CLF Research guitars are inspired by Leo’s legacy of continuous innovation.
CLF Research Doheny V12
The CLF™ Research Doheny® V12:
Explore New Sonic Territory in Leo's Land
When the G&L Doheny was launched in 2017, its application of Leo's modern features was expected. The breathtaking versatility of its MFD™ singe coil pickups, however, was a revelation, a guitar capable of delivering delicate, airy jangle all the way to thick, grindy single coil tones. Those pickups were painstakingly created by Johnny McLaren in the spirit of Leo's later work at CLF Research.
The CLF Research Doheny V12 digs even deeper into the rapid pace of technical development that was the hallmark of Leo's CLFR years, with particular focus on his late '70s to early '80s development of MFD guitar humbuckers. With the benefit of decades of hindsight and unlimited access to Leo's technical work, brothers Dave and Johnny McLaren challenged themselves to create the most musical MFD guitar humbuckers ever to come from Fender Avenue. But they set their sights even higher: fulfill a vision Leo had for "end-to-end" humbuckers that would sound beautiful in series-humbucking, parallel-humbucking, and single coil modes. Pickups that would sit well in a variety of musical contexts, never short of either power or articulation. Pickups that would put a smile on Leo's face.
Leo believed musicians could understand and benefit from more control over their instruments, and in his later years, Leo was particularly interested in fundamental coil control. The reward can be a surprisingly versatile instrument, and that's why each of the Doheny V12's MFD humbuckers is individually controlled by a 3-way mini toggle with classic CLF color-coloded switch tip, white for neck pickup and red for bridge pickup.
The period styling continues with original CLF black wrinkle powdercoating on a one-piece aluminum control plate/pickguard, a perfect backdrop for the exquisitely machined and chrome plated CLF knobs for volume, treble and bass. The Dual Fulcrum Vibrato features a CLF 3/16" machined stainless steel vibrato arm for a period look while benefiting from today's forged brass saddles and block. Put it all together, and the Doheny V12's gorgeous looks and bold, pioneering spirit make it an offset for the ages.
The CLF Research Doheny V12 is available in the following thin urethane finishes:
- Old School Tobacco Sunburst over okoume, Caribbean rosewood fingerboard
- Pharaoh Gold Firemist over basswood, Caribbean rosewood fingerboard
CLF Research Skyhawk
Elegantly Eighties: CLF™ Research Skyhawk™ brings back the best of '80s CLF styling.
Like the original G&L Skyhawk of 1984, it starts with George Fullerton's evolved double-cutaway with a hint of offset, a slim waist and generous curves. This very comfortable body is complemented by his arched pickguard shape, his most most pleasing iteration of the form.
The elegant pickguard meets a beautifully reproduced CLF control plate in original style black wrinkle powdercoat, a perfect backdrop for the exquisitely machined and chrome plated CLF knobs for volume, treble and bass. The Dual Fulcrum Vibrato features a CLF 3/16" machined stainless steel vibrato arm for a period look while benefiting from today's forged brass saddles and block.
And there are those three Leo Fender-designed MFD single coil pickups that defined the Skyhawk back in '84 and the SC-3 in 1983. These meaty-yet-sparkly MFD pickups are best known as the power behind the current generation of S-500 guitars from 1989 on. In a bit of backdating, the CLF Research Skyhawk adds a mini-toggle expander switch from the S-500 so this Skyhawk leaves no tones behind.
The CLF Research Skyhawk is available in the following thin urethane finishes:
- Clear Blue over swamp ash, maple fingerboard
- Natural Ash, maple fingerboard
- Old School Tobacco Sunburst over okoume, Caribbean rosewood fingerboard
- Pharaoh Gold Firemist over alder, Caribbean rosewood fingerboard