ped

Haven’t really played with that as much yet. I think OMG mode brings it into MM territory as opposed to rear pickup jazz bass snarl, which is the opposite of what I imagined would be the case.

Agreed. The front coil providing the bass gives the bass response a very P bass sort of feel, as opposed to boosting a frequency on an EQ

I think so, yes - you can snip the capacitor away and have normal single mode (or just turn down the bass which may yield a similar result). The nice thing about OMG mode is that the bass comes from the front coil and treble from the back, mimicking the split P pickup, and sounding pretty much the same IMO. Yes, weird that they don't use the same nomenclature for that mode on the L2Ke - maybe it is different... I think a lot of confusion stems from the changes made in early versions, and the mis naming of various switches to 'bass boost' for example, describing the resulting sound as opposed to the actual function. Kind of makes sense in the wider context but bass players read that and think it's an actual boost pre. Once you work it out, it's terrifically user friendly and great sounding. I never liked cutting treble pot on a 3 band EQ for example, but a passive tone control has a more musical response, which you don't lose on this bass.

I also think you can have an L2000E K mod with parallel/OMG/single (as well as switch the coils in OMG mode and single) My fave sounds: Both pickups, parallel, active, bass cut 20%, treble cut 50% Front pickup, OMG, passive, bass cut 80%, treble cut 50%

One idea is that single coil mode sounds so similar to OMG mode with the bass turned down that it didn't warrant including?

It's been something I've been delving into myself, and I'm similarly confused. I think you're right with your assessment above - the early basses have parallel and OMG mode, and the later ones have parallel and series. And the L1000 has all three modes on one pickup. Add to this the K mod and the various ways it can be wired, which coils can be selected (as well as the OMG mode can be swapped round so the other coil is treble) it all gets pretty crazy. As I see it, the original parallel/OMG mode gives the core sounds - bright zingy slap with a plinky top end, and a superb P bass sound. After that, I'm not sure - the L1000 still has that P sound via the OMG mode (although it seems people generally misunderstand that and think it's for a muddy overly bass sound, which it isn't) but I've never heard/tried the now standard series option on either pickup. I wonder what modes are in the CLF re-issue, I'd have thought for authenticity it should be the original spec.

Quite a good quick test is to downtune the E and see if the definition improves. It'll tell you if the physical way the string is moving is the problem.

How are you 'hearing' the bass - could the issue be down to the amplifier? How does it sound played acoustically? I always think a low action and less relief gives notes a bit of growl/clank which helps add 'definition' and removes that flat sounding 'buh buh' wooly vibe. I know you've tried changing action so maybe give the truss rod a try.

Thanks, one to look at!! And thank you for subscribing too

@Kiwi here's a job for you

That's because people are pasting in formatted text - I've set it so that from now on any pasted text will be de-formatted. Watch the complaints flood in 😆

Here we go - same mode

The nice thing about whatever mode it is I’m talking about is that although you get the perceived bass boost, you can control and tame it via the knob which ends with giving a really rich P sound. Treble is shifted slightly lower than the two pickup slap Hifi setting giving that trademark P clank and bite.

So the L1000 has the extra single coil mode but OMG is the same.

Hm I thought it was a humbucking pickup in series with the highs from one coil taken out, giving a perceived bass boost.

Just realised something - of course the middle switch isn't series/parallel - on the older basses the switch goes between both pickups in humbucking mode (flicked towards bridge) and single coil mode with 'bass boost/OMG mode' towards neck. The latter is not an active boost, in fact it puts the front half of each pickup through some caps that produce a bass response whilst the treble comes from the back coil. That's why it does such a fantastic P bass sound. In this mode you can roll off the passive bass cut to bring out the mids which sounds fantastic. With both pickups the spacing is something a bit like 60s but further back, giving that Smith vibe. A common mod is to reverse the way the front pickup works, giving front coil treble and 70s jazz spacing but I really like the sound if it how it is, and will leave well alone!

Sweet. I loved mine 👍🏼 It was a four string though.

Just adding my August ‘82

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to try one. I’m not sure I’m going to bother with the k mod actually - it would be nice to keep it original. Realistically I’d never use my J or MM if I did!! The slap sound on this is something else - it’s got the best bits of everything else rolled into one. And as I’ve been playing my SB1 so much over the last few years, the identical neck and feel makes it super familiar. Reckon it could be my only bass if it had to be. One thing I really like about the SB1 is how the knobs do so much - really altering the sound in a musical way (I tend to leave 2/3 band active EQs basically flat) and this bass builds on that theme to the extreme.

I think he’s referring to the K mod, where a single coil can be selected. On an L1000 it’s within the one pickup (and same on L2k if you select one only)

Blimey. This thing is amazing. I'm loving the PTB (passive tone/bass) pre-pre amp! So much tweak ability. In series mode you can roll off loads of bass to shift how the sound sits, so you can get a really smooth P bass sound and then at the flick of (3) switches and some knob twiddling you're in super hifi snappy slap territory. It really does sound like a perfect mixture of Vigier passion and Smith, with a P bass on tap. I've been 'learning' the rear pickup, starting to work out the magic that lies within. I've found a great burp kind of 60s J rear pickup sound in Parallel, and in Series with the tone down it's like a slightly stiffer Stingray sound. I've got a mental weekend but I'll try and record a few samples next week

I’m locking down anything in off topic the second it gets unfriendly. Don’t like it? Go elsewhere.

That's called a belt

Haha I know what you mean, it does seem pretty random - I can appreciate a bass that just does one thing but I also enjoy having massive possibilities - the two basses will compliment each other that way. As I know the bass is capable of more with a simple mod, even if I don't use those extra things, it seems silly not to have them. Most of all I'm just delighted with the core sounds I'm using now, and this is after only a couple of days - I think in time I'll get to know it even better, and of course have yet to try it in the all important band setting which can be make or break!