Z G&L USA Fallout Lake Placid Blue Classic C neck, Rosewood

The USA-made G&L Fallout is packed with high quality features and upgrades:

• Lake Place Blue finish, Alder body, 7.2 pounds
• G&L Classic C neck profile - 25.5" scale with 12" fingerboard radius
• .835" depth first fret, .960" 12th fret
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
• Clear satin neck finish
• G&L split and drilled tuners
• Medium jumbo frets
• 3-ply Mint pickguard
• G&L P-90 neck pickup
• G&L AW4368C humbucker bridge pickup - Chrome cover
• Hefty G&L Saddle-Lock bridge
• 3-way pickup switch
• Volume and tone controls
• Pull tone control to split bridge pickup
• Deluxe tolex hardshell case

While the standard neck profile on the Fallout is the Slim C, we're personal fans of the Classic C, which was standard on all G&L guitars up the summer of 2015. The thickness is very similar to the Slim C at the first fret and transitions to a beefier .960" at the 12th fret. This shape provides nice palm support and a little more neck mass helps with low end response and depth. Fatter necks always sound better to us, and unless your hands are very small, for us the Classic C gets the nod.

So what about that neck pickup? Developed by Gibson in the late 40's, the P-90 is known for punchy tone and chunky mids. It was standard on the Les Paul and many jazz models up until the introduction of the PAF. Sadly, P-90's get a bad rap for being dark and one-dimensional, but that's more a function of trying to make them "hot". Not a problem here; and with a mid-6K DC resistance G&L's P-90 has both excellent clarity, a smooth top end, and more meat around the notes than Fender-style single coil. Given some overdrive, the P-90 thickens up and takes on a somewhat creamy tone, but without the woody or mushy feel that you sometimes get with a humbucker. We are fans of P-90's, and this particular version deserves a spot in your guitar lineup. It's a great pickup for when you want "more" but without sacrificing clarity and balance.

We chose the optional AW4368C covered humbucker for this build, and it's become one of our favorites. With larger gauge wire and fewer windings than the standard AW4470 open-coil pickup, it's got slightly less output, a more balanced response with less midrange emphasis, and the chrome cover acts to give it a smoother top end. While open-coil pickups are often the choice for getting more snap out of a set neck guitar, with a bolt-on longer scale you've got all the attack and definition you need. We love it: It's got plenty of mid-frequencies to rock your favorite pedal, but cleans up great with plenty of detail and sweetness.

Both pickups together produce the bell-like clean rhythm tones often associated with this combination. The sound is Tele like, but a little fatter with slightly less edge. Percussive and snappy without being cold, it's got a bit of Gretsch/Rickenbacker twang that works well for country, roots rock and lush rhythm strumming. For lighter moments you can pull the tone control for leaner and cleaner split bridge setting that blends well with neck pickup, or by itself it does a credible job for crisp rhythm and picking.

The G&L Fallout gives players a serious alternative to the typical choices for high quality electric guitars. By combining these two famous pickup styles you get a fresh sonic option that won't sound like all your other guitars. If you don't have a P-90 in your collection, the Fallout is an excellent choice.