L2000 - is this a bass pot problem?

[Minkey]

Hi folks.

Thank you for the add Ken. Here goes my first post...

I've just taken delivery of a new L-2000 Tribute in the Clear Orange finish - a beauty! I'm completely in love with it (I'm returning to the bass for the first time in over 30 years), but I think it may have a fault.

The bass cut pot seems to be acting like a volume control. I've tried it through a couple of amps and with different leads, but the effect is the same. I've also tried all the switch combos too, and there is a new battery in it.

Regardless of what I do, as I roll the pot closed the signal just fades away. At first I can hear that it is cutting the bass, but as I continue rolling it anticlockwise the signal just dies away and vanishes just before the pot hits the stop. Should it behave like that?

The volume and treble cut pots seem to function as they should, but I really would have expected to hear something with the bass pot dialled down in the lower end.

Have I got a faulty one? Or is that how it should act?

Many thanks in advance for any advice and insights.

Cheers,
Mike
(Devon, UK)

[One Way]

My L-2500 Tribute does not act that way, the treble and bass tone controls only affect their respective tone frequencies.

[Ken Baker]

The bass cut pot seems to be acting like a volume control. I've tried it through a couple of amps and with different leads, but the effect is the same. I've also tried all the switch combos too, and there is a new battery in it.

Regardless of what I do, as I roll the pot closed the signal just fades away. At first I can hear that it is cutting the bass, but as I continue rolling it anticlockwise the signal just dies away and vanishes just before the pot hits the stop. Should it behave like that?

Sounds like you got a wonky bass. It happens - sorry.

You can go through the wiring to look for the fault or you can have the dealer do it. Or just return the bass for another new one. Either way is a pain, but getting a replacement might just be the better thing to do.

For warranty work you'll probably need to contact your regional distributor or G&L dealer. Find your dealer here.

Ken...

[TDR1138]

I had something like this happen on a L-1500 years back. Turned out that the bass pot was touching the side of the control cavity and was grounding out the signal. All I had to do was remove the knob, rotate the pot from the inside so it wasn't touching anything and then tighten the nut, and reattach the knob. Just maybe a quick check that would be an easy fix if that were the case.

[Minkey]

Hello again folks.

Thanks for your advice on this one. As the bass was so new I opted for a straight swap to a new unit from the dealer.

It arrived yesterday and I was hoping to be able to post to say that all was well. Sadly the replacement got crunched in transit!

The control knobs must have taken the hit, as the body was cracked around them. Typically the knob that must have born the brunt of the hit was the bass pot, as it was mashed so badly it would no longer turn. You really couldn't make this up!

The next swap over is scheduled for Monday. I've asked for the full cotton wool packaging treatment this time. Fingers crossed that it'll be third time lucky.

Cheers,
Mike

[jglunt2112]

Dang, dude!

"...If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all; Gloom, despair, and agony on me." (Just in case you're old enough to remember Hee Haw.)

Best of luck with the new one!!

[TDR1138]

Ouch!

Fingers crossed. Third time's the charm.

[Minkey]

Third time lucky indeed!

Delivery arrived today, two days ahead of schedule.

It is just perfect! I'm loving the grain pattern. New battery installed, original one a year old and down to 2.4V.

And all the controls seem to work just as they should, always a bonus

bass 01.jpg (244.91 KiB) Viewed 2645 times

Thanks for all the advice folks!

Cheers,
Mike

[Ken Baker]

Glad it finally got resolved.

Congrats and thanks for letting us know!

Ken...