G&L S-500

Single coil ceramic magnet pickups with less windings than a traditional fender pickup but with a more concentrated magnetic field.Adjustable pole pieces for each string.

I bought the U.S.s-500 after playing a tribute model in a guitar store.I decided to buy the genuine guitar to get a higher quality guitar with a genuine g&l vibrato unit.

I found these pickups to have their own identity while still getting you close to leo's previous designs.They have a slightly fuller sound than a vintage strat with a warmer bass note sound. In positions 2&4 the sounds are a little less "tinkly" and hollow but the sound has greater authority and a firmer attack.Playing dynamics are excellent and distortion sounds are very smooth.All 5 positions are useable and in my opinion more versatile than a strat.They have to be seen as having their own voice but if you do you will be rewarded with one of the best pickups on the planet and certainly one of Leo Fenders best designs.On my other guitars I have Gibson humbuckers and mini-humbuckers,Fender 57's,Q-tuners,Burns tri-sonics and Rezomatics andBill lawrence pups and these are possibly the best all round pickups of the lot.

When I got the guitar I asked Chris Robosan at G&L to replace the more complex tone pots and circuit with standard 250k pots and simple circuit.He was great and very prompt in answering my enquiries and sending me the scratchplate with the revised circuit and I fell in love with the whole guitar.I had a 63 strat many years ago which i loved and which was taken from me but this is the best leo Fender designed guitar that I have owned.

These pickups are G&L magnetic field design pickups,designed by Leo Fender for his evoloution of the strat, the S-500.They are single coil units with ceramic magnets with a different magnetic pole arrangement than his older designs.The pickups have less winds than a normal single coil which results in a less noisy pickup.

I got these pickups with the S-500 guitar but I felt the treble roll off & bass boost controls in the circuit slightly choked the openess of the tone.I contacted Chris Robosan at theG&L repair dept and requested a simple circuit with 250k pots.Chris was fabulous to deal with and always answered my enquiries within 24 hours.We worked out terms and pretty soon I had my new pickguard with the simplified circuit loaded into my guitar.

I teach over 50 people a week how to play the guitar and I have accumalated a huge library of pickup samples including Fender noiseless,lace sensor,57 reissues,my own 63 strat,bill lawrence,kinmans,tri-sonics,rezo-matics and Q-tuners but these are different again.the pups are warmer than most single coils,somewhere between a mini humbucker and a bright fender although it is closer to the fender side.they have a little less "tinkle" when you initially attack the note and are overall a little firmer.Overdriven they are smoother & more capable of humbucker like sustain than any single soil I have used.They are the most versatile pickups that i have heard.

After playing it for a month I would have to say this is one of the best sounding and playing guitars that I have owned.I've owned (and in most cases,still own) a 63 strat,a Les Paul,Gibson firebird7,57re-issue,burns marvin etc.and this guitar is easily amatch for any of them.In fact with the fabulous build quality and great vibrato It really is the best Leo Fender guitar I've played.The pickups can go anywhere with the right eq and I would have to get another s500 if mine was knocked off.Although I would still put the standard pots in for my choice as I like a more open sound.I've met Eric Clapton a few times over the years and I think he should have played this at the Cream re-union.sorry Eric!

USA made, Mid-late 1990s (I haven't pulled the neck to check the exact date). Honey burst over a swamp ash body. Maple fretboard, 4 bolt neck, locking tuners. S/S/S - G&L magnetic field single coil pickups. 5 position pickup selector plus mini-toggle switch enabling additional pickup combinations of neck+bridge or all 3 pickups together, volume, PTB system. Pickups are quite for single-coil, but not completly noisless at high gain.

Just about everything you could ask for in a strat-style guitar.

I play classic rock, blues and a little R&B. I play each week in a praise band playing mostly pop/rock praise music. The S-500 is very flexable and fits those styles well.

Pickups seem a little hotter than standard Fender Strat pickups.

I play through a Tech-21 Trademark-60 amp with a few pedals.

This guitar sounds great! Lots of different tones. Everything from Clapton to Hendrix to a SRV blues. I can even get an excellent distortion tone (think Santana Black Magic Woman). The pickups have lots of character - not bland and genaric.

Only thing it doesn't do well is really heavy metal. Hard to get that with any single coil.

I got this guitar used. It has some minor wear, but it doesn't detract from the great looks of this guitar.

It's very comfortable to play - I really like the neck.

All the fit and finish are top notch. Nothing loose or cheap feeling.

I play the guitar every week at church. The guy who owned this guitar before gigged with it.

The guitar is built rock solid. Finish and hardware are all in great shape for a 10 year old guitar.

I play without a backup guitar. It's never given me any problems.

I've never tried cusomer support.

Their web site has some useful info (user manuals, etc) that you can down-load. They also have an active users group on line.

I've been playing about 6 years. I LOVE this guitar. It just feels and sounds great.

When I was looking, my choice was between a Fender American Delux Strat and the USA G&L S-500. I don't think you can go wrong with either guitar - but I'm glad I went with the G&L.

If it was stolen, I would certainly buy another one.

As described by others... Brilliant features!

Sounds beautyful... just the sound I have been looking for. You have the option of having a standard Strat and more!!! I use neck+bridge combination quite frequently in addition to standard formation of p-ups and lovin' it!
Warm and hot tone, no noise, no nonsense! Variety all the way.

Perfectly factory set-up and haven't changed a thing. I use .009 strings though and it hasn't affected the playability and action.
No flaws in the finish, but a minor colour blemish on the fretboard on the 1st fret just under the e (1st) string. Not very noticable.
Vintage white with tortoise pickguard. I wanted Pearl white but the guy at my local music store f*?+ed it up, but still I'm happy :)

I've used it a lot and will continue to do so... Took me a while though to get it out of the house because I wasn't really ready to my baby out to the big world... but I will and have relied on it and I think this masterbuild will NEVER let me down.
I only have a backup guitar if a string breaks...

Haven't had the pleasure of contacting them myself but I got the wrong pickguard and they replaced it right away... only had to wait. (This, again, was the fault of the guy who ordered it for me).

Been playing for 15 yrs and own a Fender Strat, Fender Tele (60th commemorative), Epiphone LP (496R&500T Gibson p-ups installed) and a few acoustics. This is by far the best one and my primary axe.
I'd buy anotherone if this were stolen... but I'd get it in Pearl white and have someone else take my order!

'98 Natural Ash body, MOP pickguard, locking tuners, mini-toggle, rosewood fretboard, tinted maple neck, 12" radius. Basically, like all the others listed here. ;- )

One word, awesome!

Well, ok, maybe that 'one word' should have gone here...

"Awesome!"

This thing is the cat's meow! In the single-coil realm, you name it, it can do it.

Again, perfect.

I'd take it as the only guitar anytime...but usually take at least 2 in the event a string breaks.

G&L REALLY stands behind their products!

Bought this guitar used online. '98 model (to date, 8 years old). Arrived and discovered the bridge pup was uber microphonic. Called G&L about a repot. After a couple diagnostic questions, they offered a new pickup if I simply sent in the bad one - no fees, no shipping expense, no out of pocket expense at all other than me shipping out the bad pup. Within one week of me sending out the bad pup, the new one was in the guitar. Amazing customer service!!

I was sold on the products, but that absolutely sold me on the company!!

Wish more were that customer centric...outstanding!

3rd G&L (2 ASAT Classics). Will probably have more in the future. Love them. Great tone, great craftsmanship!

Professional touring/recording guitarist. Playing for 28 years...have other guitar endorsements but love the G&L's so much I'm buying them. Super value!

S-500 Made in USA. 22 frets; solid body; volume and two tone controls; 5 way switch and a toggle alowing you to change pick up configurations; three G&L single coil pickups; body is swamp ash with red metalic finish; neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard; bridge is a patented duel fulcrum floating tremelo, (awesome); locking tuners; 25 1/2' scale with jumbo frets. This is a true strat. Very inspirational and comfortable. I love the way it feels. I am very impressed with this guitar. I also own a legacy that I have had for six years now and it has been my main guitar. Actually since I've owned that legacy, it's been the only guitar that I have used, and adored. I actually got this S-500 on a trade. I liked it at the store, but I really didn't pay to close attention to it untill I got it home.
When I got it home I was absolutly floored. I couldn't believe how right it was, and is. Truly an awesome instrument.

OK, here's the best part. As I said, I also have a Legacy. My setup is G&L-Crybaby-Small clone-Boss DD6-Dyna Comp-Peavey 6505+Head and cab. My style is actually pretty diverse. But for the most part as gigging is concerned, blues and rock. It's perfect. For the tone in my head, that I have been trying to express, this is the match. I absolutly love G&L guitars. Particularly with the S-500, I'm very happy. As I said, I really didn't experience it fully untill I got home. That night actually, I had a gig. I started the night off with it and ended up using it the whole night. It's truly inspirational. The tone is absolutly right, (for me), and if you're looking for a strat, look no further. The toggle is great. I have yet to begin to experienc all that this guitar has to offer. I love it. It bites, it lulls, it screams, and , well, it's just smooth. All around it just has character. Just take my word for it, go check one out. If you're considering buying one, you won't be disapointed.

From the factory it was set up pretty good, but I'm pretty picky about that. It doesn't matter what guitar I get, It will not be right untill I set it up. The pickups were perfect. very attention to detail as far as finesh wood and any routing. No flaws, just right.

Very reliable. I've only had the S-500 for a week, but my Legacy has really taken a beating, and so it will be with the S-500. No concerns here. Very dependable.

Overall, I absolutly love this instrument. Tone, durability, features, all top notch. I will always have this guitar.

1990 G&L S-500 handmade in Fullerton California USA 22 frets Solid Body 1 Volume 2 tone controls Bass Treble 5 way switch + mini toggle switch expander switch 3 single coil pickups special magnetic field design MFD Ash body neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard Color Cherry sunburst with cream Pickguard.Strat styled body The Bridge is a G&L designed floating vibrato that stays in tune really good Tuners are Locking Sperzel The Neck is probably one of the best ever made. Its exactly like my '62 strat slabboard. So mr. Leo Fender did keep the blue prints CBS just didn't have them!!! So he rebild and recreate a major master Stratovarius piece with exact the same feel, contoured body and the same neck ('62 necks considered the best necks Fender ever bild)
So If you want a real '62 strat and you're smart enough to save you self a lot of money buy your self a S 500, begin till mid '90 th, they have the right feel, necks and jumbo frets. Put it in your what ever amp and start playing, you will play till you fall asleep with a big big :-)))))))))))))))

Sound: 10

This tone machine can be smooth jazzy but also wow steamy horney screeming wild

Like my '62 slabboard Strat Stratovarius period.

What can I say more, playing a lot outside and home, but the S 500 is made to live on stage and will be a very thrusty friend, I don't care about the finish the less finisch the more tone vibe and mojo.
Yes you can depend on it very. Use always one or two other guitars (G&L ASAT classic and my '72 strat)

In Europe the Custoner Support :-( So no new saddles, springs, trem arm or jacket.

35 year playing, so many Fender guitars in my hands. Why buying something from US$ 3500 yeh yeh blah blah blah its no Fender, Not the right headstock, get used to the NEW Fender, Yes G&L S 500 is the REAL Fender for the 1/4.

I have an S-500 I bought used in 1997. Made in USA. Highly figured ash body. It is the only flamed ash I have every seen. The guitar was used when I bought the guitar. It is Cherry Sunburst and has standard S-500 features. Except maybe the frets. They are extra large.

The guitar sounds great. I use a 69 50 watt Marshall with a 4X12 Marshall Cabinet made in the 80's. I also use a 1964 Fender Deluxe amp. Also sometimes use a 68 Fender twin and every once and a while I will use a Fender Blues Deville. I truely beleive this is the best sounding strat type guitar I have and I have several.

Action is good but I do not prefer the large frets that this Guitar has. I would rather have standard Jumbos. The Pick ups are very good. The wood used for the body is outstanding flamed ash. This is the first and only flamed ash I have seen. But the neck is plain. This does not make a whole lot of sense to me.The fit and finsh is excellant and the hardware is very good to.

I have never had any problems with this guitar.

Never have requested any support from G & L.

I have been playing for 35 years.
I am very happy with this purchase.
If this guitar was stolen or lost I would buy another.
The best sounding strat. I do wish the neck was figured wood like the body is.
i had talked to a guitar player who was very happy with his S-500. I already owned an ATAT Classic that I am very happy with as well. I chose this guitar because it was Cherry Sunburst to go with my ATAT Classic and the flamed Ash body.
I have too much gear to list. I will list some of the Strat guitars I own. 1995 Special edition Fender strat.1974 Fender Strat. 1988 57 Vintage reissue. SRV Srat. Clapton Strat. Hamer Strat. Zion Strat. 1982 Fender Strat. A G & L Lagacy strat.
I wish anyone considoring buying a Strat type guitar would considor an S-500 G & L. It is my best strat guitar. I do like my other strats that I listed but this one is the best overall guitar.

USA Custom 05 model
22 Frets
Stratocaster setup, with toggle switch to enable 2 single coils to be active at the same time, emulating a humbucker
G&L pickups
Passive electronics
Alder body, with a Birdseye Maple neck, with Gun oil tint (absolutely stunning)
Tobacco sunburst finish
Schaller locking tuners(replacing strings is a snap)
Jumbo frets
Gold hardware
Graphtech Graphite Nut

This is the most versatile guitar I've ever heard. The toggle switch that enables multiple pickups at once gives you limitless possibilities. These guitars have a huge tone range. I use this guitar mainly for blues, but when you want to bust out some mean Randy Rhodes riffs, this things is ready. The maple neck is very bright, and the single coil pickups can be a tad noisy at times but it doesn't bother me, I actually have become rather accustomed to that.

When I received this guitar it was setup perfectly, G&L did an incredible job. I brought it to a luither(a friend of mine) and he said the only thing that needed to be done was a minor truss rod adjustment.

Well I just got this guitar, so I have no idea how reliable it is. I certainly wouldn't gig with it without another guitar on hand.

Well, G&L messed up my order, I asked for an Ash body and they gave me an Alder body, so I think this shows there is a little incompetence going on over there, but that's okay. I had a few questions about the HSC this guitar came in and they were very friendly and helpful.

I've only been playing five or six years but my father has been playing for well over 30 and he believes it's one of the best guitars he's ever played, and I certainly agree with him. If this instrument were stolen I'd have to save for a long ass time, but I would certainly purchase another one. The only thing that sucked about this guitar is the HSC, it's terrible, everytime you put the guitar in the case it knocks the High E string out of tune if you're careful.

Made 1997, stamped on the body and neck joint, 3 screws bolt on neck. USA made in California. Seperate treble and bass knobs (why dont all guitar makers do this??) 5 way switch with seperate toggle to combine bridge and neck pickups. Loaded with seymour duncan little 59s. Transparent finish, rich green color with maple neck and fretboard. I dont know what exactly they clear coat this with, but it is not only gorgeous, but bullet proof. It looks brand new, you would never guess it was 8 years old. Has locking tuners, not sure which brand. jumbo frets with wonderful fit and finish. Excellent action, not a buzz to be found.

Using it through a seymour duncan convertible, jury is still out on these pickups, a little bright for my taste. No noise, very quiet switches. Play mostly Rock and Roll and blues, some progressive stuff. The pickup variations that are available with the toggle and 5 way switches are simply wonderful, it takes a long time to go through all the different tones and sounds you can accomplish with this guitar.

I have not found a flaw yet, still looking. As I mentioned, thought the setup was perfect for a used guitar, wouldnt change a thing. Craftsmanship is very evident in this guitar.

Very dependable, and as mentioned earlier, you will have a tough time scratching this thing up. I think this finish will outlive me!! Gig without a backup? Yikes. But if I had to, this would be the guitar I would pick to sink or swim with.

Have not had the need or requirement to contact the company

Been playing for about 25 years, would replace it again in a second, I think you would be hard pressed to find a guitar of this quality and craftsmanship, and US made in this price range. Tried a few strats, I didnt think they were in the same league at this price point. Played several others while I was shopping, agonized for weeks, played this for 5 minutes and was sold. I currently play a Charvel Model 6 which I have had for 17 years, and naturally compare everything to it. What really sold me on this G&L was not only the quality, but the feel it has with jumbo frets, which I am so used to. Took no time at all for me to adjust to. I could easily see myself with two of these, one with "stock" strat pickups, and this one with the little 59s. I cant imagine not getting any sound I would be after.