asingardenof Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 As a result of becoming chartered recently I'm due to receive a bonus from work, which obviously means NBD is going to happen. My budget for this is going to be around the £500 mark, and after a lot of debating on this subject (@Merton can confirm!) I've narrowed my choice down to either a new Sterling Sub Ray 5 or a secondhand G&L L-2500 Tribute. I tried out the Ray 5 a few months ago and was very impressed, and the neck felt extremely comfortable to my tiny hands, but I suspect if I were to buy this it would become a mod platform, with some mostly aesthetic changes to the bridge and tuner and possibly an upgrade to the preamp at some point. I've always been a bit GASsy towards the G&L, and have watched a fair few reviews and know it would be an awesome bass. I have, however, heard that the necks are pretty chunky, and having dispensed with my one and only previous fiver for having a tree trunk for a neck that made playing it very awkward I'm keen to not repeat the experience with a reward to myself. My problem is that new L-2500s in the wild are few and far between, as are secondhand ones, obviously a testament to how good they are. What this means though is that I can't try any out (the nearest one I'm interested in is in Nottingham, a 1½ hour drive away), which is where I hope some of you good people come in. Can anyone who has tried both comment on the difference in neck profiles? I've also dismissed a Warwick Rockbass Streamer for the same reason - are these really chunky as well? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 I’m still trying to come up with other options for you 🤓😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 24 minutes ago, Merton said: I’m still trying to come up with other options for you 🤓😎 No, no more options please!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dub_junkie Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 If you can't stretch a bit to a used Ray 35 I'd hang on for a Tribute L-2500. I got to play the one Waynesworld on here was selling (now sold) as I was originally going to buy it, then committed to an ACG build in the interim. The neck on it was lovely, didn't feel overly chunky and I would have no problem getting through a gig or extended playing periods with it. I've owned a few L-2000 and Asat basses (both USA and Tribute) and like with the MFD pickups and triton electronics. Versatile instruments and definetely a Swiss army knife bass. Sound can be a bit dark/organic sounding if you're used to more hi-fi sounding basses and they definitely have a 'grind' about them. Harder to find are the M2500s which is much the same bass but with an 18v preamp, 3 band EQ and a blend control rather than the switching. The pickups are also wound a bit less than the L series so sounds a bit more generalised/neutral sounding. I had an M2500 which I really liked and on reflection should have kept. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 16 minutes ago, dub_junkie said: If you can't stretch a bit to a used Ray 35 I'd hang on for a Tribute L-2500. I got to play the one Waynesworld on here was selling (now sold) as I was originally going to buy it, then committed to an ACG build in the interim. The neck on it was lovely, didn't feel overly chunky and I would have no problem getting through a gig or extended playing periods with it. I've owned a few L-2000 and Asat basses (both USA and Tribute) and like with the MFD pickups and triton electronics. Versatile instruments and definetely a Swiss army knife bass. Sound can be a bit dark/organic sounding if you're used to more hi-fi sounding basses and they definitely have a 'grind' about them. Harder to find are the M2500s which is much the same bass but with an 18v preamp, 3 band EQ and a blend control rather than the switching. The pickups are also wound a bit less than the L series so sounds a bit more generalised/neutral sounding. I had an M2500 which I really liked and on reflection should have kept. Used Ray 35s near me seem to be pretty thin on the ground as well unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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