G&L strat... Any good?

[marshall_law]

Hi

I'm selling off my ibanez SA120 to get this G&L legacy strat sold at yamaha in PS.

I haven't got the chance to try it yet. I need some comments from you guys. I don't really like the feel of a traditional fender strat and the sound of it. So i'm hoping this strat would be out of the norm.

So is this strat good? I'm looking for a super clean sound and a overdrive sound that isn't too metal.

 

[moggie_54]

Why do you sell the Ibanez SA120?? Not good huh??

 

[serialninja]

G&L makes some great guitars, especially if it's G&L and not G&L's Tribute series.

as a random aside, Leo Fender left Fender and started up G&L.

 

[repulse87]

so the tribute series aren't great coz they're made in korea? :roll:

 

[JMguitars]

I have a G&L Tribute S500.

I changed the body (original was asian basswood and too muddy in tone) and the PUs.

Apart from that, I found the stock guitars to be pretty good value for money.

One of my favourite strats to bang around with.

Regards.

 

[marshall_law]

The one i'm targeting is G&L Legacy. Is it a tribute model? And which country is the legacy model make in?

 

[serialninja]

i don't believe i said the Tribute series is bad in any way. i just said that G&L is good, especially G&L original, as opposed to G&L's Tribute series.

The Tributes are pretty good, the G&Ls are excellent.

:roll:

 

[Mobius]

I think the ones at yamaha are all tributes not G&L

 

[noobastank]

yeah its all tribute, i juz went to take a look over ps last week. they have prettty attractive telecaster as well! woo, esp the one with f hole

 

[ShredCow]

perhaps you'd like to tell us why you don't want your ibanez, then we can help advise you in a more ... personal way than just commenting on that 1 G&L guitar.

 

[marshall_law]

Well... i didn't like the feel of the ibanez neck. The pickups were too muddy for my taste. And when i turn the tone down, the pickups isn't really responsive and the clean sound isn't what i really want. When i play the ibanez in overdrive, it's too metal. Sounds too furious.

I'm hoping to get a strat that sounds really relax. The overdrive sound isn't too punchy but kinda soft and warm. And the clean sound to be sounding every note i play when i turn down the knob. And i want a maple fretboard.

The G&L in yamaha are tribute models? $1000 for a MIK? Do anywhere in S'pore sells the G&L (not the tribute) strat?

 

[ShredCow]

Hmm.... you could consider changing the pups on the Ibanez. The SA series isn't a heavy metal or heavy rock series like the RG, if you know what I mean. Plus, it has 1 humbucker and 2 singles which, to me, tranlates to more verstility.
A pup change can do wonders to your tone.

Anyway, what you describe doesn't; suit a typical strat tone. You say soft and warm in a relaxing way, a strat is usually bright and punchy, more twang.

You might consider getting a hollowbody guitar if thats your cup of tea.

However, i would advise you to swap the pickups in your SA first... it is a very versatile instrument and you might be missing out a lot but just dumping it for another. Besides, you seem like a new player (forgive me if I got it wrong) so you should spend more time with your current axe before jumping onto the next wagon. Get to know what you really need not want.

 

[ShredCow]

I just realised your SA120 has 2 humbuckers , not the HSS config right?

EVEN BETTER. 8)

You want soft and warm? Relaxed? Humbuckers can do that really well.

Consider perhaps... a Dimarzio Air Norton humbucker (with nickle/gold pup covers for more warmth) in BOTH neck and bridge. THAT'S warm. And fat. And nasty with harmonics if you ever go hi gain. And looks really cool if your guitar is black with nickle pup covers. And you might like it!

 

[marshall_law]

I'm not a new player. LOL!

I finally can relate the sound i'm looking for. I want a guitar sound like Eric Johnson's Manhattan. I have a Gibson which can be used to play all those old school jazz like Joe Pass. But i want a sound which is more for modern jazz. Like Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton. I'm hoping to achieve a clean sound in EJ's Manhattan.

 

[Guest]

If you want a warm round sound from single coils you might like to try switching to overwound pickups like the Fender Texas Specials or other pickups of simillar specs, and maybe with SD pearly gates for a HSS config.

Have you tried the Mike Stern Yamaha signature? Ash tele body, one piece maple neck, SD '59 neck and hot rails in bridge. Nice tones but personally didn't like the feel 'cos I realise I prefer Fender necks. Not sure it'll be in your price range though, but it might give you ideas for wood + pickup choice.