Fender Strat vs G&L S500 Which Do You Like More?
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2018
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Marty Music Thanks man! Your tutorials are awesome.
Marty Music Hi!
Hey Marty I’m noticing my second and first string are way quieter than my 3rd and all the other strings. I’m trying to play a lot of Hendrix stuff, is there like a pickup or something that can make it more balanced or something in my Strat?
Marty Music
Hey what's up man,
I got a question to you:
Why you have another UA-cam channell named "Marty Jamz"?
Wassup with that.
Regards 👍👍
Marty Music have you got a link to buy view the G AND L?
After hearing the s500, the strat just sounded wrong
The S-500 is a much better Strat!!!
True but it also depends on the amp and settings. I own both and the Strat can do things well the G&L can’t do and vice versa with the G&L.
I'll take the G&L. No wait, I don;'t have to because I have one. I love my G&L. It has testicular fortitude!!
Rock on Kev🍻🎸🎶
I have the Comanche I so love my G&L
I've always been a classic Strat guy, but the G&L is solid!
G&L s500 clean riff 0:32
Fender Strat (same clean riff) 3:39
You're welcome. I'm going to buy the s500 tribute for $599
Yeah .. good point! G&l s500 fuller .. more mojo!
Now I know what I'm saving up for. I just hope my local guitar store still has it when I'm ready lol.
@@pwnshhhop51 If you think the Indonesian G&L sounds good, the Fullerton American will blow you away. Go to their website and build your own the way you want and it doesn't cost any more than a Fender Pro II. You'll be surprised how much better than the $5000 Ultra Custom Shop Fenders they are for under $1800. Find one used and get it for around $1100. You'll never buy another Fender again, and I have 4 different versions of both.
G&L guitars just got something refined about them. Not neceserrily boutique, but just... seriously good... more than good. I don't wanna say boutique cuz that's just a whole other realm, but they're Leo's legacy. I can only imagine what he would have come up with he were still alive today. Man those MFD's sound good.
For future videos, it would be better to have each riff played back to back on both guitar
Yup
100% agree.
G&l sounded warmer and fuller. Those magnetic field design pickups aren’t for everyone but for me you can’t bet em’. You can go from modern to vintage, just by rolling the volume down and adjusting the PTB controls. The more I play my S-500 the more I don’t want play anything else. Would like to see you play with the expander switch a little more, you can get pretty convincing tele tones in position 1 and 5 and all three a la David Gilmour in 2 and 4.
For those saying this is another strat copy this was Leo Fender, George Fullerton, Dale Hyatt the ORIGINAL creators of the stratocaster! Not a mere copy.
TeamPoserFilms TeamPoserFilms I know I’m a year late, but could you explain the bit about Gilmour in position 2 and 4? Been trying to get close to Gilmour’s sound on my S-500 Tribute.
I agree, the MFD's are fuller and stronger (good), so to get the single-coil tones of the Fender, you have to dial it back. 2in1 I say.
Agreed… this isn’t a copy. It is Leo’s final word on the Strat.
G&L is the Final Form.
I have the G&L Doheny and I like it way better that any Jazzmaster I've played.
I’ve never played a jazzmaster but I’ve had multiple G&Ls including the Doheny. The Doheny has a very cool set of pickups.
The G&L has more bottom end and mellower top end while the Fender is thinner and brighter…so it depends what you are looking for! I chose a G&L Legacy over a Fender Strat about 15 years ago and have never looked back! The bridge and pop-in trem arm alone are such improvements…plus I could order it with locking tuners and the finish I wanted. To get those features on an American Fender Strat would have cost a lot more.
Im a fan a fender but the G&L blowed my mind!!
Bought a g&l s500 today, such an awesome guitar!!
Thanks for this. I'd like you to play around more with the G&L bass cut because it does change the character of the tone so much. I'd like to hear how well it can imitate the Strat glassy tones which I love so much.
The G&L S-500 has all the features I would want in a Strat like the "PTB" Passive Treble and Bass system that has Treble and Bass knobs instead of the "standard" tone knobs, the switch that lets you use the neck p-up in all positions and last but definitely not least the MFD Single Coils. In the video the S-500 sounds beefier and has a bit more character but the Strat sounds great too. I think that the S-500 is a clear winner from the features alone.
I have a '97 AM Stratocaster Plus with gold lace sensors and an AM G&L Legacy HSS with 2 Alnico single coils and a Seymour Duncan TS4 Humbucker in the bridge... The G&L is literally an improvement in quality and everything else. You literally have to turn your amp way higher to get the same Dbs out of the strat, the tone is muddled compared to the G&L but it's still an great instrument. However, I've tailored my G&L to sound EXACTLY like the strat just by decreasing the volume a bit and messing with the tone but the Strat cant be tailored to sound like the G&L. George and Leo were right, the G&L is a strat improvement...However, they dont get the name recognition that Fender does and that makes me happy bc I like to bust out my G&L and be the weird guy.
love this comment right here thank you
Yup good stuff
Love that Leo Fender sig decal on the S500, gives it some serious class! Cracking playing to boot 👍
I have to go with the G&L.. I have a G&L Blues Boy ASAT and a G&L Fullerton Special ASAT.
Both have their on unique sound and both are fantastic guitars, from playability, quality and tone. I love them both.
they both sound amazing when your playing them , would have to try them myself . I think the G&L takes it a little. Cracking vid mate
I've been watching the videos of you from youcanlearnguitar, then found u have your own channel and watched a video from a year ago and now im checking out your channel and when I saw that the last video u posted (This one) was an hour ago I got so happy AH!!! YOU'RE AMAZING AND I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!❤
Hey Marty, Love the vids. I was wondering if you knew anything about the Ibanez AR guitars, the ones that look like double cut les pauls. I saw Tommy Shaw use one on stage and I think they look awesome but none of my local music stores have any. I was wondering if you could possibly get your hands on one for a Thursday gear video.
Played a Stratocaster for many years, I own three of them. Bought a S-500 on black Friday and I am waiting for it to arrive. After watching this video, I'm glad I did. Can't wait for it to arrive.
I didn't think I'd be saying this but the G&L tones I like more.
Your guitar playing is awesome. Respect!
What pedal did you kick in for Cream's SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE?
I think the Fender is perfect for clean and blues ala Stevi Ray Vaughan; and the GnL is awesome for more "crunchy" stuff due to its heavy tone !
love your vids Perfect playing
Another awesome video
Thanks Marty 👍
Getting G&L S-500 but still keeping my custom Strat with fat 50's just because I like it. But my Asat jumbo MFD pups get most my play time now, so getting a CLF S-500 now. Thanks for the video
I gotta go with the G&L S500!! That one sounds badass distorted.✌❤🤘🤙
zigzag 95 *E*
I think the strat sounds better distorted and the GL sounds better clean!
Man i thought just the opposite but only by a hair they both are amazing n I want both but excuse me while I go polish n play my squier lmfao
For me the G&L sounds better more strong
Bruce Kelly lol😂
Definitely the red strat
But not sure if that’s because you are more comfortable with it so you are more relaxed as you play ?
I've recorded one of my songs on a G&L about 13 years ago now. It belong to the studio where i was recording i loved it
They are both great. I myself love them both. The G&L definitely sounds more compressed vs. the Strat. I think under a live setting the GL would be the better AX when volumes are turned up. The Strat would be the better recording git.
The strat tones sound a tad more familiar, but not better. If that makes any sense? I don't think I could easily tell the difference between the two in a blind test. No clear favorite for me. Both sound great! BTW... Felt inspired to listen to *Cream* for some reason after listening to this.
listen to Albert and Freddie King for like an hour and then turn on Cream. And wonder, like me, how the hell Clapton got away with it!
D I T T O!!
D I T T O!!
I know what you mean for familiar. We are used to certain guitar tones, which it makes perfect sense. Most guitar records have been recorded with humbuckers, p90 or single coils (strat, tele, jaguar whatever), and the MFD pickups have not been in the mix as long. I guess this might be the reason.
Obviously I'm in the minority here, I think the G&L sounds better! Thicker and heavier tone. I'm not into that jingy jangy stuff.
Brian Stewart lol that last bit sounded like you were quoting Bernie Mac from the movie Life 😂
Db Cooper but u know the difference right.... ahhhh nope
G&L is Leo fender and he uses better woods than " Fender " does now and fender is not anymore fender
LOL! I'm 54 years old! I don't think that qualifies as a hipster! Who watches videos blindfolded? You might be a fake name troll twit..
I'm saying you are a troll. If you already know everything Einstein then why did you need to even watch the video? Or did you just listen blindfolded? What a moron..
Db Cooper take your misery somewhere else please
I bought a one of a kind S-500 / 2011 NAMM special/ confirmed. at Buffalo Bros. back when. Took it to my buddies place, who has been playing in bands for years, he immediately wanted to trade his SRV strat. That was his tell. Still have that beauty today.
I'd like it if you did a review on some budget guitars. Maybe even copies. Great work your'e doing here, Marty.
I'd say they are both close, but would give the edge to the strat, it sounds cleaner and more bright, thought the G&L sounded pretty good with the distortion
I’ve owned both. The G&L exhibits superior workmanship and feels like a more solid instrument. The fender neck, on average, is slimmer and faster but so much depends on the exact model. It’s tough to find pickguards and such for the G&L if you want to switch them out for a different look. I loved ‘em both and find it’s totally a personal preference. Same with the pickups/sound. Good demo Marty. Thanks
Both are great!! What I would like to see is a 'Blind Test" Play both without any influence of which model it is. Then have folks post if they like "A or B". Bet it would be quite interesting to see.
Great as always Marty!! Question for you, which do you like playing more and why?
Great video, thank you for posting. I think the Fender sounded more clear and a tad brighter. But both guitars sounded very good. I'd probably choose the G&L based on it being more affordable and it has a flatter fretboard radius of 12" which is easier to play for those of us with small hands.
I like the strat because it has more clarity on the clean and a deaper but on the fuzzy end of it. keep it up marty great stuff
If Jimi was alive today he'd be playing a g&l ;-)
yuvp* So, so true my friend!
I'm Jimi, and I love, Love, LOVE my G&L😍🎸🎶🎵🎧🎶🎵🎸🎼🎛🎚
It literally took me 3 months to get over the FACT that I honestly preferred not only the tone, but the overall playability of the G&L!
So, I finally (and very happily I might add) broke down and bought the G&L and if anyone out there is looking for that CREAMy sound from an axe, I whole heartedly urge anyone to do the same!
God bless and take care...
Not if Leo Fender was alive he wouldn't. Leo to put it mildly was not a fan of what Jimi did with the Stratocaster.
If Jimi were alive today, he'd be quite deaf.
@@mikeaustin4138 he d be rich
@@G-Man.God_Guns_Guitars I agree. I've owned my 3rd hand G&L for almost 37 years and have recorded it in many Studios in several States. I have a great Les Paul and an awesoe Strat - but the playability of my G&L 57 Strat style neck and those amazing Mag Field Pickups make for an unbeatable guitar. I'd give up ANY guitar to keep my old G&L S-500!
Love your playing.
Martybjammin, awesome demo, I would be crazy to ever let my S500 go away
Well done Marty! :) Can you do video where you compare Standart Tele and G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy?
The G&L sounds better.
Awesome video Marty could you please learn us little wing full? Keep up the good work!
Hey Marty this is outstanding! Have you ever done a lesson Sunshine of Your Love? The Strat wins by a hair! I like the G&L but I like the G &L
I have an S-500 that I love the build, but there's something about the MFD pickups that lack the bite of Fender pickup. I don't know if it's a ceramic vs. Alnico magnet issue or what. I eventually changed out the pickups for a set of Lace Pickups which I really like. You get a fabulous "out of phase spank" sound with them.
I hear a little more “warmth from the g and l which I like! It also felt like you were a little more excited by the g and l but great playing all around! I think I like the g and l better but maybe it’s playability isn’t as good, I’d love to have either guitar tho.
I'm leaning toward the g&l. Would be nice if they had after market parts readily available. Seems like u have to custom order even pickguards.
I prefer the G&L sounds real good
The Fender has a more retro Jazzy sound, while clean. And while distorted, it definitely makes out that retro 70s progressive Rock sound! The other one has that 60s Animals, Beatles and The Beach Boys classic rock sound while distorted. Clean, it sounds smooth and kinda bluesy a little
Hey marty, thanks for the comparison. I've been looking into both of these guitars pretty seriously to figure out which one I want to get. And I got to tell you I'm really taking with the g&l. I think it has a great chimey well-rounded tone. I think the step is I hit a music store and pick one of each up and see how they feel. I got to tell you the G&L seems to have a more authentic Strat sound than the Mexican Strat does. Don't get me wrong, the mex Strat sounds great. Although it's very warm in comparison. And I'm looking for that chime
A couple of points here--with five S500 G&L Leo Signatures on hand, none have a tune-o-matic bridge. Is that a replacement? Also, one key difference is on the G&L the tone controls are treble and bass, not similar to the Strat.The G&L has the toggle to split too.
Can you show us how to play landing in London by 3 doors down, picking version and strumming ?
I liked how both sound. I think the G and L sounded nicer with gain than the strat. but clean the strat has that jangly bright cleans I personally really like and prefer. If I had to choose one, I'd go for the G and L, it's something a little bit different and I play with crunch most of the time even though the G and L sounded good clean also.
The g&l
Im gonna have to pick one up nice tone and solid looking guitar.
I don’t know what to buy for my first electric. Fender Strat or Telecaster. Or should i start with a Sqier? I now own a Fender Sonoran Western. Playing 4years.
The G&L sounded really good. Then when Marty busted into Pride and Joy with the Fender, I thought, yep that is THE sound. Ditto for the riffing in Sunshine of your love. Comes down to the pickups I think. There are probably other G&L's that sound more stratty.
You can make the G&L sound like a strat by playing with the ptb knobs (pretty close anyway). I find a lot of videos about the s500 in particular don’t highlight this feature enough.
The G&L is loaded with MFD pickups (with ceramic magnets), and a different circuit (volumen, low and high). You can hear the different with the Stratocaster. Both guitars are great instruments. I preffer the G&L, especially on the crunch sound.
HEY MARTY! i know it's a big call but i think don't let me down is my favorite beatles song.
Do you mind telling me the price difference between the two guitars? And if you have time I would like to know the price difference between the pickups and the electronics on the two guitars. Please be approximate If exact numbers are not readily available.
is either guitar going to last longer under similar usage? Is I the guitar more difficult to maintain, i e tuning and or the expected lifespan of the electronics?
With regard to your original question, I am not a guitar professional by any means. I know they sound different but I don't find either of to be better. I would say it just depends on what you are seeking in your sound.
N
I would like to see a video comparison on the PTB of the G&L vs the Strat wiring with pros and cons, if possible. There are no G&L's near me to compare to a strat.
The tone difference between is in the alnico vs. the MFD pickups. MFD’s are more dense, and because of that it takes out the icepick screeching high you sometimes get with the Fender. Leo saw it as the next phase of guitar evolution, and although people have grown accustomed to hearing the thinner and sometimes piercing sounds... for me, the G&L absolutely scorches.
We need fender to sponsor you so we can get them parallel universe guitar reviews
I'm a bigger fan of the G&L and I find that it plays a bit easier than the Fender physically.
They both sound good and your playing is clean and tasteful - really lets the guitars do the talking. The Strat sounds glassier, but I prefer the ballsier tone of the G&L. My next guitar will either be a s500 or a ASAT Special. Ireally like the vibe of those MFD pickups. Grindy, like a p90, but with more clarity (IMO).
The G&L S500 is the "hot-rodded" Strat G&L makes. I think it'd be fairer to compare a Stratocaster to a G&L Legacy
Agreed. But the Legacy is also a step up from the Fender Strat. PTB system and lift off :)
I have an S 500 ordered. This is not a true comparison and it's not Marty's fault. It's really hard to compare to an American Strat due to the pickup design of the 500, with the push pull tone knob. Strat 3 single coils. S500 with the pull tone knob you have 5 single coils, The center one is wound reverse so with any of the other two, sounds as a humbucker. Plus you can play the bridge and neck pickup together and play all three at the same time. Leo personally designed the S500. I think George designed the pickups but it was Leo's circuit.
the G&Ls have ceramic pickups, right? They're just more driven and beefy out of the box
@@kilgoretrout321 The Legacy has Alnico pickups and the s-500 has mfd pickups
@@stormdrainstormdrain You can order it either way.
the g&l story is really cool. i once sold a honeyburst s500 and ive never been able to sell a guitar so quick.
It should be noted that the G&L has a bass rolloff so it can go from the thicker sound you see here, to the janglier sound of the Fender with the turn of a knob, whereas the Fender has only the janglier tone.
Could you please help me with the song satisfaction, I know you already did it. But my problem is the faster part when he sings (when I m driven in my car and the man comes on the radio and he's telling me more and more about some useless information supposed to drive my imagination He has 3 parts in the song for that rhythm what do I play?? thank you thank you help
They both sound great, and the fender sounds more towards the original sons as they were done. I did think that the g&l sounded brighter. That being said, I think I preferred the g&l sound. I do own a fender strat and love it, and would never give it up. I also enjoy g&l Comanche too.
G&L has some nice guitars. If you didn't see Marty's demo he's jamming on the Fullerton S500 here. The little switch is for more pickup selections. Tone pots are a treble and a bass giving this thing a much wider range than the strat. It's a super strat. For demo purposes he's trying to dial it into the strat's range. Regular model S500 with pull volume does the same thing for a grand less for anyone interested. Excellent super strat style guitar for $500 - 600.
So you'd recommend it over some of the 1k+ strats?
If I was starting fresh, I might go with the G&L Legacy or even more excellent S500. I had a really great tricked out Legacy for a while, with more meaty sounding pups. However, I have a 2007 Fender FSR USA Stratocaster Deluxe (made for Guitar Center as a Factory Special Run) that is just killer. It has the cherry red mahogany body like a Gibson SG, Diamond Bridge humbucker, Texas Special middle and neck single coil pups, and S-1 switching for 9 tones (the bridge pup stays full humbucker either way) . Plus, all the high end USA Stratocaster Deluxe features such as push-pull whammy bar, locking tuners, roller nut, 22 frets and abalone dot inlays on a rosewood fingerboard C profile neck. For me, it is the Strat to end all Strats (having played and/or owned tons of various Strats already over decades, including an original 1959). It gives you all the great Strat tones you want and love, then some nice very Gibson-esque warmer and smoother tones. It is the only Strat style guitar, other than my tricked out 2003 Carvin DC-145 (HSH) w/OHSC, that I likely would never sell, the Good Lord willing, of course, only He knows the future. Just sounds and plays so good, and covers a wide range of sonic territory. People ignore them all day long because of the unusual cosmetics of the red cherry mahogany body, black pickguard and pups and controls, black headstock with silver logo, etc., but is a real gem. People are catching on, they started rising to higher used prices now, I've seen a few at $1100 or so now. I have about $800 in mine with the OHSC since buying it from a GC back in 2013, which seemed the going used rate for a while ($800-900).
Nonetheless I do have two wonderful USA G&L ASATS, the Special and the Classic S, so I totally respect all the love that Leo put into his last company. I am considering an ASAT Z-3 or Z-3 equipped Comanche if the price and opportunity are right, but staying the course for now. For those, I would dig a hollow body with belly cut, but sometimes it is hard to get all the features you want on one particular model, such as the belly cut, so on and so forth.
Marty do multi effects review/comparison. Like mooer ge-100/200 vs line6 m5/m9..
Hi Marty
Can you please do a minor swing lesson but for both the rhythm and the solo.
am always a StratLover....2 days ago a friend of mine lend me his G&L guitar with I immediately fall in love with as soon as I strum it...fuller warm sound....and its so twangy...next on my wishlist..
I think the American Strat sounds just a little more smoother in sound, not as tinny as the copy but saying that, I wonder if you just replaced the pickups if that would make the difference. Thanks Marty.
Im looking for another Strat and gave this a look. If I did a blind test with you playing the same
Cream Song I could easily tell the difference since I played the same song in a band in 1971 using my start. The G&L sounds fine but the Strat sounds like it did when I was young,
Love the MFD pickups.
Sick playing
Hi Marty. I wonder if you could make a tutorial for the Intro Riff of the main theme of Vietcong. You'll find it if you write Pseudo Hendrix
My local guitar shop carries A LOT of G&L, everything from a S500 to Rampage to a ASAT. So, I have personal experience with many G&L's, I have owned 2 going on 3 SSS Fender Starts (mexican). I like the G&L's the most from experience.
Marty, have a blast at your upcoming gig at the Iridium. Did they invite you to Gearhead University? Because you’re like the original UA-cam guitar guy. A lot of other of my favorite people were invited I hope they invited you. 🎸🎸🎸
I would said the G&L but then I saw the video. Are you sure that that strat is just a standard?
Can you cover a Gibson Les Paul Standard 2008? Thank you
I have a strat but that G&L sounds pretty nice to me.
1:57 holy shit that jam was so much more than what I expected
To an extent, I can manipulate the sound of a guitar, but how does it feel, how does it play, how does it intonate,
how much does it make me want to play it, etc.
Marty, do you have a lesson of “don’t let me down”? Regarding which sounds better: both sounds great, for tradition I’d chose start...😬
I'm not sure if he has but there are plenty of other options, they mostly use hammer ons to get that distinct sound
did the volume take a big hit when he changed to the Fender?
yes, I own a usa fender tele and a G&L asat classic and the asat is quite a bit louder
The G&L MFD pickups are just way louder . Prob with these VS demos is the Legacy itself sounds different if you popped in custom shop Alnicos vs MFDs
I've played both side by side. The S-500 is definitely throatier-sounding with a little more punch in the gut, but tbh if you prefer that vibe (as I do) you have zillions of options for custom-ordering or installing pickups to get whatever sounds you want out of a Strat. But there are two elements that really tip the balance toward G&L for me. One is the trem bridge; the standard whammy bar on a G&L is really stable and fun to work. Also, there's a basically seven-way pickup switching system that comes standard on all S-500s, USA or import. You really have to find a specific submodel or custom order to get anything comparable on a Fender. Granted, not everyone needs this.
Hey Marty,how about “Ball of confusion” by “The Temptation” for next lesson?
strat rulez! love your work mr. marty!
I'll be honest & say I didn't detect a drastic difference. I'm curious, however, since you've played both, how do they compare performance-wise? Neck feel, freatboard/frets & if one stays in tune better than the other. Thanks & love your vids..🤘
You are astute my friend, The G&L stays in tune better with Whammy use. Simply put. It has a newly designed two stud/post tremolo system that Leo Fender updated specifically. To counteract the guitar going flat and of tune. We all know and- Leo especially, that Strat's - as great and loved as they are- are notorious for (1) going out of Tune using the 6 screw tremolo system. And (2) for the 60 cycle hum? Which is both noisy and a pain playing both live and especially in the Recording Studio. Hope that helps...
i like the g&l. but whats up with all the different body woods? the fenders, alder body. the g&ls,
swamp ash, mahogany, basswood, and ...nyato..? why?
im tryin to decide between the two. i love the g&l but i like alder.
Could you do a lesson for Battle Born by 5FDP? I would really appreciate it if you could.
I've been waiting on this one. Strat sounds cleaner but I'm a fan of p90s so I like the G&L better. One question though. When are you planning to return it? 😁😁😁
You're the best Marty!
Since they are both essentially identical aside from headstock and term system they pretty much sound identical. Maybe compare one of those to the danelectro '84 with the lipstick pickups.
the strat sounded thinner on the first song if that makes sense. On sunshine of your love the G&L sounded more "edgy and sharp". I preferred the G&L but the strat still sounded good too. And great playing Marty! Thanks for all you do!
Always have to go with fender , although they will never be the same as the pre cbs strats they still produce some killer tones