Dialing in a G&L PTB and MFD Tone Circuit

[GnLguy]

As a long-time Fender guy I was accustomed to not messing around much with my volume and tone potentiometers: cranked open, set and forget. Any deviation resulted in tone suck. Switching to G&L guitars featuring the passive treble and bass (PTB) circuits and magnetic field design (MFD) pickups required a change in habits.

Not all G&L models feature both the PTB or MFD elements but models such as the Comanche and S-500 offer a whole lot ‘more’ than you might be used to from traditional designs: more highs, more lows, and more volume. Even the Legacy, though not equipped with MFD single coils or an expander switch, still benefits from the PTB tone controls that sets it apart from the standard offerings from the likes of Fender.

Read more at:
http://gtroblq.blogspot.com/2010/09/dialing-in-g-ptb-system.html

[Jeem]

Bluezhawk,

How would you rate the stock pickups, pots & switches in these afore mentioned G&L models?
I have a fat strat that I bought used for $245 last year (including shipping). I was contemplating installing a new pre-loaded pick-guard (w/ new pots & switch) and would have a Fender Fat 50’s in the middle position and a 69 CS in the neck to replace the ceramic stock MIM p’ups.
However, I could just save up for a few more months and go a different route into the G&L line. But I’d only go that way if no other upgrades would be required. Do you have experience with both US and foreign made G&L models?

Thanks in advance.

[GnLguy]

@Squid wrote:

Bluezhawk,

How would you rate the stock pickups, pots & switches in these afore mentioned G&L models?
I have a fat strat that I bought used for $245 last year (including shipping). I was contemplating installing a new pre-loaded pick-guard (w/ new pots & switch) and would have a Fender Fat 50’s in the middle position and a 69 CS in the neck to replace the ceramic stock MIM p’ups.
However, I could just save up for a few more months and go a different route into the G&L line. But I’d only go that way if no other upgrades would be required. Do you have experience with both US and foreign made G&L models?

Thanks in advance.

I will try to answer this without any bias but I am a sold out G&L fan.

Here is where G&L and Fender differ greatly. Leo took his original designs and put his decades of experience into his final products, which was G&L. To me, when a person buys a G&L, they are getting Leo’s best.

With that being said, the domestic G&L and the Tribute line of G&L, which is their import line, both have the same pickups, pots, hardware and tremolo. The woodwork & finishing is done in Indonesia and the guitars are then sent to the California plant for final inspection.

With the Legacy, Leo wanted the design to be an enhanced version of the 57 Strat that he & George Fullerton had originally designed. Since George was still with him at G&L, they collaborated and produced the Legacy.
I have a Tribute Legacy that I found online used and only paid $179 plus shipping. It took about 2 hours of adjusting the tremolo, string height and nut slots – basically correcting what the previous owner messed up – and I had to get a totally worn out set of Fender Bullet strings off of it and install a fresh set of DR Pure Blues pure nickel strings on it. Now that guitar has that vintage bluesy growl that you would expect from a vintage Strat; the pickups are ALNICO based. Very easy to play and stays in tune very well. I think George & Leo did a great job in continuing the ‘Legacy’ of their first product

The S500 has Leo’s Magnetic Field Design pickups (MFD) and these pickups have ceramic magnets. Its got the tone that you have to experience – its a Strat tone but very much a voice of its own. I usually don’t like ceramic magnets but if had to sell all of my guitars but one, I would keep the S500.

To me, there is no need to change anything on the Legacy or the S500. And the Comanche – its a specialty guitar that you would greatly devalue if you changed the Z coil pickups

One big difference in the USA models and Tribute line – the USA models are setup with a PLEK machine. If you aren’t familiar with it, you should do some research. PLEK uses computer controlled lasers to measure all points on the neck and any high spot that is found is leveled by the computer directions. What this does, is provides that every fret is in tune.
G&L isn’t the only company using PLEK: Gibson, Fender, Martin,etc set up their guitars with this technology.

plek.com

The one drawback that I’ve experienced with the Tribute line is some of their guitars are hard to intonate and some of the string slots are too high on the nut. I had to remove the spring from my 3rd string on my S500 for the intonation to be correct; and if the nut slot isn’t deep enough, it won’t play in tune in certain parts of the neck. Quick check with a tuner – tune the 3rd string of your guitar to G and then play the 3rd string 2nd fret and see its an A note. If the nut slot is too high, the 2nd fret will play sharp
If you should buy a Tribute line G&L, insist that they set it up with the intonation and nut slots being correct. Check it with a tuner before you leave the store.

Even with this issue on the neck, I wouldn’t trade my Legacy or S500 for any other guitar and I wouldn’t even consider changing the pickups. To me, Leo got it right.

I know Fender makes good guitars but if you play a G&L side by side with the Fender …. yeah, you get the picture.

[Jeem]

Thanks for the info!
I’ll keep my eyes open for the one that is “supposed” to be in my hands!

[Author]

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