G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi Hollow

[wingsdad]

In the mid-70's I had a '72 Tele Custom that was my go-to ax. I sold her to survive when the thing I was doing in New England folded up in 1981, and I'd regretted it since.

Itching for the penultimate 'Telecaster', 5 weeks ago I decided to take the plunge: I ordered a new customized G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow, with my favorite local GAS Station Owner's help. He was quoted a minimum 6 weeks, as much as 14 weeks til delivery.

This is now my 3rd G&L, my other 2, previously owned.

She came in surprisingly ahead of time, landing Friday morning at the dealer. I got the call, and took my lunch hour to meet & greet her.

When we opened the box, I was worried they'd messed up. I'd upgraded from the standard SKB Molded case (like for my other, much different, ASAT Semi-Hollow) to a black Tolex G&G case. Instead, I saw the even more upgraded Vintage Tweed Cloth G&G case, like the one for my Comanche.

To my relief, here's what I saw when I first opened the case:



That's Cherryburst on a Swamp Ash body with Natural wood top binding, 3-ply Creme Pickguard, Rock Maple neck and fingerboard with a Polished Gloss over Gun-Oil Tint finish.

Semi Hollow? Yep. I took the option to go with no f-hole, getting the acoustic resonance of twin Voice Chambers under the hood.

A few pics in the morning sun yesterday show her natural beauty:




The bridge pickup is Leo Fender's Magnetic Field Design Single Coil, improving on his original Fender creation using 6 ceramic magnets with adjustable polepieces, wax potted. The 6 barrel bridge saddles are solid brass:



At the store, I test drove her with a Peavey ValveKing Royal 8, then with a Peavey Classic 30. While the Classic 30 sounded great with her controlling it, I've been having a blast putting my Tech21 Trademark 60 thru all kinds of things since Friday night. Sounds pretty cool with the Boss MicroCube, too, especially on the Black Face setting. Since all my guitars have thier own personality and thus, names, between her looks and her sounds, I first dubbed her "Cherry Bomb".

EDIT 7-11-08: When I ordered it, the G&L Website AND my dealer's pricelist showed the stock neck pickup as G&L's new Alnico V Nickel-covered Humbucker, with a Duncan Seth Lover SH55N, an Alnico II mag pup, and thus a bit 'softer' or 'silkier' than an Alnico V, previously the stock neck pup, optional at an upgrade charge. I figured I'd just go with the G&L, since I love thier pups. But...now, 3 months later, I learned from the G&L Discussion Group site that it seems G&L erred back in March...they're keeping the Lover stock on Bluesboys, and they updated their website accordingly. Curious on the exact build date anyway - like Leo used to do when Fender was his company, it's 'secretly' hidden in the neck pocket - I took the neck off (build dates neck Apr 2- body/completed Apr 10 08), then the pickguard, and found the Duncan under the hood!



That remorse over letting go of my '72 Tele Custom has been washed away.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Beautiful Wingsdad!

I want one of those (or a Special semihollow).

[ted s]

Wow Wings, she's a thing of beauty !
As great as she looks in the pictures, I'm sure they don't do her justice !
Good for you, congrats !

[wingsdad]

Thanks, Tot & Ted

Beautiful Wingsdad!

I want one of those (or a Special semihollow).

The Special Semi-Hollow (a/k/a ASAT Semi-Hollow) is way different. Here's my ASAT Semi-Hollow:



The P-90-ish Jumbo MFD's still snap & twang but produce more distinct mid-range and play 'hotter'. Between them and the massive Tone-Lock bridge instead of stringing thru the body like the Classic's original Tele design, there's definitely more ringing sustain.

[sunvalleylaw]

Dang that thing is beautiful!

[Childbride]

Dang that thing is beautiful!

+1... Wings, she is just plain purdy! truly a beautiful lady!

[just strum]

It's about $!%#%^ time!!! I've had to keep my mouth or fingers shut about this guitar and almost slipped early on. Wingdad, that is one beautiful guitar (even for a butt ugly one ) I knew once it arrived it would take you awhile to put it down to start this thread and I think everyone can agree that it's understandable that you would do that.

So, now that you've grown tired of it, are you sending it my way for a visit and test drive???

Enjoy, I know you've been waiting for that call you got on Friday. Now that the remorse is over, maybe it's time to order another.:

[aeolian]

Your "Cherry Bomb" is the bomb!

[Steve206]

Wings,,

Here's to you, having one more of those, really good days.

Steve

[wingsdad]

It's about $!%#%^ time!!! I've had to keep my mouth or fingers shut about this guitar and almost slipped early on.

You were the first to know I'd oredered it, Strum...I think I even talked to you about it when I was fixing to pull the trigger I'd dropped a couple of hints around here that I'd ordered her.

Your "Cherry Bomb" is the bomb!

As another special G&L owner & player, that says a lot, a-man. And you, too, knew this 'bombshell' was coming, almost since I oredered it. And you know the scare I had about the order, but we're bound to keep lips sealed about the resolution

So, now that you've grown tired of it, are you sending it my way for a visit and test drive??? .... Enjoy, I know you've been waiting for that call you got on Friday. Now that the remorse is over, maybe it's time to order another.:[/

Uh...I'll think about both of those notions, Strum.

Dang that thing is beautiful!

+1... Wings, she is just plain purdy! truly a beautiful lady!

Ahhh....and the beauty is only skin deep ...

To me, the truest beauty of this guitar, and my other G&L's, lies in this Certificate that came with it:



And that hangtag in the first shot of her in the case punctuates that:


Fender makes many a fine guitar today, as many of you know from owning them. But I believe there's a particular kharma about these, and those documents sum it up.

[mrmudcat]

: :

[just strum]

Wingsdad,

I for one am envious of your purchase and if I had the money I would surely be hunting for a used one or going the ordering route. Since I've known you I don't recall a time that a guitars arrival had you so excited.

I hope there is never a time when you are telling somebody the mistake you made of getting rid of her.

[sumitomo]

Oh my!!!! Cherry is a good name for her.SSSSSSWing!!! Sumi

[wingsdad]

Wingsdad,

I for one am envious of your purchase and if I had the money I would surely be hunting for a used one or going the ordering route. Since I've known you I don't recall a time that a guitars arrival had you so excited.

I hope there is never a time when you are telling somebody the mistake you made of getting rid of her.

Strum,
You've witnessed me do a lot of buying, selling, trading over the past couple of years (?), and you rode along with me for the 5 week wait on this, and yes, this is very different. This is the first guitar I've custom-factory-ordered since my '81 THE STRAT and '82 Rick 360-12BWB. And those 2 are still with me. In fact, there was a time until 12 years ago, those and my Guild D40 were all I had kept from my arsenal of 'bygone days'. So, I made this move at this point in my life with the intention of her joining that select keeper-at-all-costs group.

That said, my eyes are wide open to consider thinning 'the supporting cast', in some sort of order of 'do I really play it?' I want to get down to playing my 'stars' more. My acoustic herd is pretty well set, except for one I'm toying with letting go. My basses are set. But there's probably one electric I could soon live without and not miss.

[sunvalleylaw]

Hmm, which one? They all look pretty nice. Maybe the '02 ASAT?

[wingsdad]

Hmm, which one? They all look pretty nice. Maybe the '02 ASAT?

Yep, you guessed it, SVL.: I a-b'd them a lot over the weekend. Left my amp on the same settings to hear and feel the difference in sound and response. I could live without that one, as great as it is.

BTW: I've only guessed the ASAT Special is an '02 by its serial number on the neck being close to other '02's. It may very well be newer than that. I need to take in to my dealer to have them take the neck off for me and check the build date, which is in the neck pocket; G&L makes the necks (they have 5 neck profiles), gives them serial numbers, and puts them aside. Then they make a body & put a specified neck to it, with the true build date going in the pocket at assembly.

EDIT: It's another 'Leo-ism' of G&L's, how in early pre-CBS days, Fender would do the same sort of thing. It's not like modern Fenders or Gibsons or other companies, with proscribed Serial Number conventions that go on a guitar after it's built.

(I'm guessing similarly on the Comanche, with a s/n close to the ASAT Special's, too. I'm taking it in for that checkup from the neck up, too. That's not going anywhere, btw.)

[just strum]

Boy, a guy gets a new guitar and he just forgets all about his fretter friends that are stuck playing their old guitars.

So how is that new guitar sounding (read "when are you going to post some clips?")

We need some sound to go with those pics.

Once I get the talent and basketballs to post clips, you guys will be telling me to ease up - until then, let's here some clips.

Spud posted some nice stuff, let's hear that new G&L.

[Sprinter]

Great looking Asat! : Before I bought my Asat Claasic Custom I debated on whether to get it or a Bluesboy. I don't regret getting the Asat Classic Custom, but I think I need a Bluesboy to go with it. :


Sprinter

[wingsdad]

Sprinter...your sig says '16 G&L's' : 16 and no Bluesboy in that herd?

This one has led me to give up that black & gold ASAT SH. It's in the FS section.