G&L - Rumors that they are closing, being bought by Fender, or both.

[tbonesullivan]

3 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

They wanted own Leo’s name and Likeness. The two items G&L owned. It’s just like Gibson not being able to use Ted McCarty’s name. They don’t have the rights. 

It's unlikely they will ever get them, unless McCarty's family all passes away. He has great grand-children, so unless they decide that Gibson would give them more than PRS does, it's unlikely that they will ever get it. AFAIK, Leo Fender did not have any family except for his widow Phyllis, who passed in 2020.

Thinking about it, I don't know how many of the designs that George and Leo made were actually patented, but anything that was, you can expect Fender to either sell or just renew to keep other people from using them. I'm glad I picked up an L-2500 when I did.

[crunchee]

On 11/3/2025 at 6:23 PM, bubs_42 said:

It’s done, and over. Felt a lot like Hamer. Large dumpster full of parts, guitars, files you name it. Sounds like they were just after Leo’s Name and Likeness. Can’t blame them, but a shame. 

I gotta wonder what the Fullerton Chamber Of Commerce, or Fullerton City Hall, or whoever was in charge of the city government was doing (or NOT doing) when all this stuff went into the dumpster.  Reassembling Leo's office couldn't have been that difficult to save, for whatever they have in Fullerton that passes for a museum...besides, G&L had left the office for years just as Leo had last left it, so why not?  Kinda reminds me of this Seinfeld episode:

 

Edited November 7, 2025 by crunchee

[tbonesullivan]

46 minutes ago, crunchee said:

I gotta wonder what the Fullerton Chamber Of Commerce, or Fullerton City Hall, or whoever was in charge of the city government was doing (or NOT doing) when all this stuff went into the dumpster.  Reassembling Leo's office couldn't have been that difficult to save, for whatever they have in Fullerton that passes for a museum...besides, G&L had left the office for years just as Leo had last left it, so why not? 

I really wonder about that too. The factory was literally on Fender St., and the history of Fender is the history of Fullerton. The factory was there for almost 40 years. Almost seems odd that there wasn't already a Leo Fender museum that would have everything from that office in a heartbeat.

Watching videos about G&L and the collapse, it seems like mostly everyone who worked at G&L truly believed in Leo Fender's legacy. It's too bad they hadn't figured out how to successfully market it after all those years. Maybe the company was around too long already when custom F-style guitars became more widespread.

Edited November 7, 2025 by tbonesullivan

[stratacus]

The End of G&L Guitars: How Leo Fender’s Second Company Went Bankrupt

[Tortious]

On 11/23/2025 at 11:13 PM, stratacus said:

The End of G&L Guitars: How Leo Fender’s Second Company Went Bankrupt

I really doubt the accuracy of that article. There's nothing in it about actual 'bankruptcy' or anything remotely like that. Just conjecture.

In reality, John McLaren (ex of Yamaha and Fender) started BBE (which G&L became part of) and it was his until the end, except for turning it over operationally to his 2 sons. He died a year ago. Makes me think the kids were just waiting for that so they could fuck off with whatever inheritance they had.

No idea if that's true, but more realistic than what the article implied. There was no evidence of sales being drastically different than they had been for a long time.

Still sucks about Leo's office.

[scottcald]

On 11/26/2025 at 10:55 PM, Tortious said:

I really doubt the accuracy of that article. There's nothing in it about actual 'bankruptcy' or anything remotely like that. Just conjecture.

In reality, John McLaren (ex of Yamaha and Fender) started BBE (which G&L became part of) and it was his until the end, except for turning it over operationally to his 2 sons. He died a year ago. Makes me think the kids were just waiting for that so they could fuck off with whatever inheritance they had.

No idea if that's true, but more realistic than what the article implied. There was no evidence of sales being drastically different than they had been for a long time.

Still sucks about Leo's office.

Yeah, that does sound very realistic and probable.  I guess Fender will be plastering Leo's face on everything now and ignore his sale of it and other companies. 

[velorush]

Just saw this and thought I'd post here:

Amazing! Tragic!

[Biz Prof]

On 11/26/2025 at 10:55 PM, Tortious said:

He died a year ago. Makes me think the kids were just waiting for that so they could fuck off with whatever inheritance they had.

Not sure if that's what happened here, but I've sure seen it happen to other inherited businesses...many times. 

[UncleGreg]

2016.  I was there helping GNL guitars set up their custom shop and Dave let me shoot video in Leo's office.
 

 

[BoogieMKIIA]

Thanks for the video. I hope someone didn’t just dump all of that in the trash, has that been confirmed?