G&L S-500 Deluxe

25.5 scale, flawless maple neck with nice tall jumbo frets, schaller tuners, a flamed maple veneer top over I believe a basswood body, 3 very hot duncun single coils (that are completely noiseless - this is very pro-stuff), effectively a 7 position switch with the "expander" switch, double fulcrum floating bridge & tremolo, a very fat tremolo bar, and oodles of good tones & as much punch as you will ever find in a guitar - maybe even more than P90's. Try it - take it into the loud room with an amp that breaks up and just run the guitar & amp by itself, you'll want it at the end of that & whatever you play now will likely feel very thin.

This is a strat on steroids, way too much treble -- it always shines through - can get the full strat-o-caster sounds, an SRV sound (paired with a Kalamazoo Model-1) that is thick & lush, and a nearly full range of telecaster sounds. This guitar lives for the blues, country, booker-t, and rockabilly. (not a good jazz instrument, too treble) The pickups are so hot they remind me P90's, if your chops aren't up to it, you will sound terrible with this axe, its all you - the reaction to what you do is immediate & glaring. I don't need effects, all I need is the guitar, the tone controls on the guitar, and the amp. Never had one I can say that about. You really need to match this to the right tube amp, a lot of them can't quite deal with the output this puts out & it'll sound a bit tinny if you pick the wrong amp. Get the right one - like a Kalamazoo model 1, bronco, some of the weaker mesas or even a princeton - something without too much gain on the front (get it from the guitar) and you will never go back to a fender strat.

This guitar was nearly flawless, not even a scratch. The only flaw was one fret was cut slightly closer than I would like on the low E side at about fret #17 (not playing there very much, and it wouldn't cause it to roll off ther neck, but its the only thing I can find wrong with this guitar at all, their quality control is pretty good). I bought it used as I couldn't afford what they went for new. There was no wear on it, the setup was perfect - minus I needed to put heavier strings on it. (I play with starting guage .13 ending .52 to get a beefy sound) so I had to add 1 extra spring for the bridge and a trivial intonation adjustment. The tremolo even works properly without knocking the guitar out of tune, it doesn't move when I bend a string so my low E & A aren't going flat when I pull those extreme G B E blues bends. I did not like the switching arrangement. I replaced the pull out pot with a switch, added a phase switch. Kept the parts in case I go insane & sell it one day (fat chance).

I liked this guitar so much that it is my backup. I play a Tribute 500S Deluxe as my main gigging guitar, and keep this one in reserve (as I'm paranoid about nice guitars & drunk people). My only complaints with this guitar: No pick guard (the top is beautiful -- so I probably wont install one), and the arrangement for the tremolo bar tends to fall out on its own. *(Read about something to fix this, looking into it). Leo would be very proud. The only differences between this one and the Korean Tribute series are where its made, the maple veneer top, and the tuners are shallers on the USA (they are roughly same specs, but feel a little stiffer in the tribute) - maybe the USA is a little more rigid, but not much. Both of them are well built, sound excellent, and I gig on a regular basis with them. They are workhorses for me.

I've had no dealings with G&L at all, so I can't comment much on this. Visited their site, looked up some parts trying to solve the tremolo problem, downloaded the setup manual & wiring diagrams. I doubt other than ordering trem parts I'll ever have to call them or get support for it.

I've been playing more than 20 years, owned a variety of guitars from Telecaster Deluxe, Jazzmasters, USA-Kramer, a Cort, a couple Les Pauls, even a Westone anniversary edition. Current its these 2 G&Ls 500's and my 60's Ibanez Destroyer. Between these three guitars I have dang near any sound I could possibly want, maybe a hollowbody would be nice - but I don't really need it. Mostly run through the Kalamazoo Model-1 and a Fender Bronco bi-amped, it is very lush bi-amped with small amps you can drive hard to get the breakup at reasonable volumes.

If this guitar was stolen, I would load up my .357 and go hunt down the SOB who was fool enough to take my baby, and if I can't find 'em, start saving my beans to buy another. If I had this guitar & amp setup 12 years ago I would have saved myself a lot of money. Close to 12K worth of equipment trying to get what this guitar & its cheaper brother do - and didn't find it till I got this and matched it with the right amps. Would be a 10 if I could get the sweet jazz out of it too, but have the destroyer for that. I got it a very good deal, but it would have been a good deal at even twice what I paid.

2005 Deluxe- Impecably finished! Premium cheryburst figured flame maple top over a natural bound basswood body. Gorgeous solid bird's eye maple neck with a .12" radius. All shaped and finished by hand by expert craftsmen. Plays like a dream. Jumbo frets, 3 mfd'pickups and a push pull volume pot that totals 7 pickup positions. Schaller locking tuners. 25 1/2" scale. G&L case and Certificate of Authenticity signed from
Mrs. Leo Fender.

I'm sold any can never go back to anything else. The 7 positions and MFD pickups are just the tits. Incredable range of sound. Can produce strat quack all the wat to thicker deep humbucker tones. Sounds great through any amp.

Custom ordered, the firt time ever I didn't have to do one adjustment, set up is a dream.

No worries. Leo's last strat design with all the improvements never seen at Fender. Don't get me wrong, I have allways owned Fenders and swore I would probably never change brands untill now. Stays in tune better than any trem guitar ever seen!!

No problems, was able to talk to them prior and dought this guitar will ever see a problem.

I've played for 33 years and have owned way tooooooo many guitars. I'm a tech that does repair, refinhing, and set ups. If only I could of had this way back when Leo came out with in early eighties. The tones are the best ever. No turning back! As of now I have sold off all the other brands owned. I now own a S500,Legacy, and this Deluxe. Was more expensive but is the best value compared to any other guitar with these features totally hand made. The ultimate expression of the Leo tradition

I belive this is a 2003 model made in the USA (I bought it off ebay used but like new). The Deluxe version of the standard S-500, no pickguard, a Flamed Maple top (a beautiful blue), the back is black, natural wood binding around the body, five way selector switch and a push-pull volume pot that adds two more varieties of pickup configurations (the S-500 standard uses a mini toggle switch. Has the MFD single coil pickups, sperzel locking tuners, satin maple neck with a rosewood fret board (though this is lighter than any other rosewood board I've seen), fulcram tremolo (I LOVE THIS TREMOLO), I am not sure the radius of the neck but it's not like a carvin, prs, gibson or strat...it just feels right for my hands. Included hardshell case.

I play the blues, rock and rockabilly and swing! Sounds great...I dont give 10s usually but I just love this guitar. I tend to hang on the neck pup often. I run it into a crybaby Q, a Providence STAMPEDE overdrive, and an analog delay into a Fender Hot Rod Deville with JJ 6v6 tubes. Gives me everything/ every tone I need or want. I can roll off the bass and use the bridge pup and sound like a tele, these pups sing!!! I sold my American strat last year because I wanted a strat with more features...better tremolo, better/quieter pickups, and locking tuners...I never expected to end up with something this nice. I can't believe people would spend all that money for a custom shop or relic strat when they could buy a G&L!! No dislikes.

Finsih is great, the flame isnt booked matched but it is so dark a blue its not obvios and it adds character. THe wood binding around the front of the body is gorgoeus and really creates a custom look of a guitar three times the price. The frets are finished nicely no sharp edges but soemwhere around the 14th fret it feels imperfect when bending my E and B strings. I have yet to have this thing set up so that might help. No flaws that I can see!! It looks so good that I am always hyper alert to getting any dings!! So far so good...I have even accidently rammed it into a low ceiling with not even a scratch on the headstock.

I put dunlop strap locks on all my guitars the second I get them. All the hardware and electronics are solid. Feels good and sturdy...heavier than my strat. I play this live all the time checkout my website www.sitermoonshine.com to see pics and to hear it. Trust me, dont judge the sound on my playing... Backups...I always gig with a backup but havent had to use one yet...I actually just bought an SC-3 as a backup for this...just love these G & L MFD pickups!!

10 year warranty!!! I have'nt had to use customer service yet however there is a great website guitarsbyleo.com that answers all my questions about neck and bridge set ups, pickups, etc. Great site by G&L fans. THey even convinced G&L to produce a guitar (really special limited edition) according to their design...now that is listening to the customer. From what I have read they are really tring to keep the integrity of the company since Leo Fender died. I am not so sure how Leo would have felt about adding the Korean made Tribute line but it does give those financially challenged better options than a mexican strat or other guitars in that price range.

Playing off and on for twenty years (off certain semesters during undergrad, masters, and doctorate programs) Finally at 40 something I can just play guitar (and work a little)!!!! Other then the Deville, I own a 50 watt Carvin Nomad, a 68 Fender Bassman 50w head w a Genz Benz 1X12 enclosure, and a Fender Performer 1000 (selling the last three if interested). I currently own an 82 ES-335 dot neck, an 82 Es-339 (my #2 favorite guitar), a Custom 24 10 top Birds Paul Reed Smith (not sure why), a 90's G&L Legacy with hot lace pickups (jury is still out on this one), and I just purchased a Hot Pink G&L sc-3 from the late 80's ...we'll see how she rates. If it were stolen I would cry, call the insurance company and then buy another but I have had guitars stolen before (20 years ago and I find myself still looking for them and never quite getting over it) I must say other than the sound and playability of this guitar my favorite feature is the cosmetics...its just gorgeous to look at. Like I said I love the strat tones and was looking for a strat that I could play on stage that wasn't so noisy or negatively affected by using the tremolo...I found this in the G&L S-500...and more!!!