went and played some G&Ls yesterday

[JeffB]

All teles. Tributes and USA.Even tried an Andersen Tele.

Finishes sseem real thick on some of the GnLs. Lots of overspray on the frets on the maple boards. But the PLek does a great job on the top of cleaning them up. I also managed to get ahold of some of the better built Tributes people have talked about. Other than neck profiles and frets, there just wasnt much difference in feel, and fit/finish. Very impressive. I played everything unplugged and I played 4 different tribbys, and 4 US models. Just going by feel and acoustic tones, sustain. I liked the cheapest basswood tribute the best of the inexpensive ones..and it was nicer player and more resonant than 3 of the 4 US models but the frets needed polishing, they felt scratchy in spots when bending. The clear winner was however the most expensive one, a double bound triple burst rosewood 60s style. Mojo machine. Big, loud, nice snappy bouncy feel. Of course its also my least fave finish in the entire Fenderish color scheme catalog. Which is always what happens to me: the best guitar in the place is the one I would hate to look at day after day.

The Andersen frankly i thought was a waste of extra dollars even on sale for 2gs. . It was built immaculately, but did not feel, play or sound any better than the GnLs. In fact it was stiffer to play, and middle of the road for natural tone. The finish was def thinner than some of the GnLs too. Im sure its a spectacular guitar for many but no wow factor at all for me. Just another well built but nothing special guitar. Like most of the GnLs.

I immediately went home and grabbed my own tele, and was glad to hear it had a big open tone, and was more lively than everything but that GnL burst. But the flat radius is a big plus for the GnLs, compared to the vintage radius my tele has.

My search still goes on for another Tele, but I will be keeping that basswood tribby, and double bound burst in the queue.

[sosomething]

I'm not a G&L expert, but I did recently acquire a new USA Legacy HB and it completely obliterates every other Strat-style guitar I've ever owned. That includes the EJ signature I still own and a Suhr which I sold last year.

I played a lot of them on Monday while I was at the shop buying some strings, and if you're looking for a Tele (ASAT) I cannot recommend enough that you try one of the new pine body ones they're making now in limited numbers. Talk about resonance and spank! Absolutely killer.

One thing about G&Ls is that, when demoing them, especially against other brands, you HAVE to try them plugged in. They're as resonant as anything unplugged, but their electronics are really unique and useful. Most of their normal looking control layouts hold little secrets and surprises that yield some extremely useful sounds.. and their pickups are awesome.

[ErikH]

I've played a handful of the Tribute models, mostly the Legacys, and I think they are one of the top import lines out there. USA electronics too? Oh heck yeah. One of my favs that I played was a HB model, but it was a natural finish, which I don't see as an option for the HB model anymore on their site.

[JeffB]

I'm not a G&L expert, but I did recently acquire a new USA Legacy HB and it completely obliterates every other Strat-style guitar I've ever owned. That includes the EJ signature I still own and a Suhr which I sold last year.

Im actually more impressed with the Legacy and 500s I have played previously than the ASATs I handled yesterday. I think they do a better strat style than tele style...not that the ASATs were bad at all, just I think the strat styles seem to hold their own better vs. Their Fender counterparts at similar price point.

One thing about G&Ls is that, when demoing them, especially against other brands, you HAVE to try them plugged in. They're as resonant as anything unplugged, but their electronics are really unique and useful. Most of their normal looking control layouts hold little secrets and surprises that yield some extremely useful sounds.. and their pickups are awesome.

I know what you are saying from playing the s500 and legacy models previously, but IME/IMO, if the guitar doesnt feel awesome nor have the goods naturally, unplugged, then Im not going to bother with just buying a dead guitar because it plays well and end up swapping pups nonstop trying to polish that tone turd. I have wasted 10s of thousands of dollars doing that over nearly 30 years playing...on guitars and pickups.


Erik, these tribbys were very nice. I have handled some in the past that were considerably less so..poor fit, finish, routing, etc. FWIW these were made in Indonesia.


There are still two more G&Ls at that shop I want to play..a white blonde USA model, and a butterscotch blonde blackguard tribute. I did not have time yesterday. Also i Found a 52 hotrod Fender at the local GC to try out.

[ErikH]

Erik, these tribbys were very nice. I have handled some in the past that were considerably less so..poor fit, finish, routing, etc. FWIW these were made in Indonesia.

I think the ones I played were made in Korea. Not 100% on that though.

[JeffB]

I think the ones I played were made in Korea. Not 100% on that though.

I should clarify, the ones I played yesterday were made in Indonesia, unsure of the tributes I played previously.

[uOpt]

Why don't you get a nicer neck for your own tele?

[JeffB]

Why don't you get a nicer neck for your own tele?

Cos apparently the mojo is in the big ass boat neck on my tele. Last week, i pulled the neck off my Kws strat which is a BIG C with rosewood board, and put it on my tele. Played brilliantly but tonally became super bland.....killed it. Sounds great on the KWS strat body....just a perfect blend of necks and bodies thing I guess.

Im leery of spending 350 bucks on a non-returnable neck that will be a crapshoot for tone.I would rather buy another great sounding Tele with the neck/fret specs I need.

[uOpt]

Cos apparently the mojo is in the big ass boat neck on my tele. Last week, i pulled the neck off my Kws strat which is a BIG C with rosewood board, and put it on my tele. Played brilliantly but tonally became super bland.....killed it. Sounds great on the KWS strat body....just a perfect blend of necks and bodies thing I guess.

Im leery of spending 350 bucks on a non-returnable neck that will be a crapshoot for tone.I would rather buy another great sounding Tele with the neck/fret specs I need.

Ah. You have good reasons.

I was thinking of used necks, though. What's a KWS Strat?

[JeffB]

Yeah, I could go used..tough to find tele necks though with big profiles, flatter boards, and jumbo frets unfortunately. Been combing ebay for a couple weeks.

KWS= Kenny Wayne Shepherd sig strat

[MetalManiac]

based on whats being said here, I'd like to try one of those G&L's!

[Tyler Perdue]

Good point

[uOpt]

Yeah, I could go used..tough to find tele necks though with big profiles, flatter boards, and jumbo frets unfortunately. Been combing ebay for a couple weeks.

I wonder whether you/we could track down that Warmoth I sold here some years ago. Boatneck, 12", brazilian rosewood, some frets.

[MetalManiac]

I wonder whether you/we could track down that Warmoth I sold here some years ago. Boatneck, 12", brazilian rosewood, some frets.

"some" frets?

[sosomething]

Yeah, I could go used..tough to find tele necks though with big profiles, flatter boards, and jumbo frets unfortunately. Been combing ebay for a couple weeks.

You just described a G&L ASAT with a style 1 neck and jumbo frets.

Thick C, 12" radius.

[uOpt]

"some" frets?

It had frets I just don't remember what kind

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Sold all my Fenders for G&Ls about 13 years ago. Do not regret it one bit, still very happy with that decision.

If I got a new F type it would be a G&L. Fender doesn't make a guitar I'm interested in, and Suhr/Anderson/Grosh etc. just have not demonstrated to me they are better or worth the extra money, quite the oposite.

One thing I'd say is that, while I haven't seen a crappy USA G&L acoustic tone wise, they do vary considerably so play a few and find the one you like.

If you want a thin finish they offer nitro as an option on some guitars, and they have a 2012 series this year with very thin finishes, see their site.

[JeffB]

You just described a G&L ASAT with a style 1 neck and jumbo frets.

Thick C, 12" radius.

Yup...thats why I have been looking at em. High quality for a reasonable price and specs I need. The #1 neck is not too different than the neck on the KWS strat..which is roughly .860 at the nut to a little over an inch at the 12th fret. C shape, 12" radius, and 6100s. Just gotta find the right ASAT. Dont think I can live with that triple sunburst

Some frets, lol. I could use some frets on a neck for sure.

[JeffB]

Sold all my Fenders for G&Ls about 13 years ago. Do not regret it one bit, still very happy with that decision.

If I got a new F type it would be a G&L. Fender doesn't make a guitar I'm interested in, and Suhr/Anderson/Grosh etc. just have not demonstrated to me they are better or worth the extra money, quite the oposite.

One thing I'd say is that, while I haven't seen a crappy USA G&L acoustic tone wise, they do vary considerably so play a few and find the one you like.

If you want a thin finish they offer nitro as an option on some guitars, and they have a 2012 series this year with very thin finishes, see their site.

Thanks for the FYI. I did see that PGS had some with Nitro. They have come out with a brand new Alnico pup version as well. Id likely put in some custom wounds whtever I get, but Ive no issues with stockers if they caan do what I want.

[sosomething]

Yup...thats why I have been looking at em. High quality for a reasonable price and specs I need. The #1 neck is not too different than the neck on the KWS strat..which is roughly .860 at the nut to a little over an inch at the 12th fret. C shape, 12" radius, and 6100s. Just gotta find the right ASAT. Dont think I can live with that triple sunburst

Some frets, lol. I could use some frets on a neck for sure.

Are you looking for a Tribute or is a USA model a possibility?

I've played Tributes that were 95% as good as the USA guitars, and I've played Tributes that were closer to 60%... but the good ones are out there.

If you'd consider a USA ASAT, you've gotta try to find one of the new pine body models. No joke.