G&L Musical Instruments TO INTRODUCE JERRY CANTRELL "BLUE DRESS" LIMITED EDITION GUITAR
Jerry Cantrell to appear at G&L booth on Friday to meet fans.

Fullerton, Calif., January 14, 2010 - G&L Musical Instruments is pleased to introduce the new Rampage Jerry Cantrell "Blue Dress" guitar (MSRP $6,600) at the NAMM tradeshow (booth #4690). Available in March, the limited edition guitar features graphics based on those Cantrell applied to his favorite 1984 G&L Rampage, which has been a part of Cantrell's signature sound for his entire professional career.

Cantrell's newest incarnation features a soft maple body, quarter-sawn maple/ebony neck, Floyd Rose locking nut, Kahler 2230 brass tremolo and is available in the original ivory or black finishes and sports a single humbucker hand-wound by Motor City Pickups. The "Blue Dress" Limited Edition is visually distinguished by body graphics designed to Cantrell's exact specifications, including the iconic image of the "Blue Dress" girl which was originally featured in a vintage issue of "Oui" magazine, plus a specially numbered neck plate laser-etched with the "Blue Dress" girl. Cantrell will personally autograph the back side of the headstock of every "Blue Dress" guitar.

Several distinctive accessories accompany the "Blue Dress" Limited Edition, including a black flight case stenciled with "Jerry Cantrell" on both sides, a Jerry Cantrell-designed Red Monkey leather strap, Schaller strap locks, one dozen Dunlop "Jerry Cantrell" picks, a spare set of Dunlop strings, G&L Custom Creations Certificate of Authenticity, plus a second Certificate of Authenticity by the original artist who created the "Blue Dress" girl.

Jerry Cantrell is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Alice in Chains, who first made a name for themselves with the hit song "Man in the Box". Alice in Chains reemerged in 2009 with a new singer, William DuVall, and have released their first full-length studio album in 14 years, called Black Gives Way to Blue.

On Friday, January 15, Jerry Cantrell will be available at 3:00 PM at the G&L booth (#4690 Hall "C"). Also available for viewing will be Cantrell's original G&L Rampage, which will be on display next to the Rampage Jerry Cantrell "Blue Dress".

G&L Musical Instruments to introduce its first-ever Guitar Amplifier and Effects pedals at the winter namm show

Fullerton, Calif., January 14, 2010 - G&L Musical Instruments is pleased to introduce two new guitar effects pedals, the "Double Barrel" and the "Buckshot", and the all-tube combo guitar amp called the "Whipper Snapper" at the NAMM show (booth #4690).

The Double Barrel (MSRP $215) is a variable-boost pedal which offers up to 30dB of clean boost, with Gain control and variable Lo and Hi controls which enable the player to restrict lows from becoming boomy and highs from getting too bright. The Buckshot (MSRP $199) is a natural overdrive pedal with Gain, Tone and Volume controls, and is designed to enhance an amplifier's tonal identity rather than mask it. Both pedals will be available in March and feature black Bakelite knobs, military-grade PCBs, 1% tolerance resistors, true-hardwire bypass, hand-wired potentiometers, jacks and switches, as well as a five-year limited warranty.

The Whipper Snapper (MSRP $1999) is a medium-powered all-tube combo amp capable of producing a wide range of clean and overdriven tones. Available in April, the Whipper Snapper is based on a late 1950s 5E3 circuit. G&L has modified this classic design to accommodate the needs of today's players looking for a portable yet flexible amp. The Whipper Snapper is right at home in almost any situation, from practice and rehearsals to recording and live performances.

The G&L name is synonymous with quality and tone, and the made-in-the-USA Whipper Snapper continues that legacy by sporting premium components. It delivers with its modified 5E3 circuit hand-wired on a vintage-type eyelet board, supporting a pair of J&J 12AX7 preamp tubes (may be substituted with 12AT7 for lower-gain sound), GZ34 rectifier tube which provides natural compression or "sag", and a pair of J&J 6V6 output tubes. Making the most of the sonic possibilities are treble and bass knobs plus volume with pull-bright feature, while superb tone emanates from the Whipper Snapper's 12" Jensen P-12Q speaker, loaded into a solid pine finger-jointed cabinet for warmth and unmatched dynamics.

Jerry's Kid: G&L Tribute Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature
Guitar World Magazine, October 2009

When George Fullertonand Leo Fender established G&L Musical Instruments in 1980 (G&L stands for George & Leo), Leo stated that his goal was to make "the best instruments I have ever made" - quite an ambition for the man behind such legendary instruments as the Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster. G&L produced not only refined versions of the guitars developed for Leo's other company but also bold new models, like the radical pointy shaped Interceptor and the fun-and-funky SC-2.

One of the coolest early G&L guitars was the Rampage, which was also one of the first commercially produced models to capitalize on Eddie Van Halen's stripped-down "Frankenstein" design. It featured a single humbucker mounted near the bridge, a solitary volume control and a locking Kahler tremolo. G&L made only a few hundred Rampage guitars between 1984 and 1988, the year in which it discontinued the model.

Thanks to devoted Rampage player Jerry Cantrell, the model has enjoyed cult status ever since Alice in Chains stepped into the spotlight in 1990. With the exception of a limited run of 70 models in 2000, Rampage guitars have been very hard to come by for many years. G&L finally succumbed to demand this summer by introducing the highly affordable Tribute Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature model as well as a U.S.-built version that costs about three times as much.

FEATURES

Although some Rampage guitars built in the Eighties feature bodies made of ash or poplar, the Tribute Rampage has a soft maple body, which matches the materials used for Jerry's original guitar. The body shape remains identical to the previous version as well, resembling that of a Strat but with a narrower waist, rounder lower bout and deeper waist contour, and the input jack is conveniently mounted on the side.

The 25 1/2 inch scale neck is carved to a thin, flat profile, but thanks to its quarter-sawn hard-rock maple construction and ebony fingerboard (an upgrade to the original version's rosewood or maple fingerboards) it's exceptionally solid and stable. The 13 3/4 inch radius also provides a fast, flat feel, while 22 tall medium-profile frets offer plenty of heavy metal to dig into when bending notes, fretting power chords or flying into hyperspeed.

Despite its low price, the Tribute Rampage has several features rarely found on guitars that cost under $1,000. The hardware is finished in classy black chrome, which perfectly complements the black or ivory finish options. The pickup is custom wound to Jerry's specifications and is constructed with Alnico V magnets. Instead of the ubiquitous licensed Floyd Rose tremolo system, the Tribute Rampage is equipped with a recessed Kahler 4300 X-Trem tremolo and Floyd Rose locking nut. Even the tuners offer above-average specs, providing an 18:1 ratio for dead-accurate tuning.

PERFORMANCE

Even with it's barebones single humbucker plus volume control design, the Tribute Rampage is a very versatile guitar that provides tones ideal for most styles of hard rock. Because the pickup "floats" in a mounting ring (a la vintage Gibson), its tone is warmer and mellower than it would be if it were mounted directly to the body, and this in turn helps tame some of the brightness normally associated with maple body materials. String attack is crisp and articulate, and frequency response is well balanced, with high notes sharing almost equal "weight" with bass notes, allowing players to shift from low-end riffs to squealing leads without needing to compensate with a volume pedal or compressor. For a maple body guitar with an ebony neck, the Rampage has a tone that's full, rich and resonant, with none of the twangy bass or icepick treble you'd expect.

With its flat radius, flat and thin neck profile, and big, meaty frets, the Rampage plays like a shredder's fantasy. The ebony fingerboard is so smoothly polished that it almost feels like it's coated with a glossy finish. The volume control is perfectly situated for performing swells and volume adjustments with the right-hand pinkie, but it can get in the way when executing overly aggressive downstrokes. Fortunately, the volume pot delivers more than ample resistance so you don't have to worry about inadvertently cutting off the volume.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The G&L Tribute Rampage offers exceptional value for guitarists seeking an ax in the under-$1,000 price range. While its features may be as stripped down as it gets, the quality of the components and construction is hard to beat.

---

US Congressman Ed Royce Visits G&L Factory

U.S. Congressman Ed Royce, Representative of the 40th District of California, visited G&L Musical Instruments for a factory tour and discussion with key staff regarding the import/export aspect of the guitar trade, including the purchase and importation of maple wood products from Canada.

"The current economic downturn has affected all kinds of businesses, and though musical instruments represent a small component of the US manufacturing base, it's good to know that we have local representatives in Washington who are listening to manufacturers both large and small that are in the trenches, fighting to keep jobs in the USA." said David McLaren, Executive Vice President of G&L Musical Instruments. "Rep. Royce was sympathetic to our challenges, and promised to use the information he gained from his visit in his work as the ranking member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation and trade Subcommittee."

During the factory tour, Royce was introduced to the craftspeople and staff, many of whom have been with G&L since Leo Fender founded the business.

Rep. Royce and G&L's Steve Grom in Leo Fender's Lab

G&L Supports the Effort to Save the Historical Fox Theater in Fullerton, CA

G&L Musical Instruments, based in Fullerton, CA, is supporting this community?s effort to save a major entertainment landmark in Southern California, The Fullerton Fox Theater.

The company has donated a Fullerton-made G&L Comanche electric guitar to the "Save the Fox Theater" project, and will be featured in a live auction on Saturday, June 23rd with proceeds going toward bringing the majestic Fox Theatre back to life.

For over eighty years, the Fox Theatre has been a dominant feature in the heart of the downtown Fullerton business district, located four miles north of Disneyland and 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Until its close in 1987, the Fox remained the entertainment center for millions of North Orange County residents. The Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation believes that the theatre can once again become a vital part of the community that will bring prestige, culture, visitors and revenue to the city.

The two men responsible for the creation of G&L guitars and basses, Leo Fender and George Fullerton have their business, family and creative roots closely tied to this part of Orange County. The first G&L instruments were produced in 1980 in a series of industrial buildings owned by Leo and located on Fender Avenue, where the company continues to operate today.

"Fullerton is the birthplace of the solid body electric guitar, and as the only guitar manufacturer still located in Fullerton, we feel honored to support this important project which will enhance our community" stated Steve Grom, Director of Manufacturing at G&L (also a long-time Fullerton resident). "Almost all of the G&L workforce lives in or near Fullerton, so the lives of our people will be enriched with the renewal of the Fullerton Fox Theatre."

G&L guitars and basses are the final creations of Leo Fender, the man credited with revolutionizing the sound of rock and roll music. In the city of Fullerton, however, Leo Fender played broader role, as his businesses and products contributed greatly to the prosperity and recognition of the city. In his time, Leo and his employees frequented the Fox Theater, and surely he would be proud that the people of G&L continue to support this iconic landmark which has long been at the heart of the Fullerton community.

For more information on all G&L products visit www.glguitars.com. For more information about the Save the Fox Theater project, visit www.foxfullerton.org.

From left to right: Rep. Ed Royce, Marie Royce, and G&L winner, Bill Salpaka.

LAYNE CHANGE
ALICE IN CHAINS AT WORK ON NEW ALBUM WITH NEW SINGER
by Greg Watermann
As published in Guitar World Magazine, May 2009, p. 25

It's been seven years since Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley died of a drug overdose and twice as many since the group released its last studio album. After reuniting three years ago at a benefit for victims of the January 2005 tsunami in Indonesia, the Seattle group's surviving members began touring again with new member, singer-guitarist William DuVall. ln October 2008, they entered Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Los Angeles with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush), where they recorded 18 tracks for an as-yet-untitled new album due this summer.

"This is probably the hardest I've ever worked on a record," says guitarist Jerry Cantrell, in the midst of mixing. "Nick is the kind of guy that likes to try everything. I like recording that way - different amps, different mikes, different drum sounds, different guitars. We've put a lot of time and care into those tones.

Despite some experimentation, Cantrell has stuck with his core gear: Bogner and Marshall amps, a few Les Pauls, and two G&L Rampage guitars. "Those two guitars still are the ones that I use the most," he says of the latter, now hard-to-find instruments. "I've been working with G&L far the last two years to do a reissue guitar, based on that model with a couple of mods I've made. I think that guitar's going to be coming out sometime this year."

Cantrell, who sings more on this album than on previous AIC records, promises a "bone-crushingly heavy" record that is true to the band's legacy. "Losing Layne is a tremendous loss, no doubt about it," he says. "To move through all of that stuff and to be okay with where we're heading, that's a statement of belief in the new material. If it sucked, or if it was fucking weird or felt like it was a cash-in or something like that, we wouldn't do it. That's not how we're wired."

G&L MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS APPOINTS STEVE GROM DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING

Grom Brings Strong Quality Control Experience to G&L Factory

Fullerton, Calif., February 23, 2009 – G&L Musical Instruments announced today that Steve Grom has joined the company as Director of Manufacturing. Based in Fullerton, CA, Grom will work closely with G&L and BBE Sound’s management team to develop and manufacture fine musical instruments.

&Ldquo;G&L was founded in 1980 by the legendary Leo Fender, and has continued to build upon its reputation for creating superior electric guitars and basses” said David McLaren, Executive Vice President. &Ldquo;We focus on continuous improvement of both the instruments and customer support, and Steve has an ideal blend of technical excellence and passion for the instruments.”

Grom brings 30 years of experience in the musical instrument industry, with diverse experience in sales, marketing, manufacturing and quality assurance. For the past 15 years, he was Vice President of Quality Assurance for Fender Musical Instruments and all of their divisions. He also held key positions at Gibson Guitars, Rhodes Keyboards, and the CBS Musical Instruments Division. A musician at heart, Grom holds a BA degree in music from UCLA and played guitar in a touring rock band for ten years before settling into the guitar manufacturing industry.

&Ldquo;I’m truly thrilled to be at G&L and to have an office right next to Leo’s original lab. Just knowing the level of genius that came out of that little area is truly amazing,” said Grom. &Ldquo;I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to take G&L to new levels of quality, customer satisfaction and success.”

G&L MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS' GENE ENGLEHART PASSES

Fullerton, Calif., February 19, 2009 – It is with deep regret that we must announce the passing of one of G&L’s family members, Gene Engelhart. In July 2008, the day after the G&L Open House, Gene suffered a heart attack which left him in a coma until he passed away yesterday. When we first heard the news about his heart attack, it was hard to imagine that just the day before, Gene had been at the top of his game, proudly showing our Open House guests how he puts the finishing touches on G&Ls. Though we’d hoped he would pull through, as time passed it became clear that it was unlikely we’d ever see our Gene back at work. We would like to think that Gene is now in a place where he is happily rocking out and filling Leo in on what’s been happening at his company. Gene joined us in March of 1979, working in the woodshop building necks, and he went on to hold various key positions within the company, including being one of the pioneers of the Custom Creations Department. Most of us remember Gene working at his bench, leaning over one guitar after another, adding the finishing touches and tweaks that make G&L instruments great. We’ll miss hearing him putting instruments through their paces, and more often than not, giving us all a performance that could only come from his hands. His passion for guitar building, music, muscle cars and, believe it or not, cooking, were things we loved about Gene. Who else could pull off wicked riffs on the guitar he had just completed, while treating us to amazing dishes worthy of a five-star restaurant? Aside from his family at G&L, Gene will be missed by his wife Susane, son Anwar, and daughter Leah.

G&L MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS' PHYLLIS FENDER TO ACCEPT POSTHUMOUS TECHNICAL GRAMMY AWARD
Clarence “Leo” Fender considered one of the 20th century’s most influential figures in the development of electric instruments

Fullerton, Calif.,February 05, 2009 – Clarence "Leo" Fender will receive the Technical GRAMMY® Award at a special invitation-only ceremony to be held during GRAMMY Week on Saturday, Feb. 7, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, which will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, and broadcast live at 8 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. As this is a posthumous award, Mrs. Phyllis Fender, Honorary Chairman of G&L Musical Instruments, will accept this award in his honor.

"Many of us in the world of music owe Leo Fender a debt of gratitude,” said John C. McLaren, Chairman and CEO of BBE Sound and G&L Musical Instruments. &Ldquo;G&L is honored to carry on Leo Fender’s legacy, and is privileged to be part of an industry that recognizes greatness.”

&Ldquo;My husband would be humbled by this award,” said Phyllis Fender. &Ldquo;He would also be delighted to hear today’s great musicians enjoying the fruits of his labor. Above all else, Leo loved to bring joy to the hearts of his fans. This would really make him smile!”

Clarence "Leo" Fender founded the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company in 1946 and later founded Music Man and G&L Musical Products (G&L Guitars). Often cited as one of the influential figures in the development of electric instruments of the 20th century, Fender designed the first commercially successful solidbody electric guitar, the Telecaster, the modern electric bass, and introduced one of the most famed of all electric guitars — the Stratocaster. All Fender-designed guitars and amps have since become powerful cultural icons recognized in every corner of the world, and today they continue to dominate popular music.

About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

Phyllis Fender (5th from the left) onstage with winners of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Awards as she accepts a Technical Grammy on behalf of Leo Fender.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Marcy Marxer

G&L Musical Instruments DONATES ASAT CLASSIC GUITAR TO CENTURY 21 DISCOVERY CHARITY AUCTION

Fullerton, Calif., November 19, 2008—G&L Musical Instruments donated an ASAT Classic electric guitar yesterday to the Century 21 Discovery Charity Auction.  Originally designed by Leo Fender himself, the ASAT Classic features a Louisiana Swamp Ash body with Butterscotch Blonde finish, a Canadian Maple neck with hand-rubbed gun-oil tint, and a variety of features, including the patented Magnetic Field Design® pickups, all of which contributes to this guitar’s rich and soulful tone.

Each year Century 21 Discovery has a charity dinner and silent auction to benefit various charities. Last night’s event, which marks the 14th year of the auction, raised approximately $18,000.  Century 21 will be forwarding 50% of this year’s proceeds to Roseann Longtin, a Discovery agent who is battling leukemia.  The balance will be forwarded to CHOC, Crittenton Services for Children & Families, Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Services, North Orange County ROP and St. Jude Memorial Foundation.

THE LEGENDARY SC-2 RETURNS

Fullerton, Calif., August 1, 2008 - It’s been more than 20 years since G&L made the SC-2, though its popularity is getting stronger each year.   It’s a perfect time for a comeback:   G&L is proud to announce that the SC-2 is back and better than ever!

Background

Introduced in 1982, the SC-2’s distinctive shape and tone resonated with the New Wave movement, and pioneers like Devo’s Bob Mothersbaugh immediately embraced Leo’s latest creation    It was pure Leo genius:   fresh, forward-looking, and fun.

Though the &Lsquo;80s New Wave movement gave way to glam rock, which gave way to the grunge movement in the &Lsquo;90s, what comes around goes around.   Today’s indie-pop musicians are increasingly embracing the aesthetic of early &Lsquo;80s New Wave scene; evolving it with the edginess that today’s indie scene grew up with.   The SC-2 was perfect for its time as well as today’s direction, and consequently vintage SC-2s have been growing in value as gigging musicians and collectors alike are discovering – or rediscovering – one of Leo’s coolest guitars.

Evo LEO tion

Leo demanded that G&L designs continue to improve, and we think he’d be pleased with the latest axe to emerge from Fender Avenue.   This is no reissue, as the new SC-2 has evolved to meet the needs and tastes of today’s musician.   The distinctive body profile is faithful to the original, but now features G&L’s generously sculpted arm and back contours for added comfort as well as repositioned controls for ease of use.   The result is a light, compact body that just feels great, whether hanging on a strap or strumming in a chair.

Things have evolved up top, too, with a neck featuring our easy-playing contemporary #1 profile, capped with the stylish mid-80’s G&L headstock shape incorporating G&L’s trademark &Ldquo;hook” design.   What’s more, this neck blends a vintage vibe with modern playability with its Gun Oil Tint finished with satin on the back and gloss on the headstock face.

Versatility

G&L SIGNS A NEW GUITAR HERO

Meet Ladd Smith, a 26-year-old Nashville-based country picker who signed on as one of the newest members of the G&L family. Already know in his home area as a rising force on the local scene, Smith gained greater exposure after he battled against ten finalists from around the world to be crowned as Guitar Player Magazine's International Guitar Hero 2007. Smith mesmerized the crowd and judges with an original song called "Outrun The Train," which he had written when he was only 15 years old. Smith's main axe is an ASAT Classic that was customized to accommodate his unique style.

"The ASAT Classic is my main electric guitar which I use onstage and in the studio," Smith affirms. "It took me years to find the right guitar, and I found it when I discovered my G&L. I think a guitar should feel like an extension of your body so the music can flow more effortlessly. The ASAT Classic brings out the best in me and in my playing. It's always dependable, and it's my favorite guitar."

Since becoming the GH07 champion, Smith has signed on with TrueFire.com, a company that specializes in instructional music videos, to create his own interactive video course, which is available as a double CD-ROM. In Smith's "Modern Nashville Guitar," he demonstrates his country, jazz, blues, pop and rock-infused riffs, and talks about how he achieves his sounds using his ASAT Classic, as well as his acoustic-guitar style. In addition to performing and recording in the Nashville area, Smith has also been touring college campuses, where he does solo performances and educational clinics for musicians.

For more information on Ladd Smith, visit his official websites at laddsmith.com and myspace.com/laddsmith.

TUNE IN: DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN PLAYS LATE SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN FEBRUARY 6TH

The Dillinger Escape Plan will be performing live February 6th on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Watch for Liam Wilson playing one of his two main G&L basses. Liam is featured in an L-2000 ad with his butterscotch blonde model which is equipped with a #8 maple neck and fingerboard. Liam has considered the L-2000 his essential "go to" bass since he first began playing it several years ago. However, he also loves his custom silver metal flake ASAT Bass with a rosewood fingerboard, which the craftsmen at G&L had built for him by special order. The bass turned out even better than he imagined and delivers the same ballsy tone as his L-2000.

The Dillinger Escape Plan is currently touring in support of its new album, Ire Works, which has been receiving excellent reviews from both fans and critics. Additionally, in recognition of his excellent playing skills, Liam will be featured in the next issue of Bass Player magazine.

Watch the band's performance now.

(Photo courtesy of Liam Wilson)

G&L Guitars’ Phyllis Fender Brings Smiles to Children everywhere

Proceeds From the Sale of G&L’s Limited Edition Phyllis Model: "Blondie"
Benefit The Smile Train

From left: John C. McLaren, Phyllis Fender and Dave McLaren of G&L Musical Instruments, Joe Lamond, NAMM President

From left: John C. McLaren, Phyllis Fender and Dave McLaren of G&L Musical Instruments, Joe Lamond, NAMM President

Fullerton, Calif., January 21, 2008 – As G&L Guitars’ honorary chairperson, Phyllis Fender presented a $20,000 check on Saturday to The Smile Train, the world’s leading charity providing free cleft surgery to afflicted children in poor countries around the world. The check represents proceeds from the sale of the G&L Phyllis &Ldquo;Blondie” guitar.

The limited edition &Ldquo;Blondie” was created by the G&L Custom Creations Department as a tribute to the woman who promised Leo Fender that she would do her best to ensure he would remain proud of G&L Guitars.  To honor Phyllis, Leo, and all the musicians that love Leo’s legacy, the &Ldquo;Blondie,” Leo’s loving nickname for Phyllis, was created.  Every detail of the guitar is a nod to Phyllis, from the Pearl pickguard and tuning pegs to the matching pearl rear cover, the &Ldquo;Blondie” reflects Phyllis’ own unique blend of elegance and grace.  Only 100 of these collector’s edition guitars were crafted."Leo's instruments bring smiles to musicians, and The Smile Train brings smiles to children," said Phyllis Fender.  &Ldquo;For children afflicted with a cleft lip and palate, The Smile Train is a gift from God, an opportunity for them to live full and normal lives.”

The Smile Train has provided free cleft surgeries to over 250,000 children worldwide.  With a unique non-profit model, The Smile Train is able to ensure that 100% of all donations go towards the program, with 0% overhead.  It costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes to give a child a new smile, and a new life.

&Ldquo;Thanks to Phyllis Fender and the people of G&L Guitars and BBE Sound, Inc., The Smile Train is simultaneously tapping into musician’s love of sharing their music and their desire to make a difference,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO for NAMM, the international music products association.  &Ldquo;This is an exciting way to make a world of difference, one smile at a time.”  Lamond accepted the check on behalf of The Smile Train.

Learn more about "Blondie"

Download press release

Visit The Smile Train Website

Huntington Beach, CA, September 20, 2007 - The FUBAR Fighters, a band made up of active-duty military members stationed at Camp Eggars, Afghanistan, rocks on with their newly donated G&L ASAT Classic guitar.  The band is made up of active-duty military members stationed at Camp Eggars, Afghanistan.  Luckily, the guitar arrived in time for the band’s 9/11 concert.  Go FUBAR fighters!

Sony Electronics Picks a Winner

Guitar Shorty Honored

Longtime G&L endorser, Guitar Shorty, has been honored by The Blues Foundation at the recent annual Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards. Guitar Shorty, who belts out his powerful and soulful blues accompanied by his beloved G&L Legacy guitars, received his award for Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year for his latest disc, We The People, released by Alligator Records. Credited as having influenced both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, you can learn more about this legendary bluesman by logging on to www.guitarshorty.org.

Something to Look Forward to:
G&L Custom Creations
Premier Guitar Magazine, June 2007
by Rebecca Hay & James Egolf

What is exciting for us is the way time has changed the perception of G&L's earlier designs, such as the F-100, G-200, SC series and others. Fifteen years ago, our customers had virtually no interest in those shapes; they wanted traditional shapes from G&L. Now our customers are showing more interest in the earlier shapes, and we're thrilled that we can bring back the roots of the line. These are good times for us.

While many players today are familiar with G&L and their more famous models, like the ASAT, what some may not be aware of is G&L's Custom Creations Department, developed in the late '90s to build limited edition instruments

What started with Leo continues to thrive today...

G&L is a company with rich ties to tradition. Founded by none other than George Fullerton and Leo Fender, G&L has started their own tradition by creating updated, modern interpretations of classic designs. This closely follows founder Leo Fender's ethic of continuing improvement and refinement, never resting on laurels, and always striving to find a better way to do things.

While many players today are familiar with G&L and their more popular models, like the Legacy and iconic ASAT, what some may not be aware of is G&L's Custom Creations Department, established in 1998 as a creative outlet for the company's craftsmen to produce runs of special instruments. Premier Guitar recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dayv Chavez, Product Manager for G&L, for a talk about the Custom Creations Department, a bit about G&L's history, and a few hints at what is in store.

How did the Custom Creations Department get started?

The department was built with the idea of creating Limited Edition instruments with options that aren't available on any of our other guitars. G&L has many talented and creative musicians, and there have always been animated discussions between them about how they'd like to customize a G&L. Sometimes the ideas are purely functional and tonal, and sometimes they involve a major cosmetic departure. We realized it would be fun and rewarding to enable our people to realize their dream G&Ls. Some CCD designs we build in one run and leave them be; with others we choose to leave the door open for a future run.

With the Limited Edition instruments, we do runs of them from time to time; we'll do 100 at a time, and maybe a year later we'll do another 100, maybe in a different fashion, not necessarily the same way. With the Special Build instruments, our builders are given the freedom to take the time to develop something that is a little more off the cuff than what we normally do.

So the CCD doesn't really have a custom shop aspect where someone could call and request one to be made?

No, and the reason for that is that we pretty much are a semi-custom shop. There's a list of options where any of our dealers can call up and say, "I want this build, with this kind of neck, this kind of wood, and this kind of finish" at no extra charge.

We haven't ruled out the possibility of allowing customers to customize products through the CCD, but we are not a true, full-fledged custom shop. These days some companies call themselves, or some part of their operation, a "custom shop" but there is no clear definition of what "custom" means and consequently the term is abused. We strive to be authentic, so that's why you don't hear us calling ourselves a "custom shop."

Have you ever had an order that came through that helped spawn an idea for a Special Build or Limited Edition?

There are so many orders that have had some influence on the CCD that it wouldn't be fair to try to pick just one. However, one that comes to mind is our ASAT Classic BluesBoy. That actually came about by a dealer who requested that we build an ASAT with a humbucker, kind of in a Keith Richards style. It turned out to be such a success and many dealers started asking for it, so we ended up adding it to our normal roster.

Customers may also trigger some train of thought which germinates into a vision. Take our ASAT Special with the big Magnetic Field Design pickups. People new to the G&L scene have described this guitar as the "one with the P-90 pickups," but despite a similar appearance, they're not the same design. One of our guys thought it would be cool to build an ASAT Special with Gibson-esqe cues just to play on the visual similarity the big MFD pickups share with P-90s. The idea was an instant hit with our crew, so with some tinkering and chambering the body, our ASAT Junior was born.

The Special Build guitars kind of seem like a free-for-all. What is the process in developing these?

The development process is the same for both Limited Edition and Special Build models. The difference is that at the beginning of the process, the CCD has to make a judgment as to whether a concept will be strictly limited or open for another run sometime in the future. The ASAT Junior was really special to us but it just felt right to go Limited Edition. Other concepts, like our ASAT Classic S, seem to us like we should keep the door open. It's subjective, but once the decision is made we stick by it.

Who determines how many pieces are going to be in any given run?

The Custom Creations Department does, and they prefer to keep the quantity low, usually 100 pieces or less. If it's something that deserves a larger number, such as our 25th Anniversary model, of which we made 250, we stretch out the production of the model so that we don't jack up the lead time on our custom orders. The idea is to keep the run short and still have a sense of excitement about it, and then right away get the neurons firing over the next cool instrument.

Can people get the Custom Creations Department guitars straight from G&L, or do they have to go through the dealers?

Everything is done through our dealers. Customers can feel more than happy to give us a call if they want to figure out how to configure their instrument, as a lot of people have questions about things like tonal nuances. They can then go back to the dealer and definitively say, "this is what I want." We recommend that everybody get acquainted with a dealer. We take pride in the quality of our dealers, and they're capable of fielding just about any question about custom orders.

Are the people that work in the Custom Creations Department the same people working in the regular build department?

All of the instruments are built in the same factory, and everyone in the factory shares all the work as it comes through. If it comes from the Custom Creations Department, there's not just one guy in particular that works on them specifically, because everybody that we have there is a complete craftsman, 100%.

However, normally there is one person there who will take the lead in the outcome of that instrument. They'll be somebody who's more specialized in the area and will father the instrument from concept to fruition. This makes it even more fulfilling for the CCD crew, because if it's your baby and you've championed it, you're going to want to be sure it comes out just as you'd imagined.

Do you see the CCD instruments as guitars mainly for playing, or are they more of a collector's item?

I think it's both, I mean these instruments really have a special quality to them, and a lot of people will say to us that they wish they had two because they like to play the thing so much. So I think it's both at the same time. They end up playing them, but they also end up taking very good care of them.

You mentioned breaking out of the mold a little bit. Is G&L getting away from more of the traditional stuff? For instance, can we look forward to some more non-traditional shapes, along the lines of the Interceptor, in the future?

It's interesting that you bring that up, because this year in particular that's kind of the route that we're taking. We feel the time is right to start bringing back some of Leo's earlier G&L shapes and designs, but improved as he would expect. Without going into specific details - we want people to be excited when they see them - we do have a couple of instruments that will be launched this year which are modern versions of some of the early instruments G&L made. For example, the F-100, G&L's first model, and possibly the SC-2. You're going to see modernized versions of these instruments; we're bringing them into the present.

We also have a Comanche 6 Studio coming, based on Leo's first rendition of the Comanche, which has the split coil pickups and six switches. Three switches turn the pickups on and off, while the other three turn separate coils on and off on the individual pickups. It gets pretty interesting with all of the different pickup combinations you can coax out of that.

You guys have quite the legacy with Leo Fender and George Fullerton; how big is your responsibility to that legacy when you're coming up with new designs for the CCD?

We did a photo shoot with Phyllis Fender recently, and I asked Phyllis if she had some of the instruments that Leo kept around from the golden era. She said that he never saved anything, and he would say that he didn't keep any of those instruments because every instrument that he would make after was always going to be better, so why have an inferior instrument?

At G&L, our goal is to always raise the bar, making ever better instruments, advancing the technology in the instruments and production, and in a broader sense, bring musicians the finest instruments available. This is the mantra that we've adopted from Leo. Leo said "G&L instruments are the finest I have ever made," and our idea is to continue on with that same spirit. I must admit it did take a while to grapple with the powerful legacy we had to manage. Fortunately, George has been very helpful as a mentor for us for the physical and functional aspects of the instruments, while Phyllis has been a philosophical mentor, keeping us grounded.

But do you ever feel pressure to stay with more traditional shapes because of where your company has come from?

In terms of tradition, the shapes of our Legacy and our ASAT are definitely staples of Leo's. What is exciting for us is the way time has changed the perception of G&L's earlier designs, such as the F-100, G-200, SC series and others. Fifteen years ago, our customers had virtually no interest in those shapes; they wanted traditional shapes from G&L. Now our customers are showing more interest in the earlier shapes, and we're thrilled that we can bring back the roots of the line. These are good times for us.

G&L Custom Creations Department announces second run of ASAT Classic S

In 2004, the first 100 piece run of this exclusive &Ldquo;Special Build” model sold out within hours.  Responding to demand from our dealers and G&L enthusiasts alike, the G&L Custom Creations Department announces the second official production run of this exclusive and desirable model. 

Jim Scholten from Sawyer Brown performing on Live With Regis & Kelly

G&L bass endorser Jim Scholten from country supergroup Sawyer Brown will be performing with American Idol finalist Bucky Covington on Live With Regis & Kelly Wednesday March 21st, 9am EST. Covington's debut disc was produced by Sawyer Brown's frontman and his backup band will include other Sawyer Brown members, who also performed on the album. Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.

Jim Scholten shown playing one of his L-2500 basses.

Learn about the latest G&L / Will Ray clinics

New for '07 G&L Tribute Series models unveiled at Winter NAMM

January 2007 - The G&L Tribute Series is set to continue its domination in '07, with the introduction of the ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow and JB-2 to the line, plus the return of the SB-2 due to a surge in demand thanks to Ryan Keinle of the red-hot band Matchbook Romance.

Plus, for the first time ever, lefties can get in the action, with the new L-2000 "Lefty" and Legacy "Lefty" delivering the same superb level of craftsmanship, tone and playability the righties have been raving about. Check out the '07 G&L Tribute Series lineup!

G&L 25th Anniversary Model unveiled at Winter NAMM

January 2006 - With all of the planning and testing finally done, including creating new tooling to produce the original Magnetic Field Design humbucker design, the 25th Anniversary model has finally come to fruition. Learn more about it.

Staind bassist Johnny April signs on to endorse G&L exclusively

November 2005 - "The L-2500 is really all that I play," bassist Johnny April, a member of the chart-topping rock group Staind, told artist relations manager Lisa Sharken while discussing his preference for playing G&L basses. April is already very much attached to his two L-2500 5-string basses which he purchased online and uses both onstage, as well as in the studio. According to April, his L-2500s were used extensively while recording Staind's new disc, Chapter V.

G&L proudly welcomes Johnny April to the family and looks forward to working together in the future! Check out Chapter V and don't miss Staind live! The group will be touring through the end of the year. For more information on April and Staind, visit www.staind.com. For G&L news and product info, go to www.glguitars.com.

INXS guitarist Kirk Penguilly orders an ASAT Special Deluxe

October 2005 - Kirk's first Special Deluxe will sport a Premium Flame top

Staind bassist Johnny April orders two new G&L L-2500 basses

October 2005 - Johnny adds some more custom L-2500 basses to his G&L quiver

The Dillinger Escape Plan bassist Liam Wilson talks about with his new L-2000

October 2005 - Liam Wilson is stoked:

I had never played a G&L bass until Mike MacIvor from Candiria put one in my hands. I was sort of worried that the tone I've been working towards would get thrown off track if I switched gear, but I was interested in playing a better instrument than what I've been playing. To make a long story short, within a week of getting my new bass, I've found that changing to the L-2000 was a really easy transition. It plays great, the balance is nice, the neck is fast, and the tone is ballsy but not too harsh. I'm really happy with my new L-2000. There are a few things I'll need to adjust to, but most of which will probably make me a better player anyway. I can't keep my hands off it, and can't wait to get my hands on the new ASAT bass I ordered!

The Dillinger Escape Plan bassist Liam Wilson orders two new G&L basses

August 2005 - Liam Wilson beefs up his G&L arsenal with two new axes:

30 Seconds To Mars bassist Matt Wachter high on G&L

August 2005 - In an email to G&L Artist Relations Manager, Lisa Sharken, Matt candidly told Lisa that "It's taken me a very long time to find a bass that I am happy with, and I've finally found it with G&L!"

August 2005 - Shorty talks about his life, music and his G&L guitars. Read the interview.

Umphrey's McGee bassist Ryan Stasik signs with G&L

August 2005 - Ryan Stasik has officially signed as an exclusive endorser of G&L basses.

The Iron Maidens bassist Wanda Ortiz orders a new G&L guitar

July 2005 - Wanda Ortiz may be known for her rock solid basslines with The Iron Maidens, but she enjoys guitars, too. Wanda ordered a G&L Invader XL to fill the void:

Dickies bassist Greg Hanna orders SB-2 bass

July 2005 - Greg Hanna is beefs up his G&L arsenal with an SB-2:

Corrosion Of Conformity bassist Mike Dean orders two new G&L basses

July 2005 - Mike Dean switches to G&L with two new axes:

Legendary Funk, R&B bassist Brandino orders his next G&L bass

July 2005 - Longime G&L player Kevin Brandon, a.k.a. Brandino, adds an L-1505 to his arsenal:

Tsunami Bomb and Hoobastank bassist Matt McKenzie orders a G&L Tribute Series bass

July 2005 - Matts adds a Tribute Series L-2000:

The Beautiful Mistake guitarist Caleb Nason takes delivery of a G&L Invader XL

July 2005 - Caleb loved the G&L Invader XL for its heavier tones, which complement guitarist/vocalist Josh Hagquist's ASAT Special's MFD single coil tones:

The Beautiful Mistake guitarist/vocalist Josh Hagquist orders a G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow

July 2005 - Josh Hagquist is a big fan of the tone and feel of his ASAT Specials, but he wants to explore the tonal diversity of the G&L range. A killer Bluesboy Semi-Hollow for his next G&L is a great place to start:

Twisted Sister bassist Mark Mendoza shows off his G&L L-1500 on VH-1's new show, "Meet the Sniders."

June 2005 - Twisted Sister's Mark Mendoza is seen playing his greenburst L-1500 on VH-1's new show "Meet The Sniders," which is a reality series that follows the group's singer Dee Snider's family. Every single live segment shows Mark with his G&L bass, and even Dee Snider's son Cody is shown playing his G&L L-2000 Tribute Series!

30 Seconds To Mars bassist Matt Wachter orders his next G&L bass

July 2005 - Matts adds a black L-2000:

Dickies bassist scores two new G&L basses

September 2004 - Greg Hanna scores new JB-2 and SB-2 and is blown away. Greg sent an email to G&L Artist Relations Manager Lisa Sharken to let us know. Check it out!

Warrant Interview at guitars.com

September 2004 - G&L Artist Relations Manager, Lisa Sharken, interviews Joey Allen and Erik Turner of Warrant. Read it and check out the photos here.

Sworn Enemy bassist loves G&L

September 2004 - Mike Couls of Sworn Enemy is a big fan of G&L basses. Mike wrote us an email from the road to share his experience with G&L. Check it out!

ASAT JD-5™ debuts at Summer NAMM 2004

July 2004 - Introduced at Summer NAMM, the G&L ASAT JD-5 brings a distinct vintage flavor to the ASAT Classic with the use of traditional Alnico pickups, while at the same time offering added tonal flexibility via a SuperSwitch 5-way pickup selector. The SuperSwitch is wired to offer additional pickup combinations of neck+bridge out-of-phase in the 4th position, and the 2nd position position offers a darkened neck pickup tone by the use of a .0022 cap in parallel. For the first time, a Legacy neck pickup appears on the ASAT Classic platform, sans cover, while the complementary Alnico single coil bridge pickup is Seymour Duncan's APTL-3JD.

Tribute ASAT Special Semi-Hollow debuts at Winter NAMM 2004

January 2004 - Introduced at Winter NAMM, the new Tribute ASAT Special Semi-Hollow by G&L has a swamp ash body with voice chambers the same dimensions as those found on the original USA G&L model. The Tribute ASAT Special Semi-Hollow features include G&L's proprietary Magnetic Field Design pickups and Saddle-Lock bridge. Presently available with a rosewood fingerboard and pearl pickguard, the guitar is finished in Tobacco Sunburst. Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow is shipping now.

Check out the Tribute ASAT Special Semi-Hollow.

Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow debuts at Summer NAMM 2003

July 2003 - Introduced at Summer NAMM, the Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow by G&L has a swamp ash body with voice chambers the same dimensions as those found on the original USA G&L model. The Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow features G&L's proprietary Magnetic Field Design pickups made in the G&L plant in Fullerton California. Presently available with a maple fingerboard and tortoiseshell pickguard, the guitar is finished in 3-Tone Sunburst. Check out the Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow.

UPDATE: December 2003 - Tribute ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow is now shipping.

Will Ray Signature Model debuts at Summer NAMM 2002

This B-Bending and mind-bending axe was designed by the legendary craftsmen of G&L and the legendary guitarist, Will Ray. Click here to learn more.

Just-A-Jam Wrap-up: G&L Enthusiasts Jam with Will Ray!

On Saturday, March 23rd, 2002, a group of enthusiasts who play, collect and love G&L Instruments got together for the 1st Annual "Just-A-Jam." Concieved and organized by Brian Gagnon, long time www.guitarsbyleo.com participant, more than 70 G&L players converged on Fat Ted's Bar and Restaurant in the legendary Deep Ellum quarters of Dallas for an evening of good eats, drinks, music and of course, G&L guitars and basses.

Gagnon commented: "All of us met on the G&L enthusiast website, www.guitarsbyleo.com, because we're all die hard G&L fans. The idea began when I suggested that members of guitarsbyleo gang meet at the Dallas Guitar Show, but it escalated into a full fledged event!"

G&L's Dave McLaren showed up with one of one of the hottest axe slingers around, Will Ray of Hellecasters fame. Ray was in town with G&L for the Dallas Guitar Show and came to Just-A-Jam to have some fun. What started out with Ray playing a couple songs from his new album, "Mojo Blues", turned into a marathon jam session lasting five hours. Anyone attending the event had an opportunity to jam with Ray. "Whether you were young or old, beginner or pro, Will Ray played with you!" said an enthusiastic participant. Player after player took their turn playing everything from Blues to Classic Rock with Will Ray at their side playing lead guitar.

Dave McLaren was thrilled with Just-A-Jam: "It was truly rewarding to hang out with all these players, most of whom are regulars on www.guitarsbyleo.com. These are folks really appreciate the hand crafted quality of G&L instruments and Leo Fender's innovations incorporated into them. Having an opportunity to hang out and jam with these guys, many I'd known for years from guitarsbyleo.com, was very rewarding to say the least. Brian Gagnon did a wonderful job in organizing Just-A-Jam."

G&L factory representatives from Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma attended Just-A-Jam, as well as dealers from as far away as California. Participants for the jam flew in from Boston, Chicago, Florida, and all points around the Southwest. As the jam session came to a close well after midnight, the crowd gave a standing ovation to Will Ray, whose parting words were, "This was great! See you all next year!"

Don't miss the pictorial of Just-A-Jam on www.guitarsbyleo.com! Thanks to Bob Wachter for the photography!

Brian Gagnon jams on his G&L 20th Anniversary model

It has been said that if you give one million monkeys typewriters, you would eventually get Shakespeare. Now the real question is, if you take a bunch of guitar/bass players, give 'em all G&L's, put them in a cozy local bar, and serve plenty of cold libations, can you even expect to get The Monkees?

G&L Just-a-Jam 2002 is set for 8:30pm on Saturday, March 23rd at Fat Ted's in Deep Ellum (that's in Dallas, Texas for all of you out of town jammers) and conveniently close to Fair Park, home of The 25th Anniversary Dallas Guitar Show & Musicfest. It could prove to be a treat for those of you who want to get up on stage and get down with fellow G & L players. The only requirements are that you play a G&L and want to have a good time. Participants of guitarsbyleo.com are especially welcome. G & L and guitarsbyleo.com are used by permission. G&L Just-a-Jam 2002 is not affiliated with G&L, guitarsbyleo.com, or its parent company, BBE.

The Dallas Guitar Show & Musicfest began in a small ballroom in the Sheraton Mockingbird Hotel back in 1978 with the vision of the late Charlie Wirz. His dream launched an event that many musicians and enthusiasts still look forward to a quarter of a Century later. It takes a great idea to launch a major event like The Dallas Guitar Show, however small its beginning. G&L Just-a-Jam 2002 is the brainchild of Just-a-Guy, Brian Gagnon. Brian was dreaming out loud one day about asking all G&L players attending The Dallas Guitar Show to come out in support of the instruments so many love to play. Little did he know that his dream would become the reality of G&L Just-a-Jam 2002.

So this year, pack your G&L before you leave for The Dallas Guitar Show and plan to showcase your chops in Deep Ellum, March 23rd, at the first (of hopefully many more to come) G&L Just-a-Jam 2002. Now if you do not already have a G&L, I'm sure you can find one at the show. Ah, so many booths, so little time.

Fat Ted's is located at 2713 Commerce Street in Deep Ellum. Directions from Fair Park and The 25th Anniversary Dallas Guitar Show & Musicfest: north on First Avenue, left on Canton, right on Henry, right on Commerce. G&L Just-a-Jam 2002 begins at 8:30 sharp. Amps will be provided by Sewell Amplifiers. G&L Just-a-Jam 2002 will feature players of all shapes, sizes, and technical abilities. If you haven't perfected that Steve Vai solo yet, can't cut a groove like Stanley Clarke, or your band's sound would make Oedipus leave home if he lived next door, don't worry about it. We're still waiting on the monkeys' Hamlet. Until then, see you at Fat Ted's on March 23rd for G&L Just-a-Jam 2002.

Event contact:

Brian Gagnon (a.k.a. "Just-A-Guy")
Just-A-Jam Organizer

Visit the G&L Just-A-Jam Website created by Mark Daigle (a.k.a. "The Cajun Boy) for more details and map t

Phyllis Fender Honored for 10 Years Service as Honorary Chair of G&L Guitars, the Company Founded by her husband, Leo Fender, legendary creator of electric guitars.

January 2002 - The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) annual trade show in Anaheim, California, was the occasion chosen to present Mrs. Leo ("Phyllis") Fender with a plaque honoring her for her support and contribution to G&L Guitars in Fullerton, California. G&L was founded in 1980 by her late husband, the legendary Leo Fender, creator of the original solidbody bolt-on neck guitar. Presenting the plaque was John McLaren, Chairman and CEO of parent company BBE Sound, Inc. of Huntington Beach. "Mrs. Fender recognizes her husband's passion for creating these exciting instruments never waned and she continues to take a lively interest in the success of G&L Guitars which are still lovingly hand-crafted in Fullerton, California, just as Leo Fender would have wanted."

Pictured above: David C. McLaren, Mrs. Fender, John C. McLaren

New G&L website debut

January 2002 - Welcome to the new G&L website, certain to please both eyes and ears of G&L enthusiasts and musicians new to the brand.

The new site kicks off with an impressive collection of instrument imagery from renowned studio photographer Randy Logan. Crisp clear resolution and color worthy of the G&L instruments was the goal achieved by Logan. There are other instruments currently being photographed at Logan's studio so that we can bring you more photos very soon.

G&L fans will also be pleased to see a major expansion of our internet factory tour efforts. A total of three tours will be offered, all under the banner "The Fender Avenue Experience". Carried over from the previous website with only minor modifications is the Original Factory Tour, with well over 100 captioned photos. Next up is the all-new high-resolution Fender Avenue Factory Pictorial, featuring the beautiful on-location photography of Los Angeles' John Connell, shot in and around the historic G&L plant on Fender Avenue. Connell's Pictorial offers stunning imagery of all sorts of production processes, as well as the interior of Leo Fender's personal laboratory and office. The third tour, expected to be released early February, will be offered via streaming video clips allowing site users to actually see and hear the G&L team hand making guitars and basses.

Users can also hear G&L instruments being played by talented musicians, including Los Angeles based studio session artists Brandino, JP Cervoni, Steve Trovato, Fabrizio Grossi and Arnie Newman. The Audio Clip library will be a dynamic, continually growing effort featuring musicians from outside and within the company.

In late February, there will be an Owner's Comments section where site users can read about G&L owners' experiences and model preferences, as well as contribute their own comments. It's no secret that G&L owners are passionate about their instruments and want to share their experiences with other musicians.

We hope you enjoy the new G&L website, and return again soon to experience the latest content and feature additions.