Legacy HB, custom build questions

[diddly]

Hi there,Im looking for some info regarding a custom order from G&L.I am from Ireland so g&l's are very rare around these parts.The odd one pops up (had a comanche and sold it) but generally you just have to take whats available.Tribute models are more common but USA ones not so much.As mentioned above i had a comanche, but moved it on as it was too much hassle swapping pickups.I somewhat regret that decision, as bar the pickups and the neck being ever so slightly too large for me it was one hell of a guitar.Ive realised now having gone through a few musicman and fenders(easier to get over here) that i really like g&ls.The trem especially.Anyway i generally get a lot of gear form thomann(an online shop in germany) and while they stock the tribute models, they dont stock the USA models.I emailed them asking if they could order a USA legacy for me and they said sure just give us the specs and we'll let you know the price.I was shocked when i realised how little it was gonna cost.It was the same as ive paid for used musicmans etc.They said i would have no return option and once i ordered it i would have to take it.Somewhat risky on my part but understandable on their part, as its not something they actually stock.They needed every little detail such as color,neck,pickups etc.I was under the impression i would be given a few models/colors to choose from, but they said it was a custom order so i needed every detail.I do know g&l make custom orders as there are options on the site for neck profile etc.Im not sure if I can actually be that specific about it,regarding neck size and locking tuners etc but it has me curious.Im after a legacy HB with locking tuners and a graph tech nut,rosewood neck and not certain of the finish just yet.How does it work when you make a custom order with g&l?Do they actually build a guitar from scratch or do they just find one in the factory that matches what you are after?Does it cost more if you make a custom order?Like for example i do know the legacy/legacy HB have 12" radius necks,but i think id rather a 9.5" as i have smallish hands and did find the comanche a tad fatiguing due to the size.I could live with it though as it does give a bigger sound and string bends are better.So basically if I make a custom order will they give me the option of a few add ons and a smaller neck profile or will the guitar be built from scratch to match these specs.I can always order locking tuners but the neck profile and nut seem like they would need to be already built.Hopefully someone can give me some info.I have emailed g&l directly but they never replied.Cheers

[Craig]

Hi there,Im looking for some info regarding a custom order from G&L.I am from Ireland so g&l's are very rare around these parts.The odd one pops up (had a comanche and sold it) but generally you just have to take whats available.Tribute models are more common but USA ones not so much.As mentioned above i had a comanche, but moved it on as it was too much hassle swapping pickups.I somewhat regret that decision, as bar the pickups and the neck being ever so slightly too large for me it was one hell of a guitar.Ive realised now having gone through a few musicman and fenders(easier to get over here) that i really like g&ls.The trem especially.Anyway i generally get a lot of gear form thomann(an online shop in germany) and while they stock the tribute models, they dont stock the USA models.I emailed them asking if they could order a USA legacy for me and they said sure just give us the specs and we'll let you know the price.I was shocked when i realised how little it was gonna cost.It was the same as ive paid for used musicmans etc.They said i would have no return option and once i ordered it i would have to take it.Somewhat risky on my part but understandable on their part, as its not something they actually stock.They needed every little detail such as color,neck,pickups etc.I was under the impression i would be given a few models/colors to choose from, but they said it was a custom order so i needed every detail.I do know g&l make custom orders as there are options on the site for neck profile etc.Im not sure if I can actually be that specific about it,regarding neck size and locking tuners etc but it has me curious.Im after a legacy HB with locking tuners and a graph tech nut,rosewood neck and not certain of the finish just yet.How does it work when you make a custom order with g&l?Do they actually build a guitar from scratch or do they just find one in the factory that matches what you are after?Does it cost more if you make a custom order?Like for example i do know the legacy/legacy HB have 12" radius necks,but i think id rather a 9.5" as i have smallish hands and did find the comanche a tad fatiguing due to the size.I could live with it though as it does give a bigger sound and string bends are better.So basically if I make a custom order will they give me the option of a few add ons and a smaller neck profile or will the guitar be built from scratch to match these specs.I can always order locking tuners but the neck profile and nut seem like they would need to be already built.Hopefully someone can give me some info.I have emailed g&l directly but they never replied.Cheers

See this post in our G&L Knowledgebase: G&L buyer's resources ....

Your assumption that the Legacy models come stock with a 12" radius neck is no longer true (changed in March 2016). The stock neck is:
Neck profile: Modern Classic
Radius: 9.5”
See: March 1, 2016-present G&L U.S. Specifications and Options

The G&L factory builds custom ordered instruments (from their list of standard options) from scratch.
They also build custom instruments with some custom options not on the standard list which are made available to the G&L Dealers and Distributors.
See this post for more details: G&L USA Factory Inventory.

Hope this helps.

[diddly]

Nice one mate.Its funny i was actually hoping to get one without a pickguard.Id presume they would be somewhat fuller sounding yes?Didnt realise the RMC was readily available.just need to pick a color now.Tell me this though,it says all premium finishes are ash body.Premium finishes are presumably more expensive too i guess.Seems odd only having them on ash bodies though,or is there a reason?How does ash sound compared to alder?Brighter i would guess.

[WitSok]

Diddly, you can get a premium color on Alder as well, but there is an up charge for the finish. Likewise you can get a standard color on swamp ash, but there is an upcharge for the ash. When you get premiere finish on swamp ash, the only upcharge for the ash and not the finish. Big metal flake is even more. My LE-2 has a swamp aah body with a standard finish.

One way to look at it is premiere finish lets you upgrade to swamp ash without a wood upcharge.

All USA made G&Ls are built to order, there are no factory spec guitars that are marketed to retailers.

Cheers, Dan

[diddly]

Ah ok.Makes sense now.So whats the difference between ash and alder tone wise?Ive just read ash is a tad brighter but its not that much of a difference

[WitSok]

It doesn't make a big difference in my opinion. For those who say there is a difference you tend to get comments of more highs, more sustain with swamp ash. IMO the biggest difference is ascetics. Depending on the finish, I may prefer one of the other. For example, I like alder better than swamp ash when finished in old school tobacco sunburst.