I love my S-500, I have not touched or bought another guitar since April of 2000. I play my S-500 up to six hours a day plus countless gigs on top of that. I am a very physical player, I beat my guitar up every time I use her; G@L's are tough hi quality instruments period. I have snapped the necks on countless USA Fenders, G@L makes a real guitar, do yourself a favor and buy one!
Very very little talk about the pick-ups except to repeat " Magnetic Field Density " Is this the new jargon for ceramic pick-ups ? They are in fact a ceramic magnet pick up. Compared to an import Fender , these pups sound nothing like the shrill sounding pups I have no use for. How is this done ?
There's nothing wrong with ceramic pickups. I have MFD in my S-500 and in the bridge of my Schecter USA Custom Shop Sunset II I have a ceramic Sunset Strip Humbucker - which is probably the best sounding pickup for 70's and 80's rock you will ever hear.
Was wondering if anyone knows; I own a 2000 S-500 American made with maple neck, it has a beautiful smooth satin finish on the neck, it feels like there is nothing on it, you can see the grains pretty good, and here is my question; there isn't any fingerboard on this guitar or a wood filler from the back side of the neck like Fender is doing, how on earth they inserted the truss rod?
USA ones have a dot on the back of the headstock. On the front under the "G&L" logo it also says "guitars by leo" instead of "tribute series". hope this helps! the most accurate way on an all original one is the dot since the guitars have changed a little bit over the years, but you can also check the authenticity by the neck pocket if you really aren't sure.
+kep67 Difference? The USA one as the toggle switch to use neck + bridge or all three pickups; the Tribute does that by push-pull in the "bass" control. The Tribute is now made of mahogany. I have a Tribute, but it's made of swamp ash, I guess. Pretty heavy guitars, but awesome.
Well you get more options with a S500 - You can specify 7.25", 9.5", or 12" radius on an S-500, and fretboard material choice as well. Also, you can specify fret wire used, and also note that the S500 is plekd at the factory as well. As an example my S-500 has a Hardrock Maple Neck with a matching fingerboard and medium jumbo frets. A Classic C profile with a 1 and 5/8" bone nut, and a 12" radius with 0.830" depth at the 1st fret and .960" depth at the 12th fret. This is what works for me - and will always be the neck profile I specify when I get G&L to build me a Legacy, Asat, or S-500. So if you know what you like odds are G&L can build it for you.
Gilmour's black strat has that same kind of switch that connects the bridge and neck pickups. Without modding a normal strat I think the only other way to get it is to buy his custom shop model which is really expensive.
I love my S-500, I have not touched or bought another guitar since April of 2000. I play my S-500 up to six hours a day plus countless gigs on top of that. I am a very physical player, I beat my guitar up every time I use her; G@L's are tough hi quality instruments period. I have snapped the necks on countless USA Fenders, G@L makes a real guitar, do yourself a favor and buy one!
dinglegonzo I also love my S500, feels familiar like a strat but has its own sound
I totally agree I bought.a used 2021 legacy blond white with a maple fret board best guitar I have ever played
I totally agree so underrated the quality of the wood is like a custom shop fender
I just bought one, guess 2021 model, but wondering what strings are best for it? Thanks
why are there not more people playing s500s?!!! My word!
I have a g&l s. 500 awesome guitar. Very very diverse guitar.it Handles my every mood
Just bought it. Fantastic.
I bought a G&L Seashore Gold after
playing about 20 Strats. best guitar decision I ever made,
beautiful guitar, excellent demo, great playing, what else???
Leo was a genius. g&l improved on fender guitars with leo at the helm.
Great tones. Love it. Great demo.
I've got the northern as heavy as a flippin les paul! BUT I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING! After 50years of playing one of the best strat tones ever!
i love the s 500 classic logo
That's it right there!
Got a S500, sold everything else, simple as that!
I am looking for a new guitar to buy and your video was super helpful, Thanks for the info.
Very very little talk about the pick-ups except to repeat " Magnetic Field Density "
Is this the new jargon for ceramic pick-ups ?
They are in fact a ceramic magnet pick up.
Compared to an import Fender , these pups sound nothing like the shrill sounding pups I have no use for. How is this done ?
There's nothing wrong with ceramic pickups. I have MFD in my S-500 and in the bridge of my Schecter USA Custom Shop Sunset II I have a ceramic Sunset Strip Humbucker - which is probably the best sounding pickup for 70's and 80's rock you will ever hear.
Was wondering if anyone knows; I own a 2000 S-500 American made with maple neck, it has a beautiful smooth satin finish on the neck, it feels like there is nothing on it, you can see the grains pretty good, and here is my question; there isn't any fingerboard on this guitar or a wood filler from the back side of the neck like Fender is doing, how on earth they inserted the truss rod?
It could be a maple cap fretboard.
Zane Hamill No,no cap or fingerboard
They split the neck in half and after they put the tross rod in, they glue it back together :)
hey, grat video. i have a question. what is the real diference with the comanche? beacuse i want to buy one. thanks!
What about rolling back the treble for a mellower "jazzy" tone. C'mon guys cover ALL the tones.
Any idea of how much are they on the 2nd hand market?
Excellent value, that's what they are.
And the vibrato.... unused, is that because it sends it all out of tune?
how do you tell the difference between the S-500 and S-500 tribute? what to look for on the guitar?
USA ones have a dot on the back of the headstock. On the front under the "G&L" logo it also says "guitars by leo" instead of "tribute series".
hope this helps!
the most accurate way on an all original one is the dot since the guitars have changed a little bit over the years, but you can also check the authenticity by the neck pocket if you really aren't sure.
+kep67 Difference? The USA one as the toggle switch to use neck + bridge or all three pickups; the Tribute does that by push-pull in the "bass" control. The Tribute is now made of mahogany. I have a Tribute, but it's made of swamp ash, I guess. Pretty heavy guitars, but awesome.
that's not true about the push pull on the tribute mine has a switch. I know some tributes do have push pull but mine doesn't.
How does the S500 neck compare to a Fender Strat neck
Well you get more options with a S500 - You can specify 7.25", 9.5", or 12" radius on an S-500, and fretboard material choice as well. Also, you can specify fret wire used, and also note that the S500 is plekd at the factory as well. As an example my S-500 has a Hardrock Maple Neck with a matching fingerboard and medium jumbo frets. A Classic C profile with a 1 and 5/8" bone nut, and a 12" radius with 0.830" depth at the 1st fret and .960" depth at the 12th fret. This is what works for me - and will always be the neck profile I specify when I get G&L to build me a Legacy, Asat, or S-500.
So if you know what you like odds are G&L can build it for you.
playing on a Two Rock is cheating!!
hey george lucas!
Man-bun = mullet of the 2Ks
Yes but mullets were cool.
JUST IN CASE you are thinking of doing the 'shakey-cam-this is artistic' thing....please don't.
Why David Gilmour fans?
Gilmour's black strat has that same kind of switch that connects the bridge and neck pickups. Without modding a normal strat I think the only other way to get it is to buy his custom shop model which is really expensive.