G&L Factory Visit NAMM 2016

Being at the Anaheim National Association of Music Merchants Conference for musicians and business people alike is a experience like no other. Between seminars from industry leaders, the hottest new roll outs from the world's premier brands and meet and greets with legendary rock and roll icons; I was fortune enough to be able to visit G&L's custom shop in Fullerton California.

At first glance, you wouldn't be able to guess that is the place that the destiny of the electric guitar changed forever. Built over a avocado and orange grove, the grounds for the facility were developed in 1971, a short time after Leo Fender sold the company to CBS. Although G&L didn't open its doors for productions until 1979, the facility gave birth to another guitar designer that innovated and captivated the masses, "Music Man".

The interior of the warehouse was just as I imagined; Full to the brim with incredible guitars. We were shown from start to finish the creation of all of your favorite G&L products; Legacy, ASAT, Bluesboy, L-2000, SB-2, JB-4 amongst others. The production line was filled with state of the art manufacturing hardware, but also much older pieces that Leo himself had used over the years. I couldn't help but ponder how many albums I've heard over the years that had harnessed their tones from instruments that were forged in these rooms and machines. I would be lying if I said there wasn't a truly magical vibe while walking past Mr. Fender's office, which hasn't been touched since his passing in 1991.