New G&L Facebook page - CLF RESEARCH CO.

Picked this up from behind a bench in the lab, ancient dust bunnies and all. I love R&D artifacts the most.

Skyhawk porn! The ‘80s kicked ass, at least what I can remember. Here is evidence that Leo and George definitely had their game on.

What amp is that lovely Skyhawks leaning on?

Curious minds want to know.

What amp is that lovely Skyhawks leaning on?

Curious minds want to know.

Speaking of amps, I wonder if G&L ever plans to market any of her prototype amps (Legacy 100, etc.) that Leo designed for G&L. That would be cool.

What amp is that lovely Skyhawks leaning on?

Curious minds want to know.

Speaking of amps, I wonder if G&L ever plans to market any of her prototype amps (Legacy 100, etc.) that Leo designed for G&L. That would be cool.

Sam, I will check to see what that amp is next month during NAMM. It may be one of the Whippersnapper (aka Spadra 112) prototypes which Paul Gagon built. See: G&L Whippersnapper..

Dan, the Legacy 50 and 100 prototype amps were built by Bedrock Amps but were not designed by Leo for G&L. IIRC, they were commissioned by G&L in the late 90's. See: G&L Legacy One Hundred Amplifier. Neither these nor the ones Paul Gagon built went beyond the prototype stage. I will ask Dave if they have any future plans for G&L amps when I see him in January at NAMM.

I had no idea there were ever any amps, even at the prototype stage; cool to see both of them. It's unusual to me; believe Fender built amps (and radios) before guitars, Music Man got some renown and recognition for their amps at a time, but seems the idea didn't cross Leo's mind for G&L?

I feel like there's so much flux and saturation in the amp world right now, I'd hold off on bringing any to market too without having some real pioneering idea. Nothing beats a good amp, but I think a lot of guitarists are discovering amp-less solutions that are more convenient and sound better than ever. Amps might go obsolete, but the thing you hold in your hands probably won't

Dan, the Legacy 50 and 100 prototype amps were built by Bedrock Amps but were not designed by Leo for G&L. IIRC, they were commissioned by G&L in the late 90's. See: G&L Legacy One Hundred Amplifier. Neither these nor the ones Paul Gagon built went beyond the prototype stage. I will ask Dave if they have any future plans for G&L amps when I see him in January at NAMM.

Thanks Craig for straightening that out, and thanks for asking Dave too. Part of me is a little let down that Leo either didn't design any amps after starting G&L or that none found their way to even the prototype stage.

Perhaps he felt there was nothing to improve over his original Fender designs. Seems today, other than the digital/modeling stuff, that good tube amp circuits are pretty much what they were in Leo/s day.

Thanks Craig. I recall the Whippersnapper. Cool little amp, if I remember correct it was sort of a 20 watter that for whatever reason didn’t get the response needed to take beyond prototype.

Perhaps he felt there was nothing to improve over his original Fender designs. Seems today, other than the digital/modeling stuff, that good tube amp circuits are pretty much what they were in Leo/s day.

It's true that there hasn't been a great deal of innovation in tube amp circuits in the last 30 years, but the same was true for Stratocasters and Telecasters when Leo started G&L. Strats and Teles haven't changed much in the last 60+ years, yet Leo found a way to improve on his original designs. I suspect (and perhaps I am just optimistic?) that the reason wasn't a lack of interest or innovation. I rather suspect it that embarking on a second focus (amplifiers) while still building up the brand would have seemed an unnecessary risk at the time.

Who knows? In any case, you're certainly right about the tube amps today being essentially the same as they were back in the day. I still like to hope there is a new amp design or two deep in Leo's closet...

1980s Clear Red action

I just love everything about this 1987 ASAT headstock.

I finally got an Espada!!! Somehow this got built in honeyburst with pearl guard. The story had something to do with an artist who maybe changed an order...whatever. So we have a CLFR concept from 1969 dressed up totally like a G&L from 1999. My mind is tripping but I like it, like it, yes I do.

The CLF Research CLF-67/68 developmental prototype from 1967-1968. It is a snapshot in time of Leo’s pioneering spirit, almost quaintly still housed in a Telecaster body, before the fancier Espada styling work was done in 1969. It still amazes me to imagine that Leo was literally constructing the future on the foundation he had created less than 20 years before.

Leo grounded the Jaguar/Mustang bridge to control panel by going above the body with a guitar string; maybe more discreet than a wire, and easily covered by the pickguard

Only mod I'd make to it

Happy New Year! Pretty sure 2020 is gonna kick ass.

The Ritual: the moment when you peel off the pickguard film on your new axe. I didn’t even notice the film was still on until the stuff started rolling up. Whoa, that white pearl is looking swank

I got caught stealing Leo’s pen.

Here is one of Dale's -

cool! lapel pins or cuff links?

cool! lapel pins or cuff links?

Lapel pins (cuff links would be snazzy!)

“No one knows who they were or what they were doin’...but their legacy remains” NAMM display stuff being packed for the show.

The CLF Research paint shop floor looks like a Jackson Pollock painting started here back in 1976.
Maybe someday we will have to diamond grind the floor to clear it, but I like knowing that four decades
of G&L plus the first four years of MM production is history that’s literally under my feet.
Somehow that feels powerful to me.

This L-1000 was born on September 25, 1980 and now belongs to our friend Rob Wolanski
The Bartolini stuff was added long ago before Rob bought it. It also has a sketchy neck, so....yeah.
What we have here, see, is a Project Instrument. NAMM is over, time to get back to tinkering with old stuff!

1966 photo of Leo’s drafting table in his first CLF Research building on Elm Street. I just took a photo of that photo, sitting on the same drafting table in his CLF Research building here on Fender Avenue.

This well-worn L-1000 was born on February 5, 1982 and is owned by Jordan Brooks who visited us today.
Aside from the fact that my “want” button was absolutely smashed, note the matte black finish on the bridge plate;
more powder coated black hardware would follow on various G&L models but with a textured crinkle finish as we use
on the Doheny V12 today.

Leo kept wiring diagrams in binders, such as this “Jazzmaster” example. Can’t know for sure it’s for Jazzmaster guitar without those quotation marks, ‘cause it was mid-century America, baby, where all the cool kids wrote their nicknames in quotation marks like in Grease.

Leo in the creative zone: during the second half of the ‘80s he got his MFD Z-coil action sorted. Good things take time, sometimes years.

A naturally potent pair: ASAT and ASAT Classic Leo Fender Signature models.

Memento from the good old days: “Fender 1965 Stratocaster in Sonic Blue, Serial No. 104232” I’m gonna clean this up and hang it somewhere around here.

Many of the pots in Leo’s laboratory parts bins are used. Why? Because Leo doesn’t throw away perfectly good pots when he’s done tinkering with a project. To me this is a cool little demonstration of the values of Leo Fender.

John showed me this stack of aluminum S-500 pickguards and the idea of sexy CLFR black crinkle powdercoat is absolutely smashing my want button. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? : )

Finally, a quiet moment in the lounge, a nice time to appreciate any good fortune in my life. We often take for granted the little things, like when a good friend makes an impulsive decision to sell a guitar and calls you with a deal and you’re like “uh, yeah, I’ll take it off your hands” and you know they regret it later. Isn’t that right Patrick? Anyway, what we have here is a rare 1987 Skyhawk in Sunburst on maple body, ebony board, matching headstock, roller nut and CLF fine tuner vibrato. It’s just gorgeous.

Bustin’ out the old George Fullerton model looking fine in Clear Blue over swamp ash with pearl guard.
Got the V neck, too, and 3-bolt. This thing has major ‘90s G&L vibes that l love.

Never expected I'd own a blue one, but that 90's finish looks so good...




Cheers,
Will

Will, is that the one you got from Jimmy @ Southpaw? If so, you sure cleaned it up well! That thing was really grimey last I saw it.

'm having my own custom S-500 built with CLFR styling elements from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Right now I’m geeking out on the logo art mockup and I can already tell I’m gonna love this.

Does this possibly mean a CLF Research S-500 reissue with the old body style and pickups? That would be awesome!

Also - that F100 (Series II) neck appears new-ish. Bodes well

Will, is that the one you got from Jimmy @ Southpaw? If so, you sure cleaned it up well! That thing was really grimey last I saw it.

You know it! It needed work on top and inside... Now it is my favorite guitar!

This fix of his is hilarious:



Look at that screw!!! Love it!


Cheers,
Will

* This pic is pre-cleaning.......

We did the Jeff Floro: All About Guitar show again because it’s always a blast.
This time Steve Postell showed up with his Skyhawk HH and it was all fun and games.
Left to right: Jeff Floro, my ass, Steve Postell, Ron Moreno and Doug Moore.

Today’s practice menu: various Judas Priest faves and some Ratt, at least until Warren rips it hard and I’m like every third note or something oughta do it

Major Tom to Ground Control: all systems go aboard the Sabre II. Will the earth people be ready in 1978? Yes! Of course!
Give this technology to the young people, they can handle it! They were not ready. ; )

Taking this 1981 L-1000 out for a drive. This thing has so much mojo everyone wants it but noooo...this one is a keeper.

Some of Leo’s vibrato research and development.

My custom S-500 logo art is coming along. Next I’ll get this trimmed and stuck on a headstock face,
do a quick build to see exactly where strings are relative to the logo and generally how it looks.
Really trying to capture a fun feeling like we built it in the late ‘70s and it’s kinda flexing cause it knows it kicks ass. : )

May 5, 1980 pot samples from CTS for Leo’s approval. Something about that doesn’t sound quite right. ; )

The CLFR time portal sent me this old SB-1/SB-2 pickguard from the late ‘80s in our black crinkle powdercoated aluminum.
I needed one of these for a while then - bam! - suddenly I find one. I love it when that happens. : )

Artistic creativity extends to aspects of the workspace. I just made that up but it sounds legit.
Anyway, I noticed this bench getting more elaborate in its woodwork and I have no idea who or why.
I like a good mystery.

Mystery solved: Josh didn’t like the surface and this is the woodshop and there’s some bits of wood over there..