1986 G&L Broadcaster
Leo Signed
I AM HERE TO BRING YOU TONE. I KNOW WHAT IS WHAT IN FENDER, OR IN THIS CASE LEO FENDER BUILT. THIS TO ME IS AS CLOSE TO A 54 STRAT IN VIBE, QUALITY, I SAY QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP, MADE OLD SCHOOL HISTORY. IT JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE TONE UP THE YING YANG. YOU NEVER SEE THESE GUITARS, ALL THE PRO'S HAVE THEM. I CAN NOT BELIEVE I AM NOT KEEPING THIS, BUT! THE NIGHT IS YOUNG YET!
2 single coils with adjustable pole pieces act in humbucking mode with selector in center position.
This is really a Pro making records guitar right here!
Before there was an Asat, George and Leo built their first Tele style guitars in '85 and early '86, naming them the "Broadcaster", just as Leo had done in the early 50's. One of the cool things about these guitars are that every one of them are genuine signature models - Leo personally inspected these guitars and signed each one on a while label found in the neck pocket.
Like all G&L's, Leo sought to improve his original designs and the Broadcaster was no exception. It featured a 22-fret bi-cut neck, a new saddle-lock bridge, much larger pickguard, and some very distinctive pickups which featured very shallow, wide bobbins so the windings stacked up such that they fanned out from the pole pieces. These pickups had been used on the SC1 and SC2 since 1982 and it was found that Tele players were playing the SC2 because the tonal qualities were close to a Tele. In essence, the Broadcaster was a repackaged SC2, with the iconic slab body Tele shape. Other features include gloss black finish, matching headstock, *ebony* fretboard, black hardware, 1-11/16" nut with, and 25-1/2" scale. This model came with a mess of paperwork, both commemorative and informative and this guitar seems to have it all including serialized ownership card (still attached to the sheet), serialized certificate with parchment envelope, store-endorsed warranty card, owner's manual, spec sheet, and parchment envelope to keep it all neat - plus strap locks and locking pins on the guitar.
These guitars have become somewhat legendary. They're great guitars in their own right plus now officially vintage - but the fact that they contain Leo's genuine signature will make them eternally collectible. This one has been played but not abused and other than some buckle rash, most of which we're buffing out, presents a very nice appearance, with excellent playability and a wonderful tone that's not radically different from the Tele's we know and love.
