Goodbye G&L

[mouthmw]

Fender did not buy the G&L or BBE companies, or as far as we know, any of their product-related patents or trademarks. BBE/G&L were legally dissolved, not sold. That means the McLarens still hold the intellectual property that they did not spin off into CLF Trademarks, L.L.C. – the company that Fender DID acquire. G&L placed the Leo Fender name and likeness into that company, which they established last summer. This allowed them to sell only the intellectual property that Fender wanted.

It's pretty good evidence that Fender had no interest in acquiring G&L product-related patents or trademarks – only Leo's name and likeness. I'm sure the McLarens WANTED Fender to buy the entire company, but Fender had close to zero interest. Thus the move to place only the stuff Fender wanted under the ownership of a separate company.

The IP still held by the McLarens will expire if not renewed or sold. It becomes public domain after a certain number of years from the last renewal. At that point, anyone can produce copies of the old G&L products.

This. A lot of people are still saying that "Fender bought G&L IP" and there's absolutely zero evidence of that. All of the evidence points to them buying the Leo Fender name and likeness only. Someone also posted links that show that patents for MFD pickups have expired years ago and I haven't seen anyone trying to clone one after the fact.

 

[80jazz]

This. A lot of people are still saying that "Fender bought G&L IP" and there's absolutely zero evidence of that. All of the evidence points to them buying the Leo Fender name and likeness only. Someone also posted links that show that patents for MFD pickups have expired years ago and I haven't seen anyone trying to clone one after the fact.

Here's to hoping Lollar does bass pickups.

 

[Packard Goose]

Here's to hoping Lollar does bass pickups.

They already do lots of killer bass pickups, including the only true horseshoe Rickenbacker bridge replacement out there. They also do one of the best P-Bass pickups and one of the best Thunderbird pickups available.

I actually just had Kevin (the main pickup master other than Jason himself over at Lollar) do a rewind of a G&L SB-2 pickup for me. They normally only do repair on pre 1980 stuff, but Kevin is an awesome dude and helped me out for a build!

 

[T McClure]

This. A lot of people are still saying that "Fender bought G&L IP" and there's absolutely zero evidence of that. All of the evidence points to them buying the Leo Fender name and likeness only. Someone also posted links that show that patents for MFD pickups have expired years ago and I haven't seen anyone trying to clone one after the fact.

Probably tells you there's very limited demand. Pickup makers are doing knockoff P, J, MM, Mustang, Thunderbird, Rick, etc. They'd make MFDs if enough people wanted them.

 

[Packard Goose]

Probably tells you there's very limited demand. Pickup makers are doing knockoff P, J, MM, Mustang, Thunderbird, Rick, etc. They'd make MFDs if enough people wanted them.

Indeed. Though now that there’s no longer a G&L factory option what demand there is would probably be enough for one builder to justify making at least a few of the popular types… but maybe not.

 

[80jazz]

They already do lots of killer bass pickups, including the only true horseshoe Rickenbacker bridge replacement out there. They also do one of the best P-Bass pickups and one of the best Thunderbird pickups available.

I actually just had Kevin (the main pickup master other than Jason himself over at Lollar) do a rewind of a G&L SB-2 pickup for me. They normally only do repair on pre 1980 stuff, but Kevin is an awesome dude and helped me out for a build!

It appears that Lollar may have rolled out some type of nod to the MFD guitar pickups, hence the wish for the bass pickups.

 

[spideyjg]

It appears that Lollar may have rolled out some type of nod to the MFD guitar pickups, hence the wish for the bass pickups.

What is that?

 

[2F/2F]

It appears that Lollar may have rolled out some type of nod to the MFD guitar pickups, hence the wish for the bass pickups.

They simply repaired their first one, so they decided to put out some Internet marketing letting people know that they can work on them.

It's really a "nothing burger," as the kids say. Any competent guitar repair shop can fix G&L pickups.

The only thing that would set a shop apart would be if they reproduced the proprietary G&L pickup components, such as the plastic covers.