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G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 6:02 am
by Dramatis Persona
Hi there, anyone knows something about the build quality of the indonesian G&L? I desperally need a telecaster, the tribute G&L series costs less than the mexican Fender series. If I bought a Tribute Asat, it would be a good buy?
I'm totally in love with the tribute G&L asat bluesboy (solid body), the only alternatives I have are the mexican standard tele, the classic series, and the american special.
can someone help me in my choice?

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:02 pm
by bigchiefbc
I've played both tributes and americans, and honestly, the quality is basically identical. The only difference is the american's customization options. I ended up buying a Tribute L2500 and it's fantastic.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:31 pm
by hollowhero
The fit and finish on the usa models is a bit better than the tributes, but they are both excellent guitars.

IMO a used g&l is one of the best guitar values out there

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:44 pm
by Dramatis Persona
Thank you everyone, but in Europe, and expecially in Italy, it's very hard to find new stock USA G&L's, and it's a bit impossible to find an used one. :grumpy:

It's a tribute bluesboy:
http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/3136209/p2_uqwmclgig_so.jpg

The wood quality seems excellent, much better than same price range guitars!!!
:!!!:

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:19 pm
by coldbrightsunlight
The G&L tributes I've tried have been great. Totally worth the money imo.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:33 pm
by hclapp219
I have a Legacy Tribute and I love it. Great feeling neck and sounds just as good as any strat I've tried. The one weak spot in my opinion is the tuners/nut. I've been meaning to get a new nut that isn't plastic, but if you do a lot of bends it'll go out of tune pretty quick.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:08 am
by Dramatis Persona
Can someone tell me about the neck and the fretting quality please?

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:37 am
by colin
I used to have a U.S. Asat Classic, and I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to sell it. It was by far the best sounding and playing guitar I've ever owned. Seriously, it sounded way better than my '93 Strat Plus or my '69 Mustang, I only let it go because I needed the cash bad at the time and it was the easiest replaced of the three. I will definitely get another Asat some day, probably an Asat Classic Custom.

I've played a few G&L Tributes in stores, and I was pleasantly surprised. I never plugged one in, but I believe they have the same electronics as the U.S. models, so I've got to think they'd sound damn good. Yeah, they didn't feel quite as good as the American made models, but they weren't far off.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:58 am
by hollowhero
colin wrote:I've played a few G&L Tributes in stores, and I was pleasantly surprised. I never plugged one in, but I believe they have the same electronics as the U.S. models, so I've got to think they'd sound damn good. Yeah, they didn't feel quite as good as the American made models, but they weren't far off.

That's exactly how I would put it too. I used to have a g&l asat deluxe (I'm currently spec'ing out a new usa asat special :love: ) and it was the best playing guitar I've ever come across. Everything just felt so solid and well-put together. I've played a bunch of tributes in store, and they are definitely great guitars...just not as mindblowingly awesome as the usa models

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:45 am
by MEC
I've got a Tribute L-2000 and ASAT Special.
Both are excellent and well worth the price.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:49 am
by jaydee
Yes, I think that the Tribute use the US hardware and pcikups, so you're further ahead of the game than with an MIM Fender, imo.

It's unfortunate that you don't have access to used US models, they really are one of the best bargains out there.
I own a US Comanche and an ASAT Special, both fantastic guitars.

Definitely check out the Tribute.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:11 pm
by Dramatis Persona
The situation in Europe, expecially in Italy it's terrible, G&L guitars are overpriced, the price of the used ones ar the same of the new stock ones.
I saw the specs of the Bluesboy Tribute vs USA, I think I prefer the tribute for the neck radius, I totally hate the 7 1/2' radius, 9' it's perfect for me; the neck pickup is different, if I don't like it, I will change it! :!!!:

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:08 am
by Twangasaurus
I love my SC-2 (American) and I also owned a tribute series blues boy for a while and that was also great. Can't go wrong with G&L really.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:00 pm
by Radical AC
Tributes are Cort guitars, right? I personally have a problem with their practices, but have never heard any major qc issues with G&L stuff. I would love to get an SC-2.

Re: G&L Tribute built quality

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 8:35 pm
by AngryGoldfish
They're really solid. The great thing about the Tribute models is that they use the same hardware and almost all the same electronics as the USA models, which is great because they utilize those excellent bridges and superb sounding pickups. You are using lesser quality woods and the builders are obviously more tolerant of flaws in the finish and set-up, but you're still investing in a rugged performers instrument. Some will not be as good as others, but that's always the case, even with the American models that are milled with a PLEK machine. Still, I'd suggest saving up another $200-300 and try to find a used American one. It's not much more, but the quality of wood does jump up quite a bit, as does the finish quality and aesthetics. Plus there are more options to siphon through.

Twangasaurus wrote:I love my SC-2 (American) and I also owned a tribute series blues boy for a while and that was also great. Can't go wrong with G&L really.

You have an SC-2? Can I see pictures? Have you got any thoughts on it that you can offer? Info on the SC-2 is slim.

Radical AC wrote:Tributes are Cort guitars, right? I personally have a problem with their practices, but have never heard any major qc issues with G&L stuff. I would love to get an SC-2.

What have Cort guitars got to do with the Tribute models? I don't like Cort for the same reasons as you, so I'd be interested to know whether they treat their staff in a similarly poor manner.