S-500 saddle positions

Hi

I am long time G&L guitars fan & lover - own ASAT Special '97, Fullerton '97 and few years old L2500 bass - custom shop.

Just found found nice S-500 in the local store - exactly what I needed . Unfortunately its setup was a complete disaster.
My guitar tech (btw. he was servicing my beautful G&Ls since the beginning) then set it up perfecty. He also inspected guitar
and he is very satisfied with it.

There is one thing, though.

To set-up octaves correctly, saddles has to be positioned extremely to the right (from the player's perspective). I am attaching photos of guitar and bridge.
As I can see, saddles are now different, comparing to my Fullerton. I am not used to an extreme saddles position (especially low E) on my G&L's.





My questions are:
Is this normal for newer G&L's ?
Do you think, something may be wrong with the guitar ?
Can this saddles position affect playability of the guitar?

I LOVE the sound of this guitar, price is nice so I'll probably buy it - nevertheless, i would like to have your opinion as well before investment.

Thanks for you help!
Zabukowski

Welcome zabukowski,
I think they did just redesign the saddles ( they look good ! , thanks for the nice pictures ).

It could be that ,with the new carve where the string sits , the saddles have to be move back a touch to compensate.
Add that to using heavy gauge strings and I can see how things are going to get tight against the rear of the bridge plate.
Removing ( or cutting in half or thirds ) the spring behind the low E might be necessary if it won't intonate properly
as it is now. I've had to do this with other guitar brands(80's washburns for one) but not a G&L as far as I can remember.

Good question, I wouldn't have considered how the new saddle design might affect the ability to intonate the guitar.

Do you know what gauge strings are on the guitar now ? ( I think they are set up with 10-??) at the factory.

elwood

Tech did actually cut one or two springs to remove unnecessary pressure on the saddles.

The strings on the guitar are now 10-52 (heavy bottom).

Right now, can't find any intonation problems with this guitar, tech really did a wonderful job!

Zabukowski

Tech did actually cut one or two springs to remove unnecessary pressure on the saddles.

The strings on the guitar are now 10-52 (heavy bottom).

Right now, can't find any intonation problems with this guitar, tech really did a wonderful job!

Zabukowski

good news...It looks like there's room to go a little heavier on the bottom but not much.

I'll be curious if any others here with the new saddles have had the same issues.

Looks like a nice s-500.

elwood

It is VERY nice, actually.

Now I remembered, tech told me, that he has also shortened a screw on low E, because its was too close to the string.
As you can see on a bridge photo, it is shorter than others.

Thanks!
Zabukowski

For comparison here is my 2012 Legacy Special.

Yup, it looks like your springs are pretty tight, also - especially low E.

Thx for picture!

Zabukowski

Bringing old topic to life ...

Can anyone elaborate on these saddles. I can tell these are different than any saddles i've seen on strat-style G&Ls and different than ones they are selling in webshop as well.

Recently i got hint, that these saddles could be from tribute series. I kind of doubt it, because i bought guitar new from our local G&L dealer.

I've sent a message to G&L directly, no anwer so far.

Thx,
Franci

Image of guitar bridge, can be seen in first post also: http://zabukowski.com/s-500-bridge.jpg

Bringing old topic to life ...

Can anyone elaborate on these saddles. I can tell these are different than any saddles i've seen on strat-style G&Ls and different than ones they are selling in webshop as well.

Recently i got hint, that these saddles could be from tribute series. I kind of doubt it, because i bought guitar new from our local G&L dealer.

I've sent a message to G&L directly, no anwer so far.

Thx,
Franci

Image of guitar bridge, can be seen in first post also: http://zabukowski.com/s-500-bridge.jpg

See this post: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?p=44969#p44969.

Hope this helps.

Bringing old topic to life ...

Can anyone elaborate on these saddles. I can tell these are different than any saddles i've seen on strat-style G&Ls and different than ones they are selling in webshop as well.

Recently i got hint, that these saddles could be from tribute series. I kind of doubt it, because i bought guitar new from our local G&L dealer.

I've sent a message to G&L directly, no anwer so far.

Thx,
Franci

Image of guitar bridge, can be seen in first post also: http://zabukowski.com/s-500-bridge.jpg

See this post: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?p=44969#p44969.

Hope this helps.

Thx a lot !!!

Do you know if maybe these sharp saddles required more "to the back" position in general (in order to tune octaves properly) ??

Bringing old topic to life ...

Can anyone elaborate on these saddles. I can tell these are different than any saddles i've seen on strat-style G&Ls and different than ones they are selling in webshop as well.

Recently i got hint, that these saddles could be from tribute series. I kind of doubt it, because i bought guitar new from our local G&L dealer.

I've sent a message to G&L directly, no anwer so far.

Thx,
Franci

Image of guitar bridge, can be seen in first post also: http://zabukowski.com/s-500-bridge.jpg

See this post: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?p=44969#p44969.

Hope this helps.

Thx a lot !!!

Do you know if maybe these sharp saddles required more "to the back" position in general (in order to tune octaves properly) ??

I just revisited this post to see if you had heard back from G&L Support yet.

In looking at your photo of the saddles, I notice that they don't look like G&L saddles:


These saddles look like they may be longer than the stock saddles. Notice the size and shape of the inner part of the saddle compared to
this DFV bridge photo from the G&L On-line store:


If you do buy this guitar, I suggest getting G&L replacement saddles. Here's the link: https://g-l-online-store.myshopify.com/collections/bridge-components/products/saddle-set-for-g-l-dual-fulcrum-vibrato.

Hope this helps.

Bringing old topic to life ...

Can anyone elaborate on these saddles. I can tell these are different than any saddles i've seen on strat-style G&Ls and different than ones they are selling in webshop as well.

Recently i got hint, that these saddles could be from tribute series. I kind of doubt it, because i bought guitar new from our local G&L dealer.

I've sent a message to G&L directly, no anwer so far.

Thx,
Franci

Image of guitar bridge, can be seen in first post also: http://zabukowski.com/s-500-bridge.jpg

See this post: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?p=44969#p44969.

Hope this helps.

Thx a lot !!!

Do you know if maybe these sharp saddles required more "to the back" position in general (in order to tune octaves properly) ??

I just revisited this post to see if you had heard back from G&L Support yet.

In looking at your photo of the saddles, I notice that they don't look like G&L saddles:


These saddles look like they may be longer than the stock saddles. Notice the size and shape of the inner part of the saddle compared to
this DFV bridge photo from the G&L On-line store:


If you do buy this guitar, I suggest getting G&L replacement saddles. Here's the link: https://g-l-online-store.myshopify.com/collections/bridge-components/products/saddle-set-for-g-l-dual-fulcrum-vibrato.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your help - no answer from G&L so far. Anyway, I will most likely buy G&L replacement saddles.

Regarding current saddles on my guitar ... the topic you mentioned few posts above is talking about this kind of (sharp edged) saddles on Legacy. This makes me think, that G&L was using this saddles for a limited time - they went back to classic DFV saddles at the end of 2012.

It is a real pity, that i can't get in contact with G&L - they would easily resolve this mistery.

Cheers,
Franci

Just got a reply from G&L via Facebook:

"Hello,

Yes those were used for a short period by us and then we switched to the current ones offered in our store;
https://g-l-online-store.myshopify.com/ ... um-vibrato
if you have any further questions please email me back, all the best."

Now we know

They're collectors' items then Hang on to them- but if the old/new style work better, use those.

They're collectors' items then Hang on to them- but if the old/new style work better, use those.

Haha, yes, "collectors' items" - that's a good one

Saddles replaced - much better, don't you think?