Question about G&L Fallout Tribute

[Digital Larry]

Yeah, I know, just last week I was so proud of myself, thinking I didn't have GAS, thinking I was actually going to unload one of my current guitars - ahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!

cough cough eh-hem

I am wondering about this G&L Fallout Tribute. I have two G&L Tribute guitars already. I like em pretty much. A bit on the heavy side. I don't have any P90 equipped guitars and this one seems specially designed to cover a broader dynamic territory than many guitars.

Anyway, the marketing for this guitar describes the bridge pickup as humbucking with coil-tap switch control on the tone pot. Listening to some clean samples I am really wondering if that is true. The tone with the knob up is WAY brighter than the other way. The only coil-tap guitar I ever had was a Yamaha SSC-500 and yes there was a drop in level and more perceived brightness with it in, but those were single coil pickups.

I am wondering if perhaps it is actually parallel HB vs. series?

Does anyone who has one also have an ohmmeter and can measure the DC resistance with:
- bridge pickup selected
- tone and volume all the way up
- tone pot in and tone pot out

If it's actually parallel vs. series HB, then the DCR should be about 25% in parallel compared to series.

Thanks!

DL

 

[Hari Seldon]

Why would anybody call a guitar model "fallout"?
I guess this is the most tasteless name choice.

Sorry for the OT.

 

[andy__d]

There appears to be a wiring diagram at guitarsbyleo.com: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/main.php?g2_itemId=13216 - which may help confirming (if this is for the right model)

edit: sorry, just looked at the diagram more closely, and it just has a comment about the coil tap, rather than showing it specifically, apologies!

 

[JDB2]

Anyway, the marketing for this guitar describes the bridge pickup as humbucking with coil-tap switch control on the tone pot. Listening to some clean samples I am really wondering if that is true. The tone with the knob up is WAY brighter than the other way. The only coil-tap guitar I ever had was a Yamaha SSC-500 and yes there was a drop in level and more perceived brightness with it in, but those were single coil pickups.

I can't speak directly to the Fallout but I did check out an ASAT Deluxe recently with 2 Seymour Duncan Humbuckers. The ASAT Deluxe has a mini-switch for the coil tap and I can confirm that those pickups, at least, are "WAY brighter" in the coil tap mode than in the regular two-coil mode. Very bright even for single coil pickups. So your observations about the Fallout may not be unusual for a coil tapped G&L.

 

[Digital Larry]

There appears to be a wiring diagram at guitarsbyleo.com: http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/main.php?g2_itemId=13216 - which may help confirming (if this is for the right model)

Actually, if that's the wiring diagram, then it is what I would call a coil-split. It is just shorting out one side of the humbucker. There's much debate about "no it's a coil TAP not a coil SPLIT" but IMO it is in fact a coil SPLIT. If the push pull switch is DPDT it should also be possible to wire it as series/parallel. Thanks!

Note, whether it's just a single coil or parallel humbucker probably affects the balance with the neck pickup in combined setting. Not saying I want to do it; I was mostly curious about the TRUTH of the matter. tap vs split etc.

 

[Lockback]

I can't speak to the wiring but there's a major difference between the humbucker tones when you pull up on the tone knob. It's a greater tonal difference than I have with my Epiphone Les Paul Standard when I engage the coil split. It approaches a Tele sound with the coil split in operation.
I love the P90 bridge pickup. It cooks.

 

[regularslinky]

I can't answer the technical stuff (and I wouldn't know an ohmmeter if I tripped over one) but I have a Tribute Fallout. The knob-up position is significantly brighter than the humbucking position, without any volume drop that I notice. It is downright Tele-esque, which works for me because my other guitars are mostly Teles.

I play in a hobby band and a heavy guitar on my shoulder, standing on concrete for a 5 hour practice session means pain the next day. Weight is a primary consideration when I'm shopping. My #1 is a T-style that weighs about 6 lbs. My Fallout is heavier than that, probably around 7 lbs, but still light enough for me. It is very comfortable to play. The Fallout body is smaller and thinner than most guitars, and contoured.

The Fallout is a great functional design, extremely versatile. I think it looks cool too. I honestly can't identify a significant difference in quality between my Tribute Fallout and my US made Comanche, and the Fallout cost me $300 used with the plastic still on the pickguard. Great guitar. Every guitarist should own one.

 

[Digital Larry]

I can't speak to the wiring but there's a major difference between the humbucker tones when you pull up on the tone knob. It's a greater tonal difference than I have with my Epiphone Les Paul Standard when I engage the coil split. It approaches a Tele sound with the coil split in operation.
I love the P90 bridge pickup. It cooks.

Thanks.
OK, here's a test that shouldn't require an ohm meter. Is it still humbucking with the knob up?
Also, I think you meant "P-90 neck pickup"?

 

[Lockback]

Thanks.
OK, here's a test that shouldn't require an ohm meter. Is it still humbucking with the knob up?
Also, I think you meant "P-90 neck pickup"?

Oooops. I did mean neck pickup. My bad!
Good question. I’ll play it and let you know if I get hum with the knob up.

 

[Lockback]

Thanks.
OK, here's a test that shouldn't require an ohm meter. Is it still humbucking with the knob up?
Also, I think you meant "P-90 neck pickup"?

Okay, so here’s my answer. I played my G&L Fallout Tribute last night through headphones plugged into my Boss Katana 50 amp.
Bridge pickup in humbucker mode: no hum.
Pulled up on the tone knob to go into coil split mode.
“Hummmmmmmm…”
Hope this answers your question!

 

[Digital Larry]

Okay, so here’s my answer. I played my G&L Fallout Tribute last night through headphones plugged into my Boss Katana 50 amp.
Bridge pickup in humbucker mode: no hum.
Pulled up on the tone knob to go into coil split mode.
“Hummmmmmmm…”
Hope this answers your question!

Sure does! Thanks for going into the trenches for the team!

 

[beninma]

What I don't get about the fallout is it doesn't have the PTB system.

Reverend went ahead and made a bunch of guitars that are basically the fallout but with their "bass contour" which is essentially just a dead copy of Leo's PTB system.

If I were modding a guitar of this type I'd want that bass knob on there.

PTB system on there would just about eliminate the need for a coil split/tap setup.

 

[Lockback]

Sure does! Thanks for going into the trenches for the team!

My pleasure. I love playing that guitar anyway.

 

[Lockback]

I can't answer the technical stuff (and I wouldn't know an ohmmeter if I tripped over one) but I have a Tribute Fallout. The knob-up position is significantly brighter than the humbucking position, without any volume drop that I notice. It is downright Tele-esque, which works for me because my other guitars are mostly Teles.

I play in a hobby band and a heavy guitar on my shoulder, standing on concrete for a 5 hour practice session means pain the next day. Weight is a primary consideration when I'm shopping. My #1 is a T-style that weighs about 6 lbs. My Fallout is heavier than that, probably around 7 lbs, but still light enough for me. It is very comfortable to play. The Fallout body is smaller and thinner than most guitars, and contoured.

The Fallout is a great functional design, extremely versatile. I think it looks cool too. I honestly can't identify a significant difference in quality between my Tribute Fallout and my US made Comanche, and the Fallout cost me $300 used with the plastic still on the pickguard. Great guitar. Every guitarist should own one.

It’s a totally underrated guitar, one of the best-kept secrets out there.

 

[John C]

What I don't get about the fallout is it doesn't have the PTB system.

Reverend went ahead and made a bunch of guitars that are basically the fallout but with their "bass contour" which is essentially just a dead copy of Leo's PTB system.

If I were modding a guitar of this type I'd want that bass knob on there.

PTB system on there would just about eliminate the need for a coil split/tap setup.

The only reason I can think of for the Fallout to not have the PTB system is that it's based on the SC2 and the original (and reissued/recreated versions from the 2010s) didn't have the PTB so they are keeping them in line with how they equipped models at this level of the product line back in the day.

 

[Digital Larry]

Funny how GAS comes and goes.

1) First it was the Tribute Fallout Guitar, then I played some of my existing guitars and thought, hmm maybe a bass? I don't have a P-90 in anything, but... ehhhh...

2) So I looked at a Fallout bass, but then I start thinking I don't really want to buy something without holding it first. Bought too many guitars that way and most of those are gone. My Talman B30 is OK for $200 but you know, I need a REAL bass after all these years!

3) Then I started looking at a Guild Starfire 1 bass which is in a shop nearby. If a nearby shop had a Tribute Fallout guitar or bass I would probably already have one here (or not).

4) I also watched about 2 hours of YouTube videos on the Korg Modwave. I'm really bad at keyboards but I connected some stuff up and I am actually better than I used to be, without even trying.

So now, reading about the Tribute guitar again, seems so.... 4 waves of GAS ago.....

What I don't get about the fallout is it doesn't have the PTB system.
Reverend went ahead and made a bunch of guitars that are basically the fallout but with their "bass contour" which is essentially just a dead copy of Leo's PTB system.

If I were modding a guitar of this type I'd want that bass knob on there.

PTB system on there would just about eliminate the need for a coil split/tap setup.

Uh-oh....