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. | |
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). | |
G&L S-500 DeluxeThe 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. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length | Finish effects |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | USA | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | USA | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | USA | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | sunburst finish, transparent finish |
Model | Body material | Body shape features | Body style | Pickguard material | Body top material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | ash body, mahogany body | double cutaway | Stratocaster style | 3-ply pickguard, black pickguard, white pickguard | - |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | alder body, mahogany body, swamp ash body | double cutaway | Stratocaster style | 3-ply pickguard, white pickguard | - |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | mahogany body | double cutaway | Stratocaster style | 3-ply pickguard, white pickguard | flamed maple body top |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tuners |
---|---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | tremolo bridge | chrome hardware | Sperzel locking tuners |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | Dual Fulcrum vibrato | chrome hardware | Schaller locking tuners |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | G&L Dual Fulcrum tremolo bridge | chrome hardware | Sperzel locking tuners |
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | ebony fingerboard, maple fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | ebony fingerboard, maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Tuner layout | Neck width | Nut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | six-in-a-row tuners | - | - |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | bolt on neck | maple neck | - | six-in-a-row tuners | 1.625 inches wide at nut | - |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | six-in-a-row tuners | 1.625 inches wide at nut | bone nut |
Model | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | 5-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 1 volume control |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | 5-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 1 volume control |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | 5-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 1 volume control |
Model | Pickups configuration | Pickups brand and model |
---|---|---|
G & L S-500 (1982-1996) 1982 to 1996 | 3 single coil pickups | - |
G&L S-500 (1997-) | 3 single coil pickups | G&L MFD pickup(s) |
G&L S-500 Deluxe | 3 single coil pickups | G&L MFD pickup(s) |