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From my brother's estate I was recently awarded his mint condition 2004 G&L Tribute Legacy HB with the blade pickups; It is scheduled for delivery by UPS TODAY - I will change the strings and try it out immediately and give a report; this G&L Legacy Tribute HB has 2 sets of switches, apparently a 3 way and a 2 way; I hope I can figure it out; the instructions are something like this according to a fellow musician:

In his own words -
If I remember correctly: the 2-way adds the bridge to the neck p/u. when the main switch is in neck position.
The 3-way is for the bridge p/u only: 1 setting full on in seriel (normal setting) another setting is parallel (brighter-less mids, not quite as loud) the last is "split" which on a normal humbucking p/u would be only one coil on (strat-like) even less volume. On that p/u, however, it's 2 humbucker sets, so if You "split" it, it's still in noise cancelling for the "strat" sound, much the same as the other 2 p/u's are hum cancelling. W/o trying the guitar out, all I can tell you is that on the 3-way, loud/fat- series/full on, not quite as loud/less fat- parallel, less volume still/ strat- "split".

Upgrades:

Replaced the top nut to metal roller bearing type.
Replaced tuning gears to self locking.
Replaced pickups to blade type pickups. No hum with on the single coils. The bridge pickup is a humbucker with split coil taps and added an extra switch just for that. I'm not sure if it has an out-of-phase switch setting. I'll try to find the email regarding the switch.
The pickguard may have been upgraded due to the pickup upgrade.

Here it is:



RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

That is a nice looking guitar. Sorry about your loss. You will have the guitar to bring back memories and create new ones.

Sorry for your loss of a loved one. The G&L guitars are top notch and this one is a real beauty. Should sound and play great with those add ons. Very nice guitar

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Appreciated;

This has been a work in progress, as my brother passed away over 3 years ago;
I was supposed to be awarded a black Taylor T5 of his but that is another chapter.

Long story short - the estate executor distributed his over 50 guitars, several Mesa Boogie amplifiers, and other musical artifacts to other individuals; I always figured that those who received had a greater need; I am just now receiving this from one of those gracious souls who could not understand why I wasn't on the list; so I am very grateful that this finally showed it up;

UPS delivered it last night and it is in mint condition - no nicks or belt buckle rash at all - it really polished up; normal wear on the pick guard; has the Strat style 5 way and also a 2 way and 3 way micro switches; great action and response - it plays as good as it looks!

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Great guitar! My brother in law has a standard Legacy, '88 model I think, in new condition. I love the G & L's!! Good to know hear that such a great piece of your brother's had made it to you.

Play some Allman Brothers through it Randy, I know your brother could play some mean Dickey Betts and Duane Allman riffs! The controls sound pretty complicated, tell us how 'intuitive' the switch setup is. Mike.

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

Thanks Mike - and I will.

RCSBlues

Sorry to hear about the loss in your family. Nice guitar. I like the G&L guitars.

Update -

My brother Gary's G&L Tribute Legacy HB has Joe Barden pickups, custom switches and pickguard -

I changed to .010 - .046 strings and it sounds great - I play it all the time.

Email from a friend who helped him do the customization -

"Hi Randy!
Gary was a good Friend and a talented Musician. It was a privilege to know Him.
Don’t know but I think it was bought at Keepers Music in Des Moines -
The G&L was upgraded with Joe Barden pickups, the bridge being a "double" humbucker,
in that both halves have 2 coils, so that when You use the 3 way switch,
You can have it "split"- i/2 of the pickup, a "strat" sound, series, the standard humbucker sound,
or parallel, cuts mids, fatter than the strat sound. The 2 way switch will put the bridge & the neck pickup together.
The upshot is that no matter what setting you choose, the pickups are always in humbucking mode- no single coil buzz.
You can get more details on the pickups @ joebarden.com
Gary also had Me put the New Tuners on, and add the LSR nut.
The pickguard is a G&L Tribute, which we had to special order from G&L, because the Tributes are made offshore,
with different specs than the USA made.
The original pickguard w/ pickups was traded in against the re/o order pickup from the local Dealer, and the original tuners
were put onto another guitar of Gary's, I'm thinking maybe a Tele.
Gary told Me again and again how much He liked the guitar after He got it back, He had wanted this done for a long time.

Well, that was kind of long winded, but there are all the details.
Glad to hear that you are enjoying it.
If You ever record any tunes on it, I'd like to hear,
Gary was supportive of Me getting back into playing music,
He was a good Man, and a Good Musician.
Cheers - Kim Mason"

RCSBlues

What a wonderful way to create some new memories and keep the cherished old ones going as well.

That is one very underated brand, imho. My wife has an SC-3 from about 1982 that she has owned from new. Her undisputed #3 after her LPC BB and x390. Very easy playability and redonkulous Stratty tone from it.

How do you like the neck on yours (brother's)?

A really fine gesture on his part. An admirable way he found to turn a loss to gain.

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...throw me a frickin' bone here, people...

Enjoy it!

Iceman -

The strings on the G&L TL were .013 - .056 - I think - they were old and rusty -

I changed to a more comfortable set of .010 - .046 and playing is a lot easier and it stays in tune - it's due for a new set;

The action is just a slight bit higher than on my 2010 Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe HSS which has .009's on it from the factory-

The G&L TL is also good for slide and Ebow use.

RCSBlues

If you really want something different try a set of .008's! Billy Gibbons uses 'em