1981 G&L F-100-I
Google Drive is a free way to keep your files backed up and easy to reach from any phone, tablet, or computer. Start with 15GB of Google storage – free. My only guess, since the FAQ, and the G&L website only document the serial numbers up to 1992, that this has something to do with the changes in the company after 1992. They should be able to tell you.
If guitars are in your blood – really in your blood – you can’t walk away from them. That was certainly the case with Clarence Leonidas Fender, born August 10, 1909 (100 years ago), in Fullerton, California. There’s no point in cataloging Leo Fender’s contributions here. If guitars are in your blood, you know his story. Certainly, no brand is more recognizable than Fender. However, there are other names on the musical landscape that are not so obviously the children of Leo Fender, as represented here by this ’81 G&L F-100-I.
Even after Fender sold Fender Musical Instruments to CBS during the corporate feeding frenzy of 1965, he couldn’t walk away from the love of his life. Leo immediately founded CLF Research and was hired as a consultant to Fender until 1970. Once that relationship ended, he promptly set about laying plans with some of his old Fender buddies for throwing his hat back into the musical instrument ring. In 1971, Leo and Forrest White formed Tri-Sonics to resume manufacturing. They incorporated in ’72 and in ’73 changed the name to Musitek, which proved difficult to pronounce, so Leo came up with Music Man. Fender did not actively promote his involvement with Music Man, but it was never really a secret. The instruments mainly reflected improvements on designs created in Leo’s previous incarnation. While they got good reviews, Leo’s Music Man guitars never quite caught on, though his basses were more well-received. Leo’s interests eventually diverged from his partners.
Looking for a fresh start, Music Man was sold to Ernie Ball, the renowned Hawaiian guitarist and, later, string maven. Ernie Ball’s Music Man guitars continue to be built to this day. After the sale, Leo partnered with another longtime associate, George Fullerton, to found G&L Music Sales, Inc., named for George and Leo. G&L’s first instruments were the F-100 guitar and L-1000 bass introduced in 1980. Again, Leo never strayed far from his original creations… but the differences lie in the details.
There were quite a few variations on the F-100. The F-100-I and F-100-II (sometimes called the “first series” and “second series”) had different fingerboard radii (71/2″ or 12″), an option Leo developed at Music Man. All necks were figured maple with either an ebony or maple fingerboard. The scale was 251/2″. Yes, Martha, they only had three bolts! This actually made things easier because the necks had a neck-tilt adjustment to select the action. 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.
The biggest distinction, however, was in the electronics, which could be passive or active. All featured new Magnetic Field Design humbucking pickups with two rows of adjustable hexagon-shaped polepieces and ceramic magnets. The passive versions gave a standard three-way select plus a phase switch that threw the pickups into a combination out-of-phase middle position. The active versions added a second “splitter” function, which was a coil tap. When selected, both pickups became single-coils. To compensate for the loss in bass response, these guitars kicked in some extra bass compensation with the active circuitry.
This is clearly a professional-grade guitar, extremely well made with a lot of thinking put into the design. However, it really doesn’t have the personality of many of its contemporaries.
The guitar shown here has serial number G003793, which does not appear to be date-encoded. Apparently, the first G&L serial number recorded in 1980 was G000530. Like older Fenders, you really have to pull it apart to ascertain dates. The pots have a date of the 40th week of 1980. The neck is dated 2/5/81 and the body is dated 2/18/81. The first serial number recorded in ’81 was G003122 and the first in ’82 was G009886, confirming this dating, although it may be optimistic to conclude that these serial numbers reflect actual production totals.
Like the Music Man instruments before them, G&Ls were well-received by critics, but not particularly well by dealers or players. They hit the market when heavy metal was becoming popular, with its taste for unusually shaped guitars, and later, offset-double-cutaway instruments. Within a few years, Kramer would be the world’s largest guitar manufacturer.
According to Richard R. Smith in Fender, The Sound Heard ‘Round the World (1995), Leo maintained a rocky relationship with his sales department. G&L was essentially his hobby shop, and Leo made the guitars he wanted to make. G&L’s single-cut guitar, the Broadcaster (later called the ASAT for the same reasons Fender had been forced to abandon the name once before), was pretty much snuck into production behind Fender’s back, though reportedly he liked the guitar when he saw it.
Leo’s involvement with G&L lasted until his death in early 1991. At that time, ownership was transferred to John C. McLaren and BBE Sound, who continue to run the company to this day. Leo never intended G&L to be a mega guitar brand, and G&L remains committed to that vision, concentrating on limited production of quality instruments.
How rare are these early G&L guitars? It’s hard to say. They don’t appear on the market all that often, and their lack of uptake among players tends to suggest the early serial number sequences include a lot of inflation. For example, it’s difficult to believe that more than 6,000 G&L guitars (let alone basses) shipped out in ’81. Later number sequences hover around 2,000 guitars per year, which is more realistic. Of the F-100s, the passive models are more rare, since all had become active by ’83. The F-100 lasted less than four years, biting the dust in ’84, replaced by the more Stratocaster-like S-500 that debuted in ’82. In some ways, the F-100’s lack of popularity makes it more attractive. In any case, this remains a cool artifact from a time when the love of guitars still flowed through Leo Fender’s veins.
This article originally appeared in VG‘s August 2009 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
Electric Review G&L F 100 guitar by Leo Fender & Line 6 amp
The G&L ASAT series of guitars is similar in design to the Telecaster. There is a range of both solid and semi-hollow bodied models. The basic models include the ASAT Classic, the ASAT Bluesboy (with a Seth Lover humbucker), the soap-bar pickup ASAT Special (formerly known as the G&L Broadcaster) and the Z-coil pickup ASAT Z-3.
![G&l Guitar Serial Numbers G&l Guitar Serial Numbers](https://reverb-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/s--isEtqmcM--/a_exif,c_limit,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_auto:eco,w_620/v1472321983/rw9ema8xvjsgadwxfbye.jpg)
G & L ASATG & L introduced the ASAT in 1986. It was Leo Fender's final variation on his original Broadcaster/Telecaster electric guitar design. These days the frets are dressed using Plek technology. | |
No image yet | G & L ASAT Bound ClassicThe ASAT Bound Classic was made between 1994 and 1998 |
G & L ASAT CLASSICRead more | |
No image yet | G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow'Read more |
No image yet | G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy'Read more |
G & L ASAT Classic CustomG & L manufactured the ASAT Classic Custom from 1995-1998 and from 2002 to the present. It is a variation on the ASAT but has a bookmatched swamp ash top, with all the standard G&L finish options. The body wood depends on the choice of finish, with alder on standard and all solid finishes but swamp ash on all premier finishes | |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-HollowIntroduced in 1997, the G&L ASAT Classic Semi-hollow is a semi-hollow bodied version of their Telecaster style ASAT Classic model. It is similar to the G&L ASAT semi-hollow, except it has a Schaller vintage-style fixed bridge and bird´s eye maple neck. | |
No image yet | G & L ASAT DELUXEThe G&L ASAT deluxe is a fancier version of the ASAT - with flame maple top and binding. |
No image yet | G & L ASAT IIIG & L manufactured the ASAT III between 1995 and 1998 |
No image yet | G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITIONThe ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION was made between 1998 and 1999 |
No image yet | G & L ASAT S 3Read more |
No image yet | G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOWRead more |
G & L ASAT SPECIALRead more | |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-HollowThe G&L Asat Deluxe Semi-Hollow is similar to the Asat Semi-Hollow but has a bound mahogany body and curly maple top. | |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXEThe G&L ASAT Special Deluxe is like the regular ASAT but has a flamed maple top and mahogany body. | |
G&L ASAT Z-3The G&L ASAT Z-3 was introduced in 1998. It has 3 G&L Magnetic Field Design Z-coil pickups and swamp ash or alder body. | |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-HollowThe G&L Z3 ASAT Semi Hollow was introduced in 1998. It is like the 3 Z pickup telecaster styled G&L ASAT Z3 but has two hollow voice chambers in the body and an f-hole. The pickups are three G&L Magnetic Field Design Z-coil pickups mounted in a pickguard. The ASAT Z3 Semi Hollow is available with a range of G&L premier and standard finishes as well as Choice of pickguard material including: Pearl, Tortoise Shell, Mirror, 3-ply Creme, 3-ply Black or 3-ply White. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Number of strings | Scale length | Binding | Finish effects | Made in |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | - | |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | - | |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | wood binding | - | - | |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | - | |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | No image yet | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | transparent finish | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | No image yet | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | - | |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | body binding | transparent finish | USA | |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | 6 strings | - | - | - | USA | |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | USA | |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - | - | USA |
Model | Body material | Body shape features | Body style | Pickguard material | Body top material | Hollow body | Pickguard shape | Soundhole |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | alder body, ash body, maple body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | black pickguard | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | ash body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | 3-ply pickguard, white pickguard | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | alder body | single cutaway | - | pearloid pickguard | ash body top | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | swamp ash body | single cutaway | - | - | - | semi-hollow body | pickguard | 1 f-hole |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | mahogany body | single cutaway | - | - | flamed maple body top | - | no pickguard | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | swamp ash body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | - | - | semi-hollow body | pickguard | 1 f-hole |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | alder body, maple body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | 3-ply pickguard | - | - | - | - |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | mahogany body | single cutaway | - | - | maple body top | semi-hollow body | pickguard | 1 f-hole |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | mahogany body | - | Telecaster style | - | flamed maple body top | - | no pickguard | - |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | alder body, swamp ash body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | cream pickguard, pearloid pickguard | - | - | - | - |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | alder body, swamp ash body | single cutaway | Telecaster style | cream pickguard, pearloid pickguard | - | semi-hollow body | - | 1 f-hole |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tuners |
---|---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | fixed bridge | black hardware | - |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | Schaller fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | - |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | Schaller tuners |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | G&L 'Saddle Lock' fixed bridge | chrome hardware | Schaller tuners |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | Schaller locking tuners |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | fixed bridge | chrome hardware | Schaller tuners |
Decoding G&l Guitar Serial Numbers
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard | - |
Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Nut | Tuner layout | Neck width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | bone nut | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | bolt on neck | birds-eye maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | bolt on neck | maple neck | - | - | six-in-a-row tuners | 1.625 inches wide at nut |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | 1.625 inches wide at nut |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | - | six-in-a-row tuners | 1.625 inches wide at nut |
G&l Guitar Models
Model | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | 3-way selector switch | - | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | 3-way selector switch | - | - |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | 5-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | 5-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
G&l Guitar Serial Numbers Clf
Model | Pickups configuration | Pickups brand and model |
---|---|---|
G & L ASAT 1986 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT Bound Classic 1994 to 1998 | - | - |
G & L ASAT CLASSIC 1990 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' Semi-Hollow' | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Blues Boy' | - | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Custom 1995 to 1998 2002 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow 1997 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT DELUXE 1995 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT III 1995 to 1998 | - | - |
G & L ASAT JUNIOR LIMITED EDITION 1998 to 1999 | - | - |
G & L ASAT S 3 1998 to 2000 | - | - |
G & L ASAT SEMI-HOLLOW 1997 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G & L ASAT SPECIAL 1994 | 2 single coil pickups | - |
G&L ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow 1997 | 2 humbucker pickups | Seymour Duncan 1959 pickup(s), Seymour Duncan TB-4 pickup(s) |
G&L ASAT SPECIAL DELUXE | 2 single coil pickups | G&L magnetic field pickup(s) |
G&L ASAT Z-3 1998 | 3 single coil pickups | G&L Z-Coil pickup(s) |
G&L ASAT Z3 Semi-Hollow 1998 | 3 single coil pickups | G&L Z-Coil pickup(s) |