G&L S500

On the surface, this axe appears to be a basic strat style instrument w/gorgeously grained ash body finished in transparent Blueburst w/blk pickguard, rosewood fingerboard w/dot markers over 22 fret maple neck (medium frets) w/gun oil finish on the back of the neck. The tuners are equipped with knob adjustable tensioners. P/Us are 3 patented single coil Magnetic Field Design units w/ a 5 way switch & 1 mini toggle "expander" switch & one volume, low & hi tone controls. The bridge is G&L's 2 point fulcrum tremolo bridge/tailpiece. This USA made guitar is visually striking, and has more versatility than a normal strat due to the P/Us & electronics. I bought this axe used w/G&L molded case from Eddie's Guitars in St. Louis. I'm not sure of the year, but the previous owner kept this instrument in nearly mint condition. I was in the market for a strat style guitar, & I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Lucky me.

I play mostly blues/rock & some pop stuff from the 60's to current artists. Amps are a 70's Princeton 'Verb & silver Marshall 2553(small box 25/50 watt head) paired w/Avatar "Bluesbreaker" style 2x12 cab loaded w/Eminence Cannabis Rex & Red Fang drivers. Pedals include a Klon Gold Centaur, Vox wah, Deja Vibe 2, and old MXR analog delay. Other axes are a vintage Gibson SG, ash body Tele, & Ibanez Deluxe '59er sunburst LP copy. The S500 P/Us are hotter & fuller than the Tele, almost as hot as the humbuckers on the SG. With the Klon set for a mild boost, the Princeton w/extension cabinet is easily overdriven by the MFD pups, conjuring SRV tones in positions 2 & 4 on the PU selector. The mini toggle allows for extra PU combinations (neck + bridge) not found on a regular 5 way strat switch, & the hi & lo tone controls really add to the tonal palette. The bridge PU is definitely beefier than a strat, & the neck PU is perfect for fat Chicago style blues with a good deal of bite & attitude. Plugged into the Marshall, you can go Jeff Beck/Rory all day, especially w/the 2 point fulcrum trem. I'm not much on dive bomb Van Halen whammy stuff, but you can bend up & down a good deal before the trouble starts. This setup really stays in tune. Also there is not nearly the buzz associated w/strat PUs. I've even had this thing almost on top of a fluorescent light ballast with little noise. I've owned a bunch of strats before, sold 'em all at various times (wish I'd kept the 1st year '62 reissue) but this axe feels as good as any, & just seems to be more stable & without a doubt more versatile. This is almost a perfect players guitar. It has a great vibe, plays like butter, & I'm not afraid to take it out to a smoky blues club unlike some really valuable vintage pieces.

Even though I didn't buy this new, (not even sure of the year) it looks fresh from the factory. It just feels broken in, like a pair of old Levis. Fret dressing is immaculate, body has super model quality grain,(this piece of ash is hotter than Carmen Electra) & the neck is straight w/just enough relief. If there's a flaw here, its so minor I can't seem to find it.

Even without a setup from my favorite tech, the S500 plays great with a set of 10-46 on it. The hardware is pristine, unpitted, & looks like it could last a lifetime. It certainly seems that Leo Fender "fixed" a ton of the mechanical limitations of his original strat. The modern hardware & electronics combined w/the fine wood & meticulous craftsmanship make this guitar a real sleeper. Like an old Pontiac Catalina with a 389 or 400 V8 under the hood, it's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Between this & the previously mentioned axes, the only other guitar I might want would be a Gretsch 6120. I just can't bring one guitar to a gig, but this guy's a real tone monster.

I have yet to contact G&L because I can't see how this guitar could be broken short of abuse, & I'm not about to be the one to screw it up. I did see the Guitars by Leo website so I can probably find out just about anything I need to know from here. However, the guys at Eddie's were just awesome. (Conrad in particular) If you're near St. Louis, do yourself a favor & stop in, they've got gobs of sweet boutique guitars & amps.

I've been playing for 20+ years, & you've already heard about my gear, none of which will be sold before my death. While the G&L is not really a collector's piece, it represents an extraordinary value. A brand new S500 w/the options (premium finish, upgraded neck)would probably list out around $1800-$2k w/a street price near $1300. I almost always buy from guitar shows or private parties as I like to think I might get a better deal, but I could not walk away from this S500. I was just pedal shopping & lo & behold, there it was. Moral of the story; ALWAYS have enough cash or credit if you're out, even if you're "just looking." I really wasn't expecting to drop $700+ on a guitar that day, but then I wasn't expecting to find such a cool axe. Just keep your eyes open, & don't let woulda' coulda' shoulda' regrets ruin your days.

This is an American made G&L S500, not a tribute. Birdseye maple neck with gun oil finish, Swamp Ash body with 3 tone sunburst. MFD pickups with 7 way switching via mini toggle. Schaller locking tuners. I also had the dealer install the Buzz Feiten tuning system... opted for the wood case instead of the standard one.

I play mostly blues based rock and progressive jazz, this guitar suits me perfectly! I'm running it through a Peavey Delta Blues 1x15. It sounds fantasic clean or dirty. The MFD's are an aquired taste though, and it took some time before I got the feel for em. Now, after some tweaking, what once seemed cold and sterile now feel warm and vibrant. This is what a strat SHOULD sound like!

I had Andrew from Hawaii music supply do the set-up. It plays like a dream! As with most G&L's, this thing is flawless. Not a single thing to complain about from me.

Built like a tank. I have gigged without a backup with no problems. I feel totally sure that this axe will outlast me.

Never had to deal with G&L.

I have been playing for 14 years. I also own a Hamer Studio Custom, and a Jackson SL-1. This guitar is right up there with them both. If it were stolen, I'd spend the rest of my life tracking the bastard down and doing things to him/her that would make Hannibal Lechter cry!