G & L S SERIES

G & L S-500 (1982-1996)

The original G&L S-500 (1982-1996) looked slightly less like a Fender Stratocaster than the current G&L S-500. The bottom of the body is more curved and the pickguard and output jack are different to a Strat. The pickups are three patented "Magnetic Field Design" units with adjustable pole pieces - and a tighter magnetic field according to the G&L catalog.

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G&L S-500 (1997-)

The S-500 is Leo Fender's G&L version of the Stratocaster and was introduced in 1982. The S-500's most important upgrades on the classic Stratocaster design are probably its Dual-Fulcrum vibrato and Magnetic Field Design single-coil pickups (see below for more detail).

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G&L S-500 Deluxe

The G&L S-500 Deluxe is like the S-500 but has no pickguard and a flamed maple top. G&L have used American tilla for the S-500 Deluxe bodies but currently use mahogany. The three G&L MFD single coil pickups are controlled by a 5-wat pickup selector, volume, treble, bass. The push/pull volume control enables extra pickup combinations of neck+bridge or all three pickups together.

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Specifications:

ModelImageMade inNumber of stringsScale lengthFinish effects
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
USA6 strings25.5 inches scale-length-
G&L S-500 (1997-)
USA6 strings25.5 inches scale-length-
G&L S-500 Deluxe
USA6 strings25.5 inches scale-lengthsunburst finish, transparent finish
ModelBody materialBody shape featuresBody stylePickguard materialBody top material
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
ash body, mahogany bodydouble cutawayStratocaster style3-ply pickguard, black pickguard, white pickguard-
G&L S-500 (1997-)
alder body, mahogany body, swamp ash bodydouble cutawayStratocaster style3-ply pickguard, white pickguard-
G&L S-500 Deluxe
mahogany bodydouble cutawayStratocaster style3-ply pickguard, white pickguardflamed maple body top
ModelBridgeHardware colorTuners
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
tremolo bridgechrome hardwareSperzel locking tuners
G&L S-500 (1997-)
Dual Fulcrum vibratochrome hardwareSchaller locking tuners
G&L S-500 Deluxe
G&L Dual Fulcrum tremolo bridgechrome hardwareSperzel locking tuners
ModelFingerboard materialFingerboard position markers
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
ebony fingerboard, maple fingerboarddot fingerboard position markers
G&L S-500 (1997-)
ebony fingerboard, maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard-
G&L S-500 Deluxe
maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboarddot fingerboard position markers
ModelNeck jointNeck materialNumber of fretsTuner layoutNeck widthNut
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
bolt on neckmaple neck22 fretsix-in-a-row tuners--
G&L S-500 (1997-)
bolt on neckmaple neck-six-in-a-row tuners1.625 inches wide at nut-
G&L S-500 Deluxe
bolt on neckmaple neck22 fretsix-in-a-row tuners1.625 inches wide at nutbone nut
ModelPickup selector controlsTone controlsVolume controls
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
5-way selector switch2 tone controls1 volume control
G&L S-500 (1997-)
5-way selector switch2 tone controls1 volume control
G&L S-500 Deluxe
5-way selector switch2 tone controls1 volume control
ModelPickups configurationPickups brand and model
G & L S-500 (1982-1996)
1982 to 1996
3 single coil pickups-
G&L S-500 (1997-)
3 single coil pickupsG&L MFD pickup(s)
G&L S-500 Deluxe
3 single coil pickupsG&L MFD pickup(s)