Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:44 pm
Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:07 pm
Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:42 pm
Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:20 pm
Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:41 pm
Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:39 am
Miles Smiles wrote:I also have some memories about the discussion on "Guitars by Leo", but could have been in the old style forum.
This was part of the second question, but my first is still not handled.
Craig wrote:[From a post on the G&LDP: by GPD on January 07, 2007]
The Leo Fender "Signature" decal on the headstock of G&L's appeared much earlier than
the formal "Signature Series" guitars. Use of some sort of "Leo Fender" or "By Leo Fender"
on a headstock started with the Broadcaster model of 1985. This infiltrated most other G&L
headstock decals from this time forward and continued through the remainder of the pre-BBE
era (up through November 1991) and a short while into the BBE era until Fender (FMIC)
pressured BBE to cease and desist...so to speak.
The actual signature series guitars with the Leo Fender decal on the body (not the headstock)
started in 88' though they were not even listed in the price sheet until 1990. The original that
spawned this idea (Dale Hyatt's idea) was a guitar physically signed by
Leo Fender with a paint pencil prior to the top coats being applied. The idea was that there
would be enough built for 1 each to each dealer but it never happened. After the first was built
Leo said, "No More!"...and there were no more. This 1, hand-signed guitar still belongs to
Mr. Hyatt.
Anyway, signature series guitars were massively popular and G&L made a sheete-load of
them during the years they existed. I should note that sheete-load is still a relatively small
number in volume considering G&L at its peak could muster no more than 40 instruments per
day back then.
BBE took over management in early November of 91' and they continued to make them but not
for long. I'm not certain exactly when BBE ceased making the signature series guitars but
sometime in 92' to mid-93-ish timeframe would be my guess. The Commemorative model had a
special body signature decal on it as well and when this model drew to a close in May of 1993
and that was it for the Leo Fender signature decals.
Gabe
Addendum: The Signature Series was officially ended on May 20, 1992 with a letter to the G&L
dealers. Here's a copy of that letter in our Gallery: 1992 "No More Signature Series" Letter --Craig
Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:31 am
Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:39 am
Miles Smiles wrote:Cool, thank you very much.
Wonder how I managed not to find that, 'cause I did some search. Anyway, now this knowledge is concentrated in one thread in knowlegdebase.
Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:38 am
Craig wrote:Miles Smiles wrote:Cool, thank you very much.
Wonder how I managed not to find that, 'cause I did some search. Anyway, now this knowledge is concentrated in one thread in knowlegdebase.
Here's the original post in this sub-forum of the Knowledgebase: "Guitars by Leo" missing on headstock....?. Not sure how you missed it.