Details about Fender destroying G&L

[pfschim]

I'm not hating on Fender.

I'm just addressing the OP's point of not buying Fender anymore by making an objective observation.

well, to say "there is virtually no reason to buy any Fender product at this point" is not an objective observation. It's an opinion, and kind of a negative one.

To say, "They make the same 70 year old design with the same technology at 2026 prices", while not even really true, is also just an opinion, both a negative and an incorrect one .... there clearly have been changes to Fender designs and tech in 70 years ... so hyperbolically negative.

And all of this in an ill informed post that is clearly hating on Fender for something that's not even true.

Again, if YOU think there is no reason to buy a Fender product, all good, I have no dog in this hunt, but your opinion does come off as negative (hating on) Fender. There is plenty of that here on TB and I honestly don't get it.

Like something other than Fender ?, the world is your oyster, go out and play it.

Fender won't care

 

[crazycloud]

To say, "They make the same 70 year old design with the same technology at 2026 prices", while not even really true, is also just an opinion, both a negative and an incorrect one .... there clearly have been changes to Fender designs and tech in 70 years ... so hyperbolically negative.

So what are these changes / developments that make the previous statement so 'hyperbolic'?

 

[pfschim]

So what are these changes / developments that make the previous statement so 'hyperbolic'?

So what are these changes / developments that make the previous statement so 'hyperbolic'?

you really going to double down on the idea that Fender has changed nothing about it's designs or tech in 70 years ?
If you're not aware of the things they have done differently over that period of time, then the real truth here is that you are not aware.

So, if you really are just not aware of the evolution of Fender designs and tech over 70 years, a simple web search will help you with that.

best of luck!

 

[2F/2F]

This is near total B.S.

Fender did not buy G&L. Fender did nothing to the G&L factory and equipment, which was never theirs to do anything with. They bought the few pieces of intellectual property they wanted, and G&L did the rest with their sinking ship. The PLEK machine was sold (the buyer is known, though I forgot who they are). I assume any other modern shop machinery worth anything at all was also sold (e.g. perhaps CNC machines). The warranty projects were forwarded to MIRC, to complete for customers. Any first-quality hardware was sold to MIRC (Mighty Mite). BBE was legally dissolved. The second quality parts ended up in dumpsters, pilfered by a couple of people. Yes; a personal Fender family photo album was trashed too...but that's not even remotely FMIC's doing.

Lots of vitriol flying around at Fender over the closure of G&L. Fender had literally nothing to do with it. They just bought a few things of value from a failing company. Everything else that happened, Dave McLaren is responsible for.

 

[crazycloud]

you really going to double down on the idea that Fender has changed nothing about it's designs or tech in 70 years ?
If you're not aware of the things they have done differently over that period of time, then the real truth here is that you are not aware.

So, if you really are just not aware of the evolution of Fender designs and tech over 70 years, a simple web search will help you with that.

best of luck!

So you can't answer what all these developments and advancements are?
So, nothing them. Got it.

If you were able to explain it, let alone concisely, you would.

 

[macribas]

I don't think msny people know about this:

Leo Fender Gallery - Fullerton Museum Center

Educational space showcasing diverse exhibitions & programs in history, science, art & humanities.

www.fullertonmuseum.com

It's not a replica of the office but it is cool. They were promoting it at NAMM in January.

I recorded a tour at the G&L Factory about a year ago. Little did I know it was probably the last. I should publish it soon.

 

[LanciaY10]

Really ? the G&L leaders did not expect it would end like that ? SWR, Genz Benz should have make them think about it: don't try to sell anything Fender already sells: G&L should knew it was coming when they started to make Jazz Bass and Precision clones. For the amps, they knew Genz Benz and SWR were better, so before releasing new Rumble and Bassman stuff, they bought and killed those 2. Ampeg has been very lucky to be bought by Yamaha.

Jackson, EVH, Presonus, Gretsch, that's totally different: not the same designs, not the same area of expertise (like Presonus with their home studio focused gears and apps).

 

[ra0ulduke]

Having worked in the music industry for many years, I know a thing or two about acquiring struggling companies. The truth is always more complex than it's portrayed. In this case, the only party to blame for G&L's demise is G&L itself.

Of course, it's always easier to spout platitudes critical of capitalism. As someone who deeply regrets the company's demise, I understand that, but it's simply not that straightforward.

 

[bobba66]

Easy come, easy go.

 

[jmlee]

The history of stories on this site about G&L's slap-dash business practices and poor treatment of its customer base is substantial. I've read most of it and needed a neck brace as a result of all the head shaking. It seems to me that, when those practices led to the inevitable collapse of the company, us clutching our pearls and sighing in dismay is a bit pathetic. I have a few US-made G&Ls in my collection and I expect that it's now more likely they'll stay there than be moved. That's about it. Moving on...

 

[sleddogn]

I don't think fender was driving the car that ran the light and t-boned G&L, they ran the light....

 

[wncBass]

I find it funny when someone won't buy a Fender because of stuff like this, but own an iPhone, buy from Amazon, Walmart or any corporate retailer, use anything that uses gasoline….but Fender is the devil! lol

 

[Nedmundo]

To say, "They make the same 70 year old design with the same technology at 2026 prices", while not even really true, is also just an opinion, both a negative and an incorrect one .... there clearly have been changes to Fender designs and tech in 70 years ... so hyperbolically negative.

I completely agree with you, but, to be fair, some models of basses and guitars are largely the same as they were decades ago. They're almost certainly better-built now, but much of the designs, tech, and components are essentially the same, like slab-bodied Telecasters with those primitive three-saddle bridges. And that's exactly what many musicians want, so it's more feature than bug.

But then you have instruments like my 2025 American Ultra II HSS Strat (GC exclusive edition), which looks and (mostly) sounds like a Strat, but is a thoroughly modern guitar with numerous design and technical differences relative to a traditional Strat. These include noiseless pickups, hot bridge humbucker, locking tuners, a compound radius fretboard, quartersawn roasted maple neck, sculpted neck heel, Luminlay side dots, modern bridge, S-1 switch, and an "Ultra Boost" active volume boost (similar to the Alembic "blaster" Jerry Garcia used).

It's an amazing instrument, and the QC is flawless--unlike my previous HSS S-type guitar, which was a . . . wait for it. . . . G&L Legacy. It was excellent, but had a couple of issues, including incorrect wiring from the factory.

I love G&L. I've owned seven of them, and I still have two, which are phenomenal, perfectly-built instruments. I was totally bummed about their demise, but Fender is not responsible for it.

 

[sleddogn]

The hate is bizarre. The complete wrong take on a lot of it is annoying. Typical TB style to have some just wrong and mad because of Fender hate they can't shake....bizarre bizarre dumb

 

[Bassdirty]

Moving an office would be easy.

If they could disassemble Francis Bacon's painting studio and reassemble it in a museum they could have easily moved Leo's office.

If they wanted to.

View attachment 7476018

Yikes. Perfect example of why they shouldn't move an office...



(wha..?.. wait, this was 'BEFORE the move'?)




T$

 

[Doctor Morbius]

This news is almost as distressing as when Gibson bulldozed hundreds of Firebird-X guitars!!

 

[96tbird]

Rabble rabble, hearsay, rabble rabble, misrepresentation of facts and reality, rabble rabble, Russian nesting dolls of PC qualifications, rabble rabble performative outrage, rabble rabble, call t tear down the system that gave you the damn electricity and electric bass and the liberty to play it loud in the first place, gave you everything you covet, rabble rabble,… and on, and on.

 

[brianrost]

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.

Let me know when early 80s G&Ls start selling for $15K.

This news is almost as distressing as when Gibson bulldozed hundreds of Firebird-X guitars!!

You can blame insurance policies and tax laws for that one.

 

[L-u-A-R]

Fender is a prisoner of their own success. It's hard for them to innovate and they have made a few stabs over the years to introduce new and different models, but they are usually short lived. (Most) people expect the classics, so you have to give people what will sell to stay in business.

The Precision and Jazz basses are good designs and are proven sellers. There are so many copies and designs based on them.

Came you to say this.
Trapped by their own market.

Meanwhile, Lakland, Sadowsky, Sandberg, Yamaha and others are trying to make better versions of the classics. But not trapped the way Fender is.

When they do try something new, the people who like new stuff weren't looking, they don't expect it from Fender and were looking elsewhere.

 

[lug]

Thew only thing Fender was guilty of that I know is they absolutely told G&L dealers they wouldn't give them Fender stock if they also stocked G&L. This was decades ago and Fender has been through whole ownership/management changes since those days.