G&L S-500
G&L has produced the S-500 since 1982. It’s regarded by many as Leo Fender’s evolution of the iconic single-coil-loaded, double-cutaway guitar! Also featuring a number of G&L’s signature elements, these guitars are aimed at professional musicians that seek exceptional versatility.
Construction
In terms of their build, S-500s are very similar to G&L’s Legacy models. Adhering to the same bolt-on construction, these guitars deliver articulate tones — especially as they also feature Maple necks. Both their necks are shaped to G&L’s ‘Modern Classic’ profile, a fairly slim carve with a mild taper from 0.820″ at 1st fret to 0.870″ at the 12th fret. They’re enhanced with a slippery satin finish for fast playability too!
It’s not all about modern touches though, as G&L S-500 models feature Alder, Swamp Ash or Pine bodies; synonymous with older instruments. Used exclusively by Leo’s first company in the early ’50s, Ash and Pine are regarded for their light weight and although tonally similar to Alder, they’re more porous textures yield clearer highs and greater sustain. S-500s can therefore serve as excellent live workhorses — a forgiving weight and able to cut through nicely in a mix! Affordable G&L S-500 Tribute models feature Nato, Poplar or Sassafras bodies instead
Electronics & Hardware
Just like the Legacys, S-500 guitars come fitted with trios of single-coils. However, G&L S-500s feature Leo Fender-designed MFD (Magnetic Field Design) pickups instead of typical single-coils. Utilising ceramic bar magnets, their design transfers the magnetic field to the top of the pickup. Ultimately, this creates a wider frequency response and thus produces a much more balanced sound overall. Their adjustable iron pole pieces also contribute to this, as they let you determine their heights in relation to the strings. Compared to traditional single-coils, MFD pickups also have more output and are therefore capable of handling even thick overdrive — without losing any of the clarity that you’d crave from single-coils.
Of course, to get the most out of their pickups, S-500s also come fitted with G&L’s PTB Tone System (passive treble and bass controls). This feature further cements the S-500’s reputation as a versatile and useful instrument in a live performance context. However, there’s another appointment that expands the S-500’s tonal palette too! G&L S-500 guitars also have an “Expander” switch that engages all three of their single-coils at once, or just the bridge and neck pickups (dependent on selector switch position). The latter setting is particularly desirable, as it somewhat emulates the sound of a T-style guitar!
The excellent Dual-Fulcrum tremolo also features on G&L’s S-500 guitars. It’s worth mentioning too that Fullerton Deluxe S-500 (and Legacy) models come equipped with bone nuts. This allows their strings to glide smoothly when using the tremolo, and thus return to pitch in the vibrato’s natural position.