On Saturday July 4th, 2009 the world lost a great man and pioneer of the guitar manufacturing industry. Just weeks after his wife passed, George Fullerton (the “G” in G&L Guitars) passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 86.
George Fullerton met Leo Fenders in 1947 and would help Leo design the first affordable mass produced solid body electric guitars and basses. George worked with Leo pioneering some of the most popular guitar designs including the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass. George would work beside Leo until the sale of Fender Musical Instruments to CBS at the end of 1964. George stayed on with the CBS owned Fender Musical Instruments for five more years after the sale before leaving over concerns of the declining quality of the guitars being produced. In 1979, George and Leo came together once again to start G&L Guitars with the goal of creating exceptional instruments for the musicians of the world. Today, G&L still turns out phenomenal guitars and basses that are used by some of today’s biggest names.
After Leo Fender passed away in 1991, G&L Guitars was passed over to the leadership of John McLaren of BBE Sound, Inc. George Fullerton remained with G&L Guitars as a permanent consultant.
In 2007, George collaborated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to introduce the 50th Anniversary 1957 Stratocaster® guitar.
I had the opportunity to briefly speak with George at two NAMM shows. From these meetings, I saw a man who gave all he had to the guitar players of the world while at the same time putting forth a very humble disposition. George Fullerton has been very instrumental in guitar design since before 1950, and today the world mourns the loss of a quiet legend of the industry. His well known and loved guitar and bass collaborations with Leo Fender will live on, but he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
George Fullerton’s memorial service will be held that the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove on Saturday, July 25th at 10:00am.
Gary Allen