G&L Tribute S-500

Hi Everyone

I would like to know what wood the body of this guitar is made of...

What kind of paint is on the body?

Also I can't find any pictures of this guitar, is this an unique model or so? (I mean the painting & relic)

Someone maybe knows more about this version, when and where it was sold?

Thank you!

Last edited by marcnl on Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:26 pm, edited 3 times in total.

hmm. well I have a few thoughts. First try checking the serial number.

To me, that doesn't seem like original paint.. Could be wrong, though, I've never seen any 'Tributes' with paint like that. It's too flat, and it's very worn. To me, that says budget respray, with possible intentional (or maybe not) 'relicing'

Current Tribute S-500's are Mahogany according to G&L.

What's intriguing, is that through the worn paint, that doesn't look like Mahogany, to me, but the pictures may be fooling me. That wear spot near the middle pickup, looks like it could be alder, maybe.

Ok, Thank you!

From the serial number, I guess it is built in 2009, also it is built in Indonesia, what more info you can get from the serial number?

So, the question is, is this original paint? I bought this guitar this way, thinking it was factory reliced like this...

It doesn't seem Mahogany to me, too light I would think, so Alder could be right... Is it not white enough for Swamp Ash?

I'll try to post a close up of the naked spot...

here it is:

Last edited by marcnl on Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Actually I could believe the last pic could very well be mahogany. If you take off the pickguard, there may be more larger bare surfaces to see.

Mahogany? Ok, interesting...

Also I would like to know, is the neck satin or oiled?

Is that possible to see? Or feel? Or ...?

Thanks!

Mahogany? Ok, interesting...

Also I would like to know, is the neck satin or oiled?

Is that possible to see? Or feel? Or ...?

Thanks!

The body wood for the 2009 Tribute S-500 model was Swamp Ash. And the photos you posted look to me
like Swamp Ash. There were three choices of body finishes: 3-Tone Sunburst, Blueburst and Natural Gloss.
The Blueburst came with a Pearl pickguard and the other two came with the Tortoise pickguard. They all came
with a Satin finished neck. Your photo confirms that the neck finish is Satin.

The body finish and relic'ing on your guitar were not done at the Indonesian factory.

BTW, Mahogany bodied Tribute S-500 model was first available in 2012.

Hope this helps.

Also, please do add your guitar to our G&L Registry.

Ok, Thank you Craig!

Conclusion: It looks like it is a natural gloss Swamp Ash body, Satin neck

Someone sprayed some paint on it apparently...

Mmm, maybe I am going to take the paint off, it is not really sticking to the gloss it seems, the gloss layer seems quite hard