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It pains me to see this video from Phillip McKnight.
I own Tribute models of the S-500 and Legacy and a USA Comanche. All 3 are really good guitars and even though the Comanche is Leo Fender’s greatest design, the S-500 is my favorite. My S-500 is a 2009 and the craftsmanship is impeccable. It almost looks like it’s made from a single piece of wood. Compared to the Rampage that Phillip reviews in this video. my import is better made.
Obvious that the quality has slipped greatlyHopefully a responsible company will buy G&L and resume production. If Fender buys G&L, you will likely see the Legacy discontinued since it would be a direct competition to the Strat. Some models of the ASAT would likely be discontinued as well since they would be a competition to the Tele
Fender has a long history of buying companies and completely killing them – Hamer & Tacoma comes to mind – so time will tell what happens to Leo’s final company – They’ve lasted 34 years after his passing -
Keith,
If Fender buys up the company do you think they would introduce some of the bridge and pick up technology in their own guitars or just kill it altogether. Perhaps Fender wouldn’t want to mess with their own history.
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Interesting thoughts John. There are some features that Leo incorporated in G&L guitars that Fender doesn’t have
His Dual Fulcrum bridge has the reputation as being one of the most stable trem bridges available on a stock guitar
Leo developed a Passive Treble Bass tone control system for his S Style guitars that is so useful & effective when compared to his original design found on a Fender Strat. As you you know, the tone controls on a Strat only controls the neck & middle pickups whereas Leo’s PTB tone controls effects the overall tone of the guitar. The S-500, Comanche & Skyhawk’s use the PTB controls
The S-500, Skyhawk and ASAT Special and certain ASAT Classic’s uses Leo’s Magnetic Field Design pickups. The pickups used by an ASAT Special looks like P90’s but those are the pickups that Leo wanted to put into the Telecaster 2.0 but because of the look, Fender management wouldn’t sign on for them
I’ve seen comments that the “S-5oo doesn’t sound like a Strat” – DUH!! they aren’t supposed to!! That’s what the Legacy is for.
The MFD pickups are a higher output pickup with a tone of their own. The Comanche can do tones of a Tele, a Strat and then voicings unique to the Comanche. The Comanche is a pretty amazing guitarSo would Fender continue making some of the G&L guitars or use some of the technologies? I think it would be a money maker for them but given their marketing practices, I wouldn’t be surprised if they killed the brand.
I won’t buy Fender equipment because of their practices – they make great guitars & amps but as a matter of principle, I can buy other brands if I want something.
Peavey, Supro, Blackstar, Mesa Boogie – all great amps for blues at reasonable prices. And I’ve come to really appreciate my Marshall Origin 20 – even though the Princeton & Deluxe Reverb are my favorite low wattage amp, I’ll let someone else play those
Same with guitars – G&L, Ibanez, Washburn – even my import 335 copy sold by Peavey – all that I need…even though I’ve recently picked up an Epi Les Paul recently and my wife bought a Joe Bonamassa Epi Lazarus Les Paul for me 🙂OK Rant over LOL
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But why close?
Is it because fewer guitars are being sold in 2025? We know guitars are often not even used in pop, hip hop, rap, etc.
Is it because more people just buy stuff online? My cousins in America buy almost everything online, except groceries.
Is it because the cost of living is too high to keep a bricks and mortar store open?
Thankfully, New Zealand has the largest Polynesian population in the world, and all Polynesians are issued an acoustic guitar at birth…..or so it appears. And you should hear them sing!
Sunjamr Steve
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Yeah Steve, we have a player on our Eagles football team with who is originally from Samoa, and he has a great singing voice! His name is Jordan Mailata, and he was a rugby star in Australia who entered the NFL under their international plan! He also goes 6’8″ and 365lbs, and plays left tackle! A great pickup for the team!
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Of course we won’t get into politics but Tulsi Gabbard is of Samoan descent and apart from her position in the US government, she is Lt Col in the Army Reserves and has seen combat in the Middle East
She has that quiet demeanor that I think is a front for her being a very strong woman and that is meant in a positive way -
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Troy is a very devout Catholic and it was well known that he prayed as he was sitting on the sideline and he would make the sign of the Cross often as we see Catholics doing
His teammates started calling him Baby Jesus, saying that God would tell him where the play was going and that’s how he was so effective. Their comments on this are humorous
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Sad news indeed. G&L was founded in 1979, 46 years ago, in the hay day of rock music. The guitar industry is not what it used to be due to various reasons. Here are some which first come to mind:
1. Demand has obviously decreased massively due to changes in musical tastes.
2. People can listen to any kind of music at any time free of charge which must diminish the desire to make your own music.
3. Cheap good quality guitars made in China etc. give established companies a very hard time.
4. Closure of most high street music shops and the move to online shopping probably made it very difficult for some manufacturers who did not know how to compete in the online market.Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan
The farther one travels the less one knows.
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Maybe has to do with the guitar industry show room full of guitars unsold. Here in Japan guitars can takes years to sell. I really think the acoustic guitar is coming back as the new trend.
Also, is the younger generation too occupied on the cell phones these days.The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
Active Melody
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