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

Return to www.guitarsbyleo.com's Registry

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.