Music Man humbucker vs G&L MFD's

[TR4a]

I'd like to hear thoughts from those who own or have owned both. How would you describe/compare the two types of pups? I have owned a G&L and am waiting for the Stingray to get here. Which do you prefer and why? Maybe you like both but how are they different? ( consider the stock electronics as part of the equation)

Thanks

 

[mro]

I own a G&L L2000 with 2 MFD pickups. I also own a MM Sterling.
The G&L I bought new in 2002 and 5 months ago purchased my Sterling off of ebay. The G&L does not produce the deep bottom as much as the Sterling. The G&L does produce a ton of different tones through it's tri tone circuitry. The Sterling also has a brighter high end. It's all a matter of taste and what sounds good to you. IMHO I like the Sterling. I am considering selling my G&L and my Sterling and getting a Stingray. The Sterling is a little small for me.

 

[TR4a]

Thanks for the reply. Deeper bottom and brighter high's is how you hear it. I just thought the MFD's were too aggressive and I'm hopin the Music Man's strike me as a little smoother but still modern sounding. The one I bought is being shipped out today. Can't wait.

 

[mro]

You did the right thing. The MFD's are over powering. There is too much gain. My gain can get into fart mode if my bass's volume knob is up too high. I wish I was the one waiting for a new Stingray. To get one, do you order directly from Ernie Ball or a dealer? Which is the better way?

 

[LarryNJ]

I played a Sterling fretted 4 for about 5 years, and currrently play a G&L ASAT bass. Both superb instruments.
As to your ?:

The MFD's ARE very hot pups, but the tri-tone electronics allow a lot of tonal variety. Most of the time, I play the bass in passive mode. They sound AMAZING with my Mesa and Ampeg tube rigs, real phat.

IMO, the major difference I found was in the EQ- 2 vs 3 band;
The MM's having both cut and boost, G&L cut only- I personally REALLY loved the Mid control on my Sterling.
For my sound and attack, it helped tremendously. The Bongo
must be AWESOME having both high and low mid knobs...

The MFD's are superb in that they have (8)! seperate adjustable
pole pieces that allow a player to totally dial in an even, measured response across the neck. Tho I can hear some minor sonic differences, I never have changed my pups from the factory set up...but it's there.

Both pups are Leo Fender-designed, and both fit their respective instruments perfectly.

I want to add a Bongo HSC to my gear ASAP, and when I get flush, I would love another Sterling, and a G&L JB-2....
Jeeesh, when does it end???

 

[TR4a]

Thanks for the info guys. I bought a used 89 Stingray ( in transit) i'd been watching the pricing on them for awhile and it seemed a reasonable price. I'm impulsive when I make up my mind I want something I jump. I think at $750.00 I'm OK. so far they seem to hold value from what I see.
I loved my departed ASAT's looks but I guess I just wasn't smart enough to get the MFD's to get sound I was looking for.

 

[ebb soul]

Ebb Soul

I've owned both G&L 1500 [early 80's Leo model] and Sterling and I actually liked the g&l pickup better, side by side it has more growl and the MM is more "domesticated"
Yes you can adjust individual string poles with the G&l, but, unless you turn them REGULARLY, and you sweat at all under stage lights, these will cease up[rust] on you and will not turn at all. The allen head poles won't take much torque without stripping.
G&L had two switches, and I never was shure what one of them was but assumed it turned the preamp off, which is where it normally stayed.
I play rock, so I like the 'Grrr' especially recording[?!]
but aside from the p'up of the G&L , their build quality pales in compairison, the Sterling is far more comfortable in every aspect as well.
So I say forget the p'up issue, dial in the 'Grrr' amp or outboard wise, and thou G&L isn't a BAD bass, the MM is more sublime in the hands.

 

[Lynottfan]

I own a G&L2000 as well as my Stingrays, the main reason I got a L2000 was I wanted a bass with the active/passive switch, now to be fair to the G&L bass it is a very well put together, good quality American made bass guitar, now the MFD pickups, as others have stated and you have found the pickups are very powerful and the output is very high to the point that they are maybe to aggresive, yes you can play with the volume pot or tweak the pre-amp settings if you wish. The overall pickup options of the bass can be a nightmare to I find, hence I use mine as a passive 99% of the time, also there is no pickup or bass for me that has the punch of a Stingray either, so you have chosen well and I hope you and your Ray have plenty of music in ya!

 

[oli@bass]

They're all different. Not only the L2K and StingRay, but also the StingRays, Sterlings, Sabres, Bongos compared to each other. The point is: I like them exactly because of that. Just yesterday, I jammed to the radio comparing the 30th SR to the 30th L2K... both are phantastic instruments, IMO, offering quite different arrays of tones.

Bottom line for me is: If you want the sound of the StingRay, play a StingRay.


PS: And the Sabre, although being the L2K's predecessor, is a sonic world of its own... (and it's really a great way to suffer if you have to choose between an '81 'Ray, an '82 Tookay and a '83 Sabre... )

 

[drTStingray]

Oli how would you compare the Sabre with an HH Ray, soundwise? Does it have more features or different ones?

 

[mrfstop]

I own a 2010 G&L L-2000 with birdseye maple board.
It is one amazing bass...and even though I own many more EBMM basses than G&L....a 7 to 1 ratio in favor of EBMM.
I still really appreciate the like the L2K a great deal.
It is nothing like ANY of my EBMM basses...
I think it is obvious I am more a fan of the EBMM band...
But I like having the L2K on hand. It has the HH pup config.
The pups are completely different than the EBMM humbucker bass pup.
And the overall placement in the body is very different between the two brands as well.
Adding up to a very different tone and overall vibe to the sound.
I do think that maybe the L2K is a bit "thinner" in the tone dept.
Which is cool for soloing and stuff, but it does not "cut through the mix" at volume like a Stingray HH does for sure!
I think it is due to the Ray having maybe more Low mid range.
The L2K has possibly more pronounced mid highs and highs.

I LOVE the EBMM HH and HS pup config....like a rolodex of tone!!
Endless possibilities on the Stingray!
I think Stingrays will always be my all around favorite bass.

 

[mrfstop]

T
Bottom line for me is: If you want the sound of the StingRay, play a StingRay.

+1 to that...