NGD or NRNGD: G&L SC-3

[zestystrat]

So back in early days of ebay I got this mustang style ’83 G&L SC-3 for almost nothing.

With good reason, it was pretty beat up and not original. Paint is chipped all over the place and the genius that had it before me added a Washburn tremolo. Remember these things. They had as much metal as a Yugo.


On a guitar of this size it was awful it threw the balance off on it plus it was just a monstrosity.

Anyway, I quickly bought a better G&L (one of a few Legacy Specials I have now). It was briefly a back up and then got moved to the back of the line.

Not that I wouldn’t pick up but pretty much just sat in it’s case for years. I guess it’s somewhat rare since it’s one of the 350 they made in this body style before going to a different body style. Maybe for that reason I decided to bring it back to life.

Since it still had the original G&L brass inserts anchored into the body, figured I could find the parts via TGP or via G&L. I tried in vain to find a period correct bridge.

G&L wasn’t all that helpful and the info that they gave was not entirely correct. Per the company, while the bridges changed around 1997 IIRC, a newly purchased bridge will fit with no issues on the guitar I described.

Mmmm that was half right.

The posts that were left in the guitar did not fit the new bridge I picked up from G&L. They had to be removed and the entire new bridge was installed. Not a big deal just a little more work….maybe they assumed that I was going to yank the anchored brass inserts out. I didn’t want to spend the time, but whatever.

At that point I decided I’d not do it myself and passed it along to Kerry Marchman. If you are in the Atlanta area, he does really great work…quite a few pros use him. PM for his info if you need some HQ work done.

He put on the bridge, cleaned up the electronics and even filled in some holes. I didn't ask him to do it (it's a beater) but he did it anyway...nice.

Anyway I got it back last night in time for a rehearsal. So much fun to play.

The neck and action are so fast. I had forgotten how small the neck is, but then again it was built as a “student” guitar. Other then that and the bar being a little too long for the guitar, I really have no complaints.

The pickups are just awesome. It’s the classic strat. Big chimey cleans, funky quack on the 2 & 4 and sounds great driven by an OCD and/or Jetter GSR (the current dirt on my board) going into a ’68 twin. An AM bi-com + Budda Wha + OCD got me almost Kirk Hammett wha sounds. I surely didn’t expect that.

Anyway just a quick story on my NGD or NRNGD (not really new guitar day or newly restored new guitar day)

Pix below, no pix of the gtr with the old trem tho.

It’s kind of like a mustang style David Gilmour Relic Strat. Ok maybe not, but it sounds damn good.

It lives!

BEFORE:




AFTER:

[Jet Age Eric]

Nice!

[raja]

I've been checking out those axes...and thinking I'd like to add one to the arsenal

[gixxerrock]

Very cool axe. Great story and pics. I have some old G&Ls but nowhere near that beat. I'm working on it one gig at a time though

[Sprinter]

Nice SC-3! Most people that have early G&L parts are hesitant to sell them because they're hard to come by. If you're still looking for a correct bridge with the serial number on it send me a PM.

Sprinter

[zestystrat]

Ha! Sprinter you are about a week too late.... unless you have an old bar.

I have 5 G&L's but I'd love to hear about your collection.