G&L SC-3

Three single-coil pickups, 22-frets, 5-way selector, basically looks and acts a lot like a Strat. Mine is bananna yellow. There's nothing fancy about this guitar - it's a Strat with superior sound, which you can read more about below. One thing I love about this one is that the tuning pegs (where the string feeds into it) are like those on a bass, meaning they have the little hole in the center where you jab the string, then wind it up. All tuners should come this way, in my opinion.

I used this guitar at first for live shows with a loud power-pop group. But where this guitar really shined for me was in a recording atmosphere. Somehow the magic combination of the SC-3 through a TS808 tubescreamer into a 77 silverface Fender Twin being recorded with one SM57 mic resulted in a really wonderful clean/natural breakup sound. This is a hot guitar with tons of output - I've heard it's because Leo Fender was going deaf when he designed it. Whatever the case, this guitar is quite buzz-free for having single-coil pickups, and if you try out different combinations of pickups, you'll be able to shape a really great Strat sound, such as those heard on the Stooges' "Fun House."

Everything seemed set up nicely from the beginning. Despite numerous dings, the finish is still in tact. The pickups are positioned brilliantly. No complaints.

This guitar is built to take a beating, as just about all Strat copies tend to be. And believe me, I put this thing through the ringer. Despite countless dings, being dropped and other abuse, it's a survivor. It has since been retired from live playing because it's just too valuable of a studio asset.
Quick note - this thing goes WAY outta tune if you break a string, presumably because it's got a really responsive tremolo bridge. Other than that, it's built like a tank and stays in tune reliably.

Dunno.

It's sturdy, it sounds great (especially for recording) and if you happen to snag the yellow model with the black pickguard, it's really cool-looking. Great guitar, superior to Fenders in the same price range.

Made in USA about 1992. 22 frets, solid body, 3-bolt micro-tilt neck (nice tight fit) with three single coil G&L pickups and 5 position switch. One volume control and one tone control -- i think this is way better than the typical Stratocaster three-knob set-up--much simpler and easier to apply during a show. Guitar is obviously like a Stratocaster, but improved (like the pickups, tremelo system, etc. -- PAF). This was intended as a "student" model, but don't let that fool you. They are extremely well made and as is the hallmark of Leo Fender guitars, form follows function. I think these were low production models overall. Mine has the full pickguard, others do not as I understand it. Mine is a two-tone tobacco sunburst with rosewood fretboard/maple neck. I've not seen another one this color. Guitar companies painted guitars with vibrant colors in the eighties/very early nineties; so the sunburst is really a "traditional" color and I'm glad I have one because the trend of wild purples and yellows, etc. looks funny and dated to me today, while the tobacco burst looks timeless. Another great improvement over typical Strats is the factory installation of Sperzel tuners. This guitar stays in tune, even when using the tremelo bar (unlike almost every Fender Strat I've owned)! The neck on mine is medium sized and the frets are medium as well. I string it with 10s and I bend strings viciously -- never a problem for me, but I have big, strong hands. Again, it does not go out of tune when mad bending occurs. Overall, a very utilitarian design, just like the original Fender Stratocasters, but with significant improvements over the Stratocaster.

Sound is where this shines. The PAF single coil G&L pickups are destined for high collectibility and will one day be classics along with the Gibson PAFs (in my opinion). They are quiet on noise (for single coil) and loud on sound. They have a distinctive growly sound when pushed, but can also provide an excellent clean sound. I've played Stratocasters since the early 1970s, including a 1964 and a 1955 (why did I ever let those get away?), and various 70s, 80s and 90s models. I hate to say it, but the SC3 is superior in many ways to those guitars because of the modern Leo improvements, but mostly because of the pickups. Again, I think these are some of the best stock pickups ever placed in a guitar. I currently play in two bands, a 1970s classic rock band and a more modern originals band (drop tuning, Mesa-Boogie preamp, etc.) and this works well for both; it's great for the classic rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd strat sounds are easily replicated). I also do lots of studio recording on other bands' CDs, commercials, demos, etc. and use this SC3 quite often. The only thing I don't like about this guitar is the headstock is too long and doesn't fit well into a standard Stratocaster case. Other than that, I absolutely love it! I have about 18 guitars right now and have owned and played almost anything you can name. I will keep this guitar long term. I like the sound better than any of the Strats I have right now, including a blonde '62.

I really appreciate the fact that these guitars are well set up when new. Although I got mine used, it was barely used and was all factory. The fit and finish are excellent; especially for a student model where most makers would cut corners and not care that much--saving that kind of time and effort for their higher end models. No flaws -- just basic, simple, functional and well made.

I've used this guitar a lot over the last 5 years, studio and live. It's great for both and I've never had a problem with it in performance. I've never broken a string on this guitar in performance, even when using the whammy bar or doing excess string bending. However, I rarely break strings on any guitar despite heavy string bending and tremelo bar use. I think it's because I am fanatical about the strings, neck, nut and bridge set-ups -- everything has to be perfect. When it is, you don't break strings. Side note: Keep the bridge saddles clean and replace them if they start to rust, because that's where a lot of string breaks occur. Better yet, use brass or graphite saddles. Strap buttons are big and heavy duty. It's one of the few guitars I have that I do not have strap locks on. Finish sems a bit thin, but I always clean my guitars immediately after performances. The SC3 is highly dependable, but I never perform without a backup guitar.

Never dealt with G&L, though I tried to get a tremelo spring cover for it and really didn't have much lick with their web site. Like most guitar makers, their site is geared towards selling new models. For this, I give them lesser marks than above factors.

I've been playing out since I was 15 and I'm now 45. I own 18 guitars: Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, ES-335, Hamer, G&L etc. I also have about 20 different amplifiers, including vintage Marshalls, Fenders, Ampegs, Acoustics, Roland JC-120, etc. If stolen, I'd look for another one, but these are hard to find in Tobacco Sunburst -- my favorite Strat/G&L color. It's like a Stratocaster for comparison purposes, but is better in many features and the pickups are superior. This has to be one of the best values in a guitar out there. I usually recommend the SC3 (if they can find one) to friends or others who are looking for a "starter" guitar for themselves or their kids because it will hold or increase its value and is a very good instrument to boot. And if it gets destroyed or stolen, you're not out a lot of money.

1984-85, USA made G & L, 3 single coil, 5 way switch,

Sounds like a strat. I play it through a feder sidekick. No hum, nice crisp sound.

It was 20 years old but it feels new. Everthing is really tight and well fitted. The neck is really fast and it has a low action but still know pick up noise.

The two knob work well enough but they are really cheap looking. They look like somthing you might find on a 40 year old transister radio.

I have only had it for few months. It seems like it was carved out of stone, I suspect there will be no problems but I really can't say after only 2 months. Strap buttons and other hardware seem really solid. It seems totally hassle free.

I was looking for a relatively cheap guitar and for $285 Canadian I could not possibly have bought anything better. I considered a Mexi-strat but they were more expensive and seemed less impressive.

Style is subjective but I find the fact that the back of the neck and the headstock are painted to match the body a bit cheesy. Mine is white so this doesn't look so bad but I have seen pictures brightly colored SC-3's where this effect seems tacky.

I fell in love with my 1984 SC-3. The feel of it is amazing. It has a thin neck, low flat frets, and an amazing finish on the neck. I love the tuners, they are very smooth. The entire guitar is smooth. It has been refinished and non-original pickups on it. The pickups are all single coil G&L brand. It sounds awesome. Has a stronger bass sound to it than my other guitar (Squier Tele, sorry, it was cheap,but I've moved on) I don't use tremolo's even though this guitar has one (no whammy bar though). It never goes out of tune. I love the finish and the neck. When I first picked this guitar up, I new it was the one for me.

This is a great sounding guitar. I'm more into using my amp to change the sound, but this guitar definitely has good bass, but my no means is it bass heavy. It is what it should be. It might not have the most treble, but I don't like treble all that much any way. I like the mid. I have an '86 mesa/boogie mark II which I have set up with a little bit of treble, a lot of mid, and a status quo amount of bass. The SC3 goes into a Fulltone FullDrive 2 which is so awesome I won't get into. The guitar is not noisy at all. It has a rich full sound.

This thing has a low gloss finish on the neck. It has been used a lot so it is worn in, not worn out. It is a soft finish that is somewhat fast. I love it. It feels like playing an ernie ball (but better) with sweaty hands. This neck was made for my hand. The fit is amazing. I swear they had me design this guitar, but that is impossible because I was not alive in 1984. The action is very low. I love it. It is very easy to play. I use 10 guage strings and it works great. It came with 9's,but they were a little to loose for me. No flaws in this guitar.

This thing is bomb-proof. My only guitar I will play. It is made rock solid with out any flaws. Hardware is a rock. I play it live, the finish is thin, but it feels oh so good. It should be thin too. I don't have a backup.

never had to, never will, except if I want to find out a little history of my serial #

I've played for 5 years. If this thing were stolen, I would be distrought for days on end. I love its looks (natural finish), I love the black inlays, I love the pots, the pickup selector, the bridge, the look (like a small strat) The neck is the real coin. It is thin, with a very thin nut. It fits my hand perfectly and I love everything about this guitar. I would buy another just to have it, and I am not into wasting money, but this would be an exception. I could not play with out this thing.

Real Leo Fender guitar!

1987 model (2nd body style) all black sc-3. Rosewood fingerboard three G&L magnetic field singlecoil pickups, G&L dual fulcrum tremolo. Something between Fender Mustang and strat.

See http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/ for more

Magnetic Field single coils are really hot. You can have great tones. Heavy (as heavy as it's possble with single coil) distortion and vintage strat tones if you roll volume a little bit down and everything between. And with tone neck pickup sounds very close to the "woman tone" of Les Pauls. Great and versatile, from my opinion pickups are one of the best singlecoils ever made. Leo did a great job with these.

Very easy to play, from my opinion neck is maybe a bit too thin but everything else is fine. I think it works best with thin strings (.009 or .010).

Great guitar and very easy and enjoyable to play hours and hours since it's very lightweight. Finish wears a bit, but compared to how much it's used nothing to complain. Quality is very high. This one is made to last.

I've been playing something like 15 years, and I've owned a lots of guitars. Right now I own 12... I like to buy and trade and search for new souds and feels but this one will stay with me.

I believe price was quite good, here in europe these guitars aren't really rare but anyway you don't see these very often so it's sellers market if you would like to have one of these.

If you wan't to have a good US-made strat with decent price this could really be the one.

Dark Blue colour, white pickguard, tremolo, three single coil pickups, 5 position selector switch, one vol, one tone, made in 1988.

Similar sound to a strat, but pickups are noiseless, no hum (I hate hum), and are bright but not brittle sounding. I play through a Laney VC30 which is like a VOX AC30, and this setup sounds great!
I have a Crybaby wah, Comp/sus, Marshall BB2, Zoom Hyper Lead, Octave, Chorus and Vol pedal. This setup gives me sounds from Hendrix, Nirvana, Metallica, Chilli peppers, Police etc.(very flexible).

Setup is great, plays like a dream, neck is thinner than a strat, but is fast & smooth, the frets are medium, it is a well made & strong feeling guitar, and the paint job seems thick & durable.

This guitar can take it, doesn't go out of tune, I always use straplocks no matter what guitar, I have seen a guitar literally explode before my eyes when dropped & not using straplocks!
Overall very well made.

Haven't needed to deal with them.

I didn't know much about G&L until I spotted this guitar, it was cheaper than a strat, but a much better guitar!
But now I am a convert, & would buy another one if it was misplaced.
I'd like another one with a humbucker in it for tone variety.

This is a great instrument. 3 p/u singles, maple neck/body, early body style. The pickups are high output mfd's and really cut through a mix and chew my 89 amer standard strats to bit with their incredible tone variation and power. Like the sc-1, it has a real slim neck which is pretty fast, but I have a tough time bending with 10's. Tuning is rock solid, even with the trem bridge, which is silky smooth. The SC line of G&L were supposedly student models. I've been playing electric guitar since 1977 and the tone of this guitar is amazing, not as round as a Paul, not as brittle as a strat...more versitle and cutting than both.

I play it through a line6 spider 2-10 50 watt amp, which is versatile enough...I can go from 0-60 in the flick of a footswitch. In soldano distortion mode the guitar is totally rich in harmonic...real sweet, but you have to roll back the tone control slightly while in bridge position or you'll slice a few ear drums. 60 cycle hum is there, but the pickups are pretty quiet compared to their output and other strats. Only dislike is the super high-end bite of the bridge pu...but I can keep it under control very well. I suppose it does have its usefullness at times

Neck pocket is almost a force-fit. I pulled the neck to get the date once (it's an 83)and had a tough time getting it out, nice and tight. All the parts are high quality. No complaints...typical Leo Fender manufacturing/design, somewhat utilitarian but totally functional individually and as a whole. Just wish it could bend a little easier...maybe 9's would help.

As with all Leo designs, the thing is a battle axe, or at least could be if needed. My instrument is in excellent shape, except for a couple weird indents on the back of the neck and end of the body where it looks like somebody sat the thing on a furnace or bbq grill...strange.

No idea

I also own a studio lite les paul and a american std strat, while they are good in their own right, the SC-3 is a standout and sounds superior to both. I'm just waiting for the next guitar hero to show up playing one so the value of mine will skyrocket, they only made about 350 of them. Even so, I feel I found a gem.