Head stock: "Guitars by Leo", "by Leo Fender" and just G&L

[Miles Smiles]

Below are examples for three different head stock decals.

Two things I'm wondering about:

First, what's the story behind "by Leo Fender", why did they cancel that? Because of FMIC?

Second, when "Guitars by Leo" was introduced, why didn't they start with all the guitars? My 1994 Legacy has it, the 1994 ASAT Special and the 1996 ASAT DeLuxe don't.

G&L only:



G&L by Leo Fender:



G&L Guitars by Leo:

[Ahryn]

Sorry to say I can't answer I just got distracted by the beautiful headstock porn.

Classy.

[yowhatsshakin]

Don't really know the answer either. My '96 Legacy Special for instance has nothing except 'USA' under Legacy. So it might entirely depend on a) what model and associated decal one is talking about and b) what decal is actually pulled out of the batch bin, given that G&L has been notorious for using up old stock and an element of randomness (think non-chronological order of increasing S/N when waterslide decals were used or S/N's were stamped on neck plate or bridge).

- Jos

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

.

If you do a few search queries of this forum for a discussion of the topic I vaguely remember it being another case of just using available parts without a definite plan.

In such a case the actual launch and ending of one decal format for another is not documented.

There could even be few old ones left and mixed in the grab bag to surface on a new guitar at some point in the future.

.

[Miles Smiles]

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.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

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.

Miles,

This may address your interests:

[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

Source Thread: http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic ... cal#p27012

[Miles Smiles]

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.

[Craig]

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.

Hope this helps.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

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.

That is the one I could only vaguely recall when I made this post earlier in this thread.