G&L Fullerton Deluxe S-500 Guitar, Caribbean Rosewood Fretboard, Andromeda

PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE

G&L is one of the coolest brands out there, and to this day, they remain underrated - far too many people still don't know they have put forth the continuously-evolved fruits of Leo Fender's design prowess. Here's another out-of-this-world Fullerton Deluxe S-500, this time in an Andromeda black sparkle finish!

This is a smooth, versatile, American-crafted S-style guitar, but with enough twists to really set it apart, including from its G&L sibling, the Legacy. Tonally, this guitar is a testament to the fact that the S-500 has found its own voice in the single-coil, double-cut world. With the characteristic single-coil top-end shimmer, but a beefier midrange than you might be used to, the S-500 has a unique and fully realized tonal identity that will enhance a whole range of styles. The MFD pickups are going to be a bit more aggressive, and they'll hit your pedals and your amp harder than traditional single-coils. The addition of the mini-toggle expander really allows you to get some sounds that a vintage-style S-type cannot, and makes this guitar a bit more appropriate for some harder rock or more modern applications. It'll truly rock your world!

Details

The Fullerton Deluxe S•500 bundles some of the most time-honored option combinations from the G&L Option Order menu. All FD S-500s feature swamp ash, alder or western sugar pine bodies coated in finishes to showcase their beauty, with ideal pickguard pairings to set off the colors just right. That elegance continues up the neck with the G&L Clear Tint Satin finish neck.

The G&L S•500™ debuted in 1982 as Leo’s own evolution of the traditional double-cutaway bolt-on axe, delivering innovations including the Dual-Fulcrum™ vibrato and Magnetic Field Design™ single-coil pickups, each designed by Leo Fender† himself. These MFD™ pickups deliver a bright and sparkly top end and robust bottom end, all without losing midrange focus.

You’ll find plenty of punch in the MFD pickups, but what’s surprising is how glassy and detailed they become as you roll back the volume and bass controls, the latter a part of the S•500’s PTB™ (Passive Treble and Bass)* system which functions on all three pickups. What’s more, the S•500 includes a mini-toggle Expander Switch** to allow neck+bridge or all three pickups together. In a pinch, the neck+bridge combo does a convincing faux ASAT™ Special. Talk about versatile!

The S•500 features a Leo Fender-designed Dual-Fulcrum vibrato, a work of engineering art which allows bending up or down with unsurpassed stability, while offering a silky feel through its beefy aluminum vibrato arm. The S•500’s hard-rock maple neck features an easy-playing satin finish, while its 9.5” radius lets you bend notes deeply and its medium-jumbo nickel frets deliver silky playability.

Leo’s forward-looking spirit is clearly reflected in the S•500, a guitar he designed for players who share that spirit. If that’s sounds like you, you owe it to yourself to check out the S•500.