Editing G&L Musical Instruments

{{Short description|American manufacturer of guitars and basses}}
{{Infobox company
| name = G&L Musical Instruments
| logo = G&L Instruments logo.svg
| logo_size = 200 
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| genre = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1979}}
| founder = [[Leo Fender]] and [[George William Fullerton|George Fullerton]]
| location_city = [[Fullerton, California]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| origins = 
| key_people = David C. McLaren (Chairman)<br />Phyllis Fender (Honorary Chairperson)<br />John R. McLaren Jr. (Vice President)
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = [[Musical instrument]]s
| products = [[Electric guitar]]s, [[bass guitar|basses]], [[effects unit]]s, BBE Sound Audio Technology Licensing
| revenue = $18,768,358 (estimated)<ref name="manta">{{cite web |url=https://www.manta.com/c/mml9z6z/g-l-music-sales-inc |title=G & L Music Sales Inc |work=Manta.com |access-date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 65 (estimated)<ref name="manta"/>
| parent = BBE Sound, Inc.
| subsid = 
| owner = 
| homepage = {{url|https://glguitars.com/|glguitars.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''G&L''' is an American [[guitar manufacturing]] company founded by [[Leo Fender]], [[George William Fullerton|George Fullerton]], and [[Dale Hyatt]] in the late 1970s.{{sfn| Fullerton | 1993 |p=97-98}} G&L produces [[electric guitar|electric]] guitars and [[bass guitar|basses]] with designs based on some classic [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] instruments. The company also produces [[effects unit]]s. G&L's most notable player is [[Jerry Cantrell]], vocalist and guitarist of [[Alice in Chains]], having played several models of the guitar since the '80s, Cantrell also has his own signature Tribute Series Rampage and Superhawk.<ref name="rampage">{{Cite web |url=http://glguitars.com/product/rampage-jerry-cantrell-signature/ |title=Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature® |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=glguitars.com}}</ref><ref name="mintb">{{Cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/magazine/review-gl-tribute-series-jerry-cantrell-signature-superhawk-guitar |title=Review: G&L Tribute Series Jerry Cantrell Signature Superhawk Guitar |date=May 24, 2014 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=Guitar World |last=Kirkland |first=Eric}}</ref> Cantrell can be seen playing a single-humbucker G&L Rampage in the music video for Alice in Chains' "[[Man In The Box]]".<ref name="mintb"/>

==Founding==
Leo Fender sold his eponymous company [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] in 1965. He designed and produced instruments for [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] in the 1970s through his company CLF Research. When relations with Music Man soured, G&L was created to continue operations apart from Music Man. The G&L name comes from two founders' first names, George Fullerton and Leo Fender.{{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=53}}

G&L instruments are similar to the classic Fenders, but with some Leo Fender modern innovations. They are built at the same facility on Fender Avenue in [[Fullerton, California]] that produced the early Music Man instruments. G&L instruments are not widely distributed but are highly regarded by many musicians and collectors. The relatively small scale of production further allows for more custom options that are not possible on larger production lines.

After the death of Leo Fender in 1991, Fender's wife, Phyllis Fender, passed the management of G&L to John C. McLaren of BBE Sound.{{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=65}} George Fullerton remained a permanent consultant until his death on July 4, 2009,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-george-fullerton8-2009jul08,0,5638626.story | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | first=Randy | last=Lewis | title=George Fullerton dies at 86; musician helped Leo Fender create his unique guitars | date=July 8, 2009}}</ref> and Leo's wife Phyllis remained as Honorary Chairperson of G&L until her death in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Randall|title=Remembering Phyllis Fender|url=https://fullertonobserver.com/2020/07/24/remembering-phyllis-fender/|work=Fullerton Observer|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>

In a print advertisement for G&L, Leo Fender claimed the G&L line of instruments were "the best instruments I have ever made."{{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=190}}

==Innovations==
[[File:Dual Fulcrum Vibrato.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato]]
Leo Fender and George Fullerton created improved designs over the years, with the most advanced being featured in G&L instruments.:
* The "Magnetic Field Design" {{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=151}} (MFD) pickups use a ceramic bar magnet in combination with soft iron pole pieces with adjustable height, instead of the traditional [[Alnico]] magnet, and allow a player to set the pickup output per string, as opposed to the entire pickup as a whole in traditional [[single-coil]] pickup designs. MFDs are known for their distinctive tone, which combines clarity, high fidelity and power with an airy "sweetness".
* The "Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato" {{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=152}} has two pivot points. The design aims to improve tuning stability, and according to some has a sound that is more mellow than a traditional bridge. It allows the player to bend notes up as well as down. See also [[Tremolo arm]].
* The G&L "Saddle-Lock bridge" {{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=152}} utilizes a small Allen screw on the side of the bridge, to reduce side-to-side movement of the individual string saddles. The design, and the bridge's beefy dimensions, aim to prevent loss of sustain due to this sideways motion by locking the saddles together.
* The "Tilt Neck Mechanism" <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/artists/details.asp?AID=3543 |title=George Fullerton Guitar Icon (1923-2009) |access-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309151128/http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/artists/details.asp?AID=3543 |archive-date=2010-03-09 }}</ref> designed and patented by George Fullerton. This feature is no longer used, and was a carryover from Music Man production.
* The "Bi-cut neck design" {{sfn| Fullerton | 2005 |p=153}} involved cutting the neck lengthwise perpendicular to where the fretboard is later installed, routing a channel for the [[truss rod]], then gluing the two neck pieces back together. As G&L moved production to CNC machines, this method was phased out.

== Models == 
<!-- per company website, G&L does not have "standard" non-Tribute models -->
{{multiple image
|direction = horizontal
|align=right
|total_width = 350
|image1 = GL Legacy 93.jpg
|caption1 = Legacy guitar
|image2 = G&L-L2000-panorama.jpg
|caption2 = L2000 bass
|image3 = G&L 93 Legacy clear red.jpg
|caption3 = 1992 G&L Legacy 
|footer = 
}}
In 2003, G&L introduced the Tribute series to the US market as a more affordable alternative to the USA built products. Tribute G&L's were made in [[Korea]] by [[Cort Guitars]] using USA hardware, and electronics in many of the guitars. Some non-original parts were also used on value-based models, such as those sold exclusively through [[Guitar Center]]. The pickups used are all originally made by G&L in Fullerton, California. Production of the guitars has since moved to a Cort facility in [[Indonesia]].{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Before 2003, Tribute guitars were briefly produced in Japan for non-US markets, shifting to South Korea.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

The Tribute series is offered in many of the same body shapes as their original creations although some use hardware and pickups designed by G&L but sourced in Asia. The Tribute SB-2 was offered briefly but was discontinued, however, it was reintroduced late 2006/early 2007. The JB-2 was introduced to the Tribute series at the same time.

As of 2020, the Tribute line contains many of the standard guitars from G&L including the Commanche, S-500, Legacy, various ASAT models, Doheny and others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://glguitars.com/product-category/tribute-guitars/ |title=Tribute® Series Guitars |website=glguitars.com |access-date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>

== Notable users ==
<!-- no citation? then not notable -->
* [[Tom Hamilton (musician)|Tom Hamilton]] ([[Aerosmith]]) <ref name="gl1">{{cite web|url=http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/usa/customcreations/Korina-Collection/korina-asat-bluesboy.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506014041/http://glguitars.com/instruments/usa/customcreations/Korina-Collection/korina-asat-bluesboy.asp|archive-date=May 6, 2017|publisher=G&L Guitars|title=G&L Korina Collection}}</ref>
* [[Ben Gibbard]]<ref name="gl1" />
* [[Gustavo Cerati]]<ref>[https://ibero909.fm/blog/las-guitarras-de-gustavo-cerati Las guitarras de Gustavo Cerati] on Ibero909</ref>
* [[Jerry Cantrell]] ([[Alice in Chains]]) <ref>{{cite web|title=Dear Guitar Hero: Jerry Cantrell|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/dear-guitar-hero-jerry-cantrell|website=Guitar World|date=June 13, 2011|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/usa/customcreations/blue-dress-signature-rampage.asp|title=Jerry Cantrell "Blue Dress" Rampage|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705134639/http://glguitars.com/instruments/usa/customcreations/blue-dress-signature-rampage.asp|archive-date=July 5, 2011|url-status=dead|work=G&L Musical Instruments|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Elliot Easton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://glguitars.com/artists/|title=Artists|work=G&L Musical Instruments|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Marissa Paternoster]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Gluckin|first=Tzvi|title=Robot Killers: Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster and "King" Mike Abbate|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24637-robot-killers-screaming-females-marissa-paternoster-and-king-mike-abbate|publisher=[[Premier Guitar]]|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Jake Cinninger]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Bean|first=Perry|title=Rig Rundown: Umphrey's McGee [2015]|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22167-rig-rundown-umphreys-mcgee|publisher=[[Premier Guitar]]|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Mark St. John]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/108878/1986msj0001.JPG |format=JPG|title=Photographic image|website=Images.equipboard.com|access-date=May 22, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Walt B (For The Grateful)]]<ref name="gl1" />
* [[Grasshopper (musician)|Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak]]
* Mike Palm ([[Agent Orange (band)|Agent Orange]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=1986-06-27 |title=POP BEAT : AGENT ORANGE LEARNS TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-27-ca-20728-story.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
<!-- no citation? then not notable -->

==See also==
* [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation]]
* [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]]

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last= Fullerton |first= George |year=1993 |title=Guitar Legends, The evolution of the Guitar from Fender to G&L |publisher=CENTERSTREAM Publishing |location= Fullerton |isbn=0-931759-69-2 }}
* {{cite book |last= Fullerton |first= George |year=2005 |title=George & Leo, How Leo Fender and I Built G&L Guitars |publisher=[[Hal Leonard]] |location= Milwaukee |isbn=0-634-06922-5 }}
* {{cite book |last= Smith |first= Richard R. |year=2003–2009 |title=Fender, The Sound Heard 'Round The World |publisher=Hal Leonard |location= Milwaukee |isbn=978-1-4234-6279-8}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official}}
* [http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/AUTOREG/autoreg.php3 G&L guitar registry]

{{Guitar brands}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:GandL Musical Instruments}}
[[Category:Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Guitar pickup manufacturers]]
[[Category:Bass guitar manufacturing companies]]