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G&L Club Part 7

#13,021
G&L headstock logos

Hey G&L peeps!
I have never owned a G&L yet, and am interested in getting a used L2500, probably US. I have seen different logos on headstocks for the ones I have seen for sale. Some of them that I have seen add a phrase; I think it was "Guitars by Leo," or something like that. Is that legit?

Also, different topic: What is the "CLF Research" that I see mentioned in a lot of posts that concern G&L?

Thanks!
 
#13,022
Guitars by Leo is on real ones. I forget which years. Mine has it.

795F8376-4B9B-45E4-807E-D7B32DEDE495.png


CLF Research is G&L. They are reissuing old style modes and some unreleased models that were G&L designs under that name.
 
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#13,024
Templar said:
I don't think the different hardware finishes were ever 'options'. It's kinda confusing, but as best as I can understand it....

1980-81 = all chrome
late 81, early 82 = sometimes mixed chrome and flat black
the rest of 1982 = all flat black
1983 onward = all crinkle black **

** Never seen mixed crinkle and anything else together, but doesn't mean there aren't any out there. Also no clue how many years crinkle black continued, and on which models, before eventually returning to all chrome. That may be a question for GG Jaguar, or maybe bdgotoh. Cheers.
Click to expand...

FWIW both my late 92 SB1's have all wrinkle black (including pickguards) and my mid 93 SB2 has chrome.
 
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#13,025
bassdood said:
G&L headstock logos

Hey G&L peeps!
I have never owned a G&L yet, and am interested in getting a used L2500, probably US. I have seen different logos on headstocks for the ones I have seen for sale. Some of them that I have seen add a phrase; I think it was "Guitars by Leo," or something like that. Is that legit?

Also, different topic: What is the "CLF Research" that I see mentioned in a lot of posts that concern G&L?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

This is directly from the G&L website....

"Born from his CLF Research company founded in 1966, Clarence Leo Fender began the final chapter of his legendary career when he launched the G&L brand and instruments in 1980. "
 
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#13,026
bassdood said:
Also, different topic: What is the "CLF Research" that I see mentioned in a lot of posts that concern G&L?
Click to expand...

CLF Research = Clarence Leo Fender Research. It's a company Fender started after working with Ernie Ball.

Nowadays G&L is using this brand for their Fender Original equivalent (aka the vintage line).

Notice that they're not really replica of the instrument of the eighties but they look like them.

Personally I find the naming convention confusing.

Here is what you can find in the website about it:
"In the late 1970s, Clarence Leo Fender† was looking forward to launching his new G&L brand featuring his latest innovations including Magnetic Field Design pickups and the Saddle Lock bridge. Leo developed these technologies at his CLF™ Research company, and production of the new G&L instruments took place in the CLF Research factory on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California, where G&L production continues today. "
 
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#13,027
bassdood said:
Thanks, @ahadl2500 !

It appears that various woods have been used, resulting in some G&Ls being heavy, some light, and some pretty average weight for a bass. Any idea which woods for L2500s are lighter? Are the MIAs lighter than the Tributes?
Click to expand...

G&L used to separate their American and Indonesian line mainly on customization option. On the American you could change the neck size and shape, the wood, a pletora of color... For the tribute you can choose among two or three color and that's it. So, you might find a heavier American than a Tribute. Notice that Tributes are generally in Basswood which is reasonably light.

G&L used to make on request Americans in Empress which are superlight but hard to find.

Last year things have changed and G&L is reorganizing its offering. Quoting myself:

Luigir said:
I like the fact that G&L is standardizing his production. At the moment, in fact, it is quite a jungle.

I'm not sure if I've got it correctly but to me it looks like the Fender lineup and it makes a lot of sense.

CLF research -> American Original
Fullerton Standard -> American Professional
Fullerton Deluxe -> American Elite
Tribute -> Player
Option Order -> Mod Shop
Click to expand...

Notice that at the moment the G&L L2000 can be found in the CLF, Option Order and Tribute Series only.
 
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#13,028
Luigir said:
CLF Research = Clarence Leo Fender Research. It's a company Fender started after working with Ernie Ball.

Nowadays G&L is using this brand for their Fender Original equivalent (aka the vintage line).

Notice that they're not really replica of the instrument of the eighties but they look like them.

Personally I find the naming convention confusing.

Here is what you can find in the website about it:
"In the late 1970s, Clarence Leo Fender† was looking forward to launching his new G&L brand featuring his latest innovations including Magnetic Field Design pickups and the Saddle Lock bridge. Leo developed these technologies at his CLF™ Research company, and production of the new G&L instruments took place in the CLF Research factory on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California, where G&L production continues today. "
Click to expand...
I believe that Leo started CLF Research with George Fullerton after selling Fender to CBS and was the business entity that worked in concert with Music Man until that fell apart and they (George & Leo) founded G&L. When George Fullerton left the company it became known as "Guitars by Leo". The current CLF Research models are aesthetic throwbacks to the early '80s models with the pre lawsuit headstocks and front loaded electronics with cover plates. These instruments have nothing to do with "Fender" era instruments.
 
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#13,030
oldskoolskatedad said:
I believe that Leo started CLF Research with George Fullerton after selling Fender to CBS and was the business entity that worked in concert with Music Man until that fell apart and they (George & Leo) founded G&L. When George Fullerton left the company it became known as "Guitars by Leo".
Click to expand...
Interesting! Thank you.
I have noticed that some G&L L2500 headstocks have "Guitars by Leo" as part of their logo. Are those from a certain range of years? If so, are those years considered to be better years (or worse?) for quality, etc?

oldskoolskatedad said:
The current CLF Research models are aesthetic throwbacks to the early '80s models with the pre lawsuit headstocks and front loaded electronics with cover plates. These instruments have nothing to do with "Fender" era instruments.
Click to expand...
Do the CLF Research models actually have some sort of CLF logo on them, or do they show a G&L logo?
 
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#13,034
Luigir said:
G&L used to separate their American and Indonesian line mainly on customization option. On the American you could change the neck size and shape, the wood, a pletora of color... For the tribute you can choose among two or three color and that's it. So, you might find a heavier American than a Tribute. Notice that Tributes are generally in Basswood which is reasonably light.
Click to expand...
Great info. Thanks!
I have noticed that it is somewhat hard to find many used MIA models for sale. Do you think that the Tributes are basically of the same quality as MIA, and the customization and colors are the main differences?
 
#13,035
bassdood said:
Interesting! Thank you.
I have noticed that some G&L L2500 headstocks have "Guitars by Leo" as part of their logo. Are those from a certain range of years? If so, are those years considered to be better years (or worse?) for quality, etc?


Do the CLF Research models actually have some sort of CLF logo on them, or do they show a G&L logo?
Click to expand...
There are others here who would have more insight into year to year comparisons but I don't believe I've ever heard of G&L having good vs not so good eras of production. The individual models have evolved somewhat but I think most have been as they are now for quite some time as far as design goes. Options such as finish colors or materials seem to change over the years. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken.

The CLF Research basses have a G&L logo on the headstock but are very identifiable.

CLF Research L-2000
 
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#13,036
bassdood said:
Great info. Thanks!
I have noticed that it is somewhat hard to find many used MIA models for sale. Do you think that the Tributes are basically of the same quality as MIA, and the customization and colors are the main differences?
Click to expand...

Several things.
1. Way more Tributes made and sold than MIA (budget options tend to do that)
2. Basically the same quality is a bit of an overstatement IMO. It is immediately obvious when you have a tribute next to an MIA (more on this below).
3. How are you filtering your search? If you are strictly searching a certain price range, you will automatically eliminate at least part of the MIA models that might pop up.

To build out the quality statement a little more. I had a friend with one of the early Tribute L2500's that was frequently available next to my MIA L2500. Tribute pot/knob/switch quality was significantly lower. Wood quality on the Tribute was lesser (swamp ash was obviously two pieces glued together on his... I have seen some that were obviously three). Inlays were not done as well (not flush with neck/off center). I believe the neck build quality is slightly lower on the imports (all MIAs were quartersawn at one point in time), though I never found the Tribute neck to be unstable.

With that said, if you want the L2500 sound at a much lower price, the two sounded nearly identical when ran through the same amplifier. Noting that my comparison is based on the first Tributes coming out. They have changed/updated the Tribute line and even the US line in that time.
 
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#13,037
Mammoth_Bass said:
Here is my new SB-1! Blocks are vinyl decals that aren't my best work.. will reposition next string change. Another great experience with Rocket MusicView attachment 3326884
Click to expand...
Sweet! Love that color and the matching headstock is a nice touch. I don't think the blocks look that bad unless OCD compels you to check each one individually.

EDIT: That ASAT's pretty nice, too. And another SB-1 on the left?
 
#13,038
dave64o said:
Sweet! Love that color and the matching headstock is a nice touch. I don't think the blocks look that bad unless OCD compels you to check each one individually.

EDIT: That ASAT's pretty nice, too. And another SB-1 on the left?
Click to expand...
That's an LB on the left with MFD pups! It's what led me to get an SB1
 
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