A modern-era classic that can fill many roles and give the hallowed P-Bass a run for its money.
OF THE THREE GUITAR BRANDS founded by Clarence Leo Fender, G&L remains the dark horse. On the strength of Fender’s original designs, his namesake company has survived multiple (some near-disastrous) ownerships, and his second venture, Music Man, has flourished under the ownership of the Ball family. The G&L world, though, has a bit of a cultish feel. The die-hard fans are serious geeks when it comes to the instruments’ technology and history, and it’s easy to understand why. G&L is the final chapter of Leo’s paradigm-altering career, and his office in Fullerton, California, remains untouched since the day he died. For those of us who have made our way through this world playing his creations, the debt owed to him is incalculable, so a little hero worship is to be expected. But in spite of G&L’s devoted fan base, I’ve always felt the company’s profile in the market seemed undeservedly low-key. Hey, this is Leo Fender we’re talking about! These are his fin