• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

G&L Legacy bass w/ "Prototype" neck

SubNoizeRat3691

SubNoizeRat3691

Lovin' the lows
Feb 1, 2010
793
517
Davenport, IA
#1
GoodDay all, I just purchased a G&L Legacy bass on the Bay and I'm curious about a couple things. I thought maybe there were a few G&L experts that could lend me their knowledge.

The bass is in quite good condition. From what I can tell it's one of the original Legacy basses (before they had to change the name). The date stamp on the neck is Nov. 19 1992, which from what I can tell is quite early for these, but the part I'm curious about is the "prototype" mark. Has anyone ever seen this before???

Date stamp.jpg


Another thing is the Decal placement on the headstock. A friend of mine has the same bass, and the decal is located differently. While mine is located with the Y in Legacy over the point, his is located so the AS in Bass is centered over the point. His also has Legacy and Bass in the same size and font.
Headstock.jpg


I'm interested to know about difference in the Decal. From what I've researched, the "Legacy" bass had a very short run before becoming the LB-100, that seems like a pretty big variation over such a short period of time.

Either way, I'm stoked to have scored this one, and I can't wait for it to get here!!! I tried to buy my friend's, but I don't think he will ever let it go..

Thanks for any help you can give me, I really appreciate the vast amounts of knowledge on this forum!
Body 2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glazenn, metron and grrg63
#4
I think he means ruse on the part of the seller, to pass it off as a prototype to get the sale.

I don't think it was uncommon for G&L to create decals on new models by combining existing ones... In this case, a Legacy guitar decal with the "Bass" just snipped off a L-2000. And the dates on the neck are the right timeframe. Plus there's enough "G&L" about it that I wouldn't question it. Body shape, neck heel, pickguard... All unique enough to G&L that it looks legit to me. Play it and enjoy it.
 
#7
Cool bass. You don't see many Legacy basses. Period.

You may never know for sure, but the obvious guess would be that it's a prototype, just like it says. The cobbled together decal really points to that, as well. Great cool factor.

That said, over the years there have been all sorts of perplexing markings inside G&L basses. Everything from mysterious names and initials, to fancy artworks and drawings.

Anyway, looking at the pic.....presumably the large letters "LEG...." spell out Legacy?
 
#10
I have searched through the G&L Registry and it seems that the bass in the OP is registered in the database with serial number B022920, entered by 'Ricemaxx' (once a owner, one can see he has 20 G&L instruments registered!).

This is its description (the two dates are for the neck and for the body, and it's #21 out of 23 Legacy bass instruments registered):

21. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Legacy Bass NOV 19, 1992 NOV 6, 1992 Three-tone Sunburst Rosewood Swamp Ash Saddle-Lock The neck has prototype written on the heel. Fretboard is unusually light colored and rosewood, I presume. white pg. Invalid Link Removed

B022920 is the lowest serial number for the 23 registered instruments (next is B023320).

See the model description too at: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria 1993 G&L Legacy Bass.
So, the OP bass above might well be the first Legacy Bass ever assembled or produced (Nov 1992).
It might even be the one that was reviewed for decision making by G&L management before entering the production line (just an assumption! so luckily, a piece of G&L history...).

Last, note the very same model logo on the picture of the ad in Japanese below.
And the Fender-ish shape of the headstock under the G of the G&L logo.
G&Leg9301.jpg
 
Last edited:
#13
SubNoizeRat3691 said:
Wow, that's really neat! Thanks for that!
Click to expand...

The ebay seller of this Legacy Bass jackielowery also has a Legacy Special guitar, blonde, lefthanded, maple, blade PUs, for sale on ebay (G L USA Legacy Special Lefty Strat Type American Leo Fender Left Handed OHSC | eBay
and the pictures match well the description of the Legacy Special lefthanded guitar in Invalid Link Removed's collection s/n CLF34633 at Invalid Link Removed

I wonder if we have the same individual here under 2 different user's name... but the $350 story does not fit well in this case.

When you receive the bass, tell us if you've got the B022920...(s/n is on the neck plate). A nice bass, this one, a P with the best vintage tone. Later and now known as the LB-100 (it was reissued some 3 or 4 years ago after a one decade gap).

On this particular bass, from the pictures, I believe the body looks more like alder than ash. But I can be wrong.
 
Last edited:
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
#17
So, it seems as though there was a lot of variation concerning the decals. I thought that would have been a pretty consistent thing?

I remember quite a number of "is this a real fender?" threads, where the small imperfections on the location/style were the giveaway. Were G&L just sloppy in this regard?
 
#19
TDR1138 said:
I think he means ruse on the part of the seller, to pass it off as a prototype to get the sale.

I don't think it was uncommon for G&L to create decals on new models by combining existing ones... In this case, a Legacy guitar decal with the "Bass" just snipped off a L-2000. And the dates on the neck are the right timeframe. Plus there's enough "G&L" about it that I wouldn't question it. Body shape, neck heel, pickguard... All unique enough to G&L that it looks legit to me. Play it and enjoy it.
Click to expand...

SubNoizeRat3691 said:
So, it seems as though there was a lot of variation concerning the decals. I thought that would have been a pretty consistent thing?

I remember quite a number of "is this a real fender?" threads, where the small imperfections on the location/style were the giveaway. Were G&L just sloppy in this regard?
Click to expand...

Interesting info from G&L original vintage ad (year 2000):

$_57.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TDR1138

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back