G&L Legacy Special opinions

[FretFire]

How do you guys feel about G&L Legacy Specials? I've been offered one + cash in trade for my Hamer, and while I'd prefer a tele I wouldn't mind a strat if they're pretty solid. I've got an alder/maple strat with buckers, and I'm wanting something with single coils again. Here's a shot of the guitar in question:

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

The guitar itself will be phenomenal. But the rails in there are less than stratty. As far as rails go, they're really great pickups. But if you want a guitar with really vintage single coils, this won't really have that sound. I would love to install a coil cut into those guitars. They would probably be fantastic that way. They might also respond very well to a series/parallel switch. It's sort of a pseudo Hot Rails + 2 Cool Rails. But the guitar itself won't be any different than a Legacy, so you could easily install Alnico II's, Surfers, or whatever in there and it would be a great guitar. I don't think you could go wrong with that guitar.

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I am deeply considering this trade...

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Anyone else have experience with these? Any idea what kind of routing G&Ls usually have under the guard?

 

[FenderStratRock3]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Anyone else have experience with these? Any idea what kind of routing G&Ls usually have under the guard?

Swimming pool, if I remember correctly.

My G&L Legacy, behind my tele, was still my favorite guitar I've ever owned. Everyone I've played I've liked a lot. I say go for it.

 

[Sprinter]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Anyone else have experience with these?

I had one for awhile, and I liked it a lot! It won't sound like a strat, but it would be a great guitar to put some strat style pickups in. It would be an easy conversion.



[/QUOTE]Any idea what kind of routing G&Ls usually have under the guard?[/QUOTE]

All G&L's built while Leo Fender ran the company (1980-1991) had individual routes for each pickup. When BBE bought G&L in 1991, they switched the strat style guitars to swimming pool routes. However, some guitars with individual routes were made for a few years. More than likely the guitar you're looking to buy has a swimming pool route.


Sprinter

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Cool, thanks for the info guys. If it is indeed a pool route, I'll probably go H-S-S in the event I don't like the stock pickups. I'm not usually a fan of bridge singles, but I love that neck/mid combo .

I'm going to do the swap.

 

[Curly]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I have one identical to that ... my first G & L, from '93 or so

best tone I ever had was that guitar through an AC15

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I have one identical to that ... my first G & L, from '93 or so

best tone I ever had was that guitar through an AC15

Thanks for chiming in Curly, your opinion on Strats speaks volumes . This one is a '94 I believe, with the 3-bolt neck joint.

 

[Curly]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I prefer the 3 point necks ... more tweakable, IMO.

the rails on mine, and probably that '94, were made by Gotoh ... sound good to me

mine has locking Sperzels, and can take pretty good trem use and remains very stable, tuning wise

good axes

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I have two of thos guitars and I love them! And I'm looking for another one!

They don't sound like a single coil, but they can get close. They do have a bit of humbucker thickness, but the PTB controls on that guitar can get you pretty close to a vintage alnico sound. Even with that thickness, it's a narrow aperture design, so it has more clarity than a PAF. Still, on the neck pickup with the PTB Treble control rolled slightly down--it's Santana woman-tone!

I use a regular Legacy for old rock 'n roll and country stuff, and an LP for blues and jazzy things, ahd the Legacy Special does the hard rocking stuff. The Vibrato is great and stays in tune very well. And, the guitar can be a backup for BOTH the LP things and the single-coil things--a very versatile guitar.

Bill

 

[Stratman]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Swimming pool, if I remember correctly.

My G&L Legacy, behind my tele, was still my favorite guitar I've ever owned. Everyone I've played I've liked a lot. I say go for it.

Whether it's swimming pool or not depends on year of manufacturer.

I own a mid-90's Legacy Special and it does not have swimming pool routing.

The pups are fine and while they do not have and exact stratocaster it does have a very good tone, equal to 90 and later MIA stratocasters and better than MIJ, MIM, MIK, MIC Stratocasters.

The bar pole setup allows for better bending of strings without a loss in tone/notes.

Finally, the G&L Legacy Special has real Bass and Treble tone controls.

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Sounds right up my alley then, I really like a little modern twist to most of my tones, even when I'm playing blues-oriented stuff (which is 90% of the time). Very encouraging words here guys .

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Whether it's swimming pool or not depends on year of manufacturer.

I own a mid-90's Legacy Special and it does not have swimming pool routing.

I have never seen a BBE-era Legacy with individual pickup routing. You may have an EXTREMELY rare and unusual guitar. Do you have any pictures of the routing and the neck pocket you could post?

My G&Ls range form 1992 to 2002, and all have the SPR. So it would be really cool to see some pix! Thanks!

Bill

 

[Sprinter]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I have never seen a BBE-era Legacy with individual pickup routing. You may have an EXTREMELY rare and unusual guitar.

Bill

I had a '92 S-500, that had individual routes for the pickups. BBE era guitars with individual routes do exist.

Sprinter

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

and if you don't like the pickups....Brent will buy them

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

and if you don't like the pickups....Brent will buy them

They must be good then . I haven't heard back from the guy yet, he's supposed to send me more pics soon. If all goes to plan we'll be shipping to one another Monday or so.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

They must be good then . I haven't heard back from the guy yet, he's supposed to send me more pics soon. If all goes to plan we'll be shipping to one another Monday or so.

I've heard differing opinions on them. But you know me, I'm a sucker for them rails

 

[FretFire]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

I've heard differing opinions on them. But you know me, I'm a sucker for them rails

Well, if they're somewhat single coil-ish with a modern twist I'll probably like them. I'm hoping they're somewhat like the DiMarzio Cruisers, I love the tones Andy Timmons pulls out of those, check the song "Remember Stevie" on the CD of his I sent you.

 

[jimmygtr]

Re: G&L Legacy Special opinions

Anyone else have experience with these? Any idea what kind of routing G&Ls usually have under the guard?

I really like the flexibility and spank of these pickups ***except*** that I don't get the volume out of the high E and B string midway up the neck. First I thought maybe the pickups need to be moved higher but now I'm wondering if getting too close (when fretting higher) is the issue.

Thoughts?