saddlelock bridge were all Leo's designs afaik and still on their basses today.

If they're not better known then t's a marketing thing imo but they seem happy to go along with their own business model. Their instruments do have a vibe you either 'get' or dont. I like the difference between them and MM and Fender. Choice is a good thing!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='1057256' date='Dec 13 2010, 01:26 PM']I've really grown to love my '97 L-1500. For a while I thought the L2K was the only 4 string I needed and maybe the single pickup model was a bit surplus,but the 1500 has a unique tone all of its own. and sounds great in a band setting or mix. It cuts through better than the L2K (or any MM for that matter) and works perfect played fingerstyle or with a pick,just need to be careful with the active setting and treble control to tame the top end - a really underestimated bass imo.....[/quote]
Are you coming to Moffat in Febs?

[Rich]

Oh god, marketing blurb can be some of the very worst writing you'll ever see. There's one marketing bunch in the U.S. somewhere, don't know who they are but their style is unmistakeable. They wrote one of the old Peavey catalogues a few years back and it was unintentionally hilarious. Instead of sensible flowing prose, they use. A lot of very small. Short sentences. Half a dozen words. At most. And packed with as many clichés. As they. Can think. Of.
ARRRGGGH. It absolutely does your head in trying to read it.
I shall never forget their write-up for the T40... the first lines were "[i]This is the bass they said couldn't be built. The rest is history[/i]". That first sentence was the longest one in the whole catalogue, I think. So bad, it's. Funny.