'86 G&L Skyhawk comes home ...

[Craig]

Recently posted on G&L's Facebook page:

Three decades later, this '86 G&L Skyhawk has come home to Fender Avenue for our collection. Sunburst on mahogany, matching headstock, ebony board,
this Skyhawk beautifully captures the 70s - 80s post-Fender Leo vibe. It came with a non-original volume knob but we thought Leo wouldn't mind if we
borrowed one from his lab. Thanks, Leo!

[JagInTheBag]

Love this thing! Nice to see them pay homage to their own history.

[tomanche]

Suh-weet!

[john o]

love it!

[cho]

I love the '86 necks! Ebony board! Mahogany body! That guitar is Sweeeeeet!

[FZTNT]

What and where is this "collection"? Is there a video tour or photos for those of us that are not planning to go to Fullerton any time soon? Would be nice. Otherwise just sell me this Skyhawk.

Of course, I have a lot of spare room and would volunteer to host this collection at my house.

Tom

[BoringPostcards]

They should seriously consider reissuing these exactly as they were then. Pickguard and all.
I personally think Leo's post-fender designs are all just as attractive and ergonomic as his first designs.
It's a shame you can't just buy a new one like this.

[WitSok]

What a beauty! Bring them back, bring them back...

[KenC]

That's a beauty, but I question it being a mahogany body. Having owned 40+ Leo-era G&Ls over the years, I have never seen a mahogany body after '83-'84. I remember Fred Finisher writing about Leo ordering all of the mahogany stock removed from the factory while he worked there (he left in '85 or '86, IIRC).

The grain pattern is also different from any of the sunburst over 'hog bodies I've owned. It does remind me of some sunburst over maple bodies I've had on Leo-era G&L or Music Man instruments, though.

Ken

[y2kc]

Ken,

I think the reflections in the photo are interfering with the my ability to actually see the wood grain clearly. We are just happy to see this guitar and Dave McLaren's black HG-2 show up here at all. My guess is that it is mahogany and not a lightweight. Fantastic guitars!

y2kc

[Elwood]

I was pondering mahogany possibility also.
I see mineral streaks that don't look 'hoggish',
Nice burst, whatever it is...deserving of a Lab knob.

[FZTNT]

It does not look like Swamp Ash or Mahogany. What else would it be from that era? They weren't messing around to much with exotic wood, unless it'd an all Rosewood body in several pieces.
The only post '85 Mahogany guitars I own are a pair of 2004 ASAT HB specials.

Tom

[tomanche]

Looking at more pictures (especially the back) in the eBay listing, I vote mahogany, hands down.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-G-amp-L-S ... true&rt=nc

[Elwood]

Looking at more pictures (especially the back) in the eBay listing, ...

Ok..I'm sold too.

So this may be the Last of the 'Mahog'ans ?

(I'll show myself out)

[tomanche]

Good one!!

[FZTNT]

Looking at more pictures (especially the back) in the eBay listing, I vote mahogany, hands down.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-G-amp-L-S ... true&rt=nc

Agreed...from the auction pics it's for sure Mahogany.

Tom

[BoringPostcards]

Looking at more pictures (especially the back) in the eBay listing, ...

Ok..I'm sold too.

So this may be the Last of the 'Mahog'ans ?

(I'll show myself out)

I laughed way too hard at that. You must have taken English Pun-0-one.

[BoringPostcards]

7.25" radius on this one?

[mutts]

A beautiful Skyhawk indeed.
A heavily used Skyhawk was my first exposure to G&L. I wanted that guitar bad but was young and poor. The store it was in became a dealer and that's where I bought my ASAT.
Many years later I bought the one in my avatar. Kinda wish mine had the old style control plate- though I do have the sickle headstock.

[Craig]

7.25" radius on this one?

It would be either a 7.5" or 12" radius. See: What are the USA neck size options, past and present?
It looks like it has the #2 neck, so the radius is 7.5".

[BoringPostcards]

7.25" radius on this one?

It would be either a 7.5" or 12" radius. See: What are the USA neck size options, past and present?
It looks like it has the #2 neck, so the radius is 7.5".

Oh wow. 7.5 really? I thought all this time they were using the same 7.25 as the classic vintage Fender radius. Nuts. I'm guessing there's not really much difference between the two.

[yowhatsshakin]

I'm guessing there's not really much difference between the two.

The 7½" radius fingerboard is about 2 mils lower at the center of the fretboard compared to a 7¼" radius fingerboard for a 1¾" wide neck (i.e. the cord length intersecting the circle) with the same profile. And while we're at it the, for the same 1¾" neck width, a 9½" board is flatter by 11 mils compared to a 7½" board. A 12" board is flatter by 20 mils compared to a 7½" board.

- Jos

[Craig]

Our 1986 Skyhawk is getting scanned by our Plek. Something about this feels like Back To The Future. What do you think?

[Elwood]

Hmmm...or 'Clockwork Orange'

[JagInTheBag]

This from G&L on the PLEK:

"little wonky up top, and not much fret height to work with. So, we just did a very light, partial dress on the upper frets and general fret cleanup. We could refret it but Dave won't go for that."

adding:

"if he plays it for a while and gets bummed out, he might cave in on a refret. But it's playing pretty well so we doubt it."

[Craig]

She's alive! Our 1986 Skyhawk is playing much better after some of fretwork. The ebony is really looking fabulous.

[sam]

Let's hear her

[Elwood]

Good one Sam.