G&L ASAT Bass

Mine is a tobacco sunburst early 2000's model. It has all the usual switches/controls. They are are musical and can be used most gigs. The only weak point is the bridge. Maybe because I'm from the UK the intonation screws don't go long enough, and I've had to remove two to get the saddles anywhere near in tune. Luckily, Ol' Leo and George put in that little grub screw round the bottom of the bridge to lock the saddles in place which has been doing the job for the last seven years...The only other thing I don't like is the sticky plastic stuff they wrap the battery in, can't get the goo off quickly enough. Having said that, battery life is superb.

The best bass sound, ever. I use a Hartke rig and my team are perfect. But I spent years doing those gigs where you have to plug into whatever the house provides and the ASAT was always a monster. I was after a cross between a Stingray and a Jazz for my heavy rock band and that's what I got, with more besides. The neck pickup with active and bass boost selected sounds like the best precision ever. I've also done the usual rounds of functions bands, pit work and the like, this guitar has every base covered. So live it's nothing short of awesome, any amp or DI-ed, in the studio it has never been EQ-ed. I've blagged some choice time in some world class studios and this bass goes flat. Nobody needs to mess with how this bass sounds.

Mine has a very jazz like neck, plays really smooth, anybody else who tries it falls in love straight away. She has a couple of dents after some hard gigs but only after extreme circumstances, everyday use and this bass won't pick up any marks. All the fittings are still as good as the day I got it.

Perfect. The G+l moulded case is rubbish, inversely proportional to the guitar. Never taken a back-up to the many, many gigs I've used it on. Tuning stability is amazing as well, for those straight out of the cold onto the brightly lit stage why am I so late occasions!

Never needed it, apart from the screws issue. The distrubutors weren't very helpful, but it hasn't mattered.

If this bass was stolen it would be like I'd lost a limb. She'll never be lost, I can't let that happen. How can a grown man be so sentimental over a plank with wires on I don't know. Alright she's heavy and the balance could be better, but this guitar has been one of the best things that ever happened to me. I've ummed and ahhed over whether to even write a review as no-one seems to use these things, therefore giving me a massive advantage in the tone stakes, but the truth needs to be told. These are the best basses. I went through a lot of shops, hired a lot of guitars and once the search was over, I knew I'd never need to do it again. I know I've waxed lyrical but sometimes manufacturers get it right- just right. Sermon over.

ASAT bass (not sure which year)in metallic gold with cream front binding & rosewood board.#8 neck in G&L speak I bleeb,very Jazz bass like but feels a bit bigger.After a MM Sterling,this is my next favourite neck profile
Standard tri-tone electronics,chunky G&L bridge with lockable saddles,3 bolt neck fixing,G&L elephant ear tuners with aluminium string posts. This is a great looking bass,quite gaudy and blingy but it suits the tele shaped body perfectly.Serious cool looking bass

I used to own an L2K so I know what these p/ups and electronics can do.I am still to try a more versatile bass.I think the MFDs sound wonderful and ballsy,though they get a little microphonic with the volume full on.I just went back to woundwound strings and the active circuitry on.For a while I loved it strung with flatwounds and in passive mode. I should have 2 of these and have both options all the time.I cant do a P or J or MM tone with this bass.well not exactly but I can get helluva close to all 3 and have other unique tones as well all from the one instrument.these MFD pickups also respond more than usual to where your right hand is.a lot of the time you dont even need to touch the controls to vary the sound greatly.
apart from the microphonics this would have been a 10

I cant get the action on this bass quite as low as my MM Sterling.it just starts choking off notes and fretting out.The relief is spot on so maybe the frets need a level.still,the action's fine.
The bass is well made,everything is solid and tight though mine's maybe needs a bit of extra shielding and neck wise,the fret ends could be a little better filed off

This bass looks and feels solid.everything is heavy duty about it and cant see it giving up the ghost in my lifetime at least.
but one of the two strap buttons on the bottom of the bass is working its way loose :)
I have used it out without backup - no probs there

never had too deal with them

I always loved G&Ls.they're very individualistic imo and all I've played have heaps of mojo/character/whatever.(I also own a USA G&L Legacy 6 string)this ones the same.I aim to keep this bass a long long time.its just too versatile,sexy,and familiar now to let go.My sterling does more of my rehearsals/gigs but I guess I have a huge soft spot for this bass.If it were lost and stolen I'd have to source another one(or an L2K) But as I still got the ASAT I'm hoping for either an SB2 or JB2 as my next G&L.

1996, translucent blue center to black edge finish. all maple body and neck, made in u.s.a. 22 frets, 4 strings. Laminated top. All the others have mentioned the three nobs. the outer nobs have 3-way toggle switches, while the middle has select (select between pickups). It sounds wicked - like the others said, i've never seen such a wide possibility of sound. I play it through a trace elliot AH-200 head through a peavey 410 cab. Evidently the lack of big speakers limits the thumpy bass sound, but my style of music (prog-punk) doesn't require it really.
I got it used, shipped from Hawaii (what a gamble!!!) and it definitely paid off. I don't ever want to lose this baby. The frets were almost flawless (considering its age) and the neck plays really smoothly. It's odd that not many people know the name - whenever i tell the name, i almost feel like my instrument sounds inferior to them than a fender/musicman...but i know the awesome potential of my bass. The telecaster body does take some getting used to, as does the weight. I made a steep upgrade from Samick to G&L, and whenever i play my samick, it weighs about as much as a pillow. it's crazy when comparing, but i love the sound of the G&L so much that i'll cope with the pain. I also like the fact that the lead chord jack is on the side of the instrument, not on the top.

The sound is fantastic. no complaints at all. I used it through a DOD bass 30 and it the sound is not lost. I just bought a boss odb-3 and a ce-2b today, so i'm looking foward to hearing how it sounds. I use Elixir nanoweb coated strings - definitely worth the investment.

The action is just right, didn't have to adjust it (even after overseas shipping (hawaii- eastern canada), nothing was out of place. I have a small nick on the outer-top surface corner (right side), but i just used a sharpie marker to "paint it black".

the translucent blue finish is marvellous and quite unique. I wish the blue center would be a bit brighter, but that's a minor techicality that i can disregard. The surface is scratched a little between the picks up and the neck, but negligeable.

live playing is like babysitting a fish. i can't see any problems occuring here. hardwood body and neck - this thing isn't going anywhere. i was a bit worried with the neck only being fixed with 3 bolts....but i know i'm in safe hands.
Like i said, definitely heavier than my other one, being maple and all. I've gigged a dozen or so shows with it without a backup and i was never worried - it helps with the longevity of the Elixir strings.

I never had to deal with them.

Except for the weight, and perhaps the style is less comfortable than a fender or musicman, this bass is top notch. I'm glad of my choice and recommend a G&L to everyone. there's a list of musicians who use their instruments on their site - it was a surprise to see a few of them - albums which i deem have the better bass sound (in general) (personal opinion)

This is a 2002 ASAT bass. It is sunburst with binding(beautiful) and made in the US of A. 4-string,maple neck, ash body.Has the usual preamp setup for ASAT and L-2000 basses. Tele style body and the massive G&L bridge(which gives it some serious punch,clarity and sustain. 34" scale,jumbo frets,tinted and gloss-finished neck. Nothing to complain about here.

If you like Fender tone,you'll love this bass. It adds some meat and versaltility but does not sound artificial. Gets real Classic Fender tones- I can get a great P-bass and Jazz bass tone. Since I've owned some boutique basses,I sometimes wish the preamp had a midrange control,but then it might not sound like it does. Between the switches and bass and treble, it can get a lot of useful sounds,though. It records BEAUTIFULLY and I've gotten some real compliments on it. This bass was shielded and is not noisy at all. I use it with a GK 1001 rb combo

Excellent factory set-up. No flaws in the premier finish.

This bass is like a tank. Leo knew from years of experience how to build a durable bass. I'm not scared to take it to a gig.This is kind of why I gave up on boutique basses. Too scared they would get stolen or damaged. The neck is very stable and I would (and have) gigged it without a backup.

G&L's customer support is among the best. It's a fact. Robert in the service dept. is a nice guy,too.

They are going for just under 1400. nowadays(and you can pay for factory upgrades,too) and for the price,you get something that's on par with custom-shop Fender(in my opinion). I've been playing bass for about 30 years and have owned alot of nice basses.This bass is the real deal if you like Fender style basses with extra versatility. It is a little neck-heavy(not too bad,you get used to it) and the tele body style takes some getting used to, but it's a great bass.

Made in the good ol' US of A;is there any other place that makes such great basses? The ASAT has the unbelievable sound selection of the active G&L's. It can growl, thump, dub, whatever you need; this is an unbelievably great sounding bass. Mine is jet black with the gold Leo Fender signature on the front, no idea of the year. Maple neck, the ASAT Telecaster style body, whomping bridge, G&L tuners. I have a variety of basses and this is by far the most versatile.

I play pop rock ala Squeeze, XTC, Ted Leo, the Killers etc. I record through an old Ampeg B-15N (jump back!)and live through a Crate BT-350 head (same as an Ampeg) and a Mesa 1-15" bottom. The low end on the ASAT rumbles your soul but cuts through the murk on the top end. Great tone for both live and recording settings; I have played hundreds of live shows, recorded 7 cd's and numerous records and this is the best bass I have ever played. And everyone can quit crying about the weight and how their back hurts when they play it too long, it's a BASS for Chris'sakes, suck it up or hit the gym.

I bought this used from a cool pop star (see below) and I am not sure he ever played it because he had tons of other gear. When I got it not a hair was out of place, it was ready to go, perfectly set up and balanced.

Having a solid piece of wood about in the rock and roll business can come in very handy. The ASAT is built to be played by cockroaches after the end of the world as we know it. Solid as a rock in all aspects. I own Fenders, Gibsons and lots of others and this is by far and away the highest quality instrument I have ever played. I take very good care of my instruments, always clean them after shows and store in the proper temperature/humidity settings so it remains pristine except where I have wacked off some small paint chips from moving around the stage. Great piece of wood! I completely depend on it but always bring a backup because things, well, they burn, Colonel. I have had several basses stolen from me at shows so you can never be too careful.

No contact at all, no need, no idea how long the warranty is but I won't need it.

I have been playing for many years. I have 2 Fender P-basses ('68 & '73), a Fender Telecaster Bass, G&L L1000, a Danelectro Longhorn Bass plus numerous guitars. The ASAT blows all the other basses out the water for versatility and sound. There are specific things my other basses provide but the ASAT surpasses them as an overall choice. If this bass disappeared I would immediately buy another (silver sparkle if possible!). You can't go wrong with the ASAT!

I bought this bass off-the-shelf, but go to their website to find all the different options that they offer for their guitars. Great finishes, binding, necks, and fingerboards can all be custom-ordered. Try that with a Fender!

Yes, it is constructed very, very well, but this bass has one outstanding aspect that sets it apart from almost all other basses--its electronics. You will not find another bass that has more options in the tone department than a G & L active bass. Volume, passive bass, and passive treble pots. Micro-switches to select pickups (3-way), coil phasing (2-way), and preamp "map" (passive/active/active + treble boost). Perhaps the most important feature in the electronics is the passive switch which allows you to "limp home" and get through the gig if your battery dies. I've never had to use it but it is nice to know it's there.

The woods are beautiful and contribute a boatload to the tones of this bass. Straight neck grains plus G & L's exclusive construction method for sawing the neck woods. No warped necks! Again, see their website for more info.

This bass can sound very, very close to any bass Fender has ever made, using the various switches. It can also nail that Stingray snarl. If you like, and have about 5 minutes to experiment it will sound exactly like you want it to sound. My favorite tone is: all pots to "10", both pickups on, coils in series (switch "forward"), and active + treble boost selected. This setting will make a cheap amp sound rich and a rich amp sound priceless. It will cut, without getting thin or muddy. Perfection!

About the only sound that it won't quite nail is the studio-sterile EMG sound. I have a Modulus with and EMG and I really like it and it has its place, but the G & L offers a cozy warmth that rounds out your sound.

Overall, from the factory G & Ls come through with excellent woods, fantastic hardware, and a very good medium-action setup job. After breaking-in my G & Ls (I also have an SB-2, my baby) I take them to a local, eccentric, and incredible guitar tech who gives them a once-over. Only then do they play perfectly. I believe G & L does there best that they can for the money that they charge, but another $200 in setup/leveling time makes a great bass into one that you just can't put down. For an instrument produced in a factory (yes, hand-made, but still on a time-schedule) they cannot be beaten. Only a Warwick Thumb has been easier to play out-of-the-box, and the price difference is reflective of this.

No real problems. This particular bass will pick up a slight hum in certain rooms. Not bad and hardly noticable, but still not perfect.

The hardware is top-notch, nothing ever comes loose, and this thing has seen quite a bit of touring. I could (but never do) gig without a backup, if that tells you anything.

I had a strange "crackle" develop on my SB-2 a year after I bought that one. I called the factory, they seemed confused as to the cause. They told me to ship it back. Two weeks later (coast to coast transit time) I got it back with ALL NEW ELECTRONICS installed, no charge. It could have been something that I had done to it but they stood behind it 100%. This helped to sell me on the ASAT. TOP NOTCH COMPANY. They really do care about their work.

If it were stolen I would get another one ASAT, wait, ASAP! Sorry. Perhaps an L-2000 with an ASAT neck because I prefer the body shape, but definitely another G & L (and I already own two!). This is the most versatile, rugged, and beautifully-playing bass that I own. Own one and you will fall in deep, deep love. I got mine at an annual sale for a steal, but I would pay full-price to get another. You cannot beat them.

I bought this bass cheap as it had been in the shop for a few years and nobody else had shown any interest in it (I don`t think G&L is a name a lot of people have heard off in my part of the world!). 22 fret maple neck with thin jazz like profile and quite a large taper outwards towards the body end. Volume, treble and bass controls with 3 mini-toggle switches for p/up select, series/parrallel, active on-off/ treble boost (15 possible combinations I think!). Translucent red finish with swamp ash body, chrome hardware. Body is shaped like a telecaster - unusual looking bass.

This is an extremely versatile sounding bass. It can go from fat p-bass type tones through to modern active bass sounds. On recent recordings with my band I used several different pickup and pre-amp settings and it sounds like I`m using a different instrument on each song. Extremely punchy tones with lots of bass (almost too much sometimes!), outstanding slap tone puts my Musicman Stingray to shame. Generally output is pretty quiet but can get a bit noisy when switched to series mode. I play a variety of styles from funk to jazz and heavy rock - I always seem to find a suitable tone with very little effort. Overall exceptional sounds!

Set up from factory seemed good but a little high for my taste. It has accepeted a low action with virtually no fret buzz. The slim neck is extremely fast and comfortable and the action has a very positive feel. Finish is virtually flawless as is the fretwork and overall build quality (neck joint is perfect). Balance of the bass could be better when using a strap - this is the thing I like least about the bass, although I am now used to it the bass tends to drop down at the neck end (probably due to the telecaster shaped body).

The finish seems very durable and has survived a couple of knocks without showing any marks. All G&L`s that I`ve seen and played seem to have an indestructible quality and you feel that the instrument will last for many years. Large strap buttons are very good, and all pots and switches seem of a very high quality. Taking the back cover off to replace the battery a good standard of wiring inside is also apparent.

10 year limited warranty. Not had to deal with them yet.

Other basses include Musicman Stingray and an old Ibanez Axstar(!). Amp wise I use an Ashdown Mag250 combo and also have used this bass through an SWR 200w head and Hatke 4x10 combo (my previous setup). Overall the Asat is the closest I have yet played to my ideal for what I`m looking for in a bass - both in terms of tone and playability (and I`ve tried a lot!). The Stingray plays great but the tone sounds weedy compared to this bass. I feel lucky that other players overlooked this bass in the store and I ended up with something a little more unique than your average Fender, and with a sound to blow most other basses away. If you`ve not played a G&L I strongly recommend you check them out. Full price of this bass is around #1200 (with premier finish) which puts it up there in terms of price with Musicman, Fender Deluxe, Warwick etc so it`s easy to understand why they may get overlooked. In my opinion it`s worth every penny for what is after all a handmade instrument with an outstanding array of sounds.

If it were stolen I`d definitely get another G&L although I might try one of the other body shapes simply to improve the balance when playing with a strap. It`d be a difficult choice though as the Asat does look very cool.

Now, go forth and try one of these bass machines!

This one is unique, its inca silver, matching head, rw board and DOUBLE BOUND. I needed an active bass to compliment my 77 Stingray. I checked out an EB ray and the ASAT. The selling point was this neck is as big as a leg, it HUGE. Im primarily an early 60s pbass player. The neck felt very "Fender". When you place your hand on the body, the position is very pbass. I felt at home.. I have a hard time w/modern basses because i've been a 62 pbass player for 28 years. The bass does everything well, not specacular but well. From Jamerson to Flea, if its in your hands its in the bass. You know the electronics and hardware so I wont repeat the other guys. I've used Laklands but they were too pretty, I always felt uncomfortable. The GnL is real meat and potatos. Its a high-end chevy of basses... My only complaint is what drew me to the bass in the 1st place. The binding will cut into your arm in the 4th set.. No biggie, just a heads up... You will love this bass though....

Sound, well in a word its KILLER. It does it all from p or j bass to stingray from motown including Nugent to Beatles and Zep.. The pre-amp doesnt sound artificial. I found the new Rays can get that way. Its dark and barky or nice and smooth. Id simplify the electronics by removing the series switch and i'd replace the pup selector with a pan pot... minor gripes..

I got the bass right out of the carton. The factory set up sucked. Too much relief, a high nut and bridge. The bass took about 20 minutes on my bench and it was perfect. The fret work was unbelieveably good. My guess is the shipping and change of temp got to the bass. The paint is top notch. I was quite impressed that you couldnt feel a binding ridge on the body, nice job!

I thing the bass will withstand years of playing and torture from my kids. It is solid.. The Lakland which I owned and wanted to buy again did not give me this impression. This is a solid bass

Overall this was a great purchase. It was bought as a work horse. I have quite a few basses and taking the old stuff out is killing my frets. A modern bass with superb reliabilty, this should do it.. In 28 years of playing, is this my favorite bass? No. Is this an impressive off the self bass, no doubt!

2001,hand made american telecaster type bass... but it sounds so much better. 22 frets,4 string.... solid body,1 volume and tone,2 g&l single coil pickups, maple neck and fretboard,alder body,
ash tray bridge,gl tuners ... fat neck,(maple) included hardshell case.exact tele specs

i play classic rock and roll, hendrix, beatles, zeppelin.. sweeeet...
i use a mark 3 peavey combo, which sounds pretty good with it.... id like a tube, but we all do...not at all noisy... nothing was looked over on this axe.rich full "fat tone" ... not a guitar to play with if you suck, and you try to cover it up by distorting it... it shines through. a lot of bass... good... great for stage and studio...i love everythig about it.

its sweet... thats about it. no flaws in the wood, but i do warn the weary, they are hand made... no two are the same ... i picked up one with an uncomfortable neck in the guitar shop the other day.... it scared me ...

this bizznitch will take anything, and go forever.

ive played twenty years... and its the yin to my yang, or some shit
i will keep this piece forever, and ill stab the thief who robs it from me ... i love everything about it... frets, play,the sweet little knobs to turn up and down the volume... aaaaaah~

USA made 1999 model. Ash body with maple neck. Unlike other G&L basses, this model does not have a string through the body option. Two humbucking pickup with volume, treble, and bass knobs. Three mini-toggle switches are for pickup selection, series/parallel, and pre-amp (off/on/treble boost). I gave less than a perfect score because a mid range control would have been nice.

This is the Swiss Army knife of basses. It can produce just about any style of sound you'd like. It does almost every sound well, but isn't great at any one sound.

The body is a beautiful butterscotch blonde, and the neck had a glossy gun-oil vintage looking finish. The finish and fretwork are flawless. This is not true of all G&L basses I've tried. I played a new L-2000 a few days ago, and the fretwork and finish were nowhere near as nice as my bass. After nearly two years, it still looks new. I haven't touched the action, but I don't know if it was a perfect factory set-up (the dealer-National Speaker-does great set-ups and adjustments). The only adjustment I've done is a minor tweek of the truss rod.

Like I said, it still looks new. I don't take a backup to gigs, and I've never had a problem.

I've never had a reason to deal with G&L. I believe the warrenty is ten years.

I've been playing guitat for nearly 30 years, and been playing bass as my primary instrument for the past couple of years. If it were lost or stolen, I'd probably try something different (variety is the spice of life).
One last comment: this bass is too heavy--after playing it on stage for three hours, I definitely feel it.

1997 ASAT Bass, beautiful tele-style natural swamp ash body, tele-style rosewood maple satin-finish neck #6 jazz bass dimensions with micro tilt adjustment, 2 pickups, pickup selector, single coil/humbucker, and active passive switching, bass treble cut/boost, bridge saddle locking. Adjustable pickup polepieces. Excellent construction, electronics, bridge. Came with a well-constructed but nauseating smelling plush-lined hardshell case (I think it's the smell of horse glue). A very versatile bass that can cop nearly any sound out there. Built like a brick shit house, you could hammer a nail with this bass.

I play in a modern rock band that requires me to use a variety of different bass sounds from song to song. As I said earlier, this bass can do it all. Leave it in passive single coil mode with the bridge pickup on only, and you've got the classic warm Jazz tone. Switch to active and you've got a more modern J bass that cuts through the mix. Same set up with the front pickup on only gives you a classic Precision tone (I normally hate Precisions, but this bass has a beautiful fat, rich tone). Active on in humbucker mode with both pickups on blows away a Stingray for slapping and punchiness (I got rid of my Stingray 'cause it had 1 great sound and that's it). I've pretty much been able to replicate a J Bass, P Bass, Stingray, Rick, you name it with this bass. I play through an Eden navigator preamp through Eden's 4 x 10 cabinet. I actually leave all the Navigator's setting flat because all the tweaking and EQing I need can be found on this bass. It would be nice if this bass were able blend both pickups, but that's a very minor criticism. Overall incredible!

Here's where I have my strongest criticisms, as there are a few things that urk me about this bass. The neck is a #6 slim smooth satin finished Jazz neck option I prefer (I am and will always be a Fender J bass man at heart), not quite as comfortable as my J basses but nice nevertheless. I acquired this bass used and it came with crappy strings on it and very high action. Even with the action high, there were dead spots on the A string at the 3rd fret and E string at the 7th fret. Unplugged, the bass rattled and buzzed like hell. I quickly changed to D'Addarrio EXL165's and spent a LOT of time playing with the truss rod and micro tilt. The bass is finally set up well for me with low action and relatively even string height spacing from neck to bridge. There's still some minor fret buzzing, but it's not audible when amplified. The E string action is still slightly higher than I'd like it to be, and this is due to the fact that the saddle locking device prevents the E saddle from dropping lower than a certain height. I don't know if it can be disengaged or not, but I haven't figured out how yet and I personally don't see the necessity for a saddle locking system anyway. Now body issues: One primary reason I bought this bass was for the ultra cool Tele stylings. Unfortunately, I don't think this design lends itself well to a bass. The bass is heavy, and the headstock will dip, which is why there are two strap buttons on the body to offset this. Unless you like playing your bass at a 90 degree angle to your body, I suggest using the lower strap button. Actually, I have a strap that loops around both buttons, as this holds the bass securely to my body without movement at about a 65-70 degree angle (or so). Also, because of the Tele design, the horn is significantly smaller than my Jazz basses, which means that the shoulder strap is falling across the front of my body rather than to the side of it like a J bass. This puts the bass at a slightly awkward contour that I've found causes my fretting arm to jut out elbow out at higher frets in order to play the bass. And, while the neck is a standard length, it makes the neck feel longer than it is. I realize that a lot of this might seem inconsequential, but I've found that the design and weight of the bass all contributes to some fatigue and strain over time.

I think this bass could withstand getting stepped on by a herd of African elephants. It's super solid, and while I was leary of a 3 bolt neck it hasn't been a problem. Hardware, electronics, are all extremely well constructed. Strap buttons seem solid, and have a wide enough lip that you could go without straplocks, I think. (And as I said, even if you dropped this bass, you wouldn't hurt it). I would definitely use this bass without a backup, but I really don't know if I'd want to go over an hour using it live, due to the body contour/weight.

I've been playing bass for 17 years, in a wide variety of musical endeavors. My main bass is a '73 Jazz bass, which I've played exclusively for 15 of those years. I'm thinking about retiring it, though, because it's getting well worn and I don't want to depreciate it anymore, so that's why I looked into the ASAT. I also have a '78 fretless Jazz and a cheap Rogue Beatle bass knockoff. I had heard about how great G & L instruments were, and I also read other Harn=mony reviews before I bought it sight unseen. I'm hoping I can eventually get used to the weight and awkward design of the ASAT, because it's damn cool looking, but not at risk of becoming a hunchback. If it were lost or stolen, I think I may opt to go for the L2000 bass instead, much more in line with a standard bass contouring. I'd also inquire about whether or not other finishes/woods are lighter. Tonally, however, you've got no gripes from me. It's one of the best sounding basses I've ever heard.

Made in 1998 in Fullerton, CA, USA. 4 string, 22 frets.
2 G&L passive humbucking pickups (adjustable pole pieces), active electronics. Tons of controls, 3 toggles: pickup selector (3 pos), series/parallel (2 pos), preamp control (3 pos: bypass/on/on treble boost)
Telecaster body style, ash body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Finish is natural. The bridge is G&L's saddlelock (not string thru body), tuners are G&L (non-locking) ultralites. The neck is great, fast and thin, 1.5" at nut, with a fast satin finish on the back.
The bass came with a hardshell case, a few allen wrenches, and a goofy sticker.
Overall, the features are a great deal for the money, especially the electronics and controls. There are no features missing, and the only negative on any of the features I can think of is that the hardshell case is just a little on the chintzy side.

I play mostly rock/alternative and the bass is suited for it, but its hard to imagine what its not suited for. Its versatile as hell, you can dial in a million different sounds with all the controls. Goes all the way from a deep passive growl to a super-bright twang. Great for slap, pick, or fingers, it just took a little while to find the right settings for the style.
I've been very happy with its sound both live and recording, I'm impressed with the shielding, its real quiet recording. Also the output is nice and hot.
What I don't like about the sound is that I think the bridge pickup is a hair too close to the bridge for my taste, as a result I seldom use the bridge pickup alone.

The bass came from the factory set up perfectly, no buzzing anywhere, nice fast low action. The pickups were adjusted perfectly as well. Someone who knew what they were doing set this one up, and I haven't wanted to touch a thing.
Overall, the construction of the bass is incredible, the fact that it's a handmade instrument shows, excellent craftmanship all around!
The finish is perfect as well. Real nice work.

I've only had the bass a month or so, so I won't give it a number here. But it sure seems like it will withstand a lot. Everything is real solid, and the natural finish is rock hard, should be hard to scratch (I hope).

I haven't dealt with the factory, but they have a reputation for being responsive, but you're best off going through your dealer. That's ok for me, the dealer was incredibly helpful.
The bass came with a 10 year warranty and the dealer gives free setups for the life of the instrument.

Overall I love it, I bought it after comparing it with a Ernie Ball Stingray and a Fender American Jazz Deluxe. I went for the G&L because it was cheaper (by $100-$200), it had far better construction (handmade!), and I liked the feel best. Soundwise, I found it much more versatile than the Stingray and I liked the controls better than the Jazz Bass Deluxe.
I love the way the bass looks, (the telecaster body style is awesome!), plays (perfect neck for me), and sounds. Hard to say what my favorite feature is.
For negative things, the bass is heavy, its a natural finish which only comes in a swamp ash body. Other standard finishes come in alder, if I was buying it all over, I would compare a ash body with an alder one and see if the weight is worth the tone. Also, I've heard from people that they've found the telecaster body style screws up the way it hangs (neck dip), that's why there are two offset strap buttons on the bottom end. I don't know why, but this wasn't a problem for me, it hangs well, not perfect, but close.
If it were stolen, I'd buy another one immediately. I think it's the best value around.