Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
moriah888
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:03 am

Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by moriah888 »

Hi guys,

I've a chance tomorrow night to try out a second hand guitar thats described as below, with pics. I'd really appreciate some of you G&L fans / experts giving me some advice. Asking price is £250. From what you see what do you think? What should I look for as well? Are there any "dead giveaways" for fake G&L's etc?

Many many thanks!
Dave
-----------------------------------

Described as follows "If you're looking at this you probably know that G&L stands for George Fullerton and Leo Fender - some say more fender than fender! This is their tribute series, which contain the same hardware and pickups as their American made counterparts.
Consistent reviews place this above a Mexi Fender.

More Fender than Fender!!!

It features:
Dual fulcrum Tremelo
USA G&L Alnico 5 pickups
Ash body, hard rock maple neck and rosewood fingerboard
12" radius neck
Fender gig bag "

Here are some pics :

Image
Image
thedarkstark
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:01 pm
Location: Chicago

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by thedarkstark »

I'm certainly no expert, but depending on how good of shape it seems like an OK deal, not great, not terrible.

Those guitars brand new go for around $500 USD (roughly £400). Used G&L's particularly tributes don't hold their value all that well either. G&L's IMHO are of much much better quality than Fender's but everyone knows fender, not everyone knows G&L so Fenders tend to retain their resale value much better.

If it's in good shape, it's certainly worth the money, they are amazing guitars. That said there may be a better deal to be found out there, I can't speak for the market overseas but in America you can find a used Tribute pretty easily.
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willross
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Location: Minneapolis

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by willross »

The Tributes made in Korea and have the "Tribute" on the headstock like that are the most sought after of this line. Very high quality. Very. That is a good price too...


Cheers,

Will
Last edited by willross on Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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oneeyedog
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:44 am
Location: Motherwell, Scotland

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by oneeyedog »

Hi, the G&L market in the UK, or N.Ireland as the gumtree add is Belfast, isn't great.. so I dont think they come around that often. I have a ASAT Classic Tribute, different model and as far as i'm concerned its way better than any MX Fender. If its advertised at £250 on Gumtree then they'll probably accept less... maybe £200/£225.. its been on sale for 2 weeks...it started at £270.... they'll definately take less. Previous Tributes were on Gumtree at £350 average.. so I'd say its a good price.
if its local go try it... you wont be dissappointed. let us know how you get on...
john
moriah888
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:03 am

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by moriah888 »

Awesome replies and information guys thanks very much! I've been an Ibanez man for years and the only "strat" I ever owned was an Yngwie Malmsteen signature model that I had for 3 years until I sold it a year ago - worst mistake I ever made. At the moment I'm stuck with a crap Ibanez with those hideous EMG "characterless" pickups...

...being out of work as well money's very tight and it's really hard to get a decent guitar for my max price of £400.

My initial impression of the G&L above was "never heard of that before"....but I've done a lot of researching and they do seem to be the dogs bollocks in the "Mexican Strat" price range. So I'll give it a good blast when the guy brings it over tomorrow and see what it's like.

Dave
louis cyfer
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Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by louis cyfer »

that legacy tribute gives an mia standard strat a run for the money. offer 200, take it home for 220 and be a happy camper. just makes sure the frets and trussrod work well.
moriah888
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:03 am

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by moriah888 »

Well I bought the guitar....wow it is really a great instrument.

Trem has been set up to float and stays in tune perfectly....action is super low...frets minimal wear. A new set of strings, a fretboard clean and a downtune to E flat and it'll be perfect.

Nice to be in the G&L Club now :)

(Only thing is I'm not used to single coils so they sound super noisy to me....where's that noise gate :) )
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oneeyedog
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Location: Motherwell, Scotland

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by oneeyedog »

Excellent news :D
good price I hope ...............
cheers
john
moriah888
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Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:03 am

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by moriah888 »

O my good God....

I have owned a £2000 Steve Vai JEM.
I have owned a £1800 Malmsteen Signature Strat.
I have owned a £1500 custom ESP.

....NOTHING has come close to the tone and quality and MOJO that's coming off this guitar.

Gap between neck and body? Ooooo about one atom's worth!
Action...about 1 mm.

Now I started the day a bit discouraged. Guitar sounded muddy. Lacked balls and clarity. Did a lot of fiddling around and then thought "bugger this". Installed new strings. Cleaned the fretboard. Fixed the intonation and adjusted the action and pickup height. Then spent about 3 hours working out which of my pedals "work" and which don't.

This guitar now with a simple overdrive pedal and noisegate sounds more Yngwie than my aforementioned Yngwie strat. The neck is so fast it makes those piece of <censored word> Wizard III necks look like a rough-cut log.

Plus amazing side benefit....it's so easy to play the arthritus in my left wrist (was diagnosed 2 months ago) isn't giving me pain...this is the first time in 2 months I've been able to play for more than an hour at a time.

I'll post a video clip over the next couple of days....
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blargfromouterspace
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Location: Central Highlands, Australia

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by blargfromouterspace »

moriah888 wrote:This guitar now with a simple overdrive pedal and noisegate sounds more Yngwie than my aforementioned Yngwie strat.

I'll post a video clip over the next couple of days....
Great to hear you like the guitar so much. Looking forward to some Yngwie clips - I'm not into shred at all, and my one exception is Yngwie, he makes it fun!

[youtube]kq6HRE0wtYI[/youtube]
-Jamie
thedarkstark
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:01 pm
Location: Chicago

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by thedarkstark »

Congrats! Glad you're enjoying the guitar.

I fell in love with my Legacy the moment I picked it up. It absolutely destroys any Fender Strat I've ever played. I've found the Tributes to be just a bit more hit or miss, but most of them are phenomenal.
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timewave
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Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:34 pm

Re: Secondhand G&L - noob asks "Should I buy this"?

Post by timewave »

Congrats on the new G&L addition!!!
I own a Leg Spec+a Comanche both U.S. made and my L.S. is making my Comanche very lazy as it sits in the gtr stand weeping!
Im in no way saying the comanche is in any way ,shape ,or form not a perfect in every way gtr,(IMO) but I just LOVE this Leg.Spec.
Im sure youll find it very hard to put down! I dont know much about Tribs. but what I read on this site about them is very good !
Good Luck with the Trib!!! and Welcome!!
Steve