S500, Comanche, Legacy Special questions

[rock-lobster]

I hear people compare each of these guitars to the regular Legacy (more output, fuller sound, less conventionally stratty sounding) a lot, but not to each other.

i know I'm picking up one of these pretty soon (or possibly a Legacy HB).

Right now I might be able to get my hands on a new Special for a good price but I'm worried based on the description that the rails can't handle heavier stuff as well as the 500 or Comanche (which seems counter intuitive but it sounds like the rails are quite underwound).

Versatility is really name of the game here. I'm in a jam band and need the ability to do everything from the cleanest possible sounds to really heavy rock (not really metal, but close).

I'm wondering if anyone has played all three and could tell me the sonic differences in the three. I haven't played any of them, only a legacy. But since they're all basically a legacy with different pickups, I figure they all must sound distinct enough that they're three different models.

I guess if nothing else I'm asking, which sounds most like the standard legacy and which sounds least that way?

Thanks for the help.

[Craig]

I hear people compare each of these guitars to the regular Legacy (more output, fuller sound, less conventionally stratty sounding) a lot, but not to each other.

i know I'm picking up one of these pretty soon (or possibly a Legacy HB).

Right now I might be able to get my hands on a new Special for a good price but I'm worried based on the description that the rails can't handle heavier stuff as well as the 500 or Comanche (which seems counter intuitive but it sounds like the rails are quite underwound).

Versatility is really name of the game here. I'm in a jam band and need the ability to do everything from the cleanest possible sounds to really heavy rock (not really metal, but close).

I'm wondering if anyone has played all three and could tell me the sonic differences in the three. I haven't played any of them, only a legacy. But since they're all basically a legacy with different pickups, I figure they all must sound distinct enough that they're three different models.

I guess if nothing else I'm asking, which sounds most like the standard legacy and which sounds least that way?

Thanks for the help.

See the G&L Audio and Video Clips!!! sub-forum. Here's a good starting one to watch: S-500 or Legacy? Video Clip.

Also check the G&L Knowledgebase and Let's Talk G&L Products sub-forums. Search can be useful, too.

Here a good starting post from the G&L Knowledgebase: Comanches For Dummies Redux by BoogieBill.

Hope this helps.

[rock-lobster]

Thanks for the help. I never did exactly figure out which is best for me. Either way I pulled the trigger and picked up a new Legacy Special for just a hair over a grand. I'm really excited to put it through its paces.

If the rails turn out not to be the right ones for me I'll check out the MFDs. Is there any sort of S-style pickguard trade on here or anywhere for G&Ls? I feel like a fully loaded pickguard swap could save people a lot of money trying to experiment with pickups.

[supereiv]

Hi,
My first G&L was a clear red Legacy special from 94, and I can tell you that those blades deliver in the high gain department too. I currently own an S-500 deluxe, and it's a different animal. In term of versatility you can't beat the Legacy Special, you made a good choice.
Oh, and IMO, output doesn't do everything.

What are the options on your LS ?

[Craig]

If the rails turn out not to be the right ones for me I'll check out the MFDs. Is there any sort of S-style pickguard trade on here or anywhere for G&Ls? I feel like a fully loaded pickguard swap could save people a lot of money trying to experiment with pickups.

G&L does not offer a loaded pickguard exchange, but you could build your own S-500 or Comanche loaded pickguard. Order the pickguard from G&L's pickguard
supplier, Chandler (aka Pickguard Heaven) and order the rest of the parts and pickups from G&L's On-Line Store.

The other option here would be to post a Want Ad or For Sale Ad in our GbL Marketplace.

Once you receive your Legacy Special please add it to our G&L Registry and post a photo or two in the G&L Porn!!! sub-forum.

[DatWunGai]

Hey everyone!
I'm new to the site and somewhat new to G&Ls.

I too am torn between the Comanche, S500 and Legacy. I want and ash body, QS maple neck - Wide "C" (like my beloved PRS McCarty Wide Fat IRW neck), maple or ebony FB, PTB, DF Trem and despite covering up what I'm sure will be a nice looking piece of wood, I'm pretty stuck on Ruby Red Metallic with a pearl white pick guard and black pups, knobs, etc. For the neck I want, I have to custom order, but which guitar do I order?

The key here is I need one with a swimming pool route so I can swap pup set ups until I'm satisfied. Can anyone tell me definitively if any or all of these guitars have that route? I'm hoping the Comanche does, I'd really like to give those Z's a workout and swap out pups, etc. if the need arises. I play a variety of styles as my taste in music is dictated solely (souly?) by my ears, so this guitar has to be a versatile sounding one - I already know it'll be a "player" - it's a G&L!

And BTW, I recently bought, and returned, a used Tribute Legacy that was advertised as "No dings or scratches, near mint." from PA, but the reality is that it was wired like a strat (no PTB), and with a 3 way selector switch no less, and the list goes on... Beware ebay shoppers, beware...

[SouthpawGuy]

I have S500s, Legacys, Legacy HB, Legacy 2HB, Legacy Deluxe and Legacy Specials. My vote goes for the Legacy Special. The rail pickups can easily do the heavier stuff , if set closer to the strings, and with the pickups set nearer to the pickguard it will do a reasonable in between or quack sound. Not as good as a Legacy with alnico Vs but it does the job.

[Craig]

The key here is I need one with a swimming pool route so I can swap pup set ups until I'm satisfied. Can anyone tell me definitively if any or all of these guitars have that route? I'm hoping the Comanche does, I'd really like to give those Z's a workout and swap out pups, etc. if the need arises.

I just added this post to the G&L Knowledgebase, General G&L Questions sub-forum: Which G&L guitar models have the body with a bathtub route?.

[DatWunGai]

Thanks Craig!
I admit I didn't search for that topic before asking the question; sorry about that.

[MJ Slaughter]

Thanks for the help. I never did exactly figure out which is best for me. Either way I pulled the trigger and picked up a new Legacy Special for just a hair over a grand. I'm really excited to put it through its paces.

If the rails turn out not to be the right ones for me I'll check out the MFDs. Is there any sort of S-style pickguard trade on here or anywhere for G&Ls? I feel like a fully loaded pickguard swap could save people a lot of money trying to experiment with pickups.

I have a Legacy Special too and find the pickups plenty heavy for my needs. YMMV of course. For added versatility I installed a 3P3T switch positioned like the one on a S500 pick guard that splits the coils. Very usable for me. If you really want to geek out try a trim pot on each pickup with the inner coil wires to one leg and the middle leg to ground. You can dial in a little bit of the unused coil (when split) for a little more low end if you find the split sound too thin. I just learned about and did this to one of my PRS guitars. Worked great at a gig this weekend.

[DatWunGai]

I have a Legacy Special too and find the pickups plenty heavy for my needs. YMMV of course. For added versatility I installed a 3P3T switch positioned like the one on a S500 pick guard that splits the coils. Very usable for me. If you really want to geek out try a trim pot on each pickup with the inner coil wires to one leg and the middle leg to ground. You can dial in a little bit of the unused coil (when split) for a little more low end if you find the split sound too thin. I just learned about and did this to one of my PRS guitars. Worked great at a gig this weekend.

That trim pot sounds interesting; got a schematic?

BTW, I found a killer Black Burst Comanche that had everything I wanted except the quarter sawn neck, so I got it. It's so pretty.

I'll post pics after I recover from the wedding (not mine haha) that I'm going to in a couple hours. I like the Z coils, but after using HB's most of my life I found that I prefer that big bad HB kick in the pants to the Z's, so I'm going to order a new pickguard and put a set of bare knuckles (HSS) in it.

Now I gotta update my signature...