G&L Legacy

Purchased (used) at Atomic Music in College Park MD. Traced the serial number back to a 1995 production date. Paid $550 (hardshell case included).

I had been shopping for a strat for several months. I played multiple Fender US and Japanese models over this time period and while they were decent, I never felt overly impressed with any of these guitars. I had read excellent things about the G&L's but I'd never seen one until I noticed a Legacy sitting on the rack at Atomic music. After 10 minutes of putting this guitar through it's paces and looking for any nasty blemishes (none were found) I bought it without reservation.


THE TONE is incredible! Guitar Player magazine reviewed these guitars a while back and raved about how the pickups were truly a vintage recreation of the original 50's strat pickups. Though I've never actually played a 50's original strat, I can easily say these pickups produced the sweetest, fullest and most dulcet tones I've ever heard coming out of a single coil hands down. None of the $1000+ Fenders I played sounded even remotely this full and sweet.

The G&L Dual Fulcrum vibrato bridge also works extremely well. I've smacked the crap out of this whammy bar and the guitar stays in tune very well...it did put a smidge of graphite powder in the nut grooves in order to enhance this.



I didn't play one sooner...I wouldn't have wasted my time trying out Fenders.

Everything about this guitar seems perfect to me. The alder body is a beautiful 3-tone sunburst with a white pick guard, hard rock maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. The fit and finish is first rate. The guitar is entirely American made and ever piece (except for the locking machine heads) were hand crafted in the G&L manufacturing plant in Fullerton CA. All the wood pieces are hand worked...no automated machinery is used to craft any of the parts of G&L instruments. As soon as you hold this guitar, you just feel the quality and craftsmanship.

If you are thinking about a strat of any ilk, please do yourself a favor and try out the G&L Legacy. You wont find a better instrument made by Fender anywhere nears this price range. Don't take my word for it...read the reviews here: http://www.glguitars.com/reviews/Legacy.asp

BTW: If you're not aware, the "L" in G&L stands for "Leo"...Leo Fender that is. He started G&L in 1980 after he left MusicMan.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

For months, I was looking for a quality sounding guitar that was not going to break my bank. I found my G&L Tribute Legacy at Manny's Music (NYC) -- just walked in after deadheading my 9-5 and walked out with a $370 classic.

In my quest for that mellow, growling twang, I tried various Fender Stratocasters (through various amps) ranging from the "standard" Mexican-made models, to the Jimmy Vaughn, a 50's reissue, a Powerhouse Strat, and an Antiqua model (made in Japan) with vintage pickups. Although I liked the sound the Fenders, they sounded a little thin to me, especially in the bridge position, and surprisingly, in the neck position. Since I have never been a fan of humbuckers (sorry folks), so the prospect of upgrading pickups to humbuckers or stacked coils was not an option. The pickups on the G&L Tribute Legacy give me that classic sound that is distinctively Stratocaster, but also packs an added warmth and tonality that few Fenders Stratocasters could never offer without complete upgrades. This guitar suits my playing style (mainly blues and 60s R&B as in Beatles, Stones, Cream, etc.) and sounds deliciously awesome through a overdriven tube amp. IMHO the neck is considerably more comfortable than some of the other guitars I have tried (including a Les Paul and Epi Casino). This guitar OOZES quality, despite the fact that it is made in Korea; besides I never bought into that "be American, buy American" crap anyway. The fit and finish are perfect. The fact of the matter it was made with the same high quality basswood, manufactured to the same specifications as its American-made G&L counterpart and contains the same US made G&L pickups. And yes it is gig-worthy, and I will gig with it.

What is there not to like?

Construction is very high quality and G&L has full control over the production process. G&L's choice of wood and expert craftsmanship for the Tribute line speaks for itself. You'd be hard pressed to find a Fender Stratocaster that had the same overall quality. Did I mention that it's made in Korea?

Bottom line: Very high quality, excellent sound from G&L pickups, very appealing price. Highly recommended.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Fender a little 'd' (overweight ': a little bulky +, + as the frets are big, it's big +!
Made in Indonesia.
Bridge "dualFulcum" concept Leo Fender better than Fender and Musicman without doubt the perfection comes with time ...
22 frets; 3 single pickups USA (we know!) normal config; but "PTB" excellent view sounds.
-The maple fingerboard is beautiful and certainly very nice (I do not play enough or sweat to find out! ...).

UTILIZATION

No, for me, the handle is difficult because too big.
The weight is substantial but it is quality! (45 mm body and maple! ...) The strato ergonomics are excellent! ...
Idemme acute attacks; sounds: the great "50" genre? (I know, but after one or two Fender in 40 years (!), I think the G & L is better than the disappointments of "70s" and 80s are far ...

SOUNDS

Play 'Start' is to have the courage to play "strength"! ... This is harder than all the guitars double / humbuckers ... It is also more exciting choice is subtle ...

Is it still necessary to present the brand G & L? Maybe because there are still tanks. Leo FENDER, the same one who created the famous brand in the early 50s, after he sold his company to CBS in the late '60s as a doctor had diagnosed an incurable infection, went with George Fullerton, its companion debut Fender, after recovery (like what the infection was not incurable!) several projects including among others MusicMan and G & L guitars. He resumed in 1980, the evolution of Fender guitars where he had left at the time of the sale to CBS.
So the G & L guitars are manufactured in the USA in Fullerton, California (stands as George!), Legacy, since it is this model is a Stratocaster, alder body, maple neck, maple or rosewood fingerboard, three microphones, nothing but traditional. Some progress has nevertheless been made, the bridge is a "dual fulcrum" own brand and electronics has been redesigned with the system "PTB" which acts on the three microphones. To complete the tower owner original trussrod system and a genuine bone nut.

UTILIZATION

To use it is a Strat! Simply! The neck is super nice, not too thick or too thin, it fits comfortably in your hand, a 12 "radius in versin standard. Yes, because it must be said that everything is editable on a G & L is the custom shop! When I say this is to say that custom in the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary means "custom development", so it is you who choose to take a standard G & L or you can change the radius of the neck, finish, color body, its appearance (relic or not), mechanical (locking) etc ....

SOUNDS

Here we come to the heart of the subject, the sound! The pickups have magnets AlnicoV, the sounds are worthy of a great Strat, all positions sound, there this particular sound in the intermediate positions. The guitar sounds good, varnish is not too thick, without being nitro (it also can have optional!) In no crunch and saturated stall microphones hold well, Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, BLACKMORE are all under your fingers.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought this Legacy OCCAZ because I've had two years a G & L asat (telecaster) and I was amazed by the level of finish, quality of workmanship and materials used, the sounds.
I have a Strat in the late 80s, already since I Asat, I almost cheek, then there with the Legacy I'm not ready to put their hands on!
At the risk of repeating myself, G & L is the logical evolution of Fender guitars, imagine Leo FENDER not sick, he does not sell Fender to CBS ...... you follow me? Maybe Fender Strat, Tele and others resemble the G & L today, who knows?
A negative for the brand, and yes there is a lack of distributors, almost impossible to try a model and if come across a dealer he has no model in stock! Then there is the review to get an idea and I have yet to see any negative reviews.
I have redo the choice of a G & L and I do not regret it at all.