F100 F-100 Series 1 Series 2 thread

JagInTheBag · Post by **JagInTheBag** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 10:06 am

I really think they would sell more F-100's if the stock photo on the website wasn't diarrhea sunburst. Throw a Cherry Burst in Swamp Ash up there, along with a tasty solid color in Alder, put it in front of the press and have them do some formal reviews. This guitar doesn't even have a decent video review.

Challenger · Post by **Challenger** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:09 pm

Yes, I agree they could promote the F-100 much better. However, the contemporary F-100 could use some improvements as well. The split coil sounds good, better than the original. The humbuckers are wound much darker and lost some of the chime that all three of my vintage ones possess. The single tone knob is not very useful, either. I miss the PTB that is on the vintage model.

I have also noticed some variability amongst the vintage ones I have. The two newer vintage ones with the hex adjustments have more bell like chime to them, while the 1980 is darker and bass heavy. I speculate that the F-100 pickups and electronics changed when they switched to the hex pole pieces. The hex pole F-100's sound better to me as well. Actually, I know the elctronics changed in that the hex pole F-100's have the treble tone adjustable in the bridge position. While the 1980 slot pole has no treble adjustment when in the bridge position. My 1983 F-100 has characteristics akin to my Cavalier.

So, brighten up the pickups to the specs of my 1983 F-100 and add the PTB system and you would have an awesome F-100 that would sound like nothing else on the market!

glvourot · Post by **glvourot** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 11:02 pm

The entire G&L website is tired and old . They can't even bother to update current dealers. One of the " dealers " listed has not sold G&L guitars for at least two years ( BoneRattle Music in Vancouver BC ). They never had any stock anyway. As did another Vancouver G&L "dealer " ( Rufus Guitars ) . At least they are off the list . I have never seen an F-100 other than pictures on the web.

DanDoulogos · Post by **DanDoulogos** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:47 am

I agree the list ought to be refreshed on at least a yearly basis - though once every few months would be better.

cho · Post by **cho** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:29 am

Challenger wrote:So, brighten up the pickups to the specs of my 1983 F-100 and add the PTB system and you would have an awesome F-100 that would sound like nothing else on the market!

Challenger, I agree with your assessment. I would also add that they should put the active electronics in the reissue. The active circuitry really makes the vintage F-100s unique... especially with the treble boost setting. This adds clarity to the high end and a bit of compression that really complements/enhances the MFD pickup.

This 1985 model has been my main player lately:

Crusher · Post by **Crusher** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:25 pm

Talking about that (I know the thread is 6 months old), how does the 80's F-100 compare to the new F-100? I really really really love the guitar, but the lack of controls of the "newest" F-100 is a bit of a downside to me. Could always mod it too, if the need for a new guitar arises, but still, always hard to mod a new guitar. Already trying to mod my S500 to have the F100 bridge pickup. Will see from there when I get the pickups in hand!

dhgleaves · Post by **dhgleaves** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:40 pm

I was about to post a question about my new F-100, then I realised there was a thread already. I just acquired it, and was going to put it in the registry, but am not sure about the body wood. According to http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/us ... /index.asp it was "'Swamp Ash on Premier Finishes, Alder on Standard Finishes". So can anyone tell me which this is (premier or standard), and what the official colour was called too? Thanks.

dhgleaves · Post by **dhgleaves** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:24 pm

And I just noticed that an earlier post in this thread noted that the bodies were ash, mahogany, or poplar, so now I'm less clear. I may write G&L to get the official specs (based on the serial number), but I thought someone on here might be able to help.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:59 pm

That's definitely Mahogany,
I've heard the finish referred to as 'Root Beer', though it might officially be called Tobacco burst.
(I'm not 100% sure about that.)

Nice example of an early F-100 w/ slot poled pickups and large fret markers (I think). I'd guess 81-82 for a birthdate.

FZTNT · Post by **FZTNT** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:52 pm

Nice F-100. Definitely looks like Mahogany to me. Real nice.

Tom

Post by **Craig** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:42 pm

dhgleaves wrote:I was about to post a question about my new F-100, then I realised there was a thread already. I just acquired it, and was going to put it in the registry, but am not sure about the body wood. According to http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/us ... /index.asp it was "'Swamp Ash on Premier Finishes, Alder on Standard Finishes". So can anyone tell me which this is (premier or standard), and what the official colour was called too? Thanks.

The body wood is Mahogany and the body color is Sunburst (aka 3-Tone Sunburst). See our Gallery: Album: 1980 - 1981 Memorabilia.
Your F-100 is a pre-BBE model. The current G&L website spec page for the F-100 is for the revisited version which started production in 2009.

Hope this helps.

dhgleaves · Post by **dhgleaves** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:43 pm

Thanks for the info. When I try to put it in the registry, the sunburst option are three-tone and tobacco. Based on what I can see here http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/US ... /index.asp, it looks more like tobacco than three-tone. Did they not make tobacco at that point (hence your comment that it's three-tone sunburst)?

Post by **Craig** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:58 pm

dhgleaves wrote:Thanks for the info. When I try to put it in the registry, the sunburst option are three-tone and tobacco. Based on what I can see here http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/US ... /index.asp, it looks more like tobacco than three-tone. Did they not make tobacco at that point (hence your comment that it's three-tone sunburst)?

The red and yellow blends in because of the Mahogany body, making it hard to see the 3 tones. Tobacco sunburst came later. Here is it first mentioned in a catalog: 1992-93 Catalog Page 1.

Hope this helps.

dhgleaves · Post by **dhgleaves** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 4:57 pm

Ok, so it's too early for tobacco sunburst. It does look just like the one in the add below, which is apparently just called sunburst. Was there not a difference between sunburst and three-tone sunburst?

Post by **Craig** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:34 pm

dhgleaves wrote:Ok, so it's too early for tobacco sunburst. It does look just like the one in the add below, which is apparently just called sunburst. Was there not a difference between sunburst and three-tone sunburst?

Here is another example of Sunburst in this 1982 L-2000-E Ad Slick:

It was not until 2001 that the Sunburst name changed to 3-Tone Sunburst because they also added the 2-Tone Sunburst finish to the 2001 catalog. Here is the 2001 Catalog Finishes page:

So, yes, Sunburst is the same as 3-Tone Sunburst.

gswetsky · Post by **gswetsky** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:46 am

Hi,

Concerning several comments earlier on in this thread concerning body wood, here is a quote from Vintage Guitar Magazine regarding the F-100. I can't comment as to its accuracy.

" Natural-finished models featured ash bodies. Sunburst models had mahogany bodies. If you ordered a custom color, it came on a poplar body. All models came with either a fixed bridge or a newly patented adjustable vibrato."

Gerry - F-100 II G000504

john o · Post by **john o** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:47 pm

hey gswetsky, my natural gloss finished '81 F-100 has a mahogany body. I think they tried alot of versions back then!

Miles Smiles · Post by **Miles Smiles** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:46 am

Poplar body for solid finishes wouldn't be a surprise for me, as Mr. Fender didn't care a lot on body wood because of how it would sound.

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:57 am

Might as well add to this since it's here: my dad's '81 F100 . I really love this guitar, need to find better pics so I can ask someone more knowledgeable whether it's mahogany/something else, but it's not the original finish; it was stripped down from black.The switches were also maybe replaced, they just seem to regular toggles? Tips were colored originally in all the pics I've seen?

He's had it for a couple years now, and I love it. It's pretty well-played (as you can see from the neck.) WOW this guitar sustains, and you can feel it. 12" Series 1 , it plays like a Superstrat with some old-school feel thrown in, and is solid as a rock.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:11 am

That F-100 looks inviting.
...99% sure that it's mahogany(it looks just like my stripped down '83 S-500).

y2kc · Post by **y2kc** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:50 am

Mahogany 2-3 pieces and well loved. That is a sweet looking guitar.

y2kc

Miles Smiles · Post by **Miles Smiles** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:32 am

Could have looked like this, I for sure will never strip it down:

(Click at the images for bigger ones!)

john o · Post by **john o** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:34 pm

cool F-100's Danley and Miles, here's my '81 'hog w/natural gloss and an ebony board...

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY2/ma ... emId=23801

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:49 pm

Always love the hardtail

y2kc · Post by **y2kc** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:27 am

Damn I want that one. Mahogany, saddle lock bridge and broken in.

These guitars have a unique voice that I find loads of fun.

y2kc

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 12:20 am

Curious about the colored switch tips on the toggles; caps, or painted?

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:33 am

Danley wrote:Curious about the colored switch tips on the toggles; caps, or painted?

....they are soft plastic caps,

yowhatsshakin · Post by **yowhatsshakin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:42 am

Elwood wrote:
Danley wrote:Curious about the colored switch tips on the toggles; caps, or painted?
....they are soft plastic caps,

In addition, you'll notice that the non-E F-100 (left) has a different set as the active/passive Series-E F-100 (right):

Big black is the pickup selector in both case.

The small red switch on the non-E is a 2-way "Splitter Switch, selecting hum bucking mode when pointing towards the bridge, single-coil when pointing to the nut. The small red switch on the Series-E is a 3-way switch, selecting hum bucking when pointed to the bridge, single-coil with bass boost in the center, and single-coil without bass boost when pointing towards the nut.

The non-E F-100 further has a black 2-way mini-toggle, the "Phase Switch". Towards the bridge, both pickups are in-phase and the pups work as on any other dual humbucker guitar. You select the pickup with your pickup selector and voilà. When the Phase Switch points to the nut, both pickups are always on and out-of-phase, irrespective of the position of the pickup selection switch.

The Series-E instead has a 3-way white mini-toggle, the "Active/Passive" switch to control the preamp. Towards the bridge, the amp is off and the guitar is in passive mode, in active mode without treble boost in the center, and active with treble boost when pointing towards the nut.

And for both configurations, the treble tone control, i.e. the middle pot of the 3, is by-passed whenever the lead (bridge) humbucker is selected.

Nothing new here. Both Guitar Instruction sheets are explicit about all of this. But it is easy to overlook and not be aware of.

One more thing: There are good schematics in the Gallery, but about every one mislabels the ceramic cap on the volume pot as a 200pF value instead of the 20pF value it actually is.

I just started researching the intriguing electronics of the F-100, so I hope to find out more soon.

- Jos

FZTNT · Post by **FZTNT** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 12:48 pm

Good info Jos. Like you mentioned, it's all in the instructions but you laid it out in a more understandable way.

Once you get the two normal F-100's electronics figured out, maybe you can help me with my prototype which has four switches. I think I know what they all do, it's just that somethings seem a bitt off in certain configurations. I'm not sure if there might be a blown component somewhere. We'll get to it one day, no hurry but do keep us posted on what you find in the normal electronics from the incredible mind of Leo the Master.

Tom

gillian67ec · Post by **gillian67ec** » Wed Feb 07, 2018 4:32 pm

Hi to all, one year has gone since the last time I posted in this thread.
I've finally bought my first F-100 8 months ago, a 1982 Series II translucent red!
Bought from a shop in UK. It sounds incredible! Those MFD pickups... just WOW!

Now I'm chasing another one... translucent blue. Pictures the seller sent me show that the microswitches don't seem to be the original ones, they have not the red and white caps. So they have been probably changed and I don't really like this... Tremolo bar is there (sometimes it is missing) and that's good. I said red and white (about the microswitches) because this guitar appears to be a Series IIE (battery pocket on the back side).
Now the question for you: Is it possible that a Series IIE has "Series II" printed on the headstock instead? Looking at the old G&L promotional picture posted above in this thread (it apparently shows a Series IIE, red and white microswitches) it seems that this is the case. But I'm asking you about, if some of you has that exact model.
This the guitar I'm considering to buy: https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ ... 82652.html
Thank you
Ciao
Enrico

Challenger · Post by **Challenger** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:43 am

Looks like a standard F-100 with plastic caps missing from the small switches (or possibly replaced?). The volume knob is replaced. I don't see a battery cover on the back. That large plate covers the vibrato springs. Looks like a later build with black crackle control plate (or poor lighting). Tuners are also the newer style, indicating a later build (1983?).

FZTNT · Post by **FZTNT** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:56 pm

It looks like I can just make out the top screw of a battery cover in the last picture. However, if that's what it is, it's black and\or crinkle. I always thought they only made the chrome plated battery covers. At least I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere.

Is there a battery in this guitar? I assume so since that's what the post was about (Not having the E designation on the headstock.)

Tom

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 9:04 am

This thread is an excellent source of info on the F100 - so bumping it for my question:

Does the hardtail Locktight/Saddle Lock F100 bridge still have the oval shaped boss & body route? Curious to know whether it does but don't want to take mine apart unnecessarily.

Post by **Craig** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 9:32 am

Danley wrote:This thread is an excellent source of info on the F100 - so bumping it for my question:

Does the hardtail Locktight/Saddle Lock F100 bridge still have the oval shaped boss & body route? Curious to know whether it does but don't want to take mine apart unnecessarily.

Yes, all Locktight and Saddle-Lock bridges have the boss. Here is the one for the L-2000 bass shown in the 1981 Catalog:

Also, read this Ad slick (the last paragraph) (from a previous post in this thread):

Also, check the patents located in the Gallery (Link=Album: G&L Patents).

Hope this helps.

Aetrox · Post by **Aetrox** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:12 am

I realize this is an old thread, However I just realized something. Leo Fender had a fascination with the space race and all things 'aviation'. Thus the names 'ASAT", 'Stratocaster', 'Telecaster', and some of the other names he chose. There was an interview in which he stated that he liked the name 'ASAT' in particular because it sounded like a satellite or 'space raceish'. So any way, the F100 was introduced after the Music Man Sabre. Looking at the two of them, they share a lot of visual cues, and some layout similarities. Now the f100, in aviation terms was one of the 'Century series' of aircraft. EG F100, F101, F102, F104, F105 ETC. Now each of these planes also had 'code names'. the F101 was the 'Voodoo', F105 was the 'Thunderchief', F104 was the 'Starfighter' etc. So what was the name for the F100? It was the 'Super Sabre'. Now was this a coincidence?

sam · Post by **sam** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:07 am

Very cool bit of trivia, thanks for sharing.

Since inquiring minds want to know more I looked it up and here is the Wikipedia link for super sabre.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Ame ... uper_Sabre

Just a bit of info here:

The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of supersonic speed in level flight.[4] The F-100 was designed by North American Aviation as a higher performance follow-on to the F-86 Sabre air superiority fighter.[5]

Katefan · Post by **Katefan** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:07 am

Jos cracked this nut in the first page of this thread a few years back but nice sleuthing and sussing out something that went over heads of many...

A few months back i added the guitar that is in my avatar to my 'collection' and I'm digging having a F-100 again.
In the interim I've owned both a MM Sabre and MM Stingray guitar. Leo designed these guitars so as to have the controls set at the halfway mark - which sonically makes a world of difference than having everything set at 10. And by 'adding' or 'subtracting' from these starting points some really stellar sounds can be had. While not the case with the F-100 guitars, I've found that Its been much easier to coax more tasty tones out of the MFD pickups just by setting the bass control at half level. Fellow forum member, Boogie Bill mentions this in his epic MM Sabre thread. My F-100 is an early model with the slot head pole pieces which as Challenger pointed out tend to sound 'bassier'.
Also slanting the pickups (with the bass side lower) as well as staggering the pickup pole pieces has helped too. Anyway, ya'll may want to give this a go.
Cheers,
KF

yowhatsshakin · Post by **yowhatsshakin** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:22 am

Katefan wrote:Jos cracked this nut in the first page of this thread a few years back but nice sleuthing and sussing out something that went over heads of many...

A few months back i added the guitar that is in my avatar to my 'collection' and I'm digging having a F-100 again.
In the interim I've owned both a MM Sabre and MM Stingray guitar. Leo designed these guitars so as to have the controls set at the halfway mark - which sonically makes a world of difference than having everything set at 10. And by 'adding' or 'subtracting' from these starting points some really stellar sounds can be had. While not the case with the F-100 guitars, I've found that Its been much easier to coax more tasty tones out of the MFD pickups just by setting the bass control at half level. Fellow forum member, Boogie Bill mentions this in his epic MM Sabre thread. My F-100 is an early model with the slot head pole pieces which as Challenger pointed out tend to sound 'bassier'.
Also slanting the pickups (with the bass side lower) as well as staggering the pickup pole pieces has helped too. Anyway, ya'll may want to give this a go.
Cheers,
KF

Hey katefan,

I don't know whether you are familiar with this, but Leo once filed a design patent (D4686881) claiming the orientation of the slot head screw has an effect on the sound. I have never done the experiment, but maybe there might be a reason they sound 'bassier'.

- Jos

FZTNT · Post by **FZTNT** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:25 am

It's funny, I spoke with Geoff Fullerton last year about my prototype F-100 dated January 1980 and brought up the topic of the slotted versus hex screw pole pieces. He said Leo didn't prefer one over the other and the lore that the slotted ones came first and that the hex ones indicate a later year of manufacture is untrue. He said they just went down to the local hardware stores and bought whatever they had in stock. He said a lot of the hardware was obtained that way.

I have no doubt however that Leo thought the position of the slot made a difference, but apparently not enough to insist on keeping them in the manufacture process.

Tom

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 1:49 pm

For sure keep my bass knob rolled back; my later hex-head guitar has a TON of bass. Still nice to be able to add some back and enjoy the gain at will.

Katefan · Post by **Katefan** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 6:38 pm

Cheers Jos for the heads up. That's really interesting... esp since he applied for the patent in 1985 long after the F-100 was designed. Interesting too that the patent docu mentions both guitar and basses. In my mind I think the effect would be much more pronounced on a bass than a guitar given the size of the pole pieces but will still it give it go and see whether I can notice anything.

Tom, Cheers for relaying that bit of info from Geoff Fullerton. Makes sense... what surprises me tho is that Mr. Fender pursued this idea to the extent of applying for a patent.
Perhaps he was really focusing on this for basses. Some prototype pickups have pole pieces positioned on either side of the string's path so that's also evident of the Mr. Fender's thinking along these lines.

Danley - Ha, I never thought to do this prior to the addition of the MM's. Wow, good to know. I hear you. Doing so on with the treble pu's on the MM's makes for a mean tele tone!

Cheers,
KF

Challenger · Post by **Challenger** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 6:48 pm

So, if the slot pole and hex pole pickups are more random than I previously thought, when did they change the electronics on the passive ones? My 1980 F-100, with slot poles, acts just like the instructions sheet indicates. That is, when you switch to the bridge pickup the treble cut is deactivated in the PTB system.

My green and blue F-100's have a later build date with hex poles. The green is body stamped 1981 and neck stamped 2-1-83. It has the chrome control plate and bi-cut neck. Repair is written in the neck pocket, so I'm thinking it is an late 81 with a replaced neck. The blue one has a black crinkle control plate, so it is built even later. It was sold to me as an 83, but I've never had it apart. Serial number is on neck plate. Anyway, the treble cut knob is always active on these two. Even when I select the bridge pickup, the treble can be turned down with the knob.

Has anybody else noticed this change? Does anybody know when they changed? I may have incorrectly assumed the change was made when the pickup pole changed.

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:27 pm

Overall Specs on my rather later F100 , for anyone's reference; turns out it's newer than I thought above:

Passive F100 Series 1 Non-Vibrato, Maple Fretboard
-Mahogany (two piece)
-Skunk stripe
-Large dot neck
-Man. date 01/04/1983 (per logbook courtesy of G Dellevigne) Serial G008977
-Matte/satin hardware (bridge & plates - non-crinkle)
-G&L branded diamond tuners (not Schaller branded)
-Hex pickups
-Different length screws for intonation on G & low E strings (original?)
-PTB for both pickups

Don't remember the neck/body dates. Paint was originally black; thinking about refinishing more seriously and getting it back to that state; new pic, as the old ones seemed to expire from their hosting:

john o · Post by **john o** » Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:46 am

that mahogany wood grain sure is nice looking, though. unique!

FZTNT · Post by **FZTNT** » Sat Jul 14, 2018 11:17 am

Challenger wrote:So, if the slot pole and hex pole pickups are more random than I previously thought, when did they change the electronics on the passive ones? My 1980 F-100, with slot poles, acts just like the instructions sheet indicates. That is, when you switch to the bridge pickup the treble cut is deactivated in the PTB system.

My green and blue F-100's have a later build date with hex poles. The green is body stamped 1981 and neck stamped 2-1-83. It has the chrome control plate and bi-cut neck. Repair is written in the neck pocket, so I'm thinking it is an late 81 with a replaced neck. The blue one has a black crinkle control plate, so it is built even later. It was sold to me as an 83, but I've never had it apart. Serial number is on neck plate. Anyway, the treble cut knob is always active on these two. Even when I select the bridge pickup, the treble can be turned down with the knob.

Has anybody else noticed this change? Does anybody know when they changed? I may have incorrectly assumed the change was made when the pickup pole changed.

I don't know the answer to your question about when the change in the electronics function changed. However, I would like to know how many F-100's are out there with Hex poles prior to 1982, just to pick a date out of the air. No particular significance on that date, but it was thought for a long time that the early? ones had slot poles and sometime later? they changed to hex poles. For that matter, does anyone have say, a 1982 F-100 with slotted poles?

Tom

Challenger · Post by **Challenger** » Sat Jul 14, 2018 1:04 pm

Good question Tom.

It seems like the majority of the ones I have seen for sale, or shared, have the skunk stripe necks and slot pole pickups which presumably have the original wiring with the treble cut deactivated when the bridge pickup is selected. Most of these were known to be from 1980 or 1981.

I don't see the hex pole or bi-cut necks nearly as often on the F-100's. I guess the F-100 was on its way out when the bi-cut neck was introduced. All the hex pole ones I've seen have been later builds with the exception of Tom's prototype.

Chip

Danley · Post by **Danley** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:24 am

What intrigues me is the claimed smaller (Invader type) body shape on post-'84 models... Would love to see one.

Miles Smiles · Post by **Miles Smiles** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:07 pm

FZTNT wrote:For that matter, does anyone have say, a 1982 F-100 with slotted poles?

Mines: 1981 slotted poles, 1982 hex poles.

cho · Post by **cho** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:39 pm

Danley wrote:What intrigues me is the claimed smaller (Invader type) body shape on post-'84 models... Would love to see one.

I've never seen one of those...mine (posted above) is an '85 model, but has the same body shape as the earlier models, I think...

Katefan · Post by **Katefan** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:27 pm

Me neither...I had an '85 Invader and it had the same size body as an old school F-100 as far as I can tell...

Jos?