In-Depth Look at the G&L Comanche | G&L Guitars
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2023
- G&L Guitars - glguitars.com
Founded by Leo Fender in 1980, G&L USA instruments continue to be made in the historic G&L facility on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California, the Birthplace of Bolt-on™.
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I love that the guy who gave us the Telecaster, Jazzmaster, and the Strat has solved their biggest problem, and nobody can be bothered to use his solution, "cause it looks weird!
Teisco made split single coils in the 60s but those weren't hum-cancelling, instead, the wiring of the guitar was made in a way that it had two output jacks which purpose was to play treble string notes through one amp and bass string notes through another.
@@D14V0R05woah that’s an interesting way to achieve stereo. I think i prefer that to the es-355 way of One jack per pickup. Seems like it’d sound like 2 guitars
@@D14V0R05
If you have enough brain and access to Wikipedia - you can rewire those guitars by yourself, for humbucking feature. 😉
Great video. I have been playing G&Ls exclusively on stage since 81. I now have over 20 including a Comanche and a Z-3.
Out of my 8 Legacies my 95 is the one that is on stage everytime. The others are jealous.
I purchased that legacy and my 95 ASAT new. I was the original owner of Fat Freddy's in Minnesota and those guitars were part of our first order.
Fat Freddy’s! I remember you; I’m picturing late ‘90s. Hope all is well and thanks for the good times 🙌
Dave is an excellent spokesperson for Leo's guitar designs...you can tell he is passionate about the company and I admire that!
Thank you!
Wish I had the money. Love this guitar. The espada is also pretty incredible.
Thanks for the video. A couple of years ago I traded a Fender Deluxe Nashville Tele for a G&L Comanche Tribute. It quickly became my #1 over my USA made PRS, my Strats and others that I own. I had been on the hunt for a reasonably priced used American Comanche ever since and a few months ago I found an '01 in incredible condition. It's my #1 and will remain so.
I had the opportunity of playing this guitar in a music store just a few days ago! And i totally agreed when the staff said “Everybody hates a G&L until they tried one. Super amazing guitar!
G&L built a Legacy Special back ~1997. It’s is such a playable and great sounding guitar. When people play it they all love it. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I've always loved G&L, but when they came out with the Commanche in '89 I was blown away. I'd never seen pickups like the Z coils. When I tried the Commanche, the pickups were a revelation. They had the best of both worlds. Not only was the Commanche versatile, but in a very useful way. I've seen a lot of fancy electronics that just didn't work for me. The Commanche, like all the G&Ls I've tried, made sense in the real world. It could get lean and mean then be glassy and clean. It produces tones that are at once familiar and classic but also unlike anything I've ever heard before.
Love this!!! Can't wait for more! :)
Sweet thanks for the cool video
Im a huge G&l fan!! Great video!! Thank you!
Congratulations - a great achievement.
Great video! I got myself a Superhawk from 1984 shipped from a store in Seattle to Germany where I live. I still adore this guitar, so I am so happy to see you guys being more present on the market! Please, keep on with it!
Thank you for explaining the guitar.
I love how G&L is doing a good amount of marketing lately. Everyone needs to know about G&L let alone give one a play. My Tribute S-500 is my favorite guitar i own. Hopefully i can save up and get an American made G&L someday. The MFD pickups are amazing. It has so much clarity and the adjustable pole height is fun to mess around with. I would love to try a Comanche too, and i really want to trade my Player Series Tele for an ASAT. Love G&L
I would love one of these, everything about it the looks the sound.
GOOD, TELL THE STORIES OF THE INSTRUMENTS, YES!!! KEEP IT UP! NOW I know why the Comanche is unique. KEEP IT UP WITH THESE GREAT VIDEOS!
Fantastic video. I have been lucky enough to have owned 2 Comanches over the years. A tribute with a beautiful Blue Aquaburst and later an authentic 2005 C.L.F. Research Comanche with all of the innovations and engineering excellence that designation is known for.
The first time I picked up and played a Comanche I could feel and hear the quality of the guitar. An experience that I seldom had before with a solid body design.
Beautiful and well done. 👍
Fascinating, you should be very proud. 🫶
Just received my Comanche USA from G&L directly....just amazing, no words describe the playability, just wow.
Nice!❤
Thia is going to be my next guitar, I want the Commanche Studio, I think that guitar is amazing!
Really need one of these❤
This will be my next guitar. Such a brilliant design.
Great video Dave 👍🏻
Nice video - job well done! I've got 33 guitars in my 53 year collection. My front four prized and most sacred are a BluesBoy, two ASAT Classics (one is custom ordered one of a kind), and a Comanche Studio VI which takes the original Comanche design to the next dimension altogether. I'll admit I do own plenty other brands too, and those are much more expensive, but the feel, tone, and intensity of the G&Ls are far above. I myself have carried the exact Leo theory presented by Dave McLaren in this video for years, because I too believe Leo's best imagineering peeked in his final years of design and production. I am a bit worried about G&L since last being sold, however, if they can continue to concentrate on quality American ingenuity combined with this level of marketing, I have faith the end product provided will continue to grow as a leader in fine made instruments, which increase in value, and hold the standard for "best in class" in the industry. Very impressive, Dave!
Really great video! We want more, specifically the Doheny
🔥🔥🔥
The way Leo tested pickup placement is pretty cool! I wonder why he never tried to make a model with a movable pickup?
I need one
Would be neat to see a Legacy with Humbucker bridge and Z-Coil neck, no middle, that way you get your hard rock bridge, and bluesy twang neck, could do an ASAT too
had a 75 p-bass natural. 👍👍👍👍.
Welcome to the guitar community
Great Video !! I have a 2014 G&L Comanche, Gold Sparkle, Stainless Steel Frets, Plek Neck Custom job made in Fullerton. Has there been upgrades or anything I might add to it ? I really like it: has an easy to play fast neck for Surf, Rockabilly, etc. Originally went into Stevie B’s Total Guitars, Clearwater, FL to buy a Gretsch White Penquin, but I thought the Comanche sounded better, so we came up with some ideas and G&L built it.
That’s a great Comanche; I wouldn’t change a thing. I remember Stevie B’s and love a good blast from the past 🙏
Seeing those Z-coils has me wondering why Leo didn't try that on a guitar back in the 60s. It's the same design as is used on the P-bass, just with more pole pieces.
Having said that, the Comanche is a gorgeous sounding guitar. I've heard people describe it as the final form of the Strat and I can see it. It's the last stop of two men their journey into perfecting the instrument they designed.
Hey G&L! Great video. I just had a question about the design of the pickups. Can i get close to the non-slanted slanted pickup design by slanting the normal pickup on a strat? Thank you
I’ve really been interested in trying a Comanche, but it’s hard to find any near me!
This is good I like this yup
I did not know G&L Guitars... Since I watched the video on UA-cam from Rich. Words. Music. That was very interesting and now I know more about Leo Fender and he's work. Now I'm also interested to try some guitars from G&L here in Germany, but this isn't so easy, especially if you want to play a Comanche, because it's not a "Stratocaster" or a "Telecaster"... But at least a could find a dealer that has one. It's important for me that I can hold a guitar in my hands before I buy it. In the past I wasn't a big fan of a Stratocaster, because my first one was a very bad copy and it sounds really not good. That is long time ago, I was 17, now I will be 60 years this year... I bought my first real Stratocaster 2019, because a friend took me on a guitar shop tour through Hamburg and I was really impressed and surprised by the sounds of a Stratocaster professional and one month later I bought one. A bit later Fender came around with the new professional II with some changes and that was the point where I started to have a closer look into the guitar, the materials and the quality. I was not happy with the two point tremolo system and the quality in detail and then I started to make my own tremolo system which based on the original two point tremolo system, but I used different materials and made my own designs. I use titanium, bronze and steel, bigger tremolo block, different springs, different spring claw, an additional resonance block which is connected to the body, new saddles, new plate...everything new. The last parts will be finished in March and then I will complete my prototypes...
The video about Leo Fenders work in G&L was really inspiring and I still have so many crazy ideas. Next month a friend and I will making another guitar shop tour and we will play some G&L guitars and that will be great. But at least two questions:
1. Do you will produce baritone guitars? I love to play baritone guitars.
2. Do you will produce 7 string guitars? Also a combination like 7 string baritone...?
😊
I wish G&L would break with tradition and make just one model with the control knobs and selector switch moved out of the way of the strumming hand. I know Leo used to listen to musicians for design suggestions. You might want to do that again.
It wouldn't be a huge deal except for getting a pick guard is a pain in the ass. I also want a dive only vibrato, but these aren't supposed to be decked. Then there's the price, any guitar over a grand should have stainless frets. The last time I looked at their order form it was a $400 upcharge. Tried a Tribute model, it would be fine except for the 1 5/8" nut. Too crowded for me. Love the sounds of their guitars, but the aforementioned gripes I have keep me from owning one.
Good stuff....and the kind of vids that G&L should have been making 10+ years ago ; )
When you guys make a video for the SB-2 please highlight the ergonomics just as much as the sounds....the one massive element that's usually overlooked whenever this bass is mentioned.
I can only assume somebody spent a lot of time and energy on the physical design of the SB-2 and it being largely perceived as yet another P/J is such a shame.
Hi G&L team! Desperately looking for unsold charcoal or tobacco burst burl comanche leftover guitars I could purchase in the EU - but impossible to find! Do you have any stocks left ?
Aren't Z-coils the same principle the P-Bass pick-up uses, adapted to a six-string?
Wish you all would manufacture some mirrored pickups one year to enable a lefty run. I’ve always loved the look and sound of these.
While it’s too expensive to tool up the Z-coil covers for lefty, I think we can use Espada pickups and change the bobbin aperture and coil turns to match Comanche. That’s how we’d get the stagger orientation and correct sound for a lefty. - Dave
If you do something like Jimi Hendrix do in his time - you can play on conventional G&L with no issue.
Also you can order custom body from Warmoth, for full comfort to the lefthand.
@@iridios6127 thanks for the suggestion, but I have already considered this and it is not the solution I am looking for.
@@GL_Guitars Very interesting, thank you! Looks like I’ll be visiting my local G&L dealer soon 😉
is that a 78 Datsun B210 parked out front
😊
I've never tried one. Do you round the fretboard edges? That would be my preference. Thanks.
Yes. Over the years it shifted a little but they tend to be rounder since we introduced our Modern Classic neck profile like 8 years ago. Basically we added 1/16” on each measured at the nut, but still run 1 5/8” string spacing. That little extra meat let’s the edges roll without string fall-off.
@@GL_Guitars interesting, thanks. I'll have to give one a try.
@GL_Guitars I'd love to get a left handed one (Although I know they aren't offered because it's an expense to get left handed Z coil bobbins and covers made and the world isn't waiting for Lefty Comanche's.)
It comes down to the pickup covers, the rest is easy. It’s just that tooling up a lefty cover and injection molding means we have to sell a lot of lefties so we’ve been reluctant to do it. Might seem weird but the cost of making a hundred or a few thousand of them is almost the same
@@GL_Guitars I remember seeing one ASAT Z3 and two Comanche semi hollows that were left handed (with right handed pickups)
@@BlueThunderFan99yes, but it’s not the same sound although the customers/dealers understood that. One thing I consider is making Espada split coils with the same specs as Comanche coils. Since there’s a separate cover for each coil, it’s no problem to orient them for lefty guitar. It just won’t have the same styling, the Z shaped cover, but it would have the authentic Comanche sound. - Dave
@@GL_Guitars That would be cool! I'm 1000% behind that!
Are there any other differences between this guitar and S500 other than the pickups?
The pickups are the difference, and we will do a comparison between the two models.
@@GL_Guitars thank you for the answer
I have a S500 and a Bluesboy in that same Honeyburst, kind of a G&L fanboy. Would love to add that Comanche to complete the stable.@@GL_Guitars
Do you guys do LEFT HANDED guitars build to order? Would like to order one your website doesn't say!
Yes, most models are available Built To Order in lefty, but not Comanche.
@@GL_Guitars Is it the pickups? The Z-coils are very cool!
This is a great little film, although I think some artist-centered segments (interview/playing) would elevate these in the future. What do Leo’s innovations make possible for players? I always love hearing Dave talk about the instruments, but I feel that that would complete the narrative.
That’s coming too : )
Am I right in thinking that the design of the Comanche pickups make a left-handed version impossible?
When we anticipate enough demand for lefties, we will tool up to produce a left handed Z-coil pickup cover. That’s really the thing, as we’ll have several thousand lefty Z-coil covers from the first run. It’s OK to inventory them for years, but it’s a commitment we need to time right.
@@GL_Guitars thanks for the reply. I am the proud owner of a lefty USA ASAT Classic and a lefty USA Legacy. Would love a lefty Comanche to add to the collection.
You could try the Jimi Hendrix solution it worked well for him. Stay clear of the Dick Dale solution unless you want to relearn guitar.
For whatever reason in the 35 years I've played guitar, every G&L I played was made with waterlogged wood. Weighed like 1000 lbs. Had fret sprout that felt like my grandmother's pin cushion. So no, I never noticed the pickups🙄.
G&L’s response: no you!
G & L is looking better, because sadly Fender went too corporate.... the only thing that G & L has, is 🇺🇸 guitars are made to order; so the local music shop in my area, stopped carrying G & L guitars ‼️
What is that blue!?
We call it Himalayan Blue, reminiscent of a clear sky over that mountain range
@GL_Guitars oh I'm well aware of Himalayan blue. In this lighting it looked a lot darker and deeper than I usually see it. Either way it's awesome
Technically it’s a p90?
*
This will be my next purchase...and maybe my last.
The key is to really use the controls, that’s where the magic happens and you find yourself doing all kinds of things you wouldn’t expect to. It’ll never stop exploring with you.
What is Fenders MFD?
MFD = Magnetic Field Design. It's a pickup design with a large ceramic magnet beneath the coil and adjustable iron pole pieces. The coil is relatively narrow and wide with fewer turns than his original single coil designs. When compared to traditional single coils these pickups have better hum rejection, wider frequency response (more highs and lows), less of a high frequency spike, clearer tone and higher output despite the DC resistance being lower than comparable pickups. The MFD Jumbo is my favorite pickup; clear, punchy, loud and bright. It's like a cross between a P-90 and a Tele bridge.
@@tiki_trash I didn't know G&L pickups were MFD and used Ceramic magnets instead of Alnico. I didn't know that Leo Fender used Ceramic magnets for the G&L pickups because of better hum rejection.
@@waynegram8907 They make traditional alnico slug single coils and trad humbuckers and P-90s too. The ceramic mag in the MFDs give a higher output, the coil design gives slightly better hum reduction, but the MFD single coils are not hum cancelling. The Comanche pickups and the MFD humbuckers are hum cancelling. Some people love them some people hate them, but they will give you something different than the original Fender pickups.
If you like Teles but want more output and midrange, check out the ASAT Special with the Jumbo pickups. I love mine. The ASAT Classic is an even more midrangey MFD pickup in a traditional Tele size.
@@tiki_trash ya I looked into the ASAP pickups which are called MFD Jumbos which are a totally different designed than P90s or Jazzmaster pickups. They do have less hum of the way the pole pieces North and South arrangement cancels out the hum but the ceramic magnetic have a higher output so you get more frequencies also
If the pickup works great on the p bass why not on a guitar.
The Espada guitar, has it been launched as a Fender in 1970, would have been really good for that. The Electric XII had it too, but nobody wanted to change the Tele and Strat back then. Fast forward to the ‘80s and Leo came back to the idea at G&L
Need a lefty version
Mine got stolen