G&L digs into the history books to launch new CLF Research bass

In 1966, one year after leaving his eponymous company, Leo Fender founded CLF Research. Although the company worked in tandem with Music Man and went on to lay the groundwork for G&L, it didn’t exactly enter popular consciousness. Until now. G&L is bringing the brand back—and the first product out of its workshop is the CLF Research L-2000.

The four-stringed bass appears to be a reissue of the 1981 L-2000, at least in terms of its cosmetics. A vintage G&L headstock and logo crown the instrument, while color-coded toggle switches, CLF knobs and a control plate reproduced from the 1981 original lend more vintage cred to the bass. Even its neck profile and fretboard radius—1.625 and 9.5 inches, respectively—mimic its predecessor, unlike the standard-issue L-2000s.

Besides those vintage fixings, the CLF Research L-2000 sports a pair of G&L Magnetic Field humbuckers, a maple neck and fretboard, and a G&L Saddle Lock bridge. It’s available in either basswood, swamp ash or okoume, depending on the finish you pick: There’s Candy Apple Red, Jet Black, Natural and Three-tone Sunburst.

And if you’re a fan of guitar history, the new CLF Research Facebook page is worth a follow. On it, you’ll find photos of artifacts from Leo Fender’s archives—there’s everything from dusty pickups, spare parts, technical diagrams, dog-eared receipts and even shots of his mobile home.

For more information, check out glguitars.com.