G&L L-2000: Keep the preamp, or swap it?

[dangayle]

I have an '81 G&L L-2000 that was somebody's roadwarrior axe, and the pre-amp doesn't seem to work in it. I have a few options:

1) Fix it

2) Replace it with the preamp from a different L-2000

3) Replace it with something else entirely


From what I hear, one of the most often cited complaints about the L-2000 was the non-standard controls and pre-amp. If I were to put in something different, I could conceivably fix that. Also, from what I gather, the pre-amp on that was a treble boost only, which I'd rather have a bass boost.

Thoughts?

 

[JKjr]

I was waiting for someone who actually KNEW anything to chime in, but I can offer an uninformed opinion. I played an older G&L in a store, not sure if it's your model or not, but it had the preamp. The build quality was great and it rang acoustically, but I could not coax a good sound out of it amplified. If it were me, I'd rip that stuff out in a skinny minute and throw your favorite passive setup back in. BTW I have a P type from the same time period,(L 100 maybe?) I'll never part with. Good stuff.

 

[dangayle]

I was waiting for someone who actually KNEW anything to chime in, but I can offer an uninformed opinion. I played an older G&L in a store, not sure if it's your model or not, but it had the preamp. The build quality was great and it rang acoustically, but I could not coax a good sound out of it amplified. If it were me, I'd rip that stuff out in a skinny minute and throw your favorite passive setup back in. BTW I have a P type from the same time period,(L 100 maybe?) I'll never part with. Good stuff.

You're feelings are similar to mine, but I don't mind the current passive setup. I just want the active part to boom! (also, it's pretty noisy with hum, so maybe a good active will keep that down)

 

[Jon C]

post your Q at the G&LDP and you'll get much more feedback... I haven't heard significant criticism of the L2K and think it's a pretty darn good bass, but then I usually don't use the preamp tones either.

jc

 

[walterw]

i've done just that to many of these, with really good results.

the stock preamp just boosts everything, having another setting for a treble boost on top of that, and you just use the passive bass-cut and treble-cut to turn it back down.

replacing that weird setup with a normal two-band preamp like the EMG BTS control gives way more flexibility, as the bass and treble knobs become actual cut and boost EQ knobs with a center detent for "flat".

i like to keep the bypass switch to kick the preamp out for passive operation.