a few q's about new Legacy purchase

[timbo475]

Hi all,

[pics will be coming soon - I've taken a few pics but apparently I'm a terrible photographer so will post one once I'm happy]

I've already posted in intro forum and added my Legacy to the registry.

I've got a few questions about my guitar so clarify a few things if possible (I've done a reasonable amount of research but still have a few q's). Bear in mind that I'm actually an electric guitar noob (essentially).

I bought it about 3 weeks ago 'as new' from a shop but I suspect it's older than I first thought. I'm reluctant to remove the neck at this point so can't get an actual date but I suspect the s/n (CLF41019) will give a reasonable indication of at least what year it might be from. From what I can tell this might put it around 2008 or maybe even earlier. From various things I've read online, this can determine if it's a 'Standard' model (it has a matching painted headstock) and whether it might have been PLEK'd or not (from what I've read it sounds like Standard models were porduced until 2008 and PLEK'ing was introduced after 2008).

There's a bit of buzzing, especially on the E and A strings, and more obvious after 10th/11th fret. Not sure if it's bridge or fret buzz. The trem is not level with the body and the saddles are not 100% level so that's where my starting point is. Setups are something I know little about but am researching.

So, down to my questions!
1. Can the approximate age be guessed from s/n and would anyone like to guess ?
2. Anyway to determine if it's been PLEK'd or is a 'Standard' model
3. Is it essential to have trem level with body and level saddles or is a bit of deviation OK?
4. If the guitar is from 2008 or earlier, will this adversely affect anything on the guitar? It is effectively new - it seems to be in top condition and not 'used'.

I'm loving my guitar at the moment (although I'm probably a bit unworthy of it yet -can't wait to be 'competent' on this thing! ). I feel a massive obsession/journey coming on!

Cheers,

timbo

[KenC]

Hi Timbo,

Without taking the neck off to check dates, the best guess about age is by checking the Registry for close serial numbers and see if any of them have date stamps entered. It's not 100% accurate, but it will probably get you within a year or so.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "standard" model. There are a couple of variants on the basic Legacy, which mainly have to do with the pickups (for example, having one or two standard humbuckers in place of the usual single coils, or blade humbuckers in the Legacy Special). I can't remember when the factory started using a PLEK machine.

You want the trem plate level with the body, and then adjust saddle heights as needed. You should be able to find quite a few threads here on different aspects of setting up G&Ls.

The production date shouldn't have anything to do with the guitar's overall value.

Ken

[Craig]

So, down to my questions!
1. Can the approximate age be guessed from s/n and would anyone like to guess ?
2. Anyway to determine if it's been PLEK'd or is a 'Standard' model
3. Is it essential to have trem level with body and level saddles or is a bit of deviation OK?
4. If the guitar is from 2008 or earlier, will this adversely affect anything on the guitar? It is effectively new - it seems to be in top condition and not 'used'.

!. See: Serial number significance.
2.G&L added the PLEK machine in 2006, so all US G&L instruments would have been Plek'd, including the Fullerton Standard Series models (2006-2008). See: http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic ... 391#p20391.
3. See: Current Factory setup for G&L guitars with vibrato bridges.
4. If it is a Fullerton Standard Legacy, then it would have come with a gig-case instead of the plastic molded case. If the saddles are not chrome plated, then they are zinc-alloy instead of the chrome-plated brass
saddles.

Hope this helps.

[timbo475]

Thanks Ken/Craig.

I had seen that setup guide but wasn't sure how much bridge plate angle was OK. I think I'll definitely level it.

As for the age, well I guess I'll never know until I do take the neck off (according to the post about s/n significance, the s/ns aren't necessarily in sequence).

I did get a gig bag but the saddles appear to be chrome plated. I'm leaning towards it being a Fullerton Standard series Legacy but obviously will have to take the neck off to know.

Cheers,

timbo