One bass, to rule them all...

Everything guitar, bass, acoustic, banjo, etc
User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Wed May 28, 2025 11:44 am

I recently bought a bass that is "the one". A 1981 G&L L-1000.

The sound on this thing has to be heard to be believed. The body and punch for a passive bass are excellent.
.
G and L 1.jpg
G and L 1.jpg (215.68 KiB) Viewed 27999 times
.
G and L 2.jpg
G and L 2.jpg (230.82 KiB) Viewed 27999 times
.
G and L 3.jpg
G and L 3.jpg (281.84 KiB) Viewed 27999 times

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Wed May 28, 2025 11:46 am

Badly needed a setup. I think it had been sitting in a back basement for decades.

Plus, the schematics that are posted elsewhere online are incorrect for this early version. In case anyone is ever looking for it, this is the schematic for the original wiring for a 1981 G&L L-1000 bass, looking at the back of the control panel.
.
L-1000 original wiring.png
L-1000 original wiring.png (214.54 KiB) Viewed 27998 times
Last edited by laurie on Wed May 28, 2025 10:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
Pepe
Posts: 2244
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:19 pm
Location: Germany
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Double Platinum
Contact:

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by Pepe » Wed May 28, 2025 3:21 pm

Nice looking instrument. I suppose it's quite heavy, right? I once had the chance to play a Peavey T-40 bass guitar and it was a cool instrument, but way too heavy for my taste. How is the G&L in comparison?
Pepe at YouTube and Instagram

User avatar
bigtone23
Posts: 478
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2019 6:33 pm
Location: Colorado, United States

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by bigtone23 » Wed May 28, 2025 3:25 pm

Killer bass!
Is that the wiring--with "OMG" mode?

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Wed May 28, 2025 3:54 pm

Pepe wrote:
Wed May 28, 2025 3:21 pm
Nice looking instrument. I suppose it's quite heavy, right? I once had the chance to play a Peavey T-40 bass guitar and it was a cool instrument, but way too heavy for my taste. How is the G&L in comparison?
Yes. Very heavy.

But i am 193cm tall (6ft4) and i use a wide strap so no.issue for me.

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Wed May 28, 2025 4:12 pm

bigtone23 wrote:
Wed May 28, 2025 3:25 pm
Killer bass!
Is that the wiring--with "OMG" mode?
Well. Thank you, I think :?

I just did a lot of reading about OMG mode (I didn't know about it).

It looks like the bridge coil in the humbucker has failed. I'd wondered about the lack of difference in tone based on switch position.

I'll pull the pickup out and inspect it tonight, but I think it might be dead.

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Thu May 29, 2025 1:19 am

It is definitive. The bridge half of the pickup is open circuit. Many thanks for bigtone, or I likely wouldn't have looked this hard.

If this is how good it sounds with only a single-coil, I can well imagine why it is called "OMG" mode when everything is working.

Luckily, replacement pickups can be purchased. Won't be vintage, but will be correct. I'll order one when they are back in stock.
https://g-l-online-store.myshopify.com/ ... PKhlIkT3Ms

Or I might get the old one rewound. Does anyone know a good place that does rewinds?

User avatar
Dirk
Posts: 240
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 1:28 pm
Location: Netherlands
SBZ: Double Platinum
Bossarea: Double Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by Dirk » Thu May 29, 2025 5:43 pm

Cool bass Laurie. I was wondering where that 3rd control is for if it's a passive bass. I reckon the switch maybe single/dual coil, then volume, tone and ??? someting else? Passive filter perhaps? Like the Fender TBX?

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Fri May 30, 2025 4:24 am

Dirk wrote:
Thu May 29, 2025 5:43 pm
Cool bass Laurie. I was wondering where that 3rd control is for if it's a passive bass. I reckon the switch maybe single/dual coil, then volume, tone and ??? someting else? Passive filter perhaps? Like the Fender TBX?
"ELECTRONICS: 3-position mini toggle for parallel/split/OMG pickup modes, volume, treble, bass"

I haven't heard OMG mode yet...

I did find a Canadian pickup specialist that is getting excellent reviews. Will send the pickup tomorrow:
www.pegcitypickups.com

User avatar
laurie
Posts: 2217
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 2:07 am
Location: Canada
SBZ: Multi Platinum
Bossarea: Multi Platinum

Re: One bass, to rule them all...

Post by laurie » Sun Jun 01, 2025 4:21 pm

Shipped the pickup off yesterday to www.pegcitypickups.com

IF they can repair it, it should be around CAD$100 - about half the cost of a new replacement, and keeps the vintage "vibe" of the instrument.

Post Reply