G&L
Encyclopedia
G&L is a guitar
design and production company founded by Leo Fender
, George Fullerton
, and Dale Hyatt
in the late 1970s. Fender sold his company named Fender in 1965. He designed and produced instruments for Music Man in the 1970s through his company CLF Research. When relations with Music Man soured, G&L was created to continue operations outside of Music Man
. The G&L name comes from the initials of George (Fullerton) and Leo (Fender).
G&L instruments are similar to the classic Fenders, but with some modern innovations. They are built at the same facility on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California
that produced the early Music Man instruments. G&L instruments are not widely distributed but are highly regarded by many musicians and collectors. The relatively small scale of production further allows for more custom options than are possible on larger production lines.
After the death of Leo Fender
in 1991, Fender's wife, Phyllis Fender, passed the management of G&L to John C. McLaren of BBE Sound. George Fullerton remained a permanent consultant until his death on July 4 2009, and Leo's wife Phyllis remains as Honorary Chairman of G&L.
In a print advertisement for G&L, Leo Fender
claimed the G&L line of instruments were "the best instruments I have ever made."
Leo Fender and George Fullerton created improved designs over the years, with the most advanced being featured in G&L instruments.:
All G&L basses feature bolt-on necks and 34 inch scale lengths.
using mostly foreign-made hardware, though some original parts were also used on select models. The pickups used are all originally made by G&L in Fullerton, California. Production of the guitars has since moved to a Cort facility in Indonesia.
Before 2003, for a short time there was production of Tribute guitars in Japan for non-US markets. But when production in Japan became more expensive and the best Korean manufacturing raised to the same quality level, the production moved to Korea.
The Tribute series is offered in many of the same body shapes as their original creations. The Tribute SB-2 was offered briefly but was discontinued, however, it was reintroduced late 2006/early 2007. The JB-2 was introduced to the Tribute series at the same time.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
design and production company founded by Leo Fender
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
, George Fullerton
George William Fullerton
George William Fullerton was a longtime associate of Leo Fender and, along with Fender and Dale Hyatt, a co-founder of G&L Musical Instruments...
, and Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt was an American salesman and marketing person who was a longtime associate of Leo Fender and George Fullerton.Hyatt began working for Leo Fender in January, 1946, upon returning from World War II. He left Fender Music when Leo Fender sold the business to CBS in 1965, and rejoined Fender...
in the late 1970s. Fender sold his company named Fender in 1965. He designed and produced instruments for Music Man in the 1970s through his company CLF Research. When relations with Music Man soured, G&L was created to continue operations outside of Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
. The G&L name comes from the initials of George (Fullerton) and Leo (Fender).
G&L instruments are similar to the classic Fenders, but with some modern innovations. They are built at the same facility on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
that produced the early Music Man instruments. G&L instruments are not widely distributed but are highly regarded by many musicians and collectors. The relatively small scale of production further allows for more custom options than are possible on larger production lines.
After the death of Leo Fender
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
in 1991, Fender's wife, Phyllis Fender, passed the management of G&L to John C. McLaren of BBE Sound. George Fullerton remained a permanent consultant until his death on July 4 2009, and Leo's wife Phyllis remains as Honorary Chairman of G&L.
In a print advertisement for G&L, Leo Fender
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
claimed the G&L line of instruments were "the best instruments I have ever made."
Innovations
- The Magnetic Field Design (MFD) pickups use a ceramic bar magnet in combination with soft iron pole pieces with adjustable height, instead of the traditional AlnicoAlnicoAlnico is an acronym referring to iron alloys which in addition to iron are composed primarily of aluminium , nickel and cobalt , hence al-ni-co, with the addition of copper, and sometimes titanium. Alnico alloys are ferromagnetic, with a high coercivity and are used to make permanent magnets...
magnet, and allow a player to set the pickup output per string, as opposed to the entire pickup as a whole in traditional single-coil pickup designs. MFDs are known for their distinctive tone, which combines clarity, high fidelity and power with an airy "sweetness". - The Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato has two pivot points. The design aims to improve tuning stability, and according to some has a sound that is more mellow than a traditional bridge. It allows the player to bend notes up as well as down. See also Tremolo armTremolo armA whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece...
. - The G&L Saddle-Lock bridge utilizes a small Allen screw on the side of the bridge, to reduce side-to-side movement of the individual string saddles. The design, and the bridge's beefy dimensions, aim to prevent loss of sustain due to this sideways motion by locking the saddles together.
- The Tilt Neck Mechanism designed and patented by George Fullerton. This feature is no longer used, and was a carryover from Music Man production.
- The Bi-cut neck design involved cutting the neck lengthwise perpendicular to where the fretboard is later installed, routing a channel for the truss rod, then gluing the two neck pieces back together. As G&L moved production to CNC machines, this method was phased out.
Electric guitars
- ASAT Classic: Similar design to the Telecaster; offered as a solid-body instrument as well as a semi-hollow body instrument.
- Bluesboy: Based on the ASAT Classic, but with a Seth LoverSeth LoverSeth Lover is most famous for inventing the humbucker or hum-cancelling electric stringed instrument pickup, most often used on the electric guitar....
humbucker pickup in the neck position and a modified MFD single coil at the bridge. Designed by Tim Page of Buffalo Bros. with the help of Seymour W. DuncanSeymour W. DuncanSeymour W. Duncan is a guitarist and guitar repairman, but is best known as the man behind Seymour Duncan Company, the manufacturer of guitar pickups, bass pickups, and effects pedals located in Santa Barbara, California. Born in New Jersey, Seymour grew up in the fifties and sixties, during a time...
for the neck pickup and Tony Petrilla (of G&L) for wiring of the bridge pickup. First introduced as a special edition in 1999 in both solid body and semi-hollow versions. Became a standard model in 2001. - ASAT Special: named G&L Broadcaster until 1985, when it was renamed ASAT. Sometime later the "Special" was added. Similar to the ASAT Classic but with two large "soap bar" MFD pickups and a Saddle-Lock bridge rather than the Telecaster-style bridge found on the Classic. Recent models of this instrument have again dropped the word "Special" and are now branded simply ASAT.
- ASAT Z-3: Similar to the ASAT Classic but with three "Z-Coil" pickups, additional pickup switching options and a Saddle-Lock bridge.
- Broadcaster The Broadcaster which is the most well known and highly collectible G&L was the brainchild of Dale Hyatt. Mr.Hyatt designed and marketed this highly sought after G&L in 1985 as a marketing strategy to increase sales and distribution. The G&L Broadcaster was highly successful due to Mr. Leo Fender signing each guitar in the neck pocket. The name Broadcaster was changed to Asat after a production run of one year and 869 guitars. The change was due to a conflict over the use of the Broadcaster name.
- Comanche: Similar design to the Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
but utilizes MFD Z-coil pickups, a Dual Fulcrum vibrato bridge and additional pickup switch options (super-switch). - F-100: The first guitar produced by G&L. Two small switches controlled a coil splitter and a phase switch (reversed the phase of one humbucker), allowing additional tone creation abilities.
- G-200: Designed by George Fullerton, this is the only G&L guitar to feature a 24-3/4" scale neck (as on most of Gibson's guitars). Features include two MFD humbuckers, a Saddle-Lock fixed bridge, a unique wiring/switching design by Leo Fender, an Ebony fingerboard and a mahogany body. Approximately 209 of these were made.
- George Fullerton Signature model: Based on the Legacy. The main differences are the vintage style neck with a late 50's soft "V" shape rear contour and a treble roll-offRoll-offRoll-off is a term commonly used to describe the steepness of a transmission function with frequency, particularly in electrical network analysis, and most especially in connection with filter circuits in the transition between a passband and a stopband...
for the neck and bridge pickup that Mr. Fullerton had on his '54 Stratocaster. - Invader: A "super strat" style design; the Invader typically has a humbucker in bridge position; the 2010 model features two dual blade pickups (one at neck and the other in the middle position); there is also a split coil function. Some use a KahlerKahler Tremolo SystemThe Kahler Tremolo System is an electric guitar bridge with a cam operated vibrato arm system. It was invented in 1979 by Gary Kahler and Dave Storey...
bridge locking vibrato system with a locking nut; Floyd Rose (also with locking nut system) and the G&L dual fulcrum are also options. The Invader XL has two humbuckers. - Legacy: Similar design to the Stratocaster with design considerations derived from older Stratocaster models from the 1950s and 1960s, but also newer features such as the G&L Dual Fulcrum vibrato.
- Legacy Special: Based on the Legacy, but with blade humbucker pickups.
- Legacy Deluxe: A Stratocaster licensed body with bolt on neck. Rear mounted controls and no pickguard. Standard pickup configuration is a Seymour DuncanSeymour DuncanSeymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
TB-4 (An SH4 with different dimensions) and 2 alnico V single coils).
- Rampage: Similar in design to the Stratocaster but with a more narrow waist and a more dramatic "tummy" relief. Rampages utilize a single humbucker designed by G&L and built by Schaller. The necks are Maple with an Ebony finger board. Most Rampages use Kahler tremolo systems. Production colors include white, black, yellow and Rampage Red. Played by Jerry CantrellJerry CantrellJerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
of Alice in ChainsAlice in ChainsAlice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, who now has his own signature Rampage. - S-500: Similar design to the Stratocaster and Legacy, but with MFD pickups and additional pickup switch options. A toggle switch enables the bridge pickup to be "always on" so you can have combinations of the neck and bridge pickup and all three pickups at once. Also includes G&L Dual Fulcrum vibrato. Offered with optional Seymour Duncan JB Jr humbucker in bridge position.
- Will Ray Signature Model: Based on the ASAT Z-3 with changes to suit Will RayWill RayCRAIG is a long-time American session guitarist and current member of the Hellecasters. CRAIG has also released a number of solo albums. He is considered an influential player of the Fender Telecaster line of guitars. Fender made two CRAIG signature models in the late 1990s: the Jazz-a-Caster...
's style, including overwound pickups, a B-benderB-BenderB-Bender is a guitar accessory that enables a player to mechanically bend the B-string up a whole tone to C-sharp. There are several different designs, but all use levers or pulleys inside or outside the guitar body that are activated by a pull or push of the guitar neck, body, or bridge...
, a different neck profile, and skull-shaped fingerboard position marker inlays designed by Ray.
Electric basses
Current models
- ASAT Bass: Relatively small bass guitar with a Telecaster style body shape. Available in both solid-body and semi-hollow versions. Same electronics as the L-2000. Earlier models have slab bodies.
- JB-2 Bass: JFender Jazz BassThe Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
style bass guitar with 2 vintage Alnico jazz style pickups. Swamp ash or alder body. - JB Bass: Similar to Fender's original Jazz Bass design, featuring traditional pickguard, metal control plate and black bakelite knobs.
- L-1500: Active/passive bass with single large MFD humbucker in bridge position.
- L-1505: 5 string adaptation of the L-1500
- L-2000: Dual large MFD humbuckers, 4 string bass. Both active and passive electronics, selected by a switch, along with pickup switching for a wide range of tones.
- L-2500: 5 string adaptation of the L-2000. Earlier versions have a 4+1 headstock configuration. Most are 3+2.
- SB-2 (second-style): Essentially a second-style SB-1 with an added MFD single coil pickup at the bridge and a second volume knob in place of the tone knob.
Discontinued Models
- Climax Bass: Active/passive bass with sculpted neck heel area. Single large MFD humbucker in bridge position. Introduced after G&L was sold to current owners (BBE).
- El Toro Bass: Two small MFD humbuckers.
- Interceptor Bass: Same as the El Toro but with a different body and headstock design.
- L-1000: Passive bass with one large MFD humbucker in front position. Discontinued after sale of G&L to BBE Sound. Since then, a limited run of about 40 L-1000 basses was completed in 2008, featuring the current "six bolt" neck attachment.
- L-5000: Five string bass with split MFD pickup. Leo Fender's last 5 string bass design to see production.
- L-5500: Five string bass with EMGEMG, Inc.EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
pickups. 4+1 headstock configuration. Introduced after G&L was sold to current owners (BBE). - LB-100: Also known as the Legacy Bass. A Fender Precision BassFender Precision BassThe Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
substitute model with alnico pickup. Introduced after G&L was sold to current owners (BBE). - Lynx Bass: Very similar to the first-style SB-2, but with a contoured body.
- SB-1 (first-style): Single coil MFD pickup in front position. Slab body.
- SB-1 (second-style): Similar to the Precision Bass in form. The MFD split pickup has the same footprint as split Precision Bass pickups.
- SB-2 (first-style): Two single coil MFD pickups. Slab body.
Tribute
In 2003, G&L introduced the Tribute series to the US market as a more affordable alternative to the USA built products. Tribute G&L's were made in Korea by Cort GuitarsCort Guitars
Cort Guitars is a guitar manufacturer centered in South Korea. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies.- History :...
using mostly foreign-made hardware, though some original parts were also used on select models. The pickups used are all originally made by G&L in Fullerton, California. Production of the guitars has since moved to a Cort facility in Indonesia.
Before 2003, for a short time there was production of Tribute guitars in Japan for non-US markets. But when production in Japan became more expensive and the best Korean manufacturing raised to the same quality level, the production moved to Korea.
The Tribute series is offered in many of the same body shapes as their original creations. The Tribute SB-2 was offered briefly but was discontinued, however, it was reintroduced late 2006/early 2007. The JB-2 was introduced to the Tribute series at the same time.
Tribute Models
- Tribute ASAT Classic
- Tribute ASAT Classic Lefty
- Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow
- Tribute ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow
- Tribute ASAT HB
- Tribute ASAT Deluxe
- Tribute ASAT Special
- Tribute ASAT Special Semi-Hollow
- Tribute ASAT Special Deluxe Carved Top
- Tribute Comanche
- Tribute Legacy
- Tribute Legacy Lefty
- Tribute Legacy HB
- Tribute Rampage Jerry CantrellJerry CantrellJerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
Signature Model - Tribute S-500
- Tribute Will RayWill RayCRAIG is a long-time American session guitarist and current member of the Hellecasters. CRAIG has also released a number of solo albums. He is considered an influential player of the Fender Telecaster line of guitars. Fender made two CRAIG signature models in the late 1990s: the Jazz-a-Caster...
Signature Model
Notable users
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- Jerry CantrellJerry CantrellJerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
- Gustavo CeratiGustavo CeratiGustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with...
- Jake CinningerJake CinningerJake Cinninger, born Jacob Alan Cinninger, December 16, 1975 in Niles, Michigan, is an American musician. He has risen to fame as one of two lead guitarists, in the Chicago-based jam band Umphrey's McGee.-History:...
- Niclas Etelävuori (AmorphisAmorphisAmorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
) - Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
- Carl PerkinsCarl PerkinsCarl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
- Liam WilsonLiam WilsonLiam Wilson is the bass player of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan and former bass player of the band Starkweather. Before playing in the Dillinger Escape Plan, Liam played bass for other Philadelphia-based metal bands, such as For Life and Burnside.-Personal life:A vegan who is concerned about...
- Jack PearsonJack PearsonLawrence Ivor Pearson was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who played for Derbyshire during the 1946 season....