Admittedly so. No doubt about the quality of G & L. I just always wondered why Leo's touch for practical, yet visually striking design didn't really show on his "Fender Mk III" brand. While a P Bass is an ugly beast in my eyes, I can appreciate its brutish utility look. The J Bass lines are feminine and elegant. The Stingray made an immediate visual statement in the midseventies with that 3 + 1 headstock, the oval pickguard and the idiosyncratic pup. The G & L stuff seems to be a lot more careful, even "un-rock" (I miss the pickguards I guess). Was he under pressure not to emulate Fender or MusicMan too much? G & L have pretty instruments no doubt (I like the ASAT), but no other icon. But then three bass design icons (P, J & Stingray) is probably enough from one man.
But enough from me ... I'll retreat to my Gibson cave. Have fun G & Lsters!
Uwe