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G&L Club Part 7

My gear guy at Sweetwater answered my email asking if they'd heard anything about all this stuff:

"I'll be honest, I haven't heard of that. We are still selling them and have new guitars on order with them, so I can only guess that things are still ok. I am not involved with the meetings where those discussions take place, so I can only speculate based on what I see. I'll keep my ears to the ground on that, however!"

Take it for what it's worth. I'm still just waiting to see what happens.
 
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Mongrel:
85 reverse sickle head
Mated with a modern LB 100 body
The Prototype MFD split coil.

I have a modern SB1 body and 2020 reverse headstock neck- quartersawn, ebony board, vintage steel frets. Still working on it as the heel is 2.5" and needs to be 2.48. If I sand the pocket I'll no doubt mess up the metalflake. Mock up here with my '92 SB1fl parts.

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Sad news, hopefully something good comes out in the end. Their basses are insanely good.
Such solid feeling and actual history behind.


I'll add something positive in the thread meanwhile. Just last week I got myself L2500, and while testing strings I just loved neck PU with TI Flats, however I wanted to leave rounds on L2500 due to insane versatility.

So I got myself L1000 series 750, new old stock from 2022. That fretboard is thirsty AF.

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Grain and color popped nicely after some oil. And TI Flats ofc.

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Will probably gently sand the neck finish to satin. Gloss is not sticky, but I like satin more.
Cat tested, cat approved!
 
New joiner here, went in to the city once to do some general shopping and didn't want to pay for parking so parked at my local guitar shop as it's free and to take a browse and then head into town. An hour later I've walked out with a G&L 2000. As soon as I tried it I had to buy it. Plays so nicely. Right up there with my Sandberg.

The only thing I never liked about it was the open E tone but I have got an amp with some quality recently and can now sort that out with some EQ. Anyway, pics attached of the beauty.

Just seen the news about the company as well. Sad times.

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Perhaps the Tsunami cable guys need another stand up guy.

Suggest to Steve that he contact Mesa.
Hi Ray, hope your well man…
The Tsunami thing and Steve…(that won't happpen).

He will be ok though…
 
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The following phrase appears many times on the G&L website:

The personal name, likeness and signature of Mr. Clarence Leo Fender are property of CLF Research Trademarks L.L.C.

I wonder how much Fender are offering Dave for them.
Given that Fender has done okay since 1965 even without the ability to use the personal name, likeness, and signature of CLF, I'm guessing that holds no value whatsoever to them. But it makes sense for FMIC to acquire the brand just to make sure no one else does. Maybe they will start making new G&L instruments in China like they do for Gretsch with their Electromatics, and the current Fender "Standard" series that aren't even as good as their cheaper Squier equivalents (Fender ceramic vs Squier alnico pickups, for example). In the short term, and FMIC acquisition would at least mean that the current employees will get paid for hours they have already put in. A sale in bankruptcy court would likely end all hope of that, though they can at least go on unemployment insurance.

Some else mentioned Yamaha in this thread a few days back. Yamaha is the world's largest instrument maker. I doubt they even know G&L exists. They did not become the biggest seller of instruments by buying up other brands. They don't do that, and seem content with their place in the guitar world as they've done literally nothing in the past 20 years that excites anyone.
 
What about G&L designs with Fender on the headstock and "Legacy"-focused marketing? …just spitballing here. Im not actually sure what I think about it.

I'd have to guess the Fullerton plant would likely become pictures on the museum wall - maybe even a full display.

Keeping the human resource employed to the extent they're interested would be a good business move, I'd think, without knowing the economics of their custom shop.
 
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If I were Fender, where would I build my G&Ls? Surely space in my existing USA factory can be found for the one Custom Shop guy and a few BTO guys.

And I'd move the bulk of the production, those instruments sold in Sweetwater etc, to Mexico or Indonesia.