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G&L
- Thread starter Pbasslovernyc
- Start date
I know two guys that worked at Fender pre CBS, one of whom apprenticed under Leo and in the 90's while he was at Fender Custom, I helped him set up the custom shop's first CNC.
In the 2000's he took early retirement and helped G&L set up their first Haas.
While I was working with Fender in the 90's, they gave me a 5 string jazz and a 5 string precision. Neither of them were as good as an L-2500.
I now have 12 USA L-2500's from different years and all great quality. I never bought them as an investment.
Fender is like an early Mustang 289. G&L is like a Shelby Mustang 350.
But yes, only time will tell.
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I just bought a 2024 rw neck tobacco burst okoume L2k on sweetwater gear exchange and the very next day I won a Yamaha trbx504 on Instagram.
Not sure what I'm going to do now, because I already have a 2016 Fullerton Deluxe JB and a 1994 LB100. I guess after they're all setup and ready to go I'm going to donate one or some of the basses to Altadena Musicians, because they need bass donations for fire victims who lost instruments in the fire. I've gotta keep the LB100 and JB2 for sure, because the LB100 has a custom one of a kind neck and the JB bass is the only Jazz style bass I've ever bonded with after having Fender, Squire, and Bacchus ones. Anyway, I simply had to get another L2K when they closed down, because it will remind me of all the fun I had shooting events and editing photos for the G&L guys over the years as a freelancer.
Not sure what I'm going to do now, because I already have a 2016 Fullerton Deluxe JB and a 1994 LB100. I guess after they're all setup and ready to go I'm going to donate one or some of the basses to Altadena Musicians, because they need bass donations for fire victims who lost instruments in the fire. I've gotta keep the LB100 and JB2 for sure, because the LB100 has a custom one of a kind neck and the JB bass is the only Jazz style bass I've ever bonded with after having Fender, Squire, and Bacchus ones. Anyway, I simply had to get another L2K when they closed down, because it will remind me of all the fun I had shooting events and editing photos for the G&L guys over the years as a freelancer.
If any of Leo's G&L designs ever become "legacy models" that command vintage pricing I can only assume that won't happen for many years as supplies decrease over time just as they have with early Fender models.
Some Tribute models may gain slightly in value based on both less supply and desired finishes but I would not be buying one as an investment vs just wanting to own one to play due to it's features. But then a buyer would have to appreciate those over a similar Fender model. Many do but many more don't.
Some Tribute models may gain slightly in value based on both less supply and desired finishes but I would not be buying one as an investment vs just wanting to own one to play due to it's features. But then a buyer would have to appreciate those over a similar Fender model. Many do but many more don't.
I can't say for sure but to me, thinking a Tribute will rise in value is like saying a MIM Fender is a good investment. ...... probably not.
Read my post. You're misinterpreting it badly. I never said any G&L purchased now would be a good "investment". All I said was that some Tribute models may rise slightly in value based on their availability and or desirable finishes of some models. By slightly I mean by 10% or 20% not multiples of it's selling price.
And most any MIM Fender Strat or Tele bought 25 years ago for around $300 MSRP is selling for far more than $300 now. There are also those built within the last 10-15 years that have sold used for more than they sold for new. I've actually owned and sold a couple of them. So it's a possibility. That's all I was saying.
Sorry, I get what you're saying. I was just trying to make the point that yes, the Tributes will probably go up like the MIMs but that doesn't really make it a good investment.
But maybe a USA BTO.....
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I love my L2000 and doubt i would ever sell it. This news would put my chances of buying a second one on hold if the prices get crazy tho.
We'll see what happens
We'll see what happens
I had a G&L 2000, and later the 2,500 bass. After many years I realized the bass was a little heavy, the tighter spacing was not my favorite and it did not get a true P or jazz sound. I ended up selling it to a well know bass player who normally plays Fodera basses.
I settled on Sadowsky and am happy with my choice.
I settled on Sadowsky and am happy with my choice.
Yes and it will probably fail. G&L has never commanded decent prices even on the rarest and oldest ones. Prices on new instruments already went up to a level thats unsustainable during covid. It was part of their demise.
However humans never cease to amaze. I would not be surprised if G&L suddenly finds the popularity they have sought for 45 years now that they are no longer readily available. Like beanie babies.
They didn't sell well enough to keep the brand alive. So, doubtful.
Restating your point. Some of it is a time issue. My US L2500 was $1050 brand new. I got a decent deal on it back in June of 2002 (shipping from Carlsbad to Indianapolis only cost me $35 back then too). Confident I could get at least that used.
The other drivers are going to be scarcity and desirability. The G&L L5000 has always been somewhat rare for G&L (roughly 400 produced). However, it is not super desirable because string spacing is tight. I have seen prices on mint examples of these climb from the $800-$1000 range to the $1200-$1400 range in the last 10 to 15 years. I love mine and would like to see these catch on with players, but I do not expect it to happen.
I think it will be interesting to see what prices do on some of the more recent rare builds. Basses like the Matador, Matador 5, and CS Fallout Bass with 2 MFDs. Historically the exceptionally rare G&Ls bring a decent amount due to rarity. There are enough G&L fans to drive the price up on an instrument they only made a handful of (handful meaning something like 25 or fewer). The ASAT B5 has always been a good example here. They sell quick and the recent ones have sold for over $3000*.
*$3000 is good for G&L, but still not close to vintage Fender territory, particularly on a Fender that is as rare as the ASAT B5.
I am getting really tired of seeing this overly reduced version of how they failed.
Sales volume is only part of a company. Their sales and brand recognition in the last 10 years were significantly higher than in their first 35. With the stories (from reliable sources) circulating about missed payments to suppliers and employees, they had a management issue. My guess is that they tried to grow capacity to meet the demand they were seeing (typically financed with debt). When that demand started to dry up in an environment where they were also facing increasing costs, they found themselves with too much debt to continue.
I don’t know any artist that’s been playing a G&L and had a huge popularity so will it limit the selling price of a "vintage and rare" instrument ?
Not having major artists limits brand awareness and desirability, so yes.
In G&Ls case, they have had a few artists over the years, but not done a great job with marketing in general. I like to think of G&L as the opposite of Lakland in terms of artist management. I feel like a big win for Lakland was how quickly they built brand recognition through artist engagement.
"attempting"?
quite possibly.
The real question is; will people pay a lot more for them?
Unlikely.
Like everything else, a seller cans ask whatever they want, but buyer sets the selling price. ECON 101. And along that score, prices float to supply and demand. A limited the supply + a high demand, prices will rise. A glut + low demand usually result in lower prices.
I think there are enough G&L basses (as well competing brands and models) in the marketplace to suggest that selling prices will float to the norm long term. In the short term sellers may try to use the perception of scarcity to raise their asking price. The buyer will have to decide if a potential alpha to own a G&L is worth it.
