1999 www.guitarsbyleo.com Limited Edition
Brad W. Traweek's 1999 GbL_LE (#1 of 25)  - Photo © 1999 Brad Hansel

Photos
History
Specifications
Registered Examples

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I have a whole section of the Gallery devoted to the '99 GbL_LE, featuring pics of the prototypes and production guitars, as well as scans of the documentation that accompanied the guitars (including the Site History Document written by myself). To get there, click here.

Doug Abrams (owner of Indoor Storm) approached us in the summer of 1998 with the idea of creating a Guitars by Leo Limited Edition guitar (or GbL_LE for short), designed by - and intended for - the enthusiasts who frequent this page. G&L was quite open to the idea, and after months of effort by a number of individuals, the instrument became a reality. The resultant 25 guitars (and two prototypes) sold out within a matter of 36 hours. As far as we know, this is the first-ever production instrument to be entirely designed by the members of a web-based "community"; naturally, I'm pleased as punch!! ;-)

After months of discussion on this topic on the G&LDP (and a few "false starts"), the specifications for the instrument were finalized on December, 17th, 1998, and they appear below in their entirety. I suggested the ASAT III Semihollow as the "base model" for a number of reasons:

  • The ASAT III is a fabulous instrument that is not currently offered by G&L.
  • These pickups have never, ever before been offered on a semihollow instrument.  (BTW, in case you weren't aware, the pickups on the ASAT III are the same as those used in the S-500.)
Special note: The June 1999 issue of Twentieth Century Guitar Magazine has an article which features the GbL_LE - it's written by our own Greg Gagliano. The full text of that article can be found at this location on Greg's web site.

Year(s) 1999
Model www.guitarsbyleo.com Limited Edition (a.k.a. "GbL_LE")
Production total 25 (plus two prototypes)
Base model ASAT III
Body Mahogany, Semihollow (with F-hole), no binding, Natural Finish
Neck Birdseye Maple w/ Clear Gloss Finish and Ebony Fretboard
Pickguard Layered Black/White/Black
Pickup Covers Black
Hardware Chrome
Tuners Schaller Locking
Electronics Additional Pickup Switch (toggle or pot) Allowing Neck/Bridge & Neck/Middle/Bridge Combinations
GbL_LE Identifiers
  • www.guitarsbyleo.com on Neckplate
  • GbL_LE to appear as model name on headstock
  • Limited Edition Numbering (### of ###) on Neckplate
Documentation
  • Signed Limited Edition Documentation and COA from G&L Custom Creations
  • History of www.guitarsbyleo.com and the GbL_LE from Brad to accompany the guitar.
Case Tweed
Other Allow specification of neck radius/width on a per-guitar basis.

S/N
Model Neck Date Body Date Color Fretboard Body Bridge Other Features Owner
1. CL08479 GbL_LE     Honey Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock Mahogany body, tinted neck, std G&L/Schaller tuners, Prototype # 2, no "LE" designation roby.pick
2. CL08505 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock Mahogany body, # 1 neck, Prototype # 1, std G&L/Schaller tuners, no "LE" designation BWT
3. CLF12101 GbL_LE ??? ??, 1999 ??? ??, 1999 Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 7 of 25, # 1 oval. Details copied from Reverb sale here: https://reverb.com/item/40670363-g-l-gbl-le-electric-semi-hollow-guitar-1999 righteos
4. CLF12102 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 21 of 25, # 3 oval  
5. CLF12103 GbL_LE ??? ??, 1999 ??? ??, 1999 Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 6 of 25, # 1 neck, 6.90 lbs (Hidden)
6. CLF12106 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 14 of 25, # 3 V-neck, 4/12/99 completion date  
7. CLF12123 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 17 of 25, # 1 V-neck jmabry@flash.net
8. CLF12129 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 24 of 25, # 1 V-neck Jazzy Jay
9. CLF12172 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 11 of 25, # 1 oval Guitarist4U
10. CLF12173 GbL_LE ??? ??, 1999 ??? ??, 1999 Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 20 of 25, #1 oval 49d@earthlink.net
11. CLF12179 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 1 of 25, # 1 oval BWT
12. CLF12180 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 22 of 25, # 1 oval Kit
13. CLF12181 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 2 of 25, # 2 oval, joelew333@gmail.com
14. CLF12182 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 12 of 25, # 1 oval 12\\\" radius Bird\\\'s eye maple neck, lefty (the only left-handed GbL LE in the world!) Stevo
15. CLF12183 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 16 of 25, # 1 oval rrblues
16. CLF12184 GbL_LE MAR 11, 1999 MAR 1, 1999 Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 19 of 25, # 1 V-neck Other neck markings '#1', 'GbL', 'V' in accordance with neck. yowhatsshakin
17. CLF12186 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 10 of 25, # 2 oval D Shore
18. CLF12188 GbL_LE MAR 11, 1999 MAR 1, 1999 Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 23 of 25, # 2 oval Unity5358@aol.com
19. CLF12189 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 15 of 25, # 1 V-neck  
20. CLF12193 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 13 of 25, # 2 oval tfarney3@carolina.r...
21. CLF12200 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 3 of 25, # 1 neck  
22. CLF12352 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 9 of 25, # 2 oval (Hidden)
23. CLF12361 GbL_LE     Natural Gloss Ebony Mahogany Saddle-Lock 8 of 25, # 1 V-neck, 4-23-99 completion date SteveK
You can click the serial numbers in this column to edit the corresponding Instrument.
[Total Produced: 25]
[Total Registered to Date: 23]

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