G&L CLF Research L-1000 Review

Stunning in every sense

I like this bass more each hour of every day. I strung it up with TI flats and the tonal range is simply divine. The single coil mode with these strings is the best bass tone I've ever heard. The look of the bass itself in natural finish is absolutely beautiful. I could never part with this bass now.

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Leo got it right the last time.

Leo got it right the last time. The P-bass, that is. This is one fantastic bass. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because of some really nit-picky stuff. The tuners have a slight bit of slop going down in pitch. There were a couple rough/sharp edges on the machined aluminum control knobs that I had to smooth out. Not enough to hurt anyone, or even be a nuisance, just… read more noticeable. That's seriously all the bad there is. Now the good- mechanically it's perfect. Fit and finish are flawless. It's a work of art. Everything lines up perfectly and is measured, cut, and put together in a way that just can't be argued with. No sharp or funky fret ends. Much more importantly, the frets are leveled and crowned, and the nut is cut and finished, at a level that rivals or exceeds boutique quality. What does it compare to? For fairness' sake I'm going to compare it to an '81 L1000 I used to own. Compared to the '81 it's lighter. It's better balanced. The 6 bolt neck joint (as opposed to the original three bolt style) coupled with a dual action truss rod and graphite reinforcement make it much more stable. The neck also seems slightly smaller and slimmer. Not by a huge amount, but enough that it makes this a very comfortable gigging bass. The neck shape is a joy and gives me zero hand fatigue over a 3-4 hour night. Sonically? I like the new one better as well. My old L1000 was a great sounding bass. But I like this one better. It's a little brighter, and has a lot more clarity. The old one was a little warmer and woolier sounding. Which one you'll prefer is subjective, but I find I can still get that tone with this one, but I also have the option of being crystal clear, almost hi-fi. One thing that hasn't changed is the crazy output and headroom. I've never owned any other passive bass with this much output. It's nuts. And it's a lot of fun. Compared to a traditional P, there's no contest in my opinion. P's are very cool, and as popular as they are for very good reason. But the Wunkay will get so close to a traditional P sound it would fool pretty much anyone in a blind test, while having the added advantage of being so much more versatile. The tones hiding in this thing as a result of the passive bass and treble cut controls, as well as the three separate pickup voicings (parallel, single coil, and OMG) make this guy a clear winner. Last bit not least, the purple finish. Sweetwater gallery pics do NOT do it justice at all. In person it's much brighter, more vibrant, and super metallic. It's almost sparkly. The only way I can describe it is to say it's much more purple and metallic than the pictures suggest. For me, that was a huge bonus. Overall, I'm very pleased with this bass, and plan to own it for a very long time. Hopefully til it's time for the ol' dirt nap. And as always, Sweetwater and my sales rep were excellent to deal with. I always check here first when I'm shopping for anything g music related.

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Simple and Excellent

P-style bass Simple yet excellent Great for live or studio Workhorse

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Spectacular

I just received the Blue Burst version with help from Ashton, and so far, it has exceeded my expectations. I had him set it up with Thomastik flatwounds, for finger picking, and it was perfect out of the box. Build quality is great, it is lightweight and well-balanced, and very versatile tonally. I have several vintage Lawsuit-era Precision basses and a Marcus Miller Jazz, and this… read more plays and sounds better than any of them in my opinion for the types of music I play. Highly recommended if you want to raise the bar on the P Bass experience.

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Amazing Bass and Amazing Sales Rep

First, I can't say enough good things about my salesman Dan. He is one patient individual. I looked at several bass guitars and ultimately had to cancel and order due to medical issues. Got back in touch with him down the road and he helped me with this G&L. This bass is like nothing else I have picked up. I demoed several high end instruments locally and this one blows them all… read more away. Super comfortable to play and the neck just feels amazing. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this one. Highly recommend it.

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The last bass

Like the title says, unless it gets broken or stolen I am not going to have to audition another bass ever. I just knew the sound I wanted in my head and nothing was producing it for me. I bought this blind from Sweetwater because they basically had the only one on the planet for sale. DEMO!! I played a borrowed G&L 20 years ago. It was a sticker encrusted floor mop, so I did not… read more get to hear its full niceness back then. I had been dealing with a lot of warping on the neck of a Peavey bass. Apparently the carbon fiber rods in the L-1000 should fend off the warps. The case is very nice, but some of the corner hardware sticks out, seems like an after thought. I would have made it more tight and sleek. I expect to damage those quickly. If I could buy it without a case and just get a road case I might have gone that option. Don't get me wrong it's a nice case. I just think it might get banged up pretty quick. Oh my god, this bass is shinny. Yikes. It is gorgeous, almost too shinny. All that wood is carved out just right. I know its heavy, but it feels light. The cut outs and balance is better than good. I pulled some John Entwistle finger plucking without even trying. I never play like that. For slapping, wonderful, I hit as hard as I could, just to see when it bottoms out. It took it all very well, thumb hit the pick up, not a good sound. I just wont do that again. It really shines with a pick also, it makes a good percussive click. Some basses have too many options. It is confusing, just more stuff to break eventually, and then it costs more. This L-1000 has 3-5 sounds, all of which are useable and better than most. Remember all the instruments with options that are awful and you never used, but still had to pay for. 3 knobs with easy to recall groove on the crown. One less pick-up equals more tonewood. That single pick-up is in the perfect place. The neck is fast, stays in tune, it just sounds so good and easy to hear. It compliments other instruments so well. It sounds like a box of donuts. Really good donuts. The Bad: FedEX. Most of my order arrived in a few days. That bass just was off the map. Right when I was discussing a refund or another options Matt South and team got on it and then the package showed up almost 2 weeks later. If it matters, I didn't have it for a recording session, pay for the extra shipping. I have my final bass.

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Beauty and the beast all in one!!!

this bass is awesome. Serious tone and volume.ive been playing for 30 years and have owned lots of basses and I dont think I've played anything like it. I first plugged it in and thought it was ok, until I noticed the knobs were barely turned up. I turned them up and stuff started shaking. Then the moment I had waited for arrived, the clicking into omg mode. I was not only not disappointed,… read more but pleasantly surprised. All of the videos and reviews I had watched didn't translate the omg sound well.The bass was setup beautifully right out of the case.The bridge on it is a testament to leos brilliance. Unplugged i plucked a string and it sustained forever. And as always Sweetwater top notch service is second to none. Full inspection and they email you pro quality HD pictures of your bass. Can't say enough about the GnL quality and sweetwater

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Mission accomplished

I have wanted a G&L bass for years and thanks to Sweetwater I pulled it off! It's as great as I'd always heard. Went with the L-1000 and I'm loving it. The build is tight and the finish is beautifully done. This is the first bass I've acquired that the wife actually sits and watches when I play. She loves the color and design. I bought the Old Tobacco burst. Sounds awesome! Hard… read more to imagine all that tone from passive circuits. I had wanted to own all of Leo's main builds, from all the companies he was with, I now I've got em. Double checked with my insurance to be safe. Great Company. I'd recommend anytime.

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This is the one...

So if you're a fan of Leo Fender, the only thing I have to tell you is that this was Leo's pinnacle vision of the P Bass, the G&L CLF Research 1000. The craftsmanship on this guitar rivals any top shelf Bass easily. The neck is very accurate and fast, and yields lots and lots of playability. The MFD pickups... probably the most underrated pickup out there, grab buckets of tone out… read more of the strings. I love passive instruments, and this is a passive Bass. But amazingly enough it sounds like an active Bass. It is just that good. I'm a professional bass player, and I wish I had dedicated more time to these fine instruments. Now that I have recently purchased one, I'm trying to make up for lost time. This is the one you should own, this is the one that you should have owned.

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Great

I'm still an amateur player but I can definately tell the difference between this bass and the cheaper basses I have bought. This was smooth right out of the box and such a joy to play. Makes even a beginner like my sound good LOL

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A tone machine!!

I play a little bass for recording. I am a guitar player. I was looking for something with a great feel and sound. And this bass has got it. Hook line an sinker. Such a beautifully crafted instrument. And that Pharoah gold mist, stunning finish. This was my first G & L and will definitely not be my last....

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My Desert Island Instrument

Full disclosure: I didn't buy this bass form Sweetwater. I purchased my L-1000 brand new in 1985. I have owned dozens of basses all purchased in or near their heydays. I've owned Fenders, Ricks, and a beautiful Music Man all from the '70s. I've had Gibsons, Guilds, a sweet old Silvertone, Jacksons and a custom made fretless made by a local luthier. They've all had their strengths… read more and weaknesses, but NONE of them can touch my L-1000. It is the single best instrument I have ever owned. It plays like a dream, is broken in beautifully, and the range of tones that single pickup produces is stunning; from bowel-loosening thunderous lows to a snap and growl reminiscent of my Rick. When I hit upon hard financial times in the late 90s I was forced to sell all of the equipment in my recording studio and every guitar, bass and amp I owned. The only thing I didn't sell was my G&L. It was a good decision. If you're considering purchasing this bass, don't hesitate. These are more than instruments. They are heirlooms, fine instruments to be treasured for generations. I've told my son when he inherits my equipment, he must NEVER sell the G&L.

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