G&L ASAT opinions.

[sunvalleylaw]

I wish I would have played that US ASAT I mentioned above. It was sweet looking. The store closed though. No Tribute ASATs in that store, and no S500s. I like the idea of that S500 setup, and think it would be cool in an ASAT body too. I would like to see a string through Deluxe, or triple single set up too, if they made them. I am tending more toward string through, and am open to the variations in solidbody or semihollow, and with pickup formation. Nowhere around nearby to go play any though.

P.S. Nice clip Aeolian! It is hard to find online clips of any of these guitars really rocking though. Most I find are clean, from jazzy to twangy. Some like that are on the G&L site.

[wingsdad]

...I like the idea of that S500 setup, and think it would be cool in an ASAT body too. ...

Here's 3 diagrams that show:

The S-500 and Comanche Switiching & Tone Control setup & operation:



Probably usable Schematic for that setup...this from a '92 Legacy ('Strat', wired to do what an S-500 (basically a Legacy with MFD Ceramic mag single Coils instead of the Legacy's Alnico 'Strat' types) and Comanche does:



And a Schematic for the Legacy...a 'Strat', if you will, that uses Master Bass & Treble pots instead of a Strat's typical 2 Tone pots -- what G&L calls the 'PTB' system:



I s'pose you could turn any triple-single coil Strat or Nashville Tele guitar or Budget Clone of same into a G&L type Beast-Clone...all that would be missing would be the G&L pickups, but they can be bought singly or in sets (the Legacy Alnico type) from G&L, here:

G&L Online Store - Pickups

Thes USA-made pickups are used in the Tribute imports, too.

Here's the CTS Pots G&L uses & sells. Note that there's specific USA or Tribute types:

G&L Online Store - Pots

And here's the switches, again, specified for USA or Tribute imports:

G&L Online Store - Switches

If anyone is tempted enuff to buy some of these Real Leo Fender Pickups, I suggest trying to call rather than rely solely on electronic ordering...G&L can be a bit 'old-school' in responding and confirming stock and order status efficiently...not as automated as the typical online retailer.

NOTE TO MODS: You might want to copy this to it's own thread on Modding Strats or Teles into G&L Clones; I'm not sure how to do that.

[Duff]

I have one, on '07 Swamp Ash with Mahogany back. The top is about 3/8" thick and the back is about 1.5" thick.

Super beautiful guitar with a really high quality aura, like a nice Gibson or something, not shape or style, just vibe. I have a Schecter C1 electric acoustic hybrid that is also super high class looking and has that same high class vibe.

The ASAT Classic Tribute that I have is sunburst swamp ash and has MFD pickups in the standard tele positions. It is an awesome guitar with a tone like no other tele I've played. I traded a very good '07 guitar for it straight up.

Absolutely no need to change the USA made MFD pups. A lot of the parts, in fact are sent to the assembly plant and assembly is supervised by G&L employees.

I always wanted a G&L and was lucky enough to trade for one. An orange Bluesboy would also be really neat and a Tribute version is available in that too.

My experience with the Legacy is mixed. I like the more expensive Legacy Tributes with the MFD pups on them. The cheaper ones, not much cheaper, have regular looking single coil pups. Haven't tried any G&L with the soapbar looking pups.

I would not underestimate the G&L ASAT Tributes and compared to my Squire Standard tele, walnut satin, which I'm currently playing between writing this post, the G&L is way different in sound and great in sound; the Squire, however, is no slouch, even with the stock pups that should probably be replaced to do that guitar justice, but the stock ones are hum cancelling in the middle position. Nice twang to that Squire Standard on the bridge with the tone turned up all the way. Awesome twang. Maybe I don't need to change those pups afterall.

My G&L ASAT Tribute is, overall, a really high class looking guitar with lots of special appointments and attention to detail that give it that special aura of quality both in appearance and sound. It also feels super great to play. The Squire feels super, super great too.

My Peavey Generation EX tele's that they are selling way, way cheap at for instance uncleabes.com, no affilliation, sound super great and have alder bodies and come in about five pup configurations, including the triple single. You can pick these up for under 200. You won't get a new G&L ASAT Tribute for near that cost.

Hope these ideas and observations help someone,

Duff