My guitar collection - G&L

 
 

The 25th Anniversary model is another Limited Edition built by G&L’s Custom Creations Department. In February 2006, a tad late since G&L was actually founded in 1980, production started for a total of 250 instruments of which this is #176. The MSRP for this instrument was $2,500. You will notice the frequent occurrence of the number “25”, but I guess you can figure out why. To commemorate the occasion, G&L wanted to revisit Leo‘s Magnetic Field Design (MFD) humbuckers as they appeared on the F-100 and G-200 models in the early years of the company, although custom wound to match the sonic characteristics of the solid mahogany body. The mahogany neck has a 12” rosewood fingerboard, Dunlop (Medium) Jumbo 6100 frets, and 1⅝” nut. The guitar is finished in a ‘25th Anniversary Custom Blend’, referred to as Root Beer among aficionados, to match the appearance of an aged 1981 F-100 in the possession of the company. The guitar further has a G&L Saddle-Lock bridge, rear-loaded 3-position pickup selector, volume control, and tone control, and matte chrome Sperzel closed tuning machines. As all Limited Edition models, it comes with a special Certificate of Authenticity and tolex hardshell case. For more information, see its Rarebird section in the Registry of the Guitars by Leo website and this archived snapshot from 2017.

 

25th Anniversary model

The story behind this guitar

Year:

Serial number:

Neck date:

Body date:

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After having already purchased a Special Build ASAT ‘Super’ and ASAT Bluesboy Spalted Maple, I realized that it would be worthwhile to look into the other Custom Creations Department instruments. Not only from a standpoint of collecting, but definitely also because every G&L just seems to sound great. I had just missed out on a 20th Anniversary model on eBay, but there were also a couple of 25th Anniversary models listed. Not as exclusive as the 20th Anniversary model, but heck, you have to start somewhere. What appealed to me in this instrument is the fact that, although technically not an ASAT, it still bears its curves but has MFD humbuckers, instead of single-coils as I have on many other guitar. And this thing has attitude! The neck pickup sound wonderful and warm, the bridge pickup has a bark and it has a very responsive tone control. One of the many pleasant surprises is the ergonomic contours in the body which make this instrument one of the most comfortable instruments to play.


And the missing out on a 20th Anniversary model got fixed a couple of weeks later anyway.

The story behind this guitar

2006

CLF42765 (#176 of 250)

none, marked ‘25th’

JUN 11 2006

D’Addario EXL110 Nickel Wound Regular Light (10-46)