Over the previous few weeks, reviews have surfaced suggesting that G&L – the guitar firm Leo Fender co-founded in 1979 and championed by the likes of Jerry Cantrell and Carl Perkins – could also be in the midst of a quiet however full shutdown.

An Instagram submit from the account guitarcheology, which has been documenting the model’s scenario in actual time, outlines what seems to be the ultimate days of G&L’s Fullerton, California operations.

In accordance with the submit, BBE Sound, G&L’s longtime dad or mum firm beneath president Dave McLaren, was ‘legally dissolved’ on 28 October – a transfer that successfully ends the entity Leo’s final firm has operated beneath for the reason that early ’90s.

The submit additionally claims that Fender Musical Devices Company (FMIC) didn’t buy G&L outright, regardless of widespread hypothesis on-line. As a substitute, Fender is alleged to have purchased solely G&L’s mental property, together with logos – and never the remaining instruments or stock.

Public filings from the US Patent and Trademark Workplace present that Fender submitted a trademark software for “Leo Fender” on 6 October. By 30 October, his title appeared on Fender’s official web site, suggesting that no matter deal came about possible centred on Leo’s legacy relatively than G&L’s manufacturing belongings.

Within the meantime, G&L’s Fullerton facility is reportedly being liquidated. Over the previous month, McLaren and his staff are stated to have offered off a CNC machine and a Plek system, with different tooling merely being scrapped.

“They’ve a deadline to be out, the constructing prepared for the subsequent tenant by December 1. This week has been the mad sprint to filter out what hasn’t offered. They’re opting to easily scrap it,” the submit states.

In accordance with the identical supply, the remaining US-made guitars has since been offered to used-guitar wholesaler MIRC in Tennessee for resale, whereas the destiny of the Tribute import line stays unclear: “MIRC sellers on-line will possible begin placing these things on eBay,” the submit provides. “I wouldn’t anticipate cut price basement costs.”

There’s additionally no phrase on what’s occurred to prototypes, templates, or the surviving contents of Leo Fender’s lab – although current pictures present what seems to be Leo’s unique submitting cupboard discarded in a dumpster behind the G&L facility, alongside different items of his previous workplace furnishings.

The submit notes that there are nonetheless “plenty of data gaps,” and that “we now have to be open to the chance FMIC solely purchased the IP.”

For now, no official statements have been launched by G&L, BBE, or Fender. However reviews of worker layoffs and liquidation exercise recommend that G&L’s operations in Fullerton are winding down, marking the tip of Leo Fender’s remaining guitar firm.

Learn the total submit beneath.