New, and different, L-1000

[Ken Baker]

Did Paul feel it provided a "mellower" sound than the ceramic MFD (like the L vs M preamps) or is that just my imagination?

He didn't say, but I'd think there is a lot of credence to what you're saying about it being mellower.

The ceramic MFD is known for its biting aggressive nature in the L Series and SB-x basses. Less so with the Ms, but it's still there. This is a whole 'nother beast wrapped up in the same covers, so it remains to be seen how people view it.

You're the vanguard, Jim!

Ken...

[jim.i]

Great, i love being on the bleeding edge...not.

I'm afraid the underside of the alnico MFD will have to wait until i visit Brad or you and Todd in So. Cal, i am tech-averse and have a skill at taking things apart and not being able to put them together again.

Did Paul feel it provided a "mellower" sound than the ceramic MFD (like the L vs M preamps) or is that just my imagination?

He didn't say, but I'd think there is a lot of credence to what you're saying about it being mellower.

The ceramic MFD is known for its biting aggressive nature in the L Series and SB-x basses. Less so with the Ms, but it's still there. This is a whole 'nother beast wrapped up in the same covers, so it remains to be seen how people view it.

You're the vanguard, Jim!

Ken...

[TDR1138]

I'm afraid the underside of the alnico MFD will have to wait until i visit Brad or you and Todd in So. Cal, i am tech-averse and have a skill at taking things apart and not being able to put them together again.

c'mon down. I'll be sure to give it a proper evaluation.

[jim.i]

I'm sure you will...but i want it back...

I'm afraid the underside of the alnico MFD will have to wait until i visit Brad or you and Todd in So. Cal, i am tech-averse and have a skill at taking things apart and not being able to put them together again.

c'mon down. I'll be sure to give it a proper evaluation.

[TDR1138]

I'm sure you will...but i want it back...

Sure, sure... All in good time...

[jim.i]

I've spent some hours this morning comparing the [alnico MFD] L-1000 to a [ceramic MFD] L-2000 (neck p/up only, passive mode) and to my ears the L-1000 is mellower in both series and parallel switch settings. Also, the L-2000 has a quite noticeably louder output at same volume settings. I think the L-1000 pickup is as high as it can be raised and i have lowered the string saddles which did increase output somewhat. So again, this may be another difference with the alnico vs ceramic MFD, plus not having adjustable pole pieces. The mellower sound doesn't necessarily surprise me but the lowered output did, i was expecting the same huge typical MFD sound.

I compared the basses with a couple different amps and cabs and results were the same, with one exception: when using my GK MB150S combo the OMG series and single-coil switch settings were noisier than with a small GK cab (only) or a Bergantino cab, and different amps. That aluminum box MB150 maybe creates more conductivity than conventional tolex-covered cabs?? Or maybe something to do with the internal components in the MB150??

I don't have the ability to post sound clips, and don't have broad experience of G&L sounds so a more concise review will have to wait until one of the really knowledgeable G&L users can check out this L-1000. I should add that Greg/Rocket did not have the chance to check out this bass because it shipped directly to me due to some shipping snafus.

[TDR1138]

Thanks for the review. How does she compare to, say, your Lull P4?

[jim.i]

Well i must admit i gave up the Lull P4, which had a J neck. After i played the G&L #12 i was sold on that neck and am mostly converted to G&L now. The P4 sale helped make the conversion possible. GAS that actually was a good thing for a change

Brad and i have been talking a lot today about why the alnico MFD sounds mellower with lower output than the ceramic and we think, based on the info Ken and Paul G provided and my a/b'ing, he has figured it out; i'll wait for him to chime in because he can explain much better than me.

And i should definitely clarify in case i've created a wrong impression - the alnico L-1000 sounds great and i love it, in fact more so than the L-2000. The alnico serial OMG output is still huge, just not HUGE as with the ceramic L series.

Thanks for the review. How does she compare to, say, your Lull P4?

[Monahan]

Congrats on the NBD!!

Seeing basses like these is always a lot of fun-- I love that G&L will experiment every now & then, and release some of them to customers, it's not every day we get to see stuff like this

[Markth30]

How does one purchase the alnico L series MFDs?