One of a kind guitar - how do I find out from G & L?

[louloomis]

Hi. Does anyone have the contact info for someone at G&L I could send my serial # to? I believe I have a one-of-a-kind G&L guitar built for a promo and I want to get more information about it.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
LL

[Miles Smiles]

Post some pictures and the serial number right here!

[louloomis]

I don't have any pix right now, but the serial # is:

CLF1104x

(where x is a number from 0-9).

Thanks.
LL

[yowhatsshakin]

I don't have any pix right now, but the serial # is:

CLF1104x

(where x is a number from 0-9).

Thanks.
LL

You meant the Invader XL with S/N CLF11045 registered by you didn't you? We are amongst friends and fellow G&L aficionados here on this Forum so there is no real need to secrecy As Miles Smiles states, a couple of pics would be very helpful. Not only because we might be able to help you out here but also because it would irrefutably proof the guitar exists

- Jos

[louloomis]

Hi. Thanks. I forgot that I registered it. Thanks for reminding me.

I am not sure if I understand your note correctly, but just to be sure of my intentions:

I have no particular mistrust for this discussion group or any discussion group. I and many other people don't make a habit of posting guitar serial numbers unmasked on the internet for obvious reasons.

Please consider this seeming contradiction in your note:

1. Your note implies re: the serial # masking: "why don't you trust us?"
2. Your note implies re: the photo request: "we don't trust you (that the guitar exists)"

Just curious - why would I ask a question about a guitar which doesn't exist and also for which I've already posted a serial #?

I know "we're all G&L afficionados and friends here" as your note says. So, I knocked on your door - am I welcome in the group or do I have to slip a photo of myself under the door to prove I exist even though you heard the knock already?

Thanks.
LL

[louis cyfer]

you might want to read through some of the forum. the motto on this forum, if there is no picture the guitar does not exist. jos was making a play on that. it is not a sign of mistrust, instead just a playful variation on the forum motto. this should be obvious, that we are not actually questioning the existence of the guitar. as far as not posting the serial numbers, with some guitars it makes sense, not so much with g&l's. ebay auctions are a different issue, people have tried to make claims for guitars with having the serial numbers.

so, please post some pics of the guitar, there are some very knowledgeable people here who could help you identify it, but the serial is usually not enough, and it will lay to rest the questions about the existence of the guitar

[louloomis]

Sounds good. Thanks. Will do asap.

Regards,
LL

[yowhatsshakin]

Sorry louloomis if it didn't come over right, and thanks louis for providing additional context.

So much for emoticons to replace the wink and a smile ...

- Jos

[Craig]

Hi Lou,

You may not remember, but in March of 2009, I emailed you about this guitar when
you registered it. One of the things I asked you was which G&L dealer did you get it from?
Your reply was:

FYI...I did not purchase the guitar from a dealer. It was a new guitar given to me by G&L.

Can you elaborate on this? Who from G&L gave it to you and where did this occur?
I would definitely like to see the custom color finish, custom body wood and neck wood.
So, please do post some photos and I will try and help get more detail about it. See this
post for instructions on posting photos: Tutorial: Posting photos.

[louloomis]

Hi. I'm very sorry, I don't remember getting an e-mail from you.

Your quote from me below is correct, though. Still, sorry for not remembering.

Not sure why it is important who from G&L gave it to me and where it occurred. Please explain.

For example, as for where I was given the guitar - I was given the guitar inside my home. I can't see how this changes anything about my questions about the guitar.

I don't know if you work for G&L or what the context here.

Please explain.

Thanks.
LL

[yowhatsshakin]

Hey LL,

I'm confused now. Your original post seems to indicate that you want to know more about your guitar. The G&L Support page clearly states these 2 things:

• One is encouraged to visit this forum for more information on G&L guitars
• G&L can be contacted directly only for out-of-warranty repairs. For all other things one is referred to this forum and/or your dealer

Now, it is clear you don't have a dealer. And it is clear that G&L likes to refrain as much as possible from being contacted directly by people that play/own their instruments. So that leaves this forum where some of us, most notably webmaster Craig, have very good connections with some within G&L. And my educated guess is that they certainly would like to help you out to either retrieve the requested information and/or provide other means to get to it if so warranted.

However, you seem to be extraordinarily reluctant to share some details related to your guitar for reasons that are somewhat puzzling to me. If you want some help to obtain information on your guitar, for whatever ulterior motive you may have, it would be extremely helpful if you at least give us some rope so we can help you out. Now you just make it harder than it should be. You could have had your info several posts ago if you would have been just a tad more forthcoming.

So what is it you do know about your guitar such that we can help you efficiently finding out the things you don't know about your guitar?

And if you don't want to share the details with the rest of us, you can send Craig a Private Message (PM) with the details and go from there.

Apologies if this all sounds a little stern. I realize this post doesn't help you in any way, shape, or form to get your requested info faster but, notwithstanding that, I hope it is helpful

- Jos

[louloomis]

I re-read your e-mail just now.

What I do know is that:
1. It's an Invader (likely an Invader XL).
2. It has 2 Duncans - A JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck (that's what I remember at least).
3. The body and neck look like mahogany.
4. The finish is some type of translucent red (body/neck/headstock)
5. The fingerboard wood seems to be ebony, but it could just be darkly-stained rosewood.
6. Tuners are very high quality locking tuners. Just so amazingly well made. Excellent quality!
7. Bridge is a hardtail.
8. Neck is fat and juicy. Truly an excellent neck profile. Nice and JUICY! FAT! Very noteworthy neck profile.
9. Fingerboard radius is pretty flat. Not sure of the radius exactly, but good. Sometimes I think it is a little too flat, but it's still fine the way it is. For rock and fusion, it's excellent.

So I am looking to confirm:

A) Wood questions (body/neck/fingerboard)
B) Model # (may as well not assume anything)
C) year
D) Is it a one-of-a kind promo item as I believe it is or maybe not or maybe it's just a bunch of custom features that someone has likely ordered at one time or another?

Thank you for suggesting I send Craig a PM. I will do so.

And thank you to everyone who helped the discussion get to this point. Hopefully I'll get some info and be able to share it with the group.

Regards,
LL

[willross]

You could set-up a user gallery page and submit pictures there. I would also add that you could ask the person from G&L whom gave you this guitar... Is this to assess the value so you can throw it up on eBay? At any rate, I did enjoy you in Caddyshack...


Cheers,

Will

[louis cyfer]

Hi. I'm very sorry, I don't remember getting an e-mail from you.

Your quote from me below is correct, though. Still, sorry for not remembering.

Not sure why it is important who from G&L gave it to me and where it occurred. Please explain.

For example, as for where I was given the guitar - I was given the guitar inside my home. I can't see how this changes anything about my questions about the guitar.

I don't know if you work for G&L or what the context here.

Please explain.

Thanks.
LL

i think the info of who gave the guitar and where, could be very useful for craig to see who to talk to at g&l, and to jar their memory to see if they remember what was the guitar given. that would be the easiest and most accurate method of identifying it.

[KenC]

So I am looking to confirm:

A) Wood questions (body/neck/fingerboard)
B) Model # (may as well not assume anything)
C) year
D) Is it a one-of-a kind promo item as I believe it is or maybe not or maybe it's just a bunch of custom features that someone has likely ordered at one time or another?

LL,

I'll echo what others have said. The only way we can help ID the woods are with photos. Ditto for the exact model, as it's about impossible to describe all of the curves and contours. Discussions about body wood and fingerboards are very common on this site.

The only way to really nail down the production year is by carefully removing the neck. There should be date stamps on the heel of the neck and in the neck pocket. There could be other info in there as well, such as the fingerboard radius. You can approximate the year by searching the G&L Registry for a serial number range around your instrument's, but this would only give an approximation since the serial numbers were not sequential until very recently.

I'm not familiar with the current or recent Invader model(s), but if this one is very unusual it could be an employee guitar. Craig or some of the other regulars could give you more information on current practices, but from the very beginning in 1980 employees were allowed to build their own instruments for the cost of the materials, with whatever customization they chose. This may fit with your statements about being given the guitar, as employee instruments do seem to make it onto the used market and could just as well be given as gifts. One of mine had a similar lineage up through the previous owner.

I hope this helps.

Ken

[yowhatsshakin]

Hey Lou,

Thanks for the info. That is extremely helpful. In '98, G&L introduced the Custom Creations Department built mahogany bodied Junior '98. Today, I just received the three 20th Century Guitar issues (May/June/July 2005) containing Greg Gagliano's exposé on the history of the ASAT. In it he mentions that the last Jr. was produced in 2002. This may have some relevance, since a search in the Registry for S/N between CLF11000 and CLF11100, which includes the S/N for your Invader (XL), contain some guitars with neck dates in 2002 and 2004. Up to the release of the 25th Anniversary edition in 2006, G&L released several mahogany bodies instruments. I know there are hog Legacies, S-500's, and Comanches out there (see also this Production List of G&L Instruments), but I don't have any. Instead I'll show my hog ASAT models and you can compare appearance with your Invader XL (click picture for larger versions):
1- 1998 ASAT Junior in a Translucent Cherry finish

2- 2004 ASAT Super in a Tobacco Sunburst finish

3- 2004 ASAT HB in a 'Caramel' finish

4- 2006 25th Anniversary Edition in a 'Root Beer' finish


Especially #3 might be relevant to you because it is part of a number of hog models built in 2004. It would not surprise me if they also built (atl least) one Invader with a mahogany body. And if so, its finish might be pretty similar to the ASAT HB shown above. In short, between '98 and '06, but particularly in 2004, G&L built quite a few mahogany instruments and it would be no surprise to me if your Invader XL is part of that, either as 'official' model, not withstanding that is nowhere officially listed, or as an employee guitar.

As far as fingerboards are concerned, G&L tends to not stain their ebony boards so they usually do show streaks (and sometime very pretty ones). But the wood still looks like a dark purple to black in stead of the brown tones seen on rosewood.

Hope this helps,
- Jos

[Craig]

I re-read your e-mail just now.

What I do know is that:
1. It's an Invader (likely an Invader XL).
2. It has 2 Duncans - A JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck (that's what I remember at least).
3. The body and neck look like mahogany.
4. The finish is some type of translucent red (body/neck/headstock)
5. The fingerboard wood seems to be ebony, but it could just be darkly-stained rosewood.
6. Tuners are very high quality locking tuners. Just so amazingly well made. Excellent quality!
7. Bridge is a hardtail.
8. Neck is fat and juicy. Truly an excellent neck profile. Nice and JUICY! FAT! Very noteworthy neck profile.
9. Fingerboard radius is pretty flat. Not sure of the radius exactly, but good. Sometimes I think it is a little too flat, but it's still fine the way it is. For rock and fusion, it's excellent.

So I am looking to confirm:

A) Wood questions (body/neck/fingerboard)
B) Model # (may as well not assume anything)
C) year
D) Is it a one-of-a kind promo item as I believe it is or maybe not or maybe it's just a bunch of custom features that someone has likely ordered at one time or another?

Thank you for suggesting I send Craig a PM. I will do so.

And thank you to everyone who helped the discussion get to this point. Hopefully I'll get some info and be able to share it with the group.

Regards,
LL

I'd like to help you find out the history of this guitar and am awaiting your PM. Also, please send me pictures of this guitar to craig@guitarsbyleo.com as it will help refresh memories at G&L.

[louloomis]

Hey Everyone,

Very cool stuff. Thanks again. I have taken photos and plan to Photoshop them down in size so I can either post or IM or mail them, etc.

I received the guitar in or somewhere near 2004-2006 I think (now that you've given the date range above). I remember using it in what I think was 2005, but I'm not sure.

The guitar looks like either the translucent cherry or caramel finish to me. As for the neck/ebony question - it does have some tasty streaks in it. That's what made me think "ebony!" in the first place. Very nice piece of wood indeed. Incredible.

Excellent. So just give me some time to shrink down the photos.

Craig - Thanks for the offer to help. Truly appreciate it. I'll send you a message with some additional details and the name of the G&L contact who gave me the guitar. Just trying to be respectful of people's privacy, etc. It was all on the up and up, so no mystery involved. Just trying to be courteous and ultra respectful to the company (and individual people) who were so completely and astonishingly courteous, cool, and so thoroughly generous to me. I feel it's the least I could do - and it's always the right thing to do, in my view.

Thanks.
LL

[yowhatsshakin]

Excellent. So just give me some time to shrink down the photos.

Hey Lou,

You do not necessarily have to resize them to post them on this forum. When you have your pics up on a hosting site (like PhotoBucket for example) in their original size (if possible), you can use the timage tags to display them rescaled to a reasonable size. Check the info on this tag in the Tutorial:Photo Posting link Craig provided in his post at the top.

- Jos

[louloomis]

Thanks. I just sent the pictures and details to Craig, the site administrator.

I didn't have a chance yet to read the picture posting tutorial.

Thank you again.

Regards,
LL

[Craig]

Thanks. I just sent the pictures and details to Craig, the site administrator.

I didn't have a chance yet to read the picture posting tutorial.

Thank you again.

Regards,
LL

I received LL's email and was able to hook him up with Dave to get the info he was looking for.

Here's the pictures he sent me, and as you can see, it does exist









A very nice and unique all Mahogany Invader XL.

[yowhatsshakin]

Sweet! Beautiful guitar. Can also understand the confusion now because there is no model decal on the headstock.

- Jos

[louis cyfer]

very nice. definitely ebony board.

[louloomis]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks again for all your help. A special Tip of the Topper to Craig for doing all the heavy lifting on this one. Craig, you certainly are "Mr. Solid" so a very special thanks to you, sir, for all you did. Much obliged. And, Craig, thanks for uploading the photos! Ultra solid of you, sir! You're one of a kind, sir!

And, as for the guitar.......G&L quality - what more can you say? So tasty!

Thanks again, all.

LL

[louis cyfer]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks again for all your help. A special Tip of the Topper to Craig for doing all the heavy lifting on this one. Craig, you certainly are "Mr. Solid" so a very special thanks to you, sir, for all you did. Much obliged. And, Craig, thanks for uploading the photos! Ultra solid of you, sir! You're one of a kind, sir!

And, as for the guitar.......G&L quality - what more can you say? So tasty!

Thanks again, all.

LL

craig indeed is incredible. so what is the story? can we find out? prototype, employee built, special order?

[zapcosongs]

You could set-up a user gallery page and submit pictures there. I would also add that you could ask the person from G&L whom gave you this guitar... Is this to assess the value so you can throw it up on eBay? At any rate, I did enjoy you in Caddyshack...


Cheers,

Will

I just found this thread, and man Will, you just made me pee myself a little. Bastid'!

But it is true that all's well that ends well. - ed

PS: Lou - Beautiful guitar you have there. The hardtail really appeals to me, and I keep looking for a seam in that 'Hog body someplace.....

[louis cyfer]

it must be pre 2007, it has a bicut neck. as ed says, the body sure looks to be one piece.

[SouthpawGuy]

Nice guitar. Definitely looks like an ebony fingerboard.

[louloomis]

Thanks all.

This is what I fortunate enough to find out (again, thanks):

Invader XL in Clear Red over mahogany
ebony fingerboard
saddle Lock bridge
year (shipped in 2004)
mahogany neck
radius should be 12"
1 5/8" nut width
tuners are Schaller locking
pickups are 59 and JB

This guitar was part of a promotional effort and a mahogany neck was not on the price list at that time (not sure if it is now).

Finally, someone asked if this effort was being conducted to assess the instrument's value so I could sell it on the well-known auction site. The answer is that my motivation was only to learn more details about an instrument I have. I have no intention of selling this instrument at this point in time.

Regards,
LL