When players talk about golden-era Fender, pre-CBS tone and bolt-on brilliance, one name inevitably comes up: Leo Fender. But what many players forget is that Leo’s final and, in many ways, most evolved work wasn’t under the Fender logo at all — it was under G&L Musical Instruments.
For a boutique shop like Fat Bottom Guitars, where provenance, innovation and under-the-radar brilliance matter, G&L represents one of the most compelling chapters in electric guitar history.
After Fender: A Restless Innovator
Leo Fender sold Fender to CBS in 1965. Though bound by a non-compete clause for ten years, he never truly stopped designing. During the late ’60s and early ’70s he collaborated with longtime associate George Fullerton and worked with companies like Music Man, developing new pickup designs and hardware concepts.
By 1980, Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt formally launched G&L — named after George & Leo. Their mission wasn’t nostalgia. It was refinement.
Leo wasn’t interested in recreating 1954. He wanted to fix what he thought could be improved.
The First G&L Models: Evolution, Not Reissue
The early G&L lineup didn’t copy Fender classics. Instead, it re-engineered them.
F-100 (1980)
The F-100 was G&L’s first production model — a dual-humbucker, dual-cut guitar that introduced Leo’s Magnetic Field Design (MFD) pickups. These pickups used adjustable pole pieces and ceramic magnets, delivering higher output, broader frequency response and remarkable clarity.
SC-2 and Fallout
Stripped-down, working-player tools that showcased Leo’s new Dual-Fulcrum vibrato system — a smoother, more stable alternative to the vintage six-screw trem.
The ASAT: A New Take on the Tele Concept
In 1985, G&L introduced what would become its most iconic model: the ASAT.
The name reportedly stood for “After Strat After Tele” — a nod to Leo’s own evolutionary journey.
The G&L ASAT retained the slab body silhouette but featured MFD pickups, a redesigned bridge, and superior intonation stability. Tonally, ASAT models tend to offer:
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Higher output than traditional Telecasters
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Tighter low end
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Clearer high-frequency response
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Wider dynamic range
For players chasing Tele bite but wanting modern punch, G&L quietly became the insider’s choice.
The Legacy: Leo’s Final Strat Refinement
Introduced in 1992 (shortly after Leo’s passing), the G&L Legacy was based on Leo’s final refinements to the Strat-style platform.
Key upgrades included:
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Dual-Fulcrum vibrato bridge for improved tuning stability
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MFD or Alnico pickups (depending on spec)
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PTB (Passive Treble and Bass) tone system — allowing players to roll off bass as well as treble
The PTB system remains one of Leo’s most practical innovations, offering tonal flexibility not found on traditional Strat wiring.
Magnetic Field Design (MFD): Leo’s Quiet Revolution
Leo Fender’s final pickup design may be his most underrated contribution.
Unlike traditional Alnico single-coils, MFD pickups use ceramic bar magnets under adjustable pole pieces. The result?
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Stronger magnetic field
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Lower string pull (improving sustain)
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Wider tonal bandwidth
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More headroom
For modern players who run pedals or high-gain rigs, MFD pickups often feel more “hi-fi” and responsive compared to vintage-voiced single-coils.
Built in Fullerton
Unlike many heritage brands, G&L has remained rooted in Fullerton, California — just down the road from where Leo Fender originally built his first guitars in the 1950s.
U.S. models are still hand-assembled, with:
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Individually cut necks
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Plek finishing on frets
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Custom shop options available
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Shorter production runs than major manufacturers
For a boutique retailer, that lower production volume and high build consistency makes G&L instruments feel more “artisan” than mass-market.
Tribute Series: Accessible Innovation
In the 2000s, G&L launched its Tribute Series — overseas-built models using U.S.-designed hardware and pickups.
The Tribute line allowed more players to access Leo’s final designs without boutique pricing. For many working musicians, these guitars represent some of the best value-for-money instruments on the market.
Why G&L Matters Today
G&L isn’t about vintage correctness.
It’s about evolution.
Where Fender often leans on legacy and reissues, G&L represents Leo Fender’s “what if?” — what happens when the original designer keeps improving the blueprint for another 15 years.
For players who appreciate:
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Subtle engineering upgrades
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Tonal versatility
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Boutique-level build quality
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A direct line to Leo Fender’s final thinking
G&L offers something deeply authentic.
