Need a bit of help here...

[del2608]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy my first G&L and I really like the look of the Tribute S-500. I have seen one for sale which is advertised as having a mahogany body. Alot of the reviews i have read and some retailers here in the UK state this model has a swamp ash body and I'm a bit confused. The G&L website says the body is mahogany but I'm guessing they have changed from swamp ash to mahogany at some point. What I would like to know is:

1 is there much difference in sound between swamp ash and mahogany?

2 the one I have seen has a serial number starting "1107xxxxxx" (July 2011 manufacture?) and was made in Indonesia. It is blueburst with a white pearloid pickguard. Can anyone tell me if it is swamp ash or mahogany please? Is there a way to tell the type of wood?

Pics on photobucket

http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/del2608/library/

All help much appreciated

Thanks for reading

Derek

[KenC]

Derek,

The guitar in the photo is swamp ash. Mahogany wouldn't have a strong grain pattern like that.

I can't offer an opinion on the mahogany they're currently using vs. ash, as my experience is with older instruments.

Ken

[helle-man]

I agree with Ken. It's probably ash.

I'm sure I'll be considered a heretic on here for saying this, but I think people make too big a deal about what kind of wood the body has. Do they all sound different? Yes, but in subtle ways.

However, as soon as you plug your guitar into cords, pedals, amps etc., your sound is going to change too. You just have to know how to adjust your controls to get "your sound", that's all.

My 2¢
Will

[darwinohm]

Will Ray says

I'm sure I'll be considered a heretic on here for saying this, but I think people make too big a deal about what kind of wood the body has. Do they all sound different? Yes, but in subtle ways.

He speaks with wisdom and I happen to agree 100%.

[bloodied_fingers]

I agree with Ken. It's probably ash.

I'm sure I'll be considered a heretic on here for saying this, but I think people make too big a deal about what kind of wood the body has. Do they all sound different? Yes, but in subtle ways.

I agree on both counts. Looks like ash and on the 'list of things which affect an electric guitar sound' the type of wood is down on the list.

If I recall correctly, when I was looking at S-500 and tribute legacys all the burst/transparent finishes had some type of ash. I think other woods they use on these would not look very appealing under a transparent finish. I know there is a big knot on the upper bout of my legacy that would not be appealing

[del2608]

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful. Once I find out where the wife has hidden my credit card I think I will be making this baby mine.

Just as an aside, what would you say is the S500's biggest weakness? Or the weakest part of your own G&L model?

Just curious.


Derek

[bloodied_fingers]

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful. Once I find out where the wife has hidden my credit card I think I will be making this baby mine.

Just as an aside, what would you say is the S500's biggest weakness? Or the weakest part of your own G&L model?

Just curious.


Derek

I have a Tribute Legacy. I can't comment much on the S-500 but I think my next solidbody electric guitar will be a used USA S-500. There is a cool youtube video where G&L compares a tribute legacy and a tribute s-500.
+edit+ here is the ty video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVR7zt08SK4

I have owned my guitar about six months now and recently swapped the treble pot out for a push-pull to get the 'expander' circuit like an S-500. (I hate mini switches). I have really enjoyed it. This list is very very nit-picky.

Physical defects:

* There are a lot of finish flaws (mostly splatters but one nick near the neck pocket)
* The pickguard is not as clean as it could be (stray cuts, burrs and such).
* I'm not so hot on the bathtub routing anymore. Acoustically it sounds a bit plastic compared to guitars with S-S-S routes. Not sure how much, if at all, that affects sound when plugged in.
* The tuners are getting 'loose' and one or two have a bit of play in them
* The nut could be better, it feels like pretty cheap plastic. I doubt this really affects anything but aesthetically it looks cheap

Biggest drawback for me is who it is made by; the manufacturer, Cort-tek, of the Tribute line is pretty much evil.


Now all that said, until I knew about the last point I would give these guitars the biggest endorsement.

All the issues on my list are very minor, and downright petty when price is considered. I think my guitar compares favorably to any MIM Fender. And the S-500 you get mfd pups, but I hate that damned mini switch...

If the guitar was made by somebody else I would still be recommending it to everyone I met. And I'm not trying to derail this conversation here, but you asked about drawbacks.

[KenC]

I wouldn't completely dismiss the body wood as a factor in tone. I personally don't notice any difference between ash and alder on a guitar. I am not a fan of poplar or other very soft woods, which just seem to lack substance to me. Substance may not be the best word...resonance or depth may be closer to the mark. The maple bodies on older G&Ls sound brighter to me than their ash counterparts.

I think wood is much more important when it comes to basses. Compare L-1000s or L-2000s with mahogany and ash bodies and I guarantee you'll hear quite a difference. The 'hog will sound like it's running through a bass boost. I personally believe this is due to the 'hog body attenuating the higher frequencies (much like an L-1K's "OMG switch"). I'd bet that most Leo-era bass fans would tell you the same thing. You can find these basses from the early 80s with ash bodies without too much looking. The 'hogs are harder to find, and are going to run a couple of hundred dollars more in comparable condition. It's even more so if you're hunting for an El Toro. I'm not knocking ash bodies for these basses. If you want serious growl in an early Leo-era bass, go with ash. If you want massive low-end rumble, go 'hog. In my experience, the maple-bodied G&L basses from the 80s really resonate in the upper midrange compared to their ash or mahogany brethren.

All of that said, I doubt you'll see a tremendous difference in tone with a recent guitar. The mahogany G&L used in the 80s was a difference species, so it can't be compared fairly with the woods being used now.

Ken

[Fumble fingers]

I have a USA 1996 S-500 and I don't see any weakness ..... I even like the mini-toggle switch , it's easy to get too , you can switch it real fast , nothing to grab and pull up , it may not look as nice but it's function is great , the DF holds tune and PU's sound great , I bought my S-500 used , it's held up well for 17 years old

[bloodied_fingers]

I have a USA 1996 S-500 and I don't see any weakness ..... I even like the mini-toggle switch , it's easy to get too , you can switch it real fast , nothing to grab and pull up , it may not look as nice but it's function is great , the DF holds tune and PU's sound great , I bought my S-500 used , it's held up well for 17 years old

Switch is definitely easier to use.

I spaced my pot just a bit higher to leave enough room to easily grab it but its not as quick as a switch. Also the pot I got is really loose.

There is an s-500 in vancouver but they want a lot for it. It lists a push-pull pot and mahogany body. I don't remember seeing that before.

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/m ... 50490.html

Love the tobacco burst though.