G&L Tribute Guitars....

[BS123]

Anybody know anything about them? I'm looking for a Strat type guitar with an H-S-S config. I came across a Tribute Legacy HB in black in the music store by my office. The curb appeal of it grabbed me. I picked it up and was very pleased with its feel and playability off the shelf. Anybody played or own one? Seems like a really good deal...

Here's the one I'm interetsed in...

I have seen Mike Landau playing a Strat like it....

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I think that Tributes are G&L's Korean made line. They do include USA bridges though, which is cool. I played their Tele and it also felt very nice and had great frets, though the pickups were a bit harsher than I preffer.

 

[orbiter]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

G&L's are great ... the tributes are Korean made .. this is true. they are really solid strats .. well built w/ nice feel ..as said above^^ the p'up's are a little funky .

I would point out that the G&L used market is VERY good .. and if you're not set on a new guitar .. used legacy's run $400 and up ... which is what I would call a nice price on a USA built guitar.

 

[BS123]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, the Tribute line is Korean-made; probably by Samick too....That doesn't concern me as long as my quality checkpoint test passes. I'm pretty much done with $1000+ guitars. I believe a good player can make a great axe out of most any guitar regardless of the price.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I played a tribute S500 and an american made S500 (Buffalo Bros.) and I really couldn't hear or feel any difference. Both are very well made, great action, I love the necks on G&L's (flatter radius), well polished frets, they weighed about the same, both had a great trem (stayed in tune through some major bending). For the dollars I think they're the best made import on the market.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I think I've noticed about G&L's is that there's a lot of variance in neck thickness.
It makes it difficult to buy G&L's 'sight unseen.' You've really got to play them first.
The Tributes are as good as a Korean guitar gets. I think the best Korean guitars I've played are PRS, G&L, and Washburn. Personally, I think I'd search the used
Fullerton made G&L's for awhile and jump on a $500 deal for a legacy or S-500.
If you can get a Tribute cheap enough, tho, it's worth it.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I checked out a MIK Tribute Tele and thought it was really nice...feather light and sounded great. Maple cap/slab board, too, which was interesting.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I played one a while ago, and it was about equivalent to a MIM ri fender in terms over overall quality. Not stunning, but far from bad. Apparently weights can vary, despite their claim they use swamp ash, so be careful if buying sight unseen.

 

[Tom M]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

The type of wood varies with the finish. A premium finish will be ash. A solid color will be (I think) basswood.

The neck size variance could be because people order their guitars with different sizes. There are 6 guitar necks and 3 bass necks available AFAIK.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I'd say the pups are irrelevant. If it feels and plays great, just replace them. I'm hearing good things about G&L, I may have to check them out sooner or later. Tribute or the regular ones.

 

[Sprinter]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

I think that Tributes are G&L's Korean made line. They do include USA bridges though, which is cool.

The pickups are made in USA at the G&L factory. The rest of the guitar is made in Korea, including the bridge. I believe they are made by Cort.


Sprinter

 

[Artie]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

Thats a beautiful guitar Butch. And, in what has become my favorite configuration. :cool3:

Go for it.

Artie

 

[BS123]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

Well, I took off a little early yesterday and gave it a really good test. It has a great feel. Of course, I would need to tweak the action and such. The pickups are the same ones they use in the USA G&L's. The only two problems were the pickup switch and the humbucker. The 5-way switch felt kind of cheap; easy enough to replace though. The humbucker sounded good when used fully. When I hit the switch and spilt it, it sounded very thin; not even as good as a Strat bridge pickup. I would change it though. I would want a good humbucker like a JB that, when split sounds like a good Tele bridge pickup.

 

[BS123]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

Well, if I could find a good bridge pickup that, when split, sounds like a Tele bridge pickup, I'd get it....

 

[Pepi]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

Well, if I could find a good bridge pickup that, when split, sounds like a Tele bridge pickup, I'd get it....

Butch:

Not cheap but sound awesome http://www.torresengineering.com/riograntwana.html

 

[BS123]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

The Twangbanger is a nice thought. However, the mounting would have to be angled and the stock mounting in the Tribute is straight.

 

[Pepi]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

The Twangbanger is a nice thought. However, the mounting would have to be angled and the stock mounting in the Tribute is straight.

Sorry Butch ... my bad. I didn't read the posts too close. I'm just used to you being a Tele guy. I wonder if a guy could buy just the Twangbanger alone and get these guys to make a pickguard for it. Your giving me ideas :smack:

http://www.pickguards.com/PickguardOrderingInstructions2.htm

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: G&L Tribute Guitars....

look at the Muy Grande humbucker. It's basically two overwound strat pickups put together. I had a wset (tallboy in the neck) in my Carvin for a shile and they did the twang thing very well, not exactly tele, but a good sound, either way.