Details about Fender destroying G&L

[atquinn]

.....
In the used and vintage market, don't be surprised if G&L Basses and Guitars wind up commanding higher dollar values than used Fenders. The driving force of the vintage market is low production numbers. In 20 years, there will be a whole lot less 2001 G&L LB-100 basses in the world than there will be 2001 Fender American Standard Precision basses. The sheer lack of numbers will drive the vintage market for G&Ls through the roof. I don't think that matters to Fender Corporate or their legal team. However, it matters to us, the consumers, who's money is the reason for their existence.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I say... it was Col. Rickenbacker, in the Library, with a tire tool.

 

[gln1955]

Not keeping and moving old equipment that they don't need is why Fender is still in business and G&L isn't.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

ALL things must pass......

 

[Gopherbassist]

Did Fender buy G&L? I thought Fender only bought trademarks and IP, and that everything else was liquidated.

 

[Yahboy]

I believe Lego will smell it and announce the GnL factory set along with few iconic figures then sell as limited edition series.

Who wants one ?

 

[BassicJazzy]

Sounds like the Simpson's episode where Homer finds an auto dialing/ voice response unit in a dumpster and starts an internet business using it, for uncertain purpose. Bill Gates gets wind of it and shows up at the door to "buy him out." When Homer agrees, Gates tells his goons "Ok boys, buy him out" and they smash all Homer's equipment with crowbars. Homer says " But where's my check?" Gates responds "Mr Simpson, I didn't become a billionaire by writing lots of checks."

 

[bherman]

I am not surprised by this one iota. Dealers who stocked G&L products were not allowed to carry Fender products. If they wanted to be a Fender retailer, they were required to sign an agreement to never stock any G&L products, neither as a retailer nor selling used trade ins. I saw several TB'ers post about hoping Fender, with it's G&L acquisition, would somehow cherish the legacy and history of the company, especially it's lineage to Leo Fender. I knew deep down in my heart that Fender acquired G&L for one reason, to chloroform the history, legacy, and eradicate the name of G&L.

In the used and vintage market, don't be surprised if G&L Basses and Guitars wind up commanding higher dollar values than used Fenders. The driving force of the vintage market is low production numbers. In 20 years, there will be a whole lot less 2001 G&L LB-100 basses in the world than there will be 2001 Fender American Standard Precision basses. The sheer lack of numbers will drive the vintage market for G&Ls through the roof. I don't think that matters to Fender Corporate or their legal team. However, it matters to us, the consumers, who's money is the reason for their existence.

I agree with this - on balance, G&L instruments were much higher quality than your run of the mill Fender. Some were great, like the L series, LB Ps, ASAT, and Fallout. I suspect that 50 yrs from now, G&L basses that are top-quality will be sought after.

 

[T McClure]

Did Fender buy G&L? I thought Fender only bought trademarks and IP, and that everything else was liquidated.

That's all anyone has ever claimed, which is why everything in the warehouse went to the MIRC people. My guess is Fender had nothing to do with tossing the stuff out of Leo's office because it sounds like Fender didn't buy any tangible stuff.

 

[gln1955]

That's all anyone has ever claimed, which is why everything in the warehouse went to the MIRC people. My guess is Fender had nothing to do with tossing the stuff out of Leo's office because it sounds like Fender didn't buy any tangible stuff.

Yeah, this whole story sounds like a load of crap from the word go.

 

[Camaro69]

That's all anyone has ever claimed, which is why everything in the warehouse went to the MIRC people. My guess is Fender had nothing to do with tossing the stuff out of Leo's office because it sounds like Fender didn't buy any tangible stuff.

This is probably the fact, but that doesn’t get internet miles like setting things aflame

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

That's all anyone has ever claimed, which is why everything in the warehouse went to the MIRC people. My guess is Fender had nothing to do with tossing the stuff out of Leo's office because it sounds like Fender didn't buy any tangible stuff.

It would have been nice if they had taken extensive pictures (maybe they did) of Leo Fender's office (maybe even a scan with dimensions, if that exists) and donate the contents to something like The Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame so that they could recreate it with the original contents.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Not keeping and moving old equipment that they don't need is why Fender is still in business and G&L isn't.

Yeah, it's not a good idea to keep old manufacturing equipment that is no longer needed, especially if it might have hazardous materials in it. Insurance costs, plus legal exposure - - liability for injury from unauthorized use, or claims from past employees who worked on the machines (mesothelioma cases, cancers, etc).

 

[makanudo]

There's virtually no reason to buy any Fender product at this point. They make the same 70 year old design with the same technology at 2026 prices.

Any 200-300 bucks P or J does the same. Take it to a luthier to get it up to speed and you have a MIM Fender level instrument at a fraction of the price.

Come at me with the pitchforks but it's true.

 

[metron]

In the used and vintage market, don't be surprised if G&L Basses and Guitars wind up commanding higher dollar values than used Fenders.

I would be extremely surprised. They are already suffering from exaggerated prices from the covid days when it seems like a lot of folks discovered this. The most vintage G&Ls might surpass newer used US Fenders. Maybe.

 

[metron]

To me there is no question that G&L destroyed themselves through mismanagement. The Leo shrine was cool but they overworked the legacy thing which was another part of their problem IMO.

 

[Element Zero]

Unless you can literally show me the hard evidence, I take internet stories with a grain of salt.

 

[mr80htz]

You're just smelling realists. Fender didn't buy the G&L building or take over the G&L lease because they don't need it. Fender doesn't need another building. Doing so just to preserve an office no one visits doesn't make a lot of sense.

What do you think Fender was supposed to do here?

Don't keep the office. Keep the memorabilia and old, historic equipment if it still works. Why destroy/throw these away? I know the company likes the PR of showing off OG machines that still work in their production of parts. It obviously connects modern instrumenta with history and liniage of the old era. People like that stuff...well, those of us with souls.

 

[pfschim]

There's virtually no reason to buy any Fender product at this point. They make the same 70 year old design with the same technology at 2026 prices.

Any 200-300 bucks P or J does the same. Take it to a luthier to get it up to speed and you have a MIM Fender level instrument at a fraction of the price.

Come at me with the pitchforks but it's true.

and yet, Fender continues to dominate the market worldwide. Everyone who buys one must be wrong I guess.

I don't really get all the Fender hate on TB. I mean it's cool if you like something other than an actual Fender, but if you think about it, even the FSO options or the Leo spin off companies (G&L, Music Man) are really just building Fenders with some modest improvements or changes to the originals. If you prefer a Yamaha "Precision" (BB) instead of a Fender Precision, you should absolutely use one. If you favor a Dingwall Super J over a Fender Jazz, go for it. If your choice is a Sadowsky, Lull or Lakland, have at it. But why take a dump on the root of the tree from whence all of these came ? Does not make any sense to me.

And I'll repeat/amplify that G&L killed G&L. Other than competing with them, Fender did nothing in this situation, other than seek the G&L/Leo Fender IP that originated with Fender anyway once G&L mismanaged themselves into oblivion.

 

[T McClure]

It would have been nice if they had taken extensive pictures (maybe they did) of Leo Fender's office (maybe even a scan with dimensions, if that exists) and donate the contents to something like The Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame so that they could recreate it with the original contents.

Sure, G&L could have done this.