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| Leo Fender at G&L Workbench |
G&L Guitars quietly shut it’s doors and went out of business earlier this month. The Fullerton California facility ceased operation in late September, and the employees were laid off. There was no press statement or announcement.
G&L is an American guitar manufacturing company founded by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Dale Hyatt in the late 1970s after Leo Fender’s non-compete clause from selling the Fender Guitar Company to CBS had ended. . The G&L stood for George (Fullerton) and Leo (Fender).
G&L produced some fantastic electric guitars and basses with designs based on some classic Fender instruments. The company also produced effects units for a short while such as the G&L Double Barrel Vari-Boost[3] and the G&L Buckshot Overdrive.
The future of the brand is uncertain; production could potentially resume under new ownership or in a different location. G&L made a variety of guitars including the S-Type “Legacy”, and the T-Type “ASAT”, as well as more unique designs such as the Comanche.
UPDATE: As of October 31st it was announced that the Fender Musical Instrument Company acquired the assets and brand name of G&L guitars. This will allow them to once again use the image of Leo Fender.
In 1995 Fender started to acquire troubled competing companies when they purchased Guild Guitars. They then purchased Sunn Amplification, and the Washington State based Tacoma Guitar Company.
Sadly Sunn, Tacoma, DeArmond, EVH, SWR, and Brand X were put out to pasture never to be seen again. Ovation, Gretsch, Guild and some others were sold to different companies. I suspect G&L guitars, including their Indonesian made Tribute Series will also be discontinued.
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| George Fullerton & Leo Fender |
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| G&L Innovations |
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| ASAT & Commanche |
Leo called these “the best instruments I have ever made”. Leo Fender took his innovative approach to guitar development to G&L with several innovations including the “Magnetic Field Design” pickups, Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato, and Saddle-Lock bridge.
Both Leo Fender and George Fullerton passed away decades ago. The current CEO is Dave McLaren.
Through September of 2025 G&L guitars were manufactured in Fullerton, California.
G&L Tribute series guitars are manufactured by Cor-Tek (Cort) in Indonesia. They are the largest guitar makers in the world, and produce instruments for many companies.
So far there has been no announcement if another brand may take over the G&L trademark. Based on the discussions in the two videos I have attached, G&L was a small company that may of experienced some management issues. They had a great product, and their overseas production exceeded sales of their USA made instruments. I certainly wish them the best.
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| Fender Buys G&L Guitars |
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| Sunn Amplification |
Hamer Guitars had been acquired by The Kaman Corporation, and Fender purchased Kaman in 2008.
Fender purchased Gretsch Guitars, but allowed Fred Gretsch to retain management of the company, however most of the instruments are now made in China.
Fender purchased the rights to Bigsby and DeArmond Products that were based in Ohio which made pickups, and other guitar related products. Fender acquired that brand name and produced some guitars using that brand.
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| 1997 Tacoma Mini Chief |
Sadly Sunn, Tacoma, DeArmond, EVH, SWR, and Brand X were put out to pasture never to be seen again. Ovation, Gretsch, Guild and some others were sold to different companies. I suspect G&L guitars, including their Indonesian made Tribute Series will also be discontinued.
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only) 2025
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