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G&L Club Part 7

#32,981
Does anyone even know what's causing the problem and the disruption?

That workers have not been paid is not a very good sign at all since that and any taxes or tariffs will have to be dealt with as a priority measure. Most businesses have a credit line they can access to meet obligations like that. If they plan to reopen on 9/29 what's happening that allows them to do that?

As usual G&L operates like a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
 
#32,982
Nedmundo said:
I had this thought too. Fender could get the rights to the name and MFD pickups, and continue some MFD classics like the L-2000 and Comanche guitar, which are clearly different from anything Fender makes. Unfortunately, I suspect many (probably most) models would disappear, and there's no way the build-to-order line would continue, though maybe the Custom Shop would.

And I'm excited to learn more about your company, and very intrigued by the five-string concepts. (Especially if those include a JB-5 MFD!!!)
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I would not in any way be in favor of Fender buying up G&L. But before even suggesting any fixes or alternatives the reasons behind this closure need to be known and that is info we don't have now.
 
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#32,986
(1) One thing that mustn't be forgotten when considering the viability of the G&L brand: the reliance of the range on the versions of old Fender models only released after St Leo's death.

A useful snapshot is the G&L archive page on the previous Rocket Music site:

JB / JB-2 / JB5 / MJ — 49
LB-100 — 62 [total 111]

SB-x — 30
L-100x — 31
L-2x00 — 31
M-2x00 — 4
Kiloton — 9 [total 105]

The only reason Fender would have for buying the LB-100 name would be to kill it.

(2) Something also worth remembering is what James Gay said when he joined G&L:

"It was so chaotic .... Things here have been in disarray and chaos for a couple years .... The first month was just cleaning and organizing because it was just too chaotic to function .... I was brought in to be the Custom Shop Manager, but I'm currently supervising the overall production. I'm helping with quality control throughout the entire facility."

Being sold to a management capable of running a factory is something the G&L heritage would benefit from.

(3) given the laughably inconsistent QC of recent years, mass redundancy followed by careful re-hiring wouldn't be a bad thing for improving margins. It's astonishing how much they spend shipping instruments backwards and forwards across the country getting specs right / replacing necks etc.
 
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#32,987
/\/\3phist0 said:
All G&L lovers.
Take heart!

They could file for chapter 11 and continue.

It's possible that EB could buy the rights to the brand, and continue the brand as is without too much disruption, and keep their own birthplace alive!
Without The Fullerton plant, there would never have been a Stingray that so many love.

73nder could easily prop up the brand, they did well with the adoption of the Charvel, Jackson brand.
They COULD keep their own father's plant alive. To NOT do so would be incredibly insensitive and short sighted. The backlash for allowing the plant to be turned into another auto repair location, or a cabinet shop would be such bad Karma!!!
FFS it is in FENDER FREAKING AVE!!!

That said: not retaining the 2nd an 3rd birthplace of electric guitar design in memorial for future generations would be criminal.





On another front:
I had these thoughts prior to this news, and will continue forward.

In the next year I will be launching my own guitar company, after a pending relocation.
IF , and I pray not! G&L does shutter, there is a possibility that I will pay tribute to Leo's and George's legacy.

A pickup builder I'm working with can emulate the MFD design and we are working on prototypes at this very moment. A set of prototypes is complete and going to tour with Prong.

I initially plan on focusing on the past no longer offered models, and bring up 5 string versions of models that were never issued in that configuration.
35" and multiscale could also be possible.

Of course I'll infuse every build with the Experience I gleaned during the time on the line at G&L, and will do honor to Leo's legacy, without doing harm to the vision.

I'll be a player for getting as much of the raw material and components from the factory if it comes to a bitter end, as I can, rather than just let it flood an auction site.
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There is talk of selling the organization
 
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#32,990
Hawk620 said:
Personally I'd prefer they survive. I'd also like to see better management than Dave McClaren. But wishing won't make any of that come true.
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I really like Dave a lot, but He has distinctly made some mistakes and Steve has been gone about a month now. (Not the first He has left either).

There is substantial debt involved.
I'm in no way slamming the company. I have friends there, I'm an artist there and they have treated me well.
With that being said, my best friend is owed money and this old school Italian kid has an alliance to him.

For all of you who has written me privately on this. The above is my statement which is more that what is needed.
IMG_3264.jpeg
 
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#32,992
I really hope those employees that are owed money get paid, and I hope that the brand can continue.

I've never met DM personally, but I always got the impression that he liked the idea of owning a guitar company so he could make cool stuff more than he liked the idea of running a business.
 
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#32,994
Ricky Rioli said:
(1) One thing that mustn't be forgotten when considering the viability of the G&L brand: the reliance of the range on the versions of old Fender models only released after St Leo's death.

A useful snapshot is the G&L archive page on the previous Rocket Music site:

JB / JB-2 / JB5 / MJ — 49
LB-100 — 62 [total 111]

SB-x — 30
L-100x — 31
L-2x00 — 31
M-2x00 — 4
Kiloton — 9 [total 105]

The only reason Fender would have for buying the LB-100 name would be to kill it.

(2) Something also worth remembering is what James Gay said when he joined G&L:

"It was so chaotic .... Things here have been in disarray and chaos for a couple years .... The first month was just cleaning and organizing because it was just too chaotic to function .... I was brought in to be the Custom Shop Manager, but I'm currently supervising the overall production. I'm helping with quality control throughout the entire facility."

Being sold to a management capable of running a factory is something the G&L heritage would benefit from.

(3) given the laughably inconsistent QC of recent years, mass redundancy followed by careful re-hiring wouldn't be a bad thing for improving margins. It's astonishing how much they spend shipping instruments backwards and forwards across the country getting specs right / replacing necks etc.
Click to expand...
I'll can only repeat what I have for years......get rid of Dave McClaren and bring in someone who knows how to run the company. Davie's only talent seems to be doing videos of himself. He's useless. There, I said it.
 
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#32,995
TonyP- said:
I really like Dave a lot, but He has distinctly made some mistakes and Steve has been gone about a month now. (Not the first He has left either).

There is substantial debt involved.
I'm in no way slamming the company. I have friends there, I'm an artist there and they have treated me well.
With that being said, my best friend is owed money and this old school Italian kid has an alliance to him.

For all of you who has written me privately on this. The above is my statement which is more that what is needed. View attachment 7326507
Click to expand...
Sorry Tony but being likeable does not make him a proper leader or manager and for too many years that has become very obvious. IMHO 99% of what's been wrong with G&L is Dave McClaren's management.
 
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#32,997
MrB64 said:
I always liked Steve a lot, for his demos and the Leo's Lounge stuff. I hope he lands, or already has landed on his feet. I always had good contact with Memo, too. He was very helpful to me. I too hope that they can keep going somehow.
Click to expand...
Steve is back, full throttle, with his Bass Hang YouTube channel and his show Beyond 11 on Fugu.


FUGU: You Are the Show

Participatory Shows, Courses, and Events where you control the experience.
fugu.com fugu.com
 
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#32,998
Hawk620 said:
Sorry Tony but being likeable does not make him a proper leader or manager and for too many years that has become very obvious. IMHO 99% of what's been wrong with G&L is Dave McClaren's management.
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I can't argue that at all Hawk…You are right.
 
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#32,999
Ricky Rioli said:
It's astonishing how much they spend shipping instruments backwards and forwards across the country getting specs right / replacing necks etc.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Fix the weld on the dual action truss rod as well. The number of instances of them breaking is also astonishing. Or go back to single action. And fix the sku system so orders are right every single time. Then use the savings on wasted time, shipping, and materials to pay people.

I like their instruments but buying a new one is a journey Im not willing to take.
 
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#33,000
metron said:
Yeah. Fix the weld on the dual action truss rod as well. The number of instances of them breaking is also astonishing. Or go back to single action. And fix the sku system so orders are right every single time. Then use the savings on wasted time, shipping, and materials to pay people.

I like their instruments but buying a new one is a journey Im not willing to take.
Click to expand...
Funny, I think the new ones are better neck wise.
 
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