Every time we go to a guitar show and are walking around, looking at what the other dealers have to sell, I try to spot a bass or two that would make a good "Sunday gas money" deal. That means I'm looking for a bass that we might make $100.00 or so on to help pay for the gas we use driving to and from the show. Such was the case this past Sunday at the Charlotte Guitar Show and I was on cruise control, just ambling around when I spotted this G & L bass sitting among a bunch of guitars in a dealer's booth. As I looked at the headstock, I thought to myself that this was an early variant and that right there got me walking into the guy's booth for a closer look. I picked the bass up and sat down to play it. The first thing I noticed was the extremely cool, horizontal checking on the neck and body. It looks like Tom Murphy got tired of aging Les Pauls and performed some of his best artistry on this bass. Yes it's that baddass! I wrapped my left hand around the neck and immediately thought of an old Musicman Stingray. "This neck feels friggin' great," I thought to myself and as I began to pull off my meager attempts at some Zepplelin, the notes fell right into place. Some basses just do that- they lend you to be a better player because they feel so right at home in your hands, like an old friend. I think at this point I was amazed that I hadn't found anything wrong with the bass- usually, I'm so peculiar, I spot something and then it's a decision on whether to even buy the thing. Neck and finish elements passed, I asked to plug it in and here's where the deal was cemented. I plugged this L2000 into a small Roland bass cube and at that moment, I was a fat kid in high cotton. The tone was smooth and prevalent; Soon I was flipping toggle switches and dialing knobs. All of the sounds I personally love were at my fingertips and I started wondering why I wasn't aware of these early G & L's before. Truth be told, I have, in the past turned my nose up at these basses because they weren't inside the group of instruments that I personally preferred, but this bass, in about 10 minutes changed all of that.

   After a giving it a nice run- through, I asked to see the case. The guy pulled it out and while I noticed some wear, it was original to the bass and as I lifted the accessory pocket, a grin crept across my unshaven mug. There, as a very pleasant surprise was the instruction sheets, tags, allen wrenches and case keys, all tucked away in the original envelope. Case candy sealed the deal and the bass was bought. I took it back to our booth and sat back down with it. Nothing disappointed and it was soon under the table with our new four-string girl. Now, after getting the bass home, it has been detailed and documented photographically. I scrubbed and vacuumed the case in an effort to present the nicest package possible. "This one's a honey bear," as we say in the South and I'll be a little sad to see her go. But, as in life, I've let a few good ones get away so I assume such will be this case with this bass too. No matter- I had it for a short time and that's usually good enough for me- please feel free to call or email with any questions or requests.