In 2024 the G&L Skyhawk joined the list of guitars available as a Build-to-Order model. The Skyhawk HH combines early G&L visuals with a pair of their smooth sounding covered humbucker pickups, 'Modern Classic' neck profile, and a thin gloss satin urethane finish that won't show fingeprints or smudges. With one foot in the past and another in the future, the Skyhawk HH has something to offer players of all stripes.
This USA-made G&L Skyhawk HH features:
- Vintage Natural Satin finish on Swamp Ash, 8.0 pounds
- 'Modern Classic' profile (1-11/16" width at the nut), 9.5" radius
- .820" depth at first fret, .870" depth at 12th fret
- Vintage satin finish maple neck
- Indian Rosewood fretboard
- '84 chrome control plate w/ 3-ply parchment guard
- G&L AS4255C Neck Pickup
- G&L AW4368C Bridge Pickup
- Passive Volume, Treble and Bass controls
- Push/Pull tone for coil split
- 3-way pickup switch
- G&L Dual Fulcrum Vibrato bridge
- G&L Split and Drilled tuners
- G&L padded gig bag
In addition to the unique 80's throwback aesthetic, the Skyhawk offers a pair of smooth-sounding covered humbuckers. The model numbers of the G&L pickups are code for how they are made. So the AS4255C neck pickup has an Alnico magnet, is wound with 42 gauge wire and 5500 turns, and is chrome covered. Compared to it's open coil sibling, the tone is a little smoother and warmer, but retains plenty of attack and wound string response. The Swamp Ash body not only looks great but provides additional top end sweetness, and a cleaner more open midrange than Alder. In the bridge we have the AW4368C, wound with 43 gauge wire for 6800 turns. These typically measure around 13.5k resistance, which is less than their open coil AW4470 pickup that's standard on most G&L's. While covered humbuckers are a little less punchy than open coils, the longer scale and bolt-on neck provide additional harmonic "snap" and we like the smooth but percussive feel of this pairing.
As with nearly all G&L's the Skyhawk comes standard with their Modern Classic profile. Similar to their Slim C but with a wider 1-11/16" nut, the Modern Classic will feel very familiar to Fender fans and has been a hit since it was introduced in 2015. The G&L Dual-Fulcrum vibrato system is another evolutionary improvement carried over to the Skyhawk. Unlike traditional designs -- and rather than relying on a few wood screws -- it uses two knife-edge studs mounted in giant brass body anchors to act as pivot points for the bridge. This type of floating mechanism allows the player to bend notes upward or downward with complete confidence that the guitar will stay securely in tune.
Players who are not "Les Paul" people will dig the Skyhawk HH: It provides the sonic benefits of dual-coil pickups but with the clarity, dynamics and playing feel that Leo Fender fans refuse to compromise on. The tone is Classic Rock, Pop, and even Funk, but suffice to say the tone controls and floating bridge provide a lot of leeway to cover a plethora of styles. And personally we love the early G&L aesthetic (and you can work on the wiring without taking the strings off). Kudos to G&L for continuing to honor the legacy of Leo Fender in imaginative ways.
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