Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

The place to introduce yourself to the other members here.
User avatar
Jhana
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:56 pm
Location: Location ,Location. O.C. CA

Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Jhana »

Just thought I'd pop in and say hi.
I was a builder at G&L in 1980 and 1981.
I used to sometimes mark the pick-up and control plate holes
with jh in cursive style, FWIW. I was on the other site today and saw that
someone had kept a hang tag, with my signature,from all those years ago
and a flood of memories came back.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
User avatar
Elwood
Posts: 2498
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:00 am
Location: Canada's Mexico

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Elwood »

A big Welcome Jhana,
I bet some of my old G&L's have a jh somewhere, I'll keep a keen eye out for that.
I know a job can be just a job, but being at G&L in the early years must have been
pretty cool.
cheers,
Elwood
User avatar
KenC
Posts: 2344
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:18 pm
Location: None of the above

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by KenC »

Welcome, Jhana!

I will keep an eye out for your initials on my early G&Ls too. I have some July '80 case candy, which I will check for a hang tag. I have three instruments built when you were there (an '80 L-1000 and F-100, and an '81 L-2000). Those are some of the best instruments I've ever played. Actually, it's a toss-up between the two basses for the best instrument I've ever played. They are phenomenal.

I think I can speak for the majority of board participants when I say: Stories! Please, please, stories!!!

Ken
User avatar
Jhana
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:56 pm
Location: Location ,Location. O.C. CA

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Jhana »

Elwood wrote:A big Welcome Jhana,
I bet some of my old G&L's have a jh somewhere, I'll keep a keen eye out for that.
I know a job can be just a job, but being at G&L in the early years must have been
pretty cool.
cheers,
Elwood
It was really cool, and I have quite a few stories that are pretty funny.
Someone got my info from here and contacted me about interviewing me for a book on Leo's post Fender years.
I'll have to tell him about working on James Burton's paisley Teles and the tricks
we (Tom Kjellin and I) played on him in final assembly(all in fun), Leo giving me a MM bass one day when I admired the
ebony fretboard (he was very generous with his people), Leo asking to borrow my old Tele while he was designing
the next model...
It all comes flooding back. It was a fun job.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
User avatar
KenC
Posts: 2344
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:18 pm
Location: None of the above

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by KenC »

Jhana wrote: Leo asking to borrow my old Tele while he was designing
the next model...
Does this mean he was looking at the Broadcaster/ASAT concept back in the very beginning? Or could it have been an inspiration for the original SC-series?

Ken
User avatar
Elwood
Posts: 2498
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:00 am
Location: Canada's Mexico

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Elwood »

Jhana wrote: It was really cool, and I have quite a few stories that are pretty funny.
Someone got my info from here and contacted me about interviewing me for a book on Leo's post Fender years.
I'll have to tell him about working on James Burton's paisley Teles and the tricks
we (Tom Kjellin and I) played on him in final assembly(all in fun), Leo giving me a MM bass one day when I admired the
ebony fretboard (he was very generous with his people), Leo asking to borrow my old Tele while he was designing
the next model...
It all comes flooding back. It was a fun job.

I bet that was Greg or Gabe, their book will be one of the best reference books on G&Ls/70's MusicMan.
They have been an priceless presence on this board throughout the years.
We have a feature here that keeps traffic up ---Lunch Reports----, any member is eligible to be a
lunch reporter (nominated by the prevoius weeks reporter )and as a "thank you" BBE/G&L offers a free
stomp box from a reasonable pool of choices. Since you mention you play guitar , can I suggest that you
consider being (maybe next weeks) a LR and give us tidbits of early G&L musings ...while it's not a Bass,
the complimentary stomp box is a nice bonus.

...just a thought :)

have a good day,
Elwood
User avatar
yowhatsshakin
Posts: 3340
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:00 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by yowhatsshakin »

Welcome to the forum jhana. For us G&L junkies it is great the hear first-hand stories about what it was like in the transitional and early days of G&L
Elwood wrote:... We have a feature here that keeps traffic up ---Lunch Reports----, any member is eligible to be a
lunch reporter (nominated by the prevoius weeks reporter )and as a "thank you" BBE/G&L offers a free
stomp box from a reasonable pool of choices. Since you mention you play guitar , can I suggest that you
consider being (maybe next weeks) a LR and give us tidbits of early G&L musings ...while it's not a Bass,
the complimentary stomp box is a nice bonus.

...just a thought :)

have a good day,
Elwood
Thanks for doing all the lobbying and hard work, Elwood :happy0007: Now I don't have to do it ;)

- Jos
User avatar
Elwood
Posts: 2498
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:00 am
Location: Canada's Mexico

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Elwood »

yowhatsshakin wrote: all the lobbying and hard work, Elwood :happy0007: Now I don't have to do it ;)

- Jos
It seemed like a good opportunity to sew some serendipitousness :)
User avatar
willross
Posts: 1005
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:55 am
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by willross »

JH,

Thanks for the info and stories. Grab a seat and stay a while...


Cheers,

Will
Fred Finisher
Posts: 188
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:09 am

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Fred Finisher »

Hey Joyce,
I figured this thing out. I will check back periodically to see how many of the former employees are involved here. It would be great to have a reunion of some of the old crew. Unfortunately there have been several losses over the years. I was fortunate enough to get back to the shop just before Leo died to say hello to Leo, George, and several others that were still there from the early years. I would like to see how many of the original employees are there from CLF days.
User avatar
Elwood
Posts: 2498
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:00 am
Location: Canada's Mexico

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Elwood »

Welcome !!,
Wow it feels like a mini-harmonic convergence ( remember that from ...,was it '87 ? )

Good to have you here Fred,
Elwood
User avatar
Jhana
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:56 pm
Location: Location ,Location. O.C. CA

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Jhana »

KenC wrote:
Jhana wrote: Leo asking to borrow my old Tele while he was designing
the next model...
Does this mean he was looking at the Broadcaster/ASAT concept back in the very beginning? Or could it have been an inspiration for the original SC-series?

Ken
Yes,to the first question.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
User avatar
Jhana
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:56 pm
Location: Location ,Location. O.C. CA

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Jhana »

Elwood wrote:
Jhana wrote: It was really cool, and I have quite a few stories that are pretty funny.
Someone got my info from here and contacted me about interviewing me for a book on Leo's post Fender years.
I'll have to tell him about working on James Burton's paisley Teles and the tricks
we (Tom Kjellin and I) played on him in final assembly(all in fun), Leo giving me a MM bass one day when I admired the
ebony fretboard (he was very generous with his people), Leo asking to borrow my old Tele while he was designing
the next model...
It all comes flooding back. It was a fun job.

I bet that was Greg or Gabe, their book will be one of the best reference books on G&Ls/70's MusicMan.
They have been an priceless presence on this board throughout the years.
We have a feature here that keeps traffic up ---Lunch Reports----, any member is eligible to be a
lunch reporter (nominated by the prevoius weeks reporter )and as a "thank you" BBE/G&L offers a free
stomp box from a reasonable pool of choices. Since you mention you play guitar , can I suggest that you
consider being (maybe next weeks) a LR and give us tidbits of early G&L musings ...while it's not a Bass,
the complimentary stomp box is a nice bonus.

...just a thought :)

have a good day,
Elwood

It was Gabe who contacted me and I contacted Fred Villareal , Tom Kjellin and John Martindale
in the last couple days for him,
and also told them about this place. (hours of phone calls and e-mails lol)
Tom already knew about the site.
I got the url from pics of the hangtag and his guitar,on his Faceplace page.
I was hoping they would both come here by now and geek out about all things G&L,
but I think there will be some lag time involved.
Fred told me he needs a little time to drag out his G&L memorabilia and share it, but I'm sure he will.
Sorry I haven't responded to all queries yet, as I've had an emergent situation at home.
I would not call myself a player these days, and I would reverently offer the Lunch Report honor
to Fred or Tom before I would accept it, without question.
My husband does play every day though, and I would not let any toys go to waste,
should I ever serve as the beloved Lunch Reporter :)
I say geek out with love. I still make stuff , and always have, ( George hired me because I am an artist),
but now I am into hot glass, and I know how
we can be with our interests, ruminating over seemingly insignificant details,
that matter
to us.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
User avatar
Miles Smiles
Posts: 610
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:02 am
Location: Europe/Austria

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Miles Smiles »

Jhana wrote:My husband does play every day though.
Wow, so you are a girl, that's way cool. Being at this site, lets you almost forget that girls even do exist. I appreciate that, double welcome! :D
User avatar
Jhana
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:56 pm
Location: Location ,Location. O.C. CA

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Jhana »

Elwood wrote:Welcome !!,
Wow it feels like a mini-harmonic convergence ( remember that from ...,was it '87 ? )

Good to have you here Fred,
Elwood
It does.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
User avatar
Elwood
Posts: 2498
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:00 am
Location: Canada's Mexico

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by Elwood »

Jhana wrote:
I say geek out with love. I still make stuff , and always have, ( George hired me because I am an artist),
but now I am into hot glass, and I know how
we can be with our interests, ruminating over seemingly insignificant details,
that matter
to us.
:D :D :D
louis cyfer
Posts: 3011
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:58 pm

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by louis cyfer »

wow, sounds like some cool times are ahead here. can't wait.
User avatar
ChinoGee
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:51 am

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by ChinoGee »

Welcom Jhana, it's a great pleasure to read you! :mrgreen:
User avatar
KenC
Posts: 2344
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:18 pm
Location: None of the above

Re: Hi from jh, builder 1980- 1981.

Post by KenC »

I checked two of my three '80-'81 instruments. No initials in the F-100's control cavity. I couldn't get to the bottom of the L-1000's control cavity, because the shielding was cut for such a perfect fit. I couldn't have fit a piece of paper between the copper plate and the sides of the cavity, and didn't want to risk the solder joint by tugging on the grounding wire. I'll check the L-2000 this weekend if I have the time.

Maybe if that bass wasn't so well made, I could have gotten to the bottom of the cavity! :happy0007:

Ken