Project 1979 S-500 Introduction

Dave McLaren introduces his Project 1979 S-500 and takes us on a magical history tour.
George Fullerton and Leo Fender fans: don’t miss this!

[@clintcalkin617]

Their passion for their products are displayed in this video. I love it!!!

[@HTEK207]

Dave I love it when you go into CLF / G&L History!!! I also love it when you note the S word is property of Fender Musical instruments in Arizona lol. Theat's just bearutiful. I reallywant to make a trip from Ohio to Claifornia and come to Fullerton avenue and iorder a guitar from you all. I started playing G&L' about 3 years ago. I've sold a bumch of other guitars to buy more G&L's I do evenually need to get one direct from teh shop. Saving my dollars to dol so!!!

[@West69sixty]

Man I really appreciate these videos I love learning the history of the company

[@markmcdonald5711]

I have two lefty G&L guitars, had to special order both of them. 1981 F-100 Series II, red with a maple fretboard. 2004 George Fullerton model, black with a white pickguard and a maple fretboard and the hardtail bridge. G&L make the best strats.

[@bradsmith8193]

I'm definitely getting one

[@repat1000]

Great context! Proud owner of an '82 S-500.

[@sailor5225]

im a huge G&L fan, own a f-100 series 1, skyhawk/s-500 with sickle headstock and an asat. sincerely appreciate that you guys are making youtube content now.

[@graemero5532]

Cheers Dave, it's great seeing how the models evolved.

[@ericpottersadventuresinsou1146]

so much fun! it's just as interesting a history as Leo's time at Fender, he and George just kept innovating. i'd love to find an old Cavalier, or maybe spring for a Doheny V12. seems every decade i get another G&L, since i started playing in the 90's

[@robmyers9702]

I think that original F-100 shape is what all the Legacy style models should be made with. That shape looks a million times better than the chunky Strat body.

[@tiki_trash]

In my opinion that body should have been for the S-500, but they have the Skyhawk redux for that now. The Legacy is a take on the Strat so it should look like a Strat. I also think the final F-100 variation (without pickguard) should not have been discontinued but the Doheny V-12 pickups and controls should have gone into them instead of the Doheny. But, as I'm sure you know, my opinion don't mean shit.

[@plaunty]

G&L .. the only company that I have stayed with the longest!! best in the world!!!!!! i have owned at least 10 and my maine bass now is the 5500

[@wrigman]

Why has G&L gotten away from the knurled (ASAT) volume and tone knobs? I have an early S-500 with those knobs, however, I see many people on forums asking what knobs can be put on their new S-500’s, because they have a hard time pulling the plastic modern knobs. The older knobs are better for volume pull out function.....

[@plaunty]

still waiting for a video on the L-5500

[@plaunty]

What was the argument between George and Leo.. To where Leo took more control and changed the definition of g&l .. from George and Leo to guitars by Leo

[@CLFResearch]

Samuel Plaunty there was no argument between them, nothing serious anyway. We’ll talk about that later : )

[@plaunty]

@@CLFResearch i apologize it was always a thing i heard back in the 90s thank you for responding

[@RastaSaiyaman]

About the "Mass is good" thinking behind the seventies Fender Headstocks. That's hogwash, they did it to streamline production: give all guitars that are not telecasters (Aside from the Deluxe) the same neck. Rout a couple hundred, designate them long scale or short scale (Long scale from Strats, Jazzmasters and tele deluxes) and Short scale for Jaguars, Musicmasters and Mustangs) slap a fingerboard on, fret the buggers and assemble the guitar.

[@tiki_trash]

In the 70s there was a guitar gadget that was basically just a C-clamp that you put on your headstock to "add mass" to it and increase sustain and punchiness. They were really popular with bass players. A heavy guitar was desirable back then. The Fender large headstock was designed to make the logo larger and more noticeable though.