A much needed upgrade to my S500

[meowmix]

Take a look at this pic and see if you see anything wrong with it.

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Can you see the problem?
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Take another look.


Do you see it now?

[darwinohm]

Yep, I had this on my 2010 Legacy. Remove the jack plate and you will see where the end of the plug hits the inside of the cavity. Take a round punch and make an indentation in the wood. Make it deep enough so the end of the plug doesn't hit the wood. -- Darwin

[meowmix]

Here is the fix.

Push plug in and twist. It will create a dimple in the wood.
Open the cavity and take a look to where the dimple is.


Time to bust out that dremel.
I used a big drill bit then used the dremel around for more.
Make a hole.


How exciting is that. While your in there. Paint the cavities and shield the guitar.

I guess they don't make these 5 way switches anymore. This one has a cool looking spring.

[suave eddie]

Take a look at this pic and see if you see anything wrong with it.

I thought at first it was the Mother-of-toilet seat pickguard you were referring to.

[meowmix]

Take a look at this pic and see if you see anything wrong with it.

I thought at first it was the Mother-of-toilet seat pickguard you were referring to.

That would be a correct answer but not the best answer.
I did not choose that pg. Louis did.

[suave eddie]

I did not choose that pg. Louis did.

Now that was funny................

[meowmix]

Check it out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pearloi ... 80&bih=923

[louis cyfer]

Take a look at this pic and see if you see anything wrong with it.

I thought at first it was the Mother-of-toilet seat pickguard you were referring to.

That would be a correct answer but not the best answer.
I did not choose that pg. Louis did.

[Craig]

See Silly "fit" flaw in many Legacys.

[meowmix]

Here is my initial comparison to the Deluxe model.

First off. The cavity. I see some wiggle room in the cavity to move the controls left or right. More on that later.


Nickel paint. Great stuff. This is before I cleaned up the edges.


Nickel the PU cavity.


Here is where it is different.
The red line shows the amount of free space you have. On the Deluxe model all controls are bottom of bridge PU and out.
In other words, out of the way while you are strumming. Many times as I strum on the S500, I would bump the selector switch and ooops, the PU changed.




Now lets take a look at the regular model


You can see the Selector switch in the way more. I think people would rather have it out of the way.
It is something to consider, unless you like to bump controls. Also, it would be great if G&L could move the pots father out, I know there isn't much room, but looking at the cavity pic above, it can move about 1/4 inch.

If you decide to go the Deluxe model route. Please upgrade to 1 11/16 or 1 3/4. The default size is good for solo but horrible for rhythm. And I don't consider my hands all that big. Then again, if you are counting beans then 1 5/8 is what you do to make that extra profit.

[louis cyfer]

meow, this just means you are strumming from the elbow, and not from the wrist. strumming that wild is not really a good thing. also, strumming just a bit closer to the neck will make you avoid hitting the switch as well.

[supereiv]

very nice deluxe you have here !

[meowmix]

I have more evidence the Deluxe model is the superior one.

Toggle switch plus wammy bar.

First the Deluxe.



Second the Pick Guard version.
The wammy bar will hit the toggle switch in the mid position which will move.



Third, the 30th anniv. version.
Clears it, but not by much.


Something to think about.

Give G&L credit for having the option to go to 1 11/16 and 1 3/4 neck width. Some manufacturers don't do that.

[Craig]

You can always raise the bar in the trem socket, as long as the allen set screw can be tighten against the bar.
There's quite a bit of adjustment there.

Just a thought.

[meowmix]

You can always raise the bar in the trem socket, as long as the allen set screw can be tighten against the bar.
There's quite a bit of adjustment there.

Just a thought.

I never investigated, but I guess it is possible to make your own Pickguard and move the switch lower.

I could also lower the toggle switch with the screws. Or how about removing the plastic knob. Either way, or both, or all, you still have to be careful with your hands touching. How else will the bar move?

The Deluxe can be better. Just move all three pots away about 1/4".

Also, I do not suggest G&L to take the Louis route. Telling the clients their technique is bad is not a good idea imo.

[louis cyfer]

You can always raise the bar in the trem socket, as long as the allen set screw can be tighten against the bar.
There's quite a bit of adjustment there.

Just a thought.

I never investigated, but I guess it is possible to make your own Pickguard and move the switch lower.

I could also lower the toggle switch with the screws. Or how about removing the plastic knob. Either way, or both, or all, you still have to be careful with your hands touching. How else will the bar move?

The Deluxe can be better. Just move all three pots away about 1/4".

Also, I do not suggest G&L to take the Louis route. Telling the clients their technique is bad is not a good idea imo.

should they change the design because of a customer with bad technique? btw, you totally misunderstood craig, he was saying to raise the bar in the socket. you don't have to push it all the way in, as the set screw will hold it in place. it can be a half inch< higher, and you might prefer that. on the pic of the black pg, the tip of the switch is not properly seated, if it were, there would be enough room. both the white and the black with the pg have a taller tip than the deluxe, that i find very curious. the trembar on the deluxe is 1 1/4" from the surface, on the white pg it's only 7/8". that means on the white one the trem is not set up level, but dipping forward. i am surprised that someone as meticulous as you would miss so many things.

[meowmix]

should they change the design because of a customer with bad technique?

That is a good question. How do you define bad technique? My hand does not have to move very far to touch the control.
When did I ask them to redesign the pg guitar?

btw, you totally misunderstood craig, he was saying to raise the bar in the socket. you don't have to push it all the way in, as the set screw will hold it in place. it can be a half inch< higher, and you might prefer that.

Wrong. I did understand. It is best to compare apples to apples instead of fudging the thing to work. The Black pg control also sits high. I can lower it with the screws. And I fix the tip as you suggested. It is better now. But functions just like the 30th.

both the white and the black with the pg have a taller tip than the deluxe, that i find very curious.

I'm not.
G&L doesn't make the control. Some place in China probably does. Whatever is available at the time.
Here is a pic of my 90's S500 switch. Notice the spring. They don't make that anymore.

the trembar on the deluxe is 1 1/4" from the surface, on the white pg it's only 7/8". that means on the white one the trem is not set up level, but dipping forward. i am surprised that someone as meticulous as you would miss so many things.

Wrong. The Deluxe has no pickguard to deal with. The others do.
Which make me curious. Are you defending the pg guitar over the no-pg guitar? hmmmmmmmm.

What is the purpose of my post?
It is to guide people my findings of the difference in the S500 family. Something you will not find elsewhere. It is up to them if
this info is helpful. If they decide to go with a 1 5/8" nut ( which is totally WRONG), that is their choice.

I hope if they have any questions, like shielding or anything else with the S500, I can be some help to them.

[louis cyfer]

the pg is not 3/8" thick. you can see the bar tilting down somewhat in the pics. btw, they still make that switch, that is the only kind i buy. i never have problem finding it. g&l may not be using it though. most places put the switch in the other way around, with the spring facing the cavity wall. the switch tips, just like the knobs should be sourced by g&l, not by the company that makes the switch.

[meowmix]

the pg is not 3/8" thick. you can see the bar tilting down somewhat in the pics. btw, they still make that switch, that is the only kind i buy. i never have problem finding it. g&l may not be using it though. most places put the switch in the other way around, with the spring facing the cavity wall. the switch tips, just like the knobs should be sourced by g&l, not by the company that makes the switch.

The difference is in 16ths not 8ths.
The difference in setups is roughly 1/16th.
The Black Pick guard had a low setup done by the luthier. The Deluxe setup came from G&L.

Everything equal. The pickguard will lessen the amount of space by 1/16.
The tremolo bar is divided in 3 sections. When attached the middle is level to the guitar, so it make no difference where the middle section bar goes over the control.

What seems to be tilting is the camera angle. Overall, moving the switch farther out of the way is better.

[louis cyfer]

the pg is not 3/8" thick. you can see the bar tilting down somewhat in the pics. btw, they still make that switch, that is the only kind i buy. i never have problem finding it. g&l may not be using it though. most places put the switch in the other way around, with the spring facing the cavity wall. the switch tips, just like the knobs should be sourced by g&l, not by the company that makes the switch.

The difference is in 16ths not 8ths.
The difference in setups is roughly 1/16th.
The Black Pick guard had a low setup done by the luthier. The Deluxe setup came from G&L.

Everything equal. The pickguard will lessen the amount of space by 1/16.
The tremolo bar is divided in 3 sections. When attached the middle is level to the guitar, so it make no difference where the middle section bar goes over the control.

What seems to be tilting is the camera angle. Overall, moving the switch farther out of the way is better.

i like both the volume pot and switch position on those. moving it farther makes it harder to switch quickly, especially without hitting the knobs.