Legacy pups ?

[gtrplayr1976]

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum ,and have a general question. I just recently purchased a G&L Legacy ,and was wondering how I would know if the pickups are original ? The reason I ask is that I was a little disappointed in the tone. I had a Skyhawk years ago ,and loved it. For some reason this one just seems a little bland.

Thanks a heap !

[suave eddie]

Skyhawk and Legacy pickups are very different.
See this post:
http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=38

Your Skyhawk pickups (if original) would have been MFD (Magnetic Field Design) and your new Legacy pickups (if original) would be traditional Alnico designs aiming for a traditional "Strat" sound.

If you post some photos someone here could probably ID them for you.

[padavis]

I love the newer Legacy pups. Mine is an 11 and its the only pup configuration I've been able to get killer tones out of on all settings. I think the trick is to ride the volume and ptb system. Try cutting the highs done to a little less the 3/4 and tame the volume some too.

[padavis]

Oh and if you're thinking about selling them, please message me!

[Craig]

Also see these posts in our G&L Knowledgebase, General G&L Questions:

Anico verses MFD's for sound output

S-500 or Legacy?

G&L Legacy pickups

[gtrplayr1976]

Thank you all. Mine just doesn't seem to sound like it should. I fear someone has made some changes in the electronics. I can see that the center pot was changed to a 500k. and maybe the switch. The pup wires don't match the schematic as far as color. It just sounds weak to me. When I figure out how to post pictures maybe someone can tell me if they see an issue.

Thanks

ok..hope this works

[Craig]

Thank you all. Mine just doesn't seem to sound like it should. I fear someone has made some changes in the electronics. I can see that the center pot was changed to a 500k. and maybe the switch. The pup wires don't match the schematic as far as color. It just sounds weak to me. When I figure out how to post pictures maybe someone can tell me if they see an issue.

Thanks

ok..hope this works

There are two things I notice right away:

The middle pickup does not look stock (red and yellow leads).
The middle and bridge pickups have been installed incorrectly in the pickguard.

Take a look at this post for the correct pickup configuration: Re: Help with pickup identification on a Legacy.

Here's a link to the Legacy Wiring Diagram, G&L has on their main website: http://www.glguitars.com/schematics/Leg ... iagram.pdf .

Hope this helps.

[gtrplayr1976]

Did you notice the selector switch has no jumpers ? The wiring diagram I found for the Legacy shows jumpers from one side to the other. When you say the middle ,and bridge are installed incorrectly do you mean wired ? The pickup resistance seems to be pretty close to what they say they should be , but yes I noticed the middle pickup right away.

Thanks for the help.

[Elwood]

Did you notice the selector switch has no jumpers ? The wiring diagram I found for the Legacy shows jumpers from one side to the other. When you say the middle ,and bridge are installed incorrectly do you mean wired ? The pickup resistance seems to be pretty close to what they say they should be , but yes I noticed the middle pickup right away.

Thanks for the help.

All three pickups should have the 'point' toward the bridge. They have been put in backwards physically.
(Easy fix )


The (bad looking)solder joints on the selector switch should be redone.
I've seen the switches wired on both sides but it is not essential for a good sound.
If anyone here knows why switches are wired redundantly with a jumper to the other side , please chime in.
(more metal=better electron flow ;maybe the selector switch , especially after being used for years , becomes a signal bottleneck?...possibly a smoother and more positive switching action?...?)

Your pickup height might be dampening the string vibrations if they are too high, that would be another reason an axe can sound anemic . But let's get them in there right and with a solid line to your amp first.


elwood

[gtrplayr1976]

OH...ok..thanks Elwood. I just wish I knew if the pickups were original. I have the guide to set it up from the G&L site. I just wanted to get all the electronics straight first.

[louis cyfer]

Did you notice the selector switch has no jumpers ? The wiring diagram I found for the Legacy shows jumpers from one side to the other. When you say the middle ,and bridge are installed incorrectly do you mean wired ? The pickup resistance seems to be pretty close to what they say they should be , but yes I noticed the middle pickup right away.

Thanks for the help.

All three pickups should have the 'point' toward the bridge. They have been put in backwards physically.
(Easy fix )


The (bad looking)solder joints on the selector switch should be redone.
I've seen the switches wired on both sides but it is not essential for a good sound.
If anyone here knows why switches are wired redundantly with a jumper to the other side , please chime in.
(more metal=better electron flow ;maybe the selector switch , especially after being used for years , becomes a signal bottleneck?...possibly a smoother and more positive switching action?...?)

Your pickup height might be dampening the string vibrations if they are too high, that would be another reason an axe can sound anemic . But let's get them in there right and with a solid line to your amp first.


elwood

the switch has been flipped around as well. they usually jumper it to run the tone control off the other side.

[gtrplayr1976]

Thanks Louis. Wonder if anyone on here has gut shots of a correct layout of everything ?

[Miles Smiles]

All original (click for full resolution!):

[louis cyfer]

All original (click for full resolution!):

interesting, i have only seen the spring mechanism towards the body, as to avoid wires getting caught in there.

[gtrplayr1976]

All original (click for full resolution!):

interesting, i have only seen the spring mechanism towards the body, as to avoid wires getting caught in there.

Mine is closed on both sides. Is this one an import ? Are they different?

[gtrplayr1976]

All original (click for full resolution!):

Thank you very much. Is this an import ? Are they different? Mine doesn't have the brass plate.

[Miles Smiles]

Thank you very much. Is this an import ? Are they different? Mine doesn't have the brass plate.

This is a Legacy built in 1994. It seems they gave up that brass plate thing later. The older G&Ls had it all.

[gtrplayr1976]

Thank you very much. Is this an import ? Are they different? Mine doesn't have the brass plate.

This is a Legacy built in 1994. It seems they gave up that brass plate thing later. The older G&Ls had it all.

Ok. thank you !....I want to get this thing back the way it should be.

[louis cyfer]

All original (click for full resolution!):

interesting, i have only seen the spring mechanism towards the body, as to avoid wires getting caught in there.

Mine is closed on both sides. Is this one an import ? Are they different?

yours is not closed on both sides. it has the switch mechanism with the contacts on one and the metal ground plate on the other.

[gtrplayr1976]

All original (click for full resolution!):

interesting, i have only seen the spring mechanism towards the body, as to avoid wires getting caught in there.

Mine is closed on both sides. Is this one an import ? Are they different?

yours is not closed on both sides. it has the switch mechanism with the contacts on one and the metal ground plate on the other.

I didn't mean closed like a box. Just meant there's two sides ,and no exposed spring.

[gtrplayr1976]

Well, apparently there is , or was a G&L pup with red ,and yellow leads. I feel a little better now that mine may be original.

[Miles Smiles]

As I read it, it came to my mind, that these used Legacy pickups I bought a while ago, had the same colors.

Here they are placed in my partscaster, I recently assemled (click for high res!):



From the front side, the G&L logo is visible in full size:



They have flat poles, the wire colors are exactly the same and they have the G&L logo on them, and they were sold to me as G&L pickups, so I'm pretty sure, they are.

[gtrplayr1976]

As I read it, it came to my mind, that these used Legacy pickups I bought a while ago, had the same colors.

Here they are placed in my partscaster, I recently assemled (click for high res!):



From the front side, the G&L logo is visible in full size:



They have flat poles, the wire colors are exactly the same and they have the G&L logo on them, and they were sold to me as G&L pickups, so I'm pretty sure, they are.

Mine have flat poles as well. One of the responses I got on my wiring said my bridge ,and middle pups were in backwards meaning the wire leads should be pointed to the bridge. I see you have the bridge pup pointed toward the front. In my mind that would be best for wiring.

[Miles Smiles]

Mine have flat poles as well. One of the responses I got on my wiring said my bridge ,and middle pups were in backwards meaning the wire leads should be pointed to the bridge. I see you have the bridge pup pointed toward the front. In my mind that would be best for wiring.

Directing all the pickups the same direction might be simply tradition. As the poles are flat the "wrong" direction doesn't influence the sound and there's less trouble putting everything together into the cavity. The pick guard just falls in.

[Elwood]

Well, apparently there is , or was a G&L pup with red ,and yellow leads. I feel a little better now that mine may be original.
[

I had a hunch about that, the waxiness of the wires and patina all looked the same ,black ,white, red or yellow
( I feel a song coming on)

nice investigating !

elwood

[gtrplayr1976]

Well, apparently there is , or was a G&L pup with red ,and yellow leads. I feel a little better now that mine may be original.
[

I had a hunch about that, the waxiness of the wires and patina all looked the same ,black ,white, red or yellow
( I feel a song coming on)

nice investigating !

elwood

I HAD to find out Elwood. It would have driven me crazy I looked at pickups for a good while before I found that info.

[gtrplayr1976]

Think I have it all wired up correctly now. Definitely sounds better. I just need to set the pickup height. Is there a rule of thumb here ?

[Craig]

Think I have it all wired up correctly now. Definitely sounds better. I just need to set the pickup height. Is there a rule of thumb here ?

A good source is the G&L Knowledgebase, G&L Tech Tips sub-forum:

What should the pickup height setting be?

Hope this helps.

[gtrplayr1976]

Thanks Craig !