My New G&L S500 Strat ...

[dave robinson]

Can I ask which model the other Roger bought ? I understand Mr Baylis has the S-500.

My apologies, just seen it, he's got an S-500 too, but from an Indian tobacconist somewhere . . .

[alanbakewell]

[roger bayliss]

Dave I tried the S500 and the Legacy out before I made my mind up to get the S500. I strongly recommend you try the both before you decide.

[dave robinson]

Are you saying there's a noticeable difference Roger ?

[ecca]

Well I'm really looking forward to tonight at the Hankies , quite apart from the 2 new guitars to try out there are black, crusty cobs with cheese and onion on em !

[roger bayliss]

Are you saying there's a noticeable difference Roger ?

Not a massive difference but the S500 seems to offer more and the PUs seem to have more output and full range of Lows/Mids/Highs and comined with the tone controls makes for a great guitar for rock n roll and also as I now know the Shadows tones as well. These PUs will also drive an amp more and I feel they are more versatile but you will have to try the guitars out yourself Dave. I thought I wanted the Legacy which was basically the stat with alnico v PU's , but after trying them I went for the S500 and dared to try something different. The S500 is a better fuller sounding guitar but with all the right tones available for a strat. The Legacy I found was a bit thinner sounding overall and very trebley where as the S500 still has the highs and when you roll out a little bass it sounds much like a strat would.

You need to try one to see for yourself .

[dave robinson]

Thanks for that Roger, I will do as you suggest, I had my eye on an American Legacy dependant on how much spare cash I generate from selling my unwanted stuff.
They do look very similar in the pictures I've seen and I do fancy one with a trans -over swamp-ash finish. I do love that dark blueburst. The one I was looking at is ice blue and reduced to £825, but I'll wait a bit and have a look at yours there's no rush. I'm looking forward to this Fiorano arriving later this week, I've got the Stetsbar ready to fit.
It's strange that you should post about them on here as I've been looking at G&L for some time, knowing that they would be quality. You have confirmed what I thought and as long as I can afford it without putting the bills in jeopardy then why not treat myself ? I do get some stick about 'how many guitars do you need' but the answer really is hundreds, they please me to look at them. My only worry is that my missus doesn't sell them for what I said I paid for them after I've gone.

[ecca]

I won't be bringing a guitar tonight in view of the prolifery available - but I might bring the 1963 AC15 to see what the G&L guitars sound like through it.

[roger bayliss]

Thanks for that Roger, I will do as you suggest, I had my eye on an American Legacy dependant on how much spare cash I generate from selling my unwanted stuff.
They do look very similar in the pictures I've seen and I do fancy one with a trans -over swamp-ash finish. I do love that dark blueburst. The one I was looking at is ice blue and reduced to £825, but I'll wait a bit and have a look at yours there's no rush. I'm looking forward to this Fiorano arriving later this week, I've got the Stetsbar ready to fit.
It's strange that you should post about them on here as I've been looking at G&L for some time, knowing that they would be quality. You have confirmed what I thought and as long as I can afford it without putting the bills in jeopardy then why not treat myself ? I do get some stick about 'how many guitars do you need' but the answer really is hundreds, they please me to look at them. My only worry is that my missus doesn't sell them for what I said I paid for them after I've gone.

I have been looking for a strat guitar for sometime that would give me a little more in terms of sounds options yet retain the capacity for the Shads tones. I looked at many manufacturers including Levington Blade but whilst they are great guitars they are not for the Shadows stuff and the tremolo is a unique design which sits on the body and works in two different ways... but it is not smooth enough for the more subtle vibrato effects due to a clunkiness when it switches between the two modes. They are nice though.

When I read about Leo Fenders last company and the improvements he had bought in to improve the strat in the shape of the S500 I realised I must try one and see for myself. For me this has a lot of flexibility and makes a great 'Live' guitar and the tone controls are so much better than the usual strat ones.

So mission accomplished I found a strat that I really like off the shelf ! How many times have we bought only to change PU's etc. I cannot see me wanting to change this guitar to me it covers some of the bases.

[dave robinson]

I have been reading on their site (G&L) andI think I understand the difference between the S-500 & the Legacy.
The S-500 has a mahogany body with Leo's own pickups. The Legacy has a basswood body on the solid colours but a swamp ash body on the translucent finishes and the pickups were designed by Paul Gagon who they brought in to help build these new models, the Ascari and Fiorano. The hardware as in bridge/trem and tuners are the same on both the S-500 & the Legacy.
This tells me that the S-500 should sound warmer than the Legacy. They're all lovely anyway, I want one of each.