Subj : G&L Guitars closed
To   : NIGHTFOX
From : Rob Mccart
Date : Fri Oct 03 2025 09:21:27

NI>As some might know, G&L is (was?) a company co-founded by Leo Fender (of Fend
  >Guitars) and George Fullerton in 1979. Leo Fender continued to innovate and m
  > new things at G&L. I think they make (made?) great guitars - I have a US-mad
  >&L Comanche which I bought in 2014, and I really like it.
NI>Recently I've been hearing news about G&L closing.

That's unfortunate. I'm not familiar with their guitars myself but
it would be extermely difficult these days to stay in business in
the USA (or Canada or most of Europe) given the labour costs in
making something like a well built guitar.

I'm more familiar with Fender, of course, more with their electrics
back in the day, but their acoustics were pretty nice as well..

Years ago I bought a Shiro guitar, which is a Martin guitar made
in Japan. This isn't a 'Japanese Copy'.. I was told at the time
that any Martin Guitar costing less than $2000 was made by Shiro
and labelled Martin. This was back 25 or 30 years ago so $2000
was a lot more money back then. The Shiro name on it made it a
lot more affordable than a Martin.. about $1000 at the time.

It also has a 'Tree of Life'in pearl on the fretboard which, I
was told, adds about $250 to the cost. It is an exact match for
a Martin D45 other than the name Shiro on it in Mother of Pearl..

I also still have a Japanese copy of a Gibson, well made but
not as high quality materials and finishing, and I have a
Framus 12 string I've had for 55 years or so. Prior to that
one (going from Rock to Folk) I had a Hofner electric I played
in a group at school.

I originally learned to play, starting at age 9, on my father's
full sized Harmony guitar, which was bigger than I was..   B)

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