5 String Bass prototype 1991

An L-5000 with two big Z-coils , looks really good and pure G&L&D to me.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/g-and-l-proto ... 1-natural#

This one seems legit ( letter from Dale included , which states Leo never saw the completed Baritone ) , does it seem that way to you guys?

I like the idea of a bridge pup on the L-5000 , I wonder how bright it would be, my regular one pup version has plenty of treble available.

It looks like a prototype, but I'm not convinced by the letter. If Larry and Fred are reading this, I'd love to hear their perspectives on two questions:

- Did Dale personally build prototypes for testing? The letter makes it sound like he did it at home (i.e., "the next morning I brought it in with me").

- Is the letter typical of the way he would have communicated something like this (e.g., word processed and unsigned)?

Just curious...

Ken

It looks like a prototype, but I'm not convinced by the letter. If Larry and Fred are reading this, I'd love to hear their perspectives on two questions:

- Did Dale personally build prototypes for testing? The letter makes it sound like he did it at home (i.e., "the next morning I brought it in with me").

- Is the letter typical of the way he would have communicated something like this (e.g., word processed and unsigned)?

Just curious...

Ken

+1 , everything you said

This base is from the estate of Mr Hyatt. I know many of the instruments in his possession ended up at Acme Guitars in St Louis, including this one. So it is legit.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

P.S. S/N for this instrument I have in documents I saved: B021354

Thanks, Jos. That makes sense.

According to the letter, Leo's last day in the factory was March 19th, which happens to be the date stamped on my ASAT Bass's body. Not that the bass needed anything to make it more special to me...

And speaking of the baritone (or six string bass, as Mr. Hyatt called it), I would still love to see it go into production. AFAIK it would be the only US-built production baritone on the market. I'd wait in line to buy the first one, even with a microwave tag on the headstock!

Ken

Thanks, Jos. That makes sense.

According to the letter, Leo's last day in the factory was March 19th, which happens to be the date stamped on my ASAT Bass's body. Not that the bass needed anything to make it more special to me...

And speaking of the baritone (or six string bass, as Mr. Hyatt called it), I would still love to see it go into production. AFAIK it would be the only US-built production baritone on the market. I'd wait in line to buy the first one, even with a microwave tag on the headstock!

Ken

Jos is correct. I was at Dales a few years before he passed when I first saw this guitar. He also showed me the letter he typed. The reason for the letter was to expel the rumors about the Baritone being the last guitar Leo had worked on.This particular guitar spent a while in the field with one of the test players before being returned.
Dale did assemble several prototypes. He wore many hats at G&L in the latter days.

HLG

Thanks Larry!

Ken

That is one cool 5-string bass!
I wish my L-5000 had a bridge pickup.

But it is pretty cool just the way it is.