Leo Fender passed away on a rainy day in March of 1991, an event which shook the Music World: The
father of modern music was gone. It was on that very day that Leo had completed his last prototype
instrument, after which he declared to his wife Phyllis that he had given all he can to the musicians of
the world.
Before his passing, he wanted to be sure that the legacy of G&L would continue to shine even brighter
in the future. He knew that he must look after the people of G&L, his family, so that they would reamin
secure and free to continue building the finest guitars and basses in the world.
His wife Phyllis shared his dream, and she chose BBE Sound, under the leadership of Chairman John C.
McLaren, to take over the management of G&L and to expand and develop it in the way Leo would have
wanted. Leo had begun discussions several years before with John, who Leo respected greatly. Leo was
confident that John could make Leo’s dreams for G&L’s future become reality and felt he could entrust
John to continue his work with G&L, in which he took such great pride. John shares Leo’s vision of G&L as
a maker of superb hand crafted instruments.
Today the G&L factory continues production as Leo would have wanted. His private workshop, the epi-
center of his creativity, remains untouched as it was on his last day and has been visited by music people
from around the world. While G&L. The people of G&L, his people, continue to build the instruments
with love, dedication and great skill. In preserving the uniqueness of G&L and respecting the vision of
its founder, John C. McLaren said, “G&L will always be willing to make changes. Leo Fender was a symbol
of change and evolution for the benefit of musicians. But for any change that is considered, we must
first ask ourselves, ‘Would Leo have wanted it this way?’ If yes, then we do it. If not, then we will not. We
always want to feel that Leo Fender would be proud of today’s G&L.”
Our History
G&L is not associated with the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
