G&L legacy USA with American Standard Pickups

[dizdgl]

Love the quality.
Love the looks.
Love the options of colour.
Most importantly, love the ability to choose the neck.

HOWEVER, not at all into the sound.

Hi all, I'm looking to order a USA Legacy primarily for the quality, the neck profile, and colour (yes Fender USA standard doesn't come with 2T sunburst....ones that come have V necks only). However, having played a tribute and listened to clips on Youtube I just can't fall in love with the sound. I'm looking for that Fender chimey, soft clean sound or close to that. But, the legacy just sounds too modern, bit hard and just not as sweet or chimey. So, I'm thinking of ordering a Legacy then change the pick ups to the Am. Std ones and then I would have the best guitar IMO.

Tell me, is my idea feasible? Or, should I just pack my bags and go home because a G&L is not a Fender and will never sound like one. Don't get me wrong...I am not hung up on the brand I'm just hung up on the sound.

Might as well make the most while I'm at it. If I eventually choose to order a legacy, I'd want the neck to have a 9.5" radius (which I like on the Fender necks) and medium jumbo frets. Would this option affect the G&L's sound and sustain? Are G&L designed to only play and sound their best when the radius is 12" and the frets are Jumbo??

Wow, long post. But would really appreciate all who can help.

[KenC]

I won't speak to the sound, as none of mine are in production any longer. I did briefly own a mid-90s Legacy, and thought the sound was very open and chimey. You could also keep an eye out for an older instrument like a Skyhawk or an ASAT III, which share the same pickups and can get a very complex sound (my 'Hawks do, at least!).

You won't find a 9.5" radius on a Fullerton-built G&L. The normal options are 7.5" and 12". I believe Legacies come standard with 12", but you should be able to order a 7.5" neck. All of my Strat-type G&Ls (three 'Hawks and an S-500) have 7.5" boards and feel/play wonderful to me.

Ken

[dizdgl]

Thanks Ken Hmm 7.5" is a bit much. Guess I'll stick with 12". Sucks that you can not help me with the current Legacies. The Skyhawks are wonderful indeed. I know a guy who uses one and the tones he get are wonderful. They do favor the rock side of things though. You are a lucky man to have one.

[Craig]

Thanks Ken Hmm 7.5" is a bit much. Guess I'll stick with 12". Sucks that you can not help me with the current Legacies. The Skyhawks are wonderful indeed. I know a guy who uses one and the tones he get are wonderful. They do favor the rock side of things though. You are a lucky man to have one.

If you like the Skyhawk, you should also check out the S-500.

Here's a post with a video which you can hear and see the differences between the Legacy and S-500:
S-500 or Legacy? Video Clip

Hope this helps.

[dizdgl]

Thanks Craig. Actually, I have seen the video. Thing is while the Skyhawks are cool I'm after a Fender sound with G&L quality and playability. I guess it's gonna be hard for someone to tell me how things will go if I change the pickups as most people want G&L as they are G&L.

[Craig]

Thanks Craig. Actually, I have seen the video. Thing is while the Skyhawks are cool I'm after a Fender sound with G&L quality and playability. I guess it's gonna be hard for someone to tell me how things will go if I change the pickups as most people want G&L as they are G&L.

This topic comes up fairly often. Here's a recent post in the Let's Talk G&L Products sub-forum, which might help: The Hendrix/SRV Tone in a Legacy.

You might search in that sub-forum for other past discussion.

I'll also move your post to that sub-forum, and perhaps, it will get more exposure.

Hope this helps.

[dizdgl]

Oh, thank you!! I'm new to the forum so I've only had a look at the 3 pages present. I will check these threads out.

[louis cyfer]

the pups in the american standard are pretty bad actually, if you really want the fender sound, get either d allens like the cs stratcats or true vintage 54's, or the kleins jazzy cats or epic 56's. the difference is staggering. i own all of them. meaning am standard, fender cs 54's etc. the kleins and d allens, and even fralins are miles better.

[Philby]

If you really want the 9.5" board radius there's nothing in the current factory options that will cover it. I believe the MIK Tribute Legacy's came with 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets though. You might want to look out for one of those if you're going to swap the pickups out as well. They're very good instruments apart from the odd scratchy pot here and there.

Re. G&L pickups, I have a Fullerton made S-500 I bought used with Legacy pickups installed. I found them VERY bright and couldn't wait to swap them out. The G&L MFD's didn't do it for me either. I agree with Louis that the am std pickups are average at best, but I've got a set of Fender CS 57/62's and Fat 50's and they both do a great job on the classic Fender sound.

[dizdgl]

Thank You guys.....I will think about the pickups later but all I wanted to make sure was that the Legacy could produce those warm chimey bright strat sounds mmmmm with the benefits of great build, great colour and a neck (nut width/profiles) that can really fit my small hands!!

[louis cyfer]

If you really want the 9.5" board radius there's nothing in the current factory options that will cover it. I believe the MIK Tribute Legacy's came with 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets though. You might want to look out for one of those if you're going to swap the pickups out as well. They're very good instruments apart from the odd scratchy pot here and there.

Re. G&L pickups, I have a Fullerton made S-500 I bought used with Legacy pickups installed. I found them VERY bright and couldn't wait to swap them out. The G&L MFD's didn't do it for me either. I agree with Louis that the am std pickups are average at best, but I've got a set of Fender CS 57/62's and Fat 50's and they both do a great job on the classic Fender sound.

the 57/62's are probably the best pups fender makes and they are indeed very good, but i still like the the d allens, kleins and fralins better. even the seymour antiquities.

[dizdgl]

I really like the cleans of the stratcat...thats the sound i've been looking for. However, they are very low output and I'd want the guitar to be able to do funk/rock as well so the Rock and Blues seem very appealing also as they have more presence. The klinez 56's are pretty similar to rock and blues, may just a bit more chimey. So depends on who's cheaper I might go that route. Hmm decisions decisions. Well, look like I'll get a legacy after all

[louis cyfer]

I really like the cleans of the stratcat...thats the sound i've been looking for. However, they are very low output and I'd want the guitar to be able to do funk/rock as well so the Rock and Blues seem very appealing also as they have more presence. The klinez 56's are pretty similar to rock and blues, may just a bit more chimey. So depends on who's cheaper I might go that route. Hmm decisions decisions. Well, look like I'll get a legacy after all

the jm rock and blues is indeed great, but the stratcats, and especially the big cats (i have the prototype set, a hotter bridge pup) still overdrive the amp nicely. i actually learned to like lower output pups, still overdrive nice, but the tone is great. the d allens should be less expensive but they are both good deals. listen to the jazzy cat demos on the klein site, they are the best strat pups i have yet to hear.

[dizdgl]

Thanks Louis. I'm will sure have a good listen to the Jazz ones and the Fender 57/62 as well. Thanks heaps for your inputs. Really help out.

[jwebsmall]

I love the build quality of the G&L too.
But I finally traded my USA Legacy in on an Eric Johnson Strat.
I wish it had the G&L DF trem but I love the tone and
quartersawn V neck. I think the neck is even more
important than the pickups regarding tone -at least it is
to my ears.

The older chunky G&L necks that were 42.8 mm wide and
about 1" thick at the 12th fret were out of this world but
they won't make those any more.

There is a semi-hollow blues boy ASAT at the local dealer
with that fat old neck that I have my eye on. It's either
going to be that or a G.E. Smith tele with the fat neck -
haven't decided yet.

[Craig]

I believe the MIK Tribute Legacy's came with 9.5" radius

Not sure where you got this idea. All Tribute Legacy's have 12" radius necks.
The Tribute ASAT Classic and Tribute ASAT Special's have 9" radius necks.
See this post in the G&L Knowledgebase: What is the new Tribute series which G&L announced in 2003?

[shankyboy]

Comparing a Fender American Standard to Tribute series guitar is an apples to oranges comparison. Don't you think?

[Miles Smiles]

Comparing a Fender American Standard to Tribute series guitar is an apples to oranges comparison. Don't you think?

Hm, why?

[dizdgl]

Yeh tributes are in the same league with MIMs I reckon. Whether the tributes are better than the MIM's that's another story

[Boogie Bill]

There are a LOT of other pickups I would use in a Legacy before I would install Fender American Standard pickups. LOTS.

Bill

[dizdgl]

Yeh, in the end, I've opted to go with a Fender body with D'Allen Rock n Blues matched with a USACG neck. Get all that I need.

[smurph1]

One mans opinion here, but I have both a ASAT Classic and a 57 AVRI Strat..if it were me..(and it's not) I'd get both as opposed to trying to make a guitar be something it's not..as always Your Mileage may vary..

[shankyboy]

Comparing a Fender American Standard to Tribute series guitar is an apples to oranges comparison. Don't you think?

Hm, why?

One is American made and the other isn't????

[louis cyfer]

Comparing a Fender American Standard to Tribute series guitar is an apples to oranges comparison. Don't you think?

Hm, why?

One is American made and the other isn't????

quality wise they are pretty close though.

[zapcosongs]

Just found this thread. Glad the original poster found something that makes him happy.

I'm kind of surprised though that Louis didn't recommend a set of Anderson singles. Also, my favorite Fender pickups for "that" sound are the Custom '69 set. Just surprised these didn't get a mention here... - ed

[willross]

Zap,

Good point. I'm getting a set of Anderson TV1 & TV3's. Too bad they'll be stuck in a Short Hollow T Classic...


Cheers,

Will

[louis cyfer]

Just found this thread. Glad the original poster found something that makes him happy.

I'm kind of surprised though that Louis didn't recommend a set of Anderson singles. Also, my favorite Fender pickups for "that" sound are the Custom '69 set. Just surprised these didn't get a mention here... - ed

you are right, the anderson singles are awesome. i have a guitar with anderson pups, they do rock. look a bit different though.