Korean Tribute Legacy...

[allstarrr]

Hello all,

It's me again (for those who enriched me last time). I ocassionally view CL to see what steals I might find out there, and came across a Tribute Legacy. Of course I knew to come here to reserach it, and found a couple of helpful links:
http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1284
http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/AUTOREG/int ... ?r=1&a=7#1
The seriel # is 05039136, and it's a blueburst with a 12" radius maple board, which is what I liked about it. The neck reminds me of an old Charvel neck I had way back with that satin finish and wide neck. Those links abled me to confirm it was made in 2005 in Korea. I've heard a couple of differing opinions that the indonesian factory is modern and thus producing better guitars, or that the older Korean builds were better. Unfortunately, this one I bought has some fret issues around the 14 & 15, but other than that it feels and sound great. I paid $200 and will likely need to dress the frets, but it sure seems like a great value guitar, unlike most of the cheap imports I've ever encountered (including some mexican strats). I thought mine had that swamp ash body until i read from the other link from Dave through Craig which stated that the Bluebursts were made from Basswood. I thought Ash sounds better than Basswood, but this wood looks and seems to sound pretty good. And I wondered if the Korean bridge/trem hardware isthe same as used on the US models (probably not). I know the pickups are the same Fullerton Alnicos. After I get the fret issue resolved this baby will be exactly what I have hoped to find, a truly nice sounding and playing guitar at a bargain price and where I won't worry about the thing. I have that '95 ASAT Special Blue Swirl that's in mint condition, and every time I pick it up I'm so inhibited and afraid of messing it up.

Anyway, I'm all jazzed about this lower end guitar, and would love to hear some feedback about it. Any thoughts on those things I mentioned, or anything else about this guitar would be appreciated and enjoyed.

Thanks!
Bob

[Boogie Bill]

NEED PICS!

Bill

[allstarrr]

http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=3
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=2
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=0
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=1

It's hard to get the Blueburst to show in the pictures because it's very dark to begin with. It almost appears black at any distance from it. But it's still a nice finish and this one is literally flawless except for the few bad frets. I even got to peel the plastic off the pick guard and back cover (I loved that).

[Craig]

Hello all,

It's me again (for those who enriched me last time). I ocassionally view CL to see what steals I might find out there, and came across a Tribute Legacy. Of course I knew to come here to reserach it, and found a couple of helpful links:
http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1284
http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/AUTOREG/int ... ?r=1&a=7#1
The seriel # is 05039136, and it's a blueburst with a 12" radius maple board, which is what I liked about it. The neck reminds me of an old Charvel neck I had way back with that satin finish and wide neck. Those links abled me to confirm it was made in 2005 in Korea. I've heard a couple of differing opinions that the indonesian factory is modern and thus producing better guitars, or that the older Korean builds were better. Unfortunately, this one I bought has some fret issues around the 14 & 15, but other than that it feels and sound great. I paid $200 and will likely need to dress the frets, but it sure seems like a great value guitar, unlike most of the cheap imports I've ever encountered (including some mexican strats). I thought mine had that swamp ash body until i read from the other link from Dave through Craig which stated that the Bluebursts were made from Basswood. I thought Ash sounds better than Basswood, but this wood looks and seems to sound pretty good. And I wondered if the Korean bridge/trem hardware isthe same as used on the US models (probably not). I know the pickups are the same Fullerton Alnicos. After I get the fret issue resolved this baby will be exactly what I have hoped to find, a truly nice sounding and playing guitar at a bargain price and where I won't worry about the thing. I have that '95 ASAT Special Blue Swirl that's in mint condition, and every time I pick it up I'm so inhibited and afraid of messing it up.

Anyway, I'm all jazzed about this lower end guitar, and would love to hear some feedback about it. Any thoughts on those things I mentioned, or anything else about this guitar would be appreciated and enjoyed.

Thanks!
Bob

From 2003 until the first quarter of 2004 it was that way, Blueburst was a Plus finish on a Basswood body.

In May of 2004, the Standard-Plus-Premium finishes changed to Standard and Premium finishes and Blueburst moved into the Premium finishes.

Here's what was available for the Tribute S-500 after this change:

STANDARD VERSION

[Basswood body]

Maple Fingerboard
Black with 3-ply white pickguard

Rosewood Fingerboard
Black with 3-ply white pickguard
Candy Apple Red with 3-ply white pickguard


PREMIUM VERSION

[Swamp Ash body]

Maple Fingerboard
Blueburst with Pearl pickguard
Cherryburst with Pearl pickguard
Natural Gloss with Tortoise Shell pickguard
Tobacco Sunburst with Pearl pickguard

Rosewood Fingerboard
Blueburst with Pearl pickguard
Cherryburst with Pearl pickguard
Natural Gloss with Tortoise Shell pickguard
Tobacco Sunburst with Pearl pickguard

In October of 2006 , the Tribute S-500 was changed to:

BASSWOOD BODY

Black with Tortoise Shell pickguard

SWAMP ASH BODY

Blueburst with Pearl pickguard
Natural Gloss with Tortoise Shell pickguard
Tobacco Sunburst with Pearl pickguard
Trans Red with Pearl pickguard

Hope this helps.

[Craig]

http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=3
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=2
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=0
http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/allst ... sort=3&o=1

It's hard to get the Blueburst to show in the pictures because it's very dark to begin with. It almost appears black at any distance from it. But it's still a nice finish and this one is literally flawless except for the few bad frets. I even got to peel the plastic off the pick guard and back cover (I loved that).

Here are the inline photos:









Unfortunately, the body photos are too dark to see the wood grain of the Swamp Ash body.

[allstarrr]

Thanks, Craig. Yeah, they should have considered putting a lighter color on it because it's dark. It's hard to see the blue in a photo, imagine what it looks like from an audience... black. But the pearl pick guard sure sparkles
It's nice to know it's the ash body. I thought it was, and you can see all the dark grain up close. I'll see if I can get a good flash shot showing the grain, but I'm sure it'll not excite anyone too much. Maybe I'm easy to please, but the more I play this thing, the more impressed I am with it. My hand is getting a work out from the neck radius, but I do like it. I've got to get the fret situation fixed, though!

Good info, Craig, thanks man...