G&L vs Fender

G&L Legacy Fullerton USA vs Fender Custom Classic Stratocaster

@janisgrix → Guitars → Line6 HX STOMP → Fender Hot Rod Deluxe → Shur SM57 → ZOOM H6

Fender Custom Classic Stratocaster 2006, serial: XN0324
YURIY SHISHKOV BUILDER SELECT 1956 STRATOCASTER®
Hand wound pickups by Yuriy Shishkov: Neck - 15.1K, Mid - 15.1K, Bridge - 15.2K

G&L Legacy 2013 Fullerton, USA
Neck - 5.9K, Mid - 5.9K, Bridge - 6.7K
Serial: CLF068351

[daverobinson]

I have a couple of S-500 guitars that I prefer to all my Fender Strats, including the real '62 & 63.The G&L ones sound, feel and play better.

[mikeaustin]

I owned (and sold) an '89 AS Strat and a 2017 Legacy. The pluses for the Legacy are the PTB tone controls and the dual-fulcrum vibrato. The Strat is a Strat. I sold the Strat and bought the Legacy because it was a better guitar for me, the build quality was better, and it wasn't a Fender.

[elihue_redneckreview]

Both are amazing guitars! I recently acquired an ASAT, and love it! S-500 is begging me to budget for it next.

[yobaby]

I think it's two different flavors of the same ice cream. The Fender has a modern, more aggressive sound, and the G&L has that classic, glassy spank to it. Both of them are gooood stuff! Me, I prefer the glassy spank of the G&L.

[jpsilverplaylists]

Those hot hand wound pups in the strat sound very good

[kevinolson]

I Have a Legacy, S-500 and a Asat Bluesboy. These are Leo's Legacy. If you want a Fender buy a G&L. For the Money you can't Beat G&L, quality is far superior than a Fender.

[pangloss]

G&L wiring is very different from Fender's. I own a mid 90's G&L Legacy and multiple Fender Strats. In the end, I wired all my Strats to use the G&L scheme. I really like the global treble and bass controls.

[davidsummerville]

Just got a g&l Legacy. Love the neck and body contour. A keeper! My PRS is going to be jealous, but I guess I'll keep her around.

[urideemer]

I will take one of each please and a Comanche as well, the playing was perfect for comparison.I do have an ASAT Deluxe Tribute Carved top with the dual Humbuckers and am on the prowl for a Comanche.Thanks Leo!

[williedeuel]

My Legacy is from before they launched their Custom Shop. 2TSB, maple board, Deep-V neck, 1-ply guard. Best S-style I've ever played.

[jimi]

I had a 1977 Fender Stratocaster all made in the USA. I now have a G&L Tribute. Hands down I would rather have the Tribute. I normally change the pickups but that can be put on hold for a while as this guitar has a good sound of it's own. The price point beats Fender on average.

[SeanOHanlon]

Different fretboards and different pickups (probably different strings as well) but if I had to buy one with my own money then I would choose the G&L. I don't care who the master builder was, $4, 000+ for a guitar is way too expensive.

[pj-rn]

Crazy that you have to spend twice the money with Fender to get the same level of guitar as a G&L..

[papawx]

The advantage that Fender has over G&L {this can be huge, or not important at all} is that all the accessory companies have geared their products around Fender guitars {Warmouth, AllParts, WD, etc, etc}. I love G&L guitars, but the vast majority of them have thin necks that I hate to play on {arthritis in left hand}. If I want Musikraft {the only company that makes after-market G&L necks} to make a neck for me, that's $500, 2/3rds the price I paid for my S-500 deluxe. An ALLParts neck for a Strat is $200. Aside from the neck, I like everything else about my G&L more than any Fender Strat I have ever owned. Those MFD pickups sound just killer!

[johngsteel]

The Fender Custom Strat is very nice, but I will always prefer a G&L. The tone controls and Fulcurm Bridge make a huge difference! Now add in the quality of build, make any G&L my choice over any Fender brand instrument.

[liborkoch]

Nice comparsion, both great guitars. Prefer CS Fender for fuller strat sound.

[jeshely]

The Strat looks fantastic in that blue and black theme but I don’t like the pickups in it. The Legacy looks nice but plain however I much better like how great it sounds. Your playing was amazing with both.

[pieve]

Good acoustics. Not sure the point of comparing a stock g&l vs a customized fender?

[CAGED]

The G&L Legacy sounds way "stratier" than the Fender Strat IMHO.

[billgreen]

Are the numbers right on the Fender pickups? 15k is really hot.