G&L factory and operations closed

[uOpt]

Looks like G&L shut down Sep 15, 2025.

There is no official communication, the best I can find is here: https://blog.upfrontguitars.com/2025/10/september-2025-what-happened-to-gl-guitars/

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, this was rumored for a few weeks. Very sad when something like this happens. Hopefully the brand can come back some day in the hands of someone who really cares.

 

[Masta' C]

This has been kind of the "big industry news" for the past month.

Shame that the original operations are being dissolved, but you can bet this won't be the last we'll see or hear of "G&L" as a brand.

 

[ICTGoober]

The G&L dealer I know in western Kansas was sure surprised when I told him.

 

[uOpt]

This has been kind of the "big industry news" for the past month.

Shame that the original operations are being dissolved, but you can bet this won't be the last we'll see or hear of "G&L" as a brand.

Well, Fender might buy them for the Leo Fender naming right and not release guitars.

 

[GuitarStv]

Won't be the first US company to be driven out of business by tariffs.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Won't be the first US company to be driven out of business by tariffs.

Tariffs are playing a role, no question. But G&L has not been steady for years. If the the tariffs caused them to go under, it wasn't a killer blow, but a final strike.

 

[Masta' C]

Won't be the first US company to be driven out of business by tariffs.

If only it were that simple, lol

 

[ICTGoober]

Won't be the first US company to be driven out of business by tariffs.

G&L was going BYE-BYE before any tariffs were applied.

 

[Coma]

Well, Fender might buy them for the Leo Fender naming right and not release guitars.

Which brands does Fender actually own these days? They already have Charvel, Jackson and EVH, AFAIK.

 

[Chistopher]

Don't forget Gretsch

 

[Mincer]

Well, Fender might buy them for the Leo Fender naming right and not release guitars.

Yeah, they may keep some of the pickup technology, but they have nothing to gain releasing things under the G&L name. I'd bet they want everyone to forget he even started that company.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Which brands does Fender actually own these days? They already have Charvel, Jackson and EVH, AFAIK.

Don't forget Gretsch

Guild as well.

 

[uOpt]

Which brands does Fender actually own these days? They already have Charvel, Jackson and EVH, AFAIK.

Bigsby
Charvel
EVH
Gretsch
Jackson
PreSonus
Squier
Sunn
​

 

[ICTGoober]

I'd bet they want everyone to forget he even started that company.

If true, that would be a damn shame. Also, it won't work. Leo Fender's name will live on forever.

 

[Masta' C]

Yeah, they may keep some of the pickup technology, but they have nothing to gain releasing things under the G&L name. I'd bet they want everyone to forget he even started that company.

They definitely might buy the brand and try to bury it, gobbling up the equipment, intellectual property, and patents in the process.

Or they could really lean into it as part of the larger "Leo Fender" legacy, perhaps developing non-traditional models under the G&L namesake, models which wouldn't really fit the typical Fender brand heritage.

Who knows, they could even produce a "Legacy Series" of "G&L by Fender" or similar, especially if they can keep Jerry Cantrell onboard and maybe bring in some more contemporary endorsements.

 

[ICTGoober]

If they can exploit it, they should.

 

[orpheo]

Guild as well.

Nop, Guild hasn't been a part of Fender for more than a decade. They were bought by Cordoba in I think 2015, and by 2022 (approx) Yamaha bought Guild.

 

[Artie]

There's a similar conversation over at the Gear Page, but it started off talking about PRS. Someone over there said that both the bottom line PRS's and G&L's are built by Cort. I suspect my import Gretsch is too.

It's about at the point I almost wish each manufacturer would just put their own name on their stuff. If it's a Cort, call it a Cort. Etc.

 

[Masta' C]

It's about at the point I almost wish each manufacturer would just put their own name on their stuff. If it's a Cort, call it a Cort. Etc.

Did you happen to check out the PRS Cort factory tour video I posted on the PRS Chleo thread?

PRS has their own manufacturing facility on the giant "Cort" campus. The people that work there only work on PRS products...QC, finishing, etc. is completely separate from the stuff "Cort" makes for other brands. There is also a very close relationship between that particular working group and the Maryland factory staff, which is why the newer SE stuff really stands out among similar imports.

I believe Phillip McKnight has another video coming out soon exploring the other aspects of the Cort campus in more detail.

But if you can imagine Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio existing next to each other, sharing a parking lot and using the same HR department to manage their staff out of convenience, that's pretty much what's going on with PRS and the rest of the "Cort" factory.