Fender Am. Std. Strat vs. G&L Legacy vs. G&L S-500

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50calexplorer

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258
I have an 8 month old son and a deal with my wife that I will buy a new guitar this year and that will be his eventually. So I am gonna buy a Strat, it just has to be American made and under 1500 bucks.

I'm mainly interested in the Fender Am Std. and G&L's Legacy or S-500.

Any thoughts on the changes made to the Am. Std. the last two years?

How do the G&L's match up?

What would you buy?
 
Presc

Presc

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1,652
I personally think that G&L's have a bit higher build quality than the American Standard (2-piece bodies, PLEK, really sturdy hardware)...they're also a bit more expensive. They definitely have a different vibe though. Little things, like the way the neck sits in the pocket, make them feel a bit different. With the S-500, the pickups are very different than a traditional Strat pickup. The Legacy and the American Standard are a better comparison in that regard.

I also think G&L's PTB tone control system is a nice improvement from the regular Fender setup
 
T

thetangmang

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1,734
The new American standards have been really good quality. It's a tough call since G&L's are so consistently good, but Fender's quality has been on the rise and the availability of aftermarket upgrades is much greater on the Fender's.

IMO, if you want to buy something you won't have to ever worry about, G&L. If you want something that you have the freedom to modify and customize, Fender.
 
gixxerrock

gixxerrock

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4,089
I much prefer G&L over Fender, particularly in your stated price range. G&L will take a bigger depreciation hit right away due to it not being as well known. The right slightly used G&L is an incredible value for a fraction of the money. It is also my opinion that 20 years from now the US made G&L will be considered a much more desirable and collectible instrument.

You need to play a few, it should become obvious what to.
 
candid_x

candid_x

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9,667
50calexplorer said:
I'm mainly interested in the Fender Am Std. and G&L's Legacy or S-500.

Any thoughts on the changes made to the Am. Std. the last two years?
Click to expand...

I have an Am St and have had a Legacy and S500. All were good, but for me, only the Fender sounds and feels like a Fender. For me, more than anything else, it depends on the individual guitar. Fenders are known to vary more widely, but I've seen some huge differences in Legacy and other G&L's too over the years. So, if you're open to the brands, go play some in your price range, and choose. Debates over which is better have no end.

I like the '08 to current changes in the American Standard. Never cared for the offset block saddles. Mine's got the Callaham block, springs and saddles, sorta chunky maple board neck, which I exchanged from another '08 AS, rosewood board and a too-thin neck, which came used, with a maxed out and stripped truss rod system. I sold the body and gave away the neck with full disclosure. The scrawny neck could only set up with 9's. They can vary that widely. But I do dig mine a lot, set up as it is, including bridge pup (only) to lower tone pot.

There's an overbuilt feel to the G&L's that I have trouble getting past. But as folks say, they're generally a quality guitar. It's the first "real" guitar I bought for my son, an early ASAT.
 
B

Boris Bubbanov

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23,994
Neither the Legacy nor especially the S-500s are "Strats" in any true sense.

You need to play the G + Ls back to back with the Fender guitars and see which one appeals to you. The G + Ls do feel real substantial and they have a very wide range of capabilities. The Fender is fragile and delicate and can only do Strat things, that's it.

My Americans are the 2006 form, the precedent guitar to the current Standard. I paid about half for them of what I have paid for each of my 3 USA G + L "S" style guitars and I think that ratio is about right in my way of looking at both brands.

Look for a Legacy or S-500 in stock in stores for under $ 1,000. Be careful not to be duped into a "Tribute" which to me is nothing the same but to uninitiated eyes is similar. Check out Buffalo Brothers website for some basics on pricing in stock or slightly used. If you order a G + L you will wait, you will pay much more, and the trade in depreciation is BRUTAL.
 
Brian

Brian

Member
Messages
304
Not to long ago,I was hankerin for a Strat, but have not owned one
for about 15 years, I,m a lefty,and altho I,ve had some nice ones
I had a love/hate relationship with the ones i,d owned,so gave them
up for other venues? anyway got a deal on a Lefty Legacy,and with
a little work Bingo! these strat like models are ah little above the mark
for the price Necks(GREAT!) Pickups (Damn Good!) bridge (Nice!) any
way check um out.:Devil
 
leftybill

leftybill

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
581
I would agree on what has been previously mentioned. I will also say that the hardware especially the bridge on the G&L is top notch. It is the best tremolo equipped guitar that I own, and I have one strat with a vintage bridge, one with the two point bridge, and a Wilkinson replacement in another.
You should seriously consider a gently used G&L as well. You can get a nearly new guitar for about $550 to $650.
 
leftybill

leftybill

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
581
I would agree on what has been previously mentioned especially about the PTB tone control and limited ability to mod the G&L.
The hardware especially the bridge on the G&L is top notch. It is the best tremolo that I own.
For $550 to $650, you could get a very nice, gently used G&L.
 
5

50calexplorer

Member
Messages
258
I know people have mentioned that the Legacy has a more hi-fi sound than the traditional strat tone, but is it possible to put Fender pick-ups in the Legacy?
 
Sprinter

Sprinter

Member
Messages
227
50calexplorer said:
I know people have mentioned that the Legacy has a more hi-fi sound than the traditional strat tone, but is it possible to put Fender pick-ups in the Legacy?
Click to expand...

My '92 G&L, Legacy has Fender, Texas Special pickups in it. Any strat style pickup will fit in a G&L, Legacy. I'm a big G&L fan, but I've never cared much for the stock Legacy pickups.

894_9461.jpg


Sprinter
 
Bob Womack

Bob Womack

Senior Member
Messages
3,109
The G&L Dual Fulcrum trem is vastly preferable to the Fender in feel except in bends, where it gives more, dropping the pitch of the other strings. Frankly, both of these trems are versions of the Wilkinson trem, which I prefer to both, but the G&L is much smoother than the Fender.

However, from what I can tell, the more "hi-fi" G&L sound and the classic Fender sound are just two different birds. Even with the G&L Passive Bass and Treble control, I've never been able to totally dial in the classic Strat sound. The S-500, by way of compensation, has quite a bit of low-end girth the Strat doesn't have. The G&L is a pretty bird, just different.

Shop with your senses. And have fun!

Bob
 
johnnyqb

johnnyqb

Member
Messages
307
It should be added that the stock Legacy pickups seem a clearly more substantial pup than the stock American Standard Strat pups. The strat ones are ok--but with the Am Std strat I have a real urge to upgrade pups, and I don't with a Legacy. My favorites are the 3-bolt Legacys, which seem to have a thinner "sexier" strat like body. The new Legacys are a bit bulkier, but still great guitars. Best G&L strat like guitar I have played is the Fullerton Signature model, which does not have the PTB and is just out of this world.
 
KRosser

KRosser

Silver Supporting Member
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15,080
Me, I would go with G&L and not even look back for a second. And no, I don't have a deal with them.

The Legacy is more 'vintage', the S-500 has these really great meaty, almost hi-fi, pickups. I love both but they're very different
 
B

Brien

Senior Member
Messages
1,160
I prefer the Fender. The neck and fingerboard is the main factor for me in this case.
 
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