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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2009 » Archive through April 21, 2009 » G&L L-1000 « Previous Next »

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811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1637
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 11:31 am:   Edit Post

After an absence of 20+ years, an old bass of mine found its way home. The pickup has an open coil, so I've ordered a new one. The control cavity has been ravaged, so I've downloaded the schematics to set things right again...



John
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1638
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 11:34 am:   Edit Post

hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 567
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post

Ooh, that looks great!
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1639
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks. It's good to have it back!
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2252
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:07 pm:   Edit Post

I always liked the G&L basses better than the "original" Fender models.
crgaston
Senior Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 525
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 6:38 pm:   Edit Post

John, that's great to hear and congratulations! She's a looker!

Me, too, Bob. They're Leo's updates of his own designs, which makes them "original Fenders" if you ask me. :-)
andbassforall
Junior
Username: andbassforall

Post Number: 49
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 11:32 pm:   Edit Post

love my L-2500!
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 639
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 9:20 am:   Edit Post

Im a big fan of G&L basses and this one is a beaut!

John.
mike1762
Advanced Member
Username: mike1762

Post Number: 281
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 1:45 pm:   Edit Post

That's great!!! I wish I had all my orphaned instruments back.
southpaw
Advanced Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 211
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 5:03 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats! The L1000 is the most versatile single pick up, passive bass ever made (my opinion only...) I have an '82 L1000 and its' sound and feel never cease to amaze me. Early G&L basses are still the best bargain around. Enjoy it.
crobbins
Advanced Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 293
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 6:22 pm:   Edit Post

Nice bass. Cheers...
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2158
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 1:37 am:   Edit Post

If it's passive, then what do the three controls do?
crgaston
Senior Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 529
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

Adriaan, There's a series/parallel/single coil switch for the pickup, then volume, treble cut and bass cut knobs.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2159
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 4:38 pm:   Edit Post

Bass cut? Didn't know that was doable in a passive circuit. Funny thing to have on a bass, but there you go ...
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1640
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 5:02 pm:   Edit Post

Played it most of last night with Dicky James and the Blue Flames, and it was like old home week. As a friend in the crowd said, the tone doesn't "blossom" like the Alembic, but it still sounded pretty good with that band.

I've done a bit of Googling and so far haven't found anything negative about that instrument, which by all indications is an '81. Can't wait to get the new pickup and rewire the guts back to original. I originally thought it would be an excellent candidate for a fatboy (probably ultimately still is), but I think just having it back to original configuration is what it needs from me right now.

Life sure can be full of surprises. :-)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 644
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 10:22 pm:   Edit Post

I play my L1000 all the time and love it...I need to rewire it at some point ( the switch went bad)...still it always fills out the bottom in the best ways.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1641
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 - 1:14 pm:   Edit Post

elwoodblue, if I could con you into taking a couple of illustrative pics of the control cavity wiring, I would be in your debt! I've got the schematic, but I'm much more of a visual guy..

John
southpaw
Advanced Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 212
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 - 8:39 pm:   Edit Post

John;
on the G&L website, they have schematics for all their instruments. Click on "Support", then at the bottom of the page is the link to the technical diagrams & schematics. They have PDF diagrams and schematics for the L1000.
The L1000 electronics are Leo at his best!
Enjoy.
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 645
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 12:40 am:   Edit Post

My bass wouldn't be good for that since I removed the offending switch... so right now I just have volume and tone.(even so I'm always reaching for the bass during jams)

Here's another link to some instructions from the G&L discussion board. In fact I bet if you asked over there someone would post some control cavity pics for you. (include a pic of the bass...they love porn)

I need to bring mine back to stock sometime soon also ...so that might spur me to fix mine.

(Message edited by elwoodblue on April 07, 2009)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 646
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 12:49 am:   Edit Post

I found these on the web:



...so now I'm in your debt for motivating me to fix mine :-)
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1642
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 7:53 am:   Edit Post

Excellent! Perhaps this will be a big deposit in each of our Karma banks! :-) Can't wait for the new pickup to arrive so I can begin rewiring!

John
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 640
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 9:41 am:   Edit Post

Out of interest how do the new G&L Tribute basses measure up to the old models? Anyone?

John.
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 647
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:47 am:   Edit Post

I haven't played any of the tribute basses,
I had a tribute S-500 6 stringer and the materials used were not up to par; the body was extremely heavy...there was a glob of epoxy-like substance in the neck pocket so the neck body connection was far from being wood on wood...the frets were low grade metal...and the fretboard was made from some fast growing tree that just didn't look or feel right to me.


I bet there are some good tribby's out there but I wouldn't buy one without seeing and playing it first hand.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1645
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 6:28 pm:   Edit Post

Just got back from my brother's place, where we installed the new pickup and rewired the beast. I am amazed by the range of sounds that thing can make! Also, since it's a bass/cut treble/cut tone circuit, I don't anticipate massive EQ adjustments every time I switch instruments. Looking forward to using this instrument alongside the Alembic..

John
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1646
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 6:32 am:   Edit Post

Some pics from last night's festivities...











John
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 684
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

Nice!!!
I used to own a G&L 2000E back in the 80's

Wonderful guitar!!
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 648
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 12:03 pm:   Edit Post

George - you have owned more classics than I can count buddy! I bet you have shed a tear or two over some of your dearly departed axes!

John.
southpaw
Advanced Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 213
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 12:52 pm:   Edit Post

John:
Congrats on your restored bass! The L1000 is a great passive compliment to the Alembic active basses, you are ready for anything now. It looks like you have an '80 or '81 L1000 by the slotted screws in the pickup and the chrome tailpiece. A great bass, don't let it get away anytime soon!
Play them in good health John.
regards - Paul
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1648
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 1:43 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks guys..

I think it's an '81. Slotted pole pieces (not anymore though), skunk stripe on the neck and pre-lawsuit headstock.

I'm looking forward to using it..

John

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