G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

[Lazarus1140]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

Laz, I really wanna know what's up with the body in your avatar.

It's a very long story ..... this is the abbreviated version:

I bought some white poster board and traced my MIM strat and my Schecter 006 Blackjack onto the same spot. Then I used a pencil to basically average the two shapes. Then I bought a body blank from Carvin, cut out the body shape and traced it onto the wood.

I didn't have a scroll saw so I ended up just routing the perimeter free-hand without a template of any kind. The router got away from me once or twice so the shape was compromised. I am still not finished with the perimeter shape.

Then I misdrilled one of the bridge post holes so I bought a walnut dowel to put in the hole, but I wanted (still want) it to fit very snugly .... so I bought a drill press. I never assembled the drill press because my garage became too cluttered with business stuff. As soon as I organized the garage one of my dauhgters showed up with a b-load of furniture.

I have all the hardware to finish the guitar including quite an assortment of many pickups so I really need to get back to work on it.

I am extremely pleased with the Warmoth neck I bought and the body blank from Carvin. I learned a great deal from all my stupid mistakes. I intend to assemble and play it to see how it sounds before I bother with lacquer and so on. Wood is cheap.

Now I know someone who can fit the nut for me!

 

[SouthpawGuy]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

Southpaw,

That HSS is making me cry .... WOW!

Be my guest ...

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

It's a very long story ..... this is the abbreviated version:

I bought some white poster board and traced my MIM strat and my Schecter 006 Blackjack onto the same spot. Then I used a pencil to basically average the two shapes. Then I bought a body blank from Carvin, cut out the body shape and traced it onto the wood.

I didn't have a scroll saw so I ended up just routing the perimeter free-hand without a template of any kind. The router got away from me once or twice so the shape was compromised. I am still not finished with the perimeter shape.

Then I misdrilled one of the bridge post holes so I bought a walnut dowel to put in the hole, but I wanted (still want) it to fit very snugly .... so I bought a drill press. I never assembled the drill press because my garage became too cluttered with business stuff. As soon as I organized the garage one of my dauhgters showed up with a b-load of furniture.

I have all the hardware to finish the guitar including quite an assortment of many pickups so I really need to get back to work on it.

I am extremely pleased with the Warmoth neck I bought and the body blank from Carvin. I learned a great deal from all my stupid mistakes. I intend to assemble and play it to see how it sounds before I bother with lacquer and so on. Wood is cheap.

Now I know someone who can fit the nut for me!

Reminds me of the first time I tried to build a strat body, except 3% larger all the way around.

The reason I ask is that body shape is kickass. I like it a lot.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

The store I worked at had several, but their Southlake branch had sever s-500s. I went there fully planning on a 2 minute trip to pick up a case and stayed for 2 hours playing all the G&Ls. If I could find an ASAT in the right price range, it'd be over. I've not once played one that I didn't like. They're completely different beasts than Fender. But you gotta remember what Leo said, "With Fender I set out to build the first solid body electric, with G&L, I set out to build the best".

In your opinion, what are the specific improvements over strats? In what ways are the G&Ls different? I am being tempted to enter a store I told myself I'd never go into again. Do they stock American made models in Bedford? Is the Southlake store still open?

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

Southlake is your better option for the US G&Ls. Bedford has a few, but they're mostly Tributes.

As far as improvements, I find several. First is subtle, and most don't notice it but G&L reps push it every time. The break angle of the strings at the bridge and behind the nut. The break angle is steeper at the bridge to allow for a more downward pressure on the saddle, causing more contact and thus "better sustain". Can I hear it? Nope, but then again I'm deaf in my left ear, but you can feel it.

As for the break angle behind the nut, it's not steep at all. I like this, the less downward pressure than what's needed can cause binding on an improperly cut nut. And let's face it, most folks don't play 9's, and don't go in and have a guitar setup after switching to 10s, which can bind in a nut that isn't properly cut. But the lesser downward angle keeps the binding to a minimum.

I love their necks. They feel a little more asymmetrical to me, with some extra beef on the bass shoulder. It's real subtle, but provides a good comfort. I've never seen a G&L that had bad fretwork (from the factory, I've seen plenty of botched jobs).

I don't use a trem, so I cannot comment on their improved design, but it seems to me that it would be quite smooth, and if it's setup to float, seems that it would return to pitch easily.

But where they really shine is the vibe. When you hold one, it says to you "no, I'm not that vintage piece you've been searching for...but I sure do feel right". They've started to slightly relic some as well, I suppose to keep up with Fender and other smaller companies. Nothing too heavy, just some scuffs and dings. I like 'em. It gives them a pawnshop pearl vibe, and they're no where near the absurd amounts of relicing I've seen some custom builders do.

 

[rowdy27]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

You could save $$$..put a G&L bridge pickup in a MIM Tele for that cutting lead sound..JMHO.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

You could save $$$..put a G&L bridge pickup in a MIM Tele for that cutting lead sound..JMHO.

Not worth it, not for the few bucks you'd save.

You're much better off to buy a high-quality piece--one that's good from the ground up.

Bill

 

[JeffB]

Re: G&L Legacy Guitars By Leo = Awesome!!

I played a used MIA S-500 sev months back at GC and it indeed was a hellatious guitar. Typical Goofy looking (maybe thats what the G & L stand for? ) trem and headstock, but I quickly forgot about that. Especially for the $500 or so they wanted for it. I nearly bought it. Great tones. It was a little "stiff" playing for a strat though. Maybe the trem bridge? IDK.

Jolly- one reason it may feel a bit better to you than most strats is the board radius- many of the G&Ls have a 12" radius.