For Your Consideration, a beautiful Ruby Red G&L F-100 Series I, built in 1981.
Based on the design of his Music Man Sabre guitar, these were the first models produced by G&L after Leo broke off his business relationship with Music Man in late 1979.
This particular guitar is a thing of beauty, as fine a handmade instrument as you might order from a Custom Shop. It is in excellent condition and the only indication of its 43 years is the intricate finish checking on both body and neck. The deep Ruby Red is deceptively red in the photos and I’ve tried to depict the differences in some of the pictures.
Featuring a maple neck and ebony fingerboard with distinctive striping in the grain (not the effect of dryness), it sports a comfortable 12” radius. The mahogany tonewood is enhanced by the substantial string-through Saddle Lock bridge. Gold knobs shown in some photos have been replaced with original hardware.
The F-100 features two humbucker pickups and was the first guitar to employ the proprietary Magnetic Field Design featuring two rows of adjustable hexagon-shaped polepieces and ceramic magnets.
The control layout features a master volume and tone controls, bass control, phase switch and a coil splitter. Engaging the phase switch overrides the pickup selector activating both pickups and reducing bass levels. Choosing the lead pickup places the guitar “in-phase” cancelling the treble controls. Descriptive cheat sheet included in accompanying hard-shell case.
This stunning guitar will provide many years of enjoyment; its quality and tonal palette is unparalleled and a fine example of Leo Fender’s creative genius and superb workmanship.