Was G&L Leo Fender’s biggest MISTAKE?
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After he sold Fender and exited his collaboration with Music Man, Leo Fender founded a brand-new company that would play host to his final electric guitar and bass innovations. Leo called G&L Guitars the best instruments he ever made – the problem was that by the time he formed his new line of instruments, his accomplishments in the music industry were already etched in the history books. Could G&L Guitars REALLY compete with Fender?
In this podcast, Ian and Sharon explore the history of G&L Guitars, compare some of the company’s most popular models, and take a look behind the scenes of Leo’s private workshop in Fullerton, California!
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Video Breakdown:
00:00 – Introduction
01:07 – Steve Araujo Interview
02:55 – The Breadboard Instrument
04:00 – Leo’s Laboratory Tour
05:42 – Steve’s Background
06:17 – Why G&L?
09:45 – The Tri Tone Pre Amp System
13:45 – Ian’s G&L L.2000
14:50 – The L2000 Sound
16:50 – 1951 Fender Precision Comparison
17:24 – 1957 Fender Precision Comparison
18:06 – 1968 Fender Jazz Bass Comparison
18:22 – 1978 Fender Jazz Bass Comparison
18:55 – 1976 Music Man StingRay
19:20 – Sharon’s G&L L.2500
22:01 – The Mid-range Character
22:45 – Squier Precision Comparison
24:15 – G&L Kiloton Comparison
25:11 – The Pros
28:35 – The Cons
41:34 – Is The G&L The Best Kept Secret?
45:48 – What’s Your G&L Experience?
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#bassguitarlessons #g&lguitars #leofender
#Leo #Fenders #biggest #MISTAKE
Originally posted by UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXydjS8b3yo
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You all know we like to mess with you with the titles ????What other basses have we just not been presenting enough?
And as always, if you'd like to get more serious about the bass guitar, we're here for you:
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I own a 1997 G&L L2500, 4+1 headstock, and it's my choice for every gig! Monster tone range, confortable neck, it cuts through every mix… it's ana amazing instrument.
G&L made me a JB-5 from empress wood which is 7.9 lb, so weight is not an issue. Of course, it's more traditional Fender Jazz, but with a string spacing Fender doesn't offer.
I owned soooooo many basses over the years but never turned down the bass control. Nobody I know would do that. Great basses otherwise!
Gotta say the L-2000 is probably the best bass I never bought, it has a lot going for it but I just couldn't justify it at the time!
I think a lot of the reason G&L isn't bigger than it is is that even Leo's 'other' brands )not to mention many others) have much greater brand recognition and heritage going for them that appeals to so many people whether they want to admit that or not!
I love my US and Tribute MJ4s
My mom and dad bought my brother a G&L L2000 I think it was an 88 or 89 model and I know they hold their value very well and that is one of the baddest bass guitars I have ever heard my brother ended up selling it to a really close friend of his who used it in his band and before that I never had a chance to hear it in a live setting…. and it sounded even more brilliant after that. A failure hardly honestly I think his craft got better after he left Fender.. in this bass sounds as good as any P bass or jazz bass I've ever heard buy fender And it was a black satin finish
G&L RULES, owned and played one since they came out Active 5500 it's my go to work horse along with my custom 78 Jazz
My G&L l-200 tribute Bass mij is as good anything.
Gord Sinclair, The Tragically Hip
G&L SB-1
Clearly that's not "Leo's Lounge"; the man did not know how to relax. He was working until his dying day. Definitely Leo's Lab.
Watching the Dirk Lance interview and his switch to the Jazz bass because the song needed it. that immediately made me think of how the G&L would have suited him until he needed the Jazz. If that makes sense?
Bro 1.3 million subs, and you can't even be bothered to get the name origin right? You have no respect for this, you're just pumping out content to get clicks. Gots to gets more monies!!!!
What a missed opportunity to compare the basses in a mix and see if indeed, the mid-range of the G&L would have come out better. Maybe another video?
original 1982 kiloton here. bass sounds thunderous.
Great review! The big mistake that most people make with G&L is not using the volume and tone controls. Full on, all controls on 10, very aggressive sound. Enjoy the channel!
I had my 80s L2000 completely restored about a year ago. The guy who restored it loved it so much he agreed to work on the rest of my guitars basically for free as long as he could borrow it for gigging. It has an extra switch that changes it between in phase and out of phase.
The MFD are hifi wide ranging pickups combined with incredible circuitry. I don’t think the video really gives the bass justice because using the the tone circuitry acts like low and high pass filters. If you combine this with a basic eq pedal you can literally do anything with these basses
I gave G&L a try before settling initially with Lakland, and now Sandberg VM5s for function gigs (I also have Jazz and Precision, obviously!)… Far more versatile, lots more voices to use. I'm not sure if it was just the setup on the couple of basses I tried out, but I found it was waaay too easy for the strings to contact the bridge poles which just felt too high, too close to the strings, making horrible metallic popping noises. No mention of that in this video, so maybe they were set up badly and that was not typical of the brand, but it really was a dealbreaker for me, along with the unavoidable barky mids…
OMG! G&L!!!
I have upstairs in my workshop, a genuine G&L L5000 (I believe that was the model number) five string prototype body. It was given to me by a friend who sold and marketed bass gear for a living. I’m still looking for a neck to put on it. It’s one of those “one of these days I’m gonna” projects. Fretless five would be perfect so I might just mod something for it, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the G&L headstock design. The six bolt neck joint was however, a huge upgrade! – I’ll try to cover it on my channel soon. I’ll play September when I do!
Pro – Doesn't come in Antigua! LOL!!!
See if you can get a JM 4 from G&L if they have any and check it out . Super hyped up jazz bass with all different sounding bass all in one instrument. The pickups are way different from any other G&L pickup G&L has.made. I wish they come back out with them. I wounder if they new old stock if them.
I love G&L basses I have a JM4 strategy active jazz pickups 18 volt . All white with an Ebony fret board quarters want neck alder body . This bass can get every kind if tone your looking for.. p bass j bass rickinbcer sound, mm I mean any kind of bass sound from the sixty to now . This bass is one of a hundred made mine is the 52nd made that don't matter to me , it is my tool for music , plays like a dream very low action so my dose get fatigued. You can play soft and you can really dig into it and she puts out without and problems . This is a bass I will go to the grave with. Peace