Founded in California in the early 1980's by the two "Fender Men of the First Hour": George Fullerton and of course Leo Fender himself. Either "George & Leo" (G&L), although you will also find "Guitars by Leo" as an explanation for the logo. In that early period, G & L's did not catch my attention. After all, I was interested in "old" guitars. And what did that ugly point at the bottom of the head of the neck do? If you wait long enough, it automatically becomes "vintage" guitars. She happened to get a Skyhawk (1990) in my hands years later. The copy played very pleasant and the unreinforced sound also promised a lot. As an experiment I took it to the rehearsal room, where the sound, playability and possibilities of this hawk left my Fenders behind. Until then, I usually went out with Stratocasters (73er, 78er or a Strat plus from 1989). The Skyhawk took their place and have been going along ever since.
My interest in G&L was piqued. As is customary, each subsequent item purchased was carefully inspected and fine-tuned. The quality of the material and the construction of each instrument was always very good. I particularly find the period up to about 1991, when Leo Fender was alive, the most interesting. The instruments from the first period are recognizable by the 3-point neck attachment. Recommended for more info is: http://www.ggjaguar.com/gnl.htm and for the signature models: http://yowhatsshakin.com/yowhatsshakin/The_Family.html.
G&L SC-3 - 1987
A version from the second SC-3 series (1984 -1987), which was the successor to the first generation (1982 - 1983), which still used a Mustang-like body. Three single-coil pickups like a Stratocaster. By default, the SC-3 did not yet have a pickguard and the wood is painted in the same color almost everywhere (so in my copy everything is red, including the head and the back of the neck). This SC-3 has a factory optional Wilkinson roller nut. On the head under the G&L logo is written in black letters "by Leo Fender".
Body: JUL 10 1987, Neck: JUL 16 1987, Pots week 10 from 1986.
G&L ASAT - 1989
ASAT "Leo Fender" Signature in Cherry sunburst. The ASAT Signature was the first model in the lineup which could be ordered with a Leo Fender signature decal located on the upper bass bout.
This version was only produced from the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
This "As Same As Tele" is in excellent condition.
Body: Mar 26 1989, Neck: Apr 12 1989. The Pots refer to week 31 in 1988.
G&L Skyhawk - 1990
"Leo Fender" Signature version, as can also be read with white letters on the body.
The tone controls controls are for Master Treble and Master Bass respectively (more practical than the Stratocaster knobs that actually only let you cut the treble).
Default equipped with locking tuners.
The layout of the elements and also the settings are further comparable to that of a Stratocaster.
Cherry sunburst. Body: Mar 26 1989, Neck: Apr 12 1989. Pots from week 31 in 1988.
"Leo Fender" Signature versie, zoals ook te lezen is met witte letters op de body.
G&L SC- 3 -1991
An example of a third generation SC-3 (1988 - 1991). The first two generations had to do without a pickguard. After that came a fourth generation where the connection for the plug, like a Stratocaster, was placed separately in the body.
Body: DEC 18 1990, Neck: JAN 30 1991, Sticker near the springs at the back of the body states: 12-20-1990. From the last year before the death of Leo Fender.
G&L Legacy Special - 1994
Three humbuckers (really) in the format of single coil pickups. The bridge pickup is wound in such a way that it has more output than both other pickups. Master treble and bass tone controls. The locking Schaller tuners are ideal.
The plastic plate at the "tremolo" on the back of the body is missing from my copy and there is also no tremolo bar. It was a bit of a shock when I found "made in Japan" on the potentiometers. After some "Google" it turned out that this was done at G&L during this period because there were delivery problems elsewhere.
The color of this copy is also called "Sienna Burst".
Neck: May 10 1994, Body: May 6 1994.
G&L ASAT Classic - 1996
The first owner had a black pickguard made for this Honeyburst ASAT and mounted it.
Fortunately, the original white plate was still preserved and could be restored.
Neck: Oct 9 1996, Body: Oct 24 1996.
G&L Legacy - 1996
A Cherryburst Legacy. When you combine two elements with the 5-position switch, they work together like a kind of humbucker.
The Sperzel non-locking mechanisms are easy to operate and keep the mood in them. Master control for volume, treble and bass.
Neck Oct 29 1996, Body: Oct 23 1996.
