I'm in Love! The G&L USA Legacy

I review and demo a 2022 G&L USA Legacy model. I discuss the guitar's
construction and features, summarize the story of Leo Fender's last guitar company and innovative designs, demonstrate the sounds both isolated and in a mix, and give my views on the instrument.

[@utopiadan]

I have 2 G&L Legacy's. They are great guitars. George and Leo knew what they were doing!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

They certainly did. Thanks for watching.

[@ew6629]

My number one reason to watch your videos is to listen to your amazing playing. Secondly are either product reviews or lessons and you never disappoint. I've never owned or tried a G&L so I didn't think of G&L's as a viable option to Fender guitars. This definitely opens up that possibility. Thanks much!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much. Yes, I haven’t tried the import Tributes yet, but it this USA model is custom shop quality. Thanks for continuing to enjoy my channel.

[@MianQin]

Really love your playing! The tones are spot on!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you my friend.

[@philnewton2011]

Sounds terrific.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks, I like it a lot. (Unfortunately LOL)

[@1earguitar]

Beautiful guitar! Love the tones also. Most of I enjoy listening to you play. 👍

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you so much.

[@rogerpr364]

That intro,,,is my favorit groove,,,I've mention that before but I'll say it again, your sound flavour and style is amazing, an outstanding musicians just like you will make any guitar sound great and that G&L sounds great! Thanks for posting!☺ PS. We're jammin tonight🎼🎶🎤 PS#2 I'm thumbs up #2

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much for the kind words, and for watching my channel. Have fun jamming.

[@KadeLancaster]

Great for blues tones I love mine and it’s the best in my opinion

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

It’s certainly right up there with the industry’s finest.

[@alexgochman6654]

If I want to replace bridge pickup for mini humbaker (size as single coil) , what you can suggest please? Thanks

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I don’t have loads of experience with those, but after trying the Seymour Duncan Little 59, I think I’d be inclined to try the Dimarzio Chopper. In general, the blade designs just seem to sound better to me in that size.

[@dongraston8376]

What brand and gauge strings are you using? Love your playing!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you so much. I use GHS Boomers, 10-46.

[@garyp5522]

Nice looking, Nice sounding and nice wide neck.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

That it is. Thanks for watching.

[@michaelschneider7590]

I’m a 72 year old retiree who just started electric guitar 3 months ago. My son kindly loaned me the guitar we got him in 2002 - a used USA-made G&L Legacy! I agree with everything you said about its quality of build and impossible to beat single coil sound. I’m curious what you’d consider its equivalent in quality, if looking instead for a humbucker sound at the same price point. Possibly SG ‘61, Les Paul Studio, or PRS S2 McCarty, in preference a Fender or G&L with humbucker pickups swapped in?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Well that’s great and I hope you’re enjoying the experience. None of those are bad choices. I’d lean toward the PRS S2 because of the overall quality, consistency, and playability out of the box. Gibson does seem to have improved in that area recently, if my review examples are typical, but the PRS still played more smoothly with no extra setup work. As for Fenders or G&Ls with humbuckers, that’s going to be subjective, but I’d lean toward G&L USA because again, more consistent quality and better playing out of the box on average. Though a Fender can be great if it’s properly set up and the fretwork is spot on. I hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@sgblues4238]

How do you like the floating trem? Is the tuning stable if you use the trem?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Feels great. The strings took awhile to settle, but that and a little lube in the nut slots and it’s stable. Thanks for watching.

[@KadeLancaster]

Why does yours not say legacy?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

There’s a “delete model logo” option on build to order guitars. It says legacy on the back of the headstock in small print. I bought it as ordered by the dealer and all their “build to order” examples have the headstock logo deleted. The option list is a long one.

[@charliedanoele]

I thought you put some Fralin vintage hot in that GL.. that would be a great combo..But Those stock pups sound great!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, the stock pickups are great and compete favorably with just about any traditional Alnico 5s I’ve tried. Thanks for watching.

[@fixedgear37]

no need to pay for pickups with someones name on them.. these A5s are excellent.

[@georgebx9]

Nice

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks. It’s a great guitar.

[@KadeLancaster]

Great review I’m getting a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan tones sounds like a usa made quality guitar. Next best thing to one from the 50s/60s

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks. Yes, it is an extremely high quality instrument in every respect.

[@guitarzan0515]

You know, you used to Love Me, but you fickle musicians, now you Love a G&L😱. Oh well, guess I’ll get over it by continuing to watch your channel! Awesome playing and information! Really, just a pretty guitar is all it takes 😅 Popeye used to say Females are fickle, but it seems So R Musicians 😆😆😆

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Aww… I still love ya. 🤣 (It is a great guitar though. Wish I’d tried these years ago.)

[@SO-bp2uc]

I’m a big G&L fan but not a huge fan of the tones from the legacy. I’ve often wondered if it’s the PTB system and not the pickups, Anyway, It’s still a great guitar! My one complaint about G&L is the old fashion neck joint. I wish they would give it more of a modern cut(at least on the s500). It’s not a huge deal, but still annoying, at least for me.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks. I appreciate you watching and also the dialog. Mine is a little different view. I liked that guitar quite a lot. The pickups actually reminded me a bit of some Suhr pickups I tried last year. I wouldn’t think the PTB system would affect it much until engaged. In any case I felt it was a very useful feature, though I suspect it’s be even more useful if the pickups were fuller and less conventional. Not a lot of need for a bass cut with vintage style singles. In any event, that was another one I was very tempted to keep. I did play it on one show and it performed great. I’ll plan to review some other G&L models in the future.

[@SO-bp2uc]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 No problem, and thank you, I appreciate the video. You’re right the PBT system isn’t really necessary for traditional single coils. I think it was designed with G&L’s MFD pickups in mind. I’ve owned my different G&L’s equipped with different versions of those famous MFD pickups and the PBT is essential because of how wide the frequency range is with those pickups. One of their most famous guitars is the ASAT Special and it lacks a PBT system. It’s a great guitar but IMO it’s a desperately missed feature and forces you to do some EQing with the amp or a pedal. The reason I feel THE PBT impacts the tone on the legacy is because of how the bottom end sounds on the legacy pickups. There’s a quality they lack that’s difficult to describe. It’s almost like they don’t have shape or punch on the bottom end. You should definitely review some G&Ls with MFD pickups. The Doheny has the best MFD pickups IMO, but I don’t like the large jazz master style body.

[@KadeLancaster]

Nice fat neck love the tone!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

It’s going to be a tough one to part with. 😕