G&L really THAT good?

y2stevo

y2stevo

New member
Hey guys, It's been ages since I was on here, Did ya miss me!!? :friday:

I've always been aware of the existence of G&L guitars but here in Ireland they don't seem to be on the radar at all.
I played a custom shop fender a while back (also very hard to find in Ireland) which was owned by a guy who I purchaced a lovely Taylor 314ce Acoustic off (which is delicious). I've honestly never played a nicer electric before in my life, it really blew me away.
While I could save up for a custom shop fender i Wouldn't be comfortable gigging a 2500-3500 euro guitar. I've been recently reading reviews on G&Ls and in particular the Legacys. Alot of these reviews compare them to fender custom shops and Suhr.

I'd like to believe that they come close to the fender CS considering they are significantly cheaper!

Can any G&L owners enlighten me? :cool2: :thanks:
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

Should have also said that I was looking at the G&L USA Legacy series not the G&L custom shops!

Stratman could ya elaborate? :wave:
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

I can only relate my story. A few years ago I decided to sell my 2 Yammy 604w's, and get one decent guitar. I'd been gassing after a Strat Plus for years, and I narrowly missed out on one on eBay. I was pretty gutted, but the next day I found a '96 G&L Legacy on a BIN in my price range, so I pulled the trigger. That evening, I got a call from my wife while i was at work saying that the seller of the Strat Plus was offering me his Strat at my top bid as the winner had pulled out of the deal.

Long story short, I bought both so I could compare them side by side to decide on which one I'd keep (unfortunately I could only afford to keep one!).

I was convinced that the Strat Plus would win, it was a '97 in immaculate condition. My wife noticed first that I was playing the G&L more than the Fender.

For me, it's the best mix of vintage and modern in a Strat-type guitar. I put locking tuners on mine, and the bridge is fantastic, married to a lovely vintage feeling neck.

It was just more alive and 'Stratty' than the Fender for me...
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

stevie_bees said:
I can only relate my story. A few years ago I decided to sell my 2 Yammy 604w's, and get one decent guitar. I'd been gassing after a Strat Plus for years, and I narrowly missed out on one on eBay. I was pretty gutted, but the next day I found a '96 G&L Legacy on a BIN in my price range, so I pulled the trigger. That evening, I got a call from my wife while i was at work saying that the seller of the Strat Plus was offering me his Strat at my top bid as the winner had pulled out of the deal.

Long story short, I bought both so I could compare them side by side to decide on which one I'd keep (unfortunately I could only afford to keep one!).

I was convinced that the Strat Plus would win, it was a '97 in immaculate condition. My wife noticed first that I was playing the G&L more than the Fender.

For me, it's the best mix of vintage and modern in a Strat-type guitar. I put locking tuners on mine, and the bridge is fantastic, married to a lovely vintage feeling neck.

It was just more alive and 'Stratty' than the Fender for me...
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I feel...

My G&L legacy special has all that I expect from a Stratocaster (And I have several) plus the ease that it has never going out of tune.


Quack plus for those interested and a better tone control system
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

I'm developing some GAS for one of these!
Considering how good the euro is going against the dollar right now I might have a look for one across the pond!
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

The first gen headstock was much more exaggerated. The newer ones are more subtle, but it's an acquired taste.

I got to play a S-500 a long time ago (I think that's the model) and have never before or after, felt the guitar just connect with my whole being like it did. Wish I'd talked the guy out of it.
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

I've owned 2 Legacy standards, 2 Legacy Specials and 1 ASAT. All top drawer guitars and the only reason I don't still own them all is a combination of scaling down the herd and people talking me into selling them one! The one I still have is a Mary Kaye Blonde. tort shell guard with maple neck/ board and it is simply in the top 2 Strats I've ever played. One thing I will say though is I have had 3 different neck profiles on 5 guitars, so if you are going to buy without trying make sure you have the option to return it if it doesn't suit you. In saying that, I liked all of mine and it didn't bother me too much whichever I played.
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

Are they better than production Fenders? I think so.

Are the better than Custom Shop Fenders? Not a chance in hell.

You'd be better off comparing apples to apples.
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

I recently played a USA ASAT Special right out of the box and it was amazing. I was not too crazy about the Classic C neck, but it still played like butter and the MFD pickups sounded great.

I'll be putting in an order in a few weeks. :saeek:
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

All I can say is, I love the tone Jerry Cantrell gets out of his G&L guitars, but he plays the Rampage.
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

Hey Stevo! Welcome back! If I wasnt thinning the herd, Id grab one of the low line rampages
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

More Irish dudes here than I thought. Greetings from the dirty north. :beerchug:
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

G&L is awesome. Their stock pickups are also great. I consider them the same quality as Suhr guitars. One day I'll have a couple of Suhrs and a couple of G&L strats.
 
Re: G&L really THAT good?

y2stevo said:
found one of these http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/guitars/legacy-special/index.asp in the local area with rosewood board going for about 1200 euro. Its a mid nineties model... Might have to go check it out! : popworm:
Click to expand...

1200 euro is nuts for that guitar.

I got this one for one third of that price, a '96 in mint condition. Even with shipping and import duty etc it costs a lot less to buy from the US.

I'm also left handed which means the availability of G&Ls, new or used, is zero in Ireland.
_P1010723.jpg


Also got this Legacy Special a while back for about the same price, it's a '96 also. Left this one completely stock.

DSCF0853.jpg


btw the Gotoh rail humbuckers in the Special are totally different in sound to a stock alnico v equipped Legacy, major lack of quack ( comparatively speaking ) and greatly increased output. It's great for hard rock or metal tones and has a nice fat clean tone, and of course is hum free.

As for the comparison with Fender I'm a long time Strat player and have a '78, a couple of American Stds from the '90s, a 2006 American Deluxe, and a 60th and 50th Anniversary model. Since I got my first G&L in early '08 my Fenders don't get much play time.

And as for the headstock well these days the Fender one looks unusual to me, probably because I don't see it very often.
 
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