Leo Fender's Last Great Evolution — Available Again
There's a certain kind of guitarist who's played plenty of Stratocaster-style guitars but always felt like something was just slightly off — a bridge that fights you when you bend, or tone controls that only seem to go from "too bright" to "too dark." The G&L Tribute S-500 was Leo Fender's answer to all of that, designed after he left Fender and built specifically the way he always wanted to do it. In Transparent Cherry, it looks the part too — the kind of finish that lets the wood breathe through it with a warm, glassy red that photographs beautifully under stage lights.
This G&L Tribute S-500 is in Very Good Condition condition. The guitar is fully functional and will go through a full tech set up prior to shipping. It has a Finish striations (small) right upper horn, fine play wear noted. Please review the photos carefully for full condition.
The S-500 debuted in 1982 as Leo's own rethink of the double-cutaway bolt-on electric, bringing two standout innovations with it: the Dual-Fulcrum vibrato and the Magnetic Field Design (MFD) single-coil pickups. On a used example like this, you're getting a guitar that's already been broken in — frets settled, neck stable, and the finish showing whatever character time has added to it.
MFD Pickups and the PTB Tone System
The three G&L MFD single-coil pickups are the heart of this guitar. Leo Fender designed them with a thicker magnet and a tighter magnetic field, which translates to higher output without losing the clarity and articulation that single-coils are known for. You get that familiar sparkle on top, solid low-end presence, and a midrange that holds its ground even when you push it with gain.
What sets the S-500 apart from a standard Strat-style control layout is the PTB (Passive Treble and Bass) tone system. Instead of two standard tone knobs, you get independent treble and bass controls that work across all five pickup positions. Roll back the bass to tighten up a fuzz pedal or clean up a low-mid-heavy amp. Pull up the treble knob and you've activated the Expander Switch, which unlocks neck+bridge and all-three-pickups combinations that aren't available on a typical 5-way setup.
The Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato
Leo was especially proud of this bridge, and players who've spent time with it tend to understand why. The Dual-Fulcrum vibrato pivots on two bolts — rather than the six wood-screw design common on vintage tremolos — anchored into large brass inserts in the body. The result is a vibrato arm that feels silky and responsive, with tuning that actually returns to pitch reliably. It works in both directions too, so you can push up for that steel-guitar-adjacent shimmer or pull down for a classic dive.
The bolt-on hard-rock maple neck has a medium C profile, which is comfortable without being too chunky or too thin. At 25.5" scale length with a 12" radius fingerboard and medium jumbo frets, it plays a bit more smoothly through bends than a vintage 7.25" radius would. The rosewood fingerboard adds a bit of warmth to the attack.
Product Features:
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Body: Mahogany, solid body, double-cutaway
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Neck: Hard-rock maple, bolt-on, medium C profile
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Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12" radius, 22 medium jumbo frets
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Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)
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Nut Width: 1 5/8" (41.3mm)
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Pickups: 3x G&L MFD (Magnetic Field Design) single-coil pickups
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Controls: 5-way selector, master volume, PTB treble and bass controls, push-pull Expander Switch on treble pot (adds neck+bridge and all-three-pickups positions)
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Bridge: Leo Fender-designed G&L Dual-Fulcrum vibrato
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Tuners: 18:1 ratio, sealed-back tuning machines
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Finish: Transparent Cherry gloss
This is a used Electric Guitar from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual item you will receive.
All used gear is sold AS IS.
Brand: G&L
Model: Tribute S-500
SKU: U-S-500-TRIBUTE-TC|05056268
Condition: Used
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