G&L ASAT BASS, should I get it?

[superthumbs]

Here's the story...I am mainly a guitar player who loves G&L guitars. I have joined a new project in which I am the bass player. My current bass rig is sub-par, as it was mainly used just to play occasionally. Now, I am looking to step it up.

Are the G&L basses as well respected as their guitars? My dealer is about to get 2 in that I want to check out. One is the ASAT bass, solid alder body, black with a natural wood body binding. The other is the ASAT semi-hollow, not sure the specs on it exactly. I can get either one for $1095.

[guitartech]

Those basses are killer. I've never owned one, but I know pro guys who have. Every time I've played one it has sounded great. The G&L stuff is great quality for the $$$ IMHO.

[Jake]

Great bass, but in my experience the body shape can make it rather neck heavy. Play it with a strap first and see. I love the Jazz Bass style neck, but prefer the L2000 body shape for balance reasons (same electronics). The L2000 with the #6 neck (what the ASAT has) is my favorite G&L, they're just not too easy to come by.

[The Golden Boy]

Just my opinion...

I love my G&L. I have an L-2000 that's been my main bass for years, and I choose it for most every live application before any other bass. It's reliable, rugged, sounds great, versatile, comfortable... it's a class A bass.

The ASAT has the same pickup/electronics set up as the L-2000. My issue with the ASAT (and I don't remember if the one I was using was semi-hollow or solid) is that it hung funny. Whether it was a neck heavy thing or just the location of the strap buttons combined with the body shape combined with the neck length...

Don't worry about the "quality" of the bass- If you're in the position to check one out, check it out on a strap.

[The Golden Boy]

The L2000 with the #6 neck (what the ASAT has) is my favorite G&L, they're just not too easy to come by.


Check out that nut width-

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10038/normal_glhead.jpg



Custom ordered in 98 for $840...

[superthumbs]

Thanks guys. I will be sure to check it out on a strap. I think I may know of a Jazz style body in town as well.

Different dealer has the L2500 on closeout, $812, brand new with case. It is a super light ash body. I thought it sounded great, but 5 strings! That is scary to me, especially not being an experienced bass player.

[Jake]

Don't be afraid of 5-strings. If you haven't played bass before it may be a good place to start especially if you think you might want one eventually. I played a 4-string for so long that it just took too much to get my brain wrapped around a 5-string when I finally did try one. For me it turned into a one or the other deal, so the 5 went. Just the way my brain is wired. I can't think upside-down for mandolin tuning either. :o

[Tommy Tourbus]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/cyberlip/asat-b034010.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/cyberlip/asat-b034194.jpg

[superthumbs]

Those babies are beautiful. What differences do you find between the semi-hollow and the solid body? I have both options available to me. The styles of music I play are along the same lines as: Rilo Kiley, The Elected, OK Go, The White Stripes, etc...

[EunosFD]

I love the MFD's & preamps in the L2k's and ASAT basses as they have a very unique sound (which is fantastic IMO). I haven't played one (ASAT bass) in quite a few years, but as mentioned above they tend to be neck heavy. There was someone making a strap extension thingy (not sure of the "official" name) for 'em so dig around and maybe you'll be able to dig it up. There's also a nice G&L bass forum over at The Dudepit (www.vintagebass.com/thedudepit) which should have tons of useful info too.

Were I to buy any G&L bass right now I'd seek out an early-mid 80's mahogany bodied L1000E.

[Denyle_Guitars]

They are great sounding basses but I've never picked up one that wasn't an absolute bear to play, for me. Hopefully, you'll have a chance to play one before buying it.

[The Golden Boy]

They are great sounding basses but I've never picked up one that wasn't an absolute bear to play, for me. Hopefully, you'll have a chance to play one before buying it.

I'm curious, what made it difficult to play?

If the ASAT has the #6 neck, that's pretty analagous to a Jazz Bass neck- 1.5" at the nut. Unless you're really only used to wider nut widths, those necks are pretty easy to navigate.

[fastvicar]

A bad-playing G&L is usually a climate-caused condition and a 30 second truss rod tweak should be all that is needed.

I have an SB-2, an ASAT, & an L2k. My SB-2 does not have the Ultra-Lite aluminum-post tuners (the other two do) and tends to neck-dive faster than my ASAT does. Go figure.

Keep one thing in mind when demo-ing this thing: the live sound of a G & L is not experienced in a showroom. Playing one with a band and being able to slice through guitars is a very desirable trait of those MFD pickups.

[jcground]

Bassist I used to play with a lot had an L-2000 as his #1. Very easy to play, and had great tone. I think G&L basses have every bit as good a reputation as the guitars.

[devinb]

I bought an ASAT bass in 1998 or so, and would not consider selling or trading it even though the last time it was out of its case was during a recording project in January, and I wasn't even the one who played it then. To me, having its tone available to me on future recordings is more important to me than what money it would bring. I think they're great instruments, and actually, just bought an ASAT guitar this week.

[Thor]

The G&L that I played was fantastic - a very good value - plays and sounds in the same league as basses that are 2-3x's their cost. Always a good idea to try it out before buying it, but it's a good bet that you'll dig it.

Cheers,

Edward

[PB+J]

I've ever played an ASAT but I take one look and think "neck diver." I really detest neck-heavy basses and to me, that body shape looks like a real problem

[Pa'ani]

Highly recommend G&L they are stellar.