how do you guys like those rectangular pickups in ASATs? the ones that look like a cross between a single coil and P90. i'm considering selling one of my les pauls and picking up a semi-hollow ASAT with those pickups and want some feedback. thanks guys.
Go for it, they're great. I just convinced my guitar teacher to pick up a semi hollow asat, and both he and I are extremely impressed. I got a comanche myself, so I guess I'm already a G&L fan. Great guitars and pickups.
hey bluesman, the bigsby made me 100% sure that an ASAT is in my future. that looks like one very very sweet axe man.
I love them. They sound like my tele only a little brighter and a little louder. The only problem with them is once you get used to how they respond and how to set your amp and how to use the knobs on the ASAT, other guitars seem kind of bland when playing in a band. At least in my case that's what happened. I often bring about 4 guitars to a gig and once I pick up the ASAT, the other 3 sit in their stands all night.
It is one of my favorite players!!! After I got mine about 3 other people in my area ordered one just like it!!
I'm a long-time G&L fan. I really like the big MFD's, they seem to give you a bit more of everything... - Steve
My favorite version of the MFD's I have the earliest version of them on an SC-2,and the later version in the ASAT junior. I think the windings are alittle different in the SC-2 but don't know the details. Great pickups for most roots styles. and the Saddle lock bridge that's standard on most Asats is a great design as well.
For a basic ASAT special - about $600 used, I think 850-900 new. Options can push prices up quite a bit.
ASATs are a personal favorite. I prefer setting the pups as low as they'll go. The output is still good (as good as any standard Tele style pup) and the pup is a little sweeter that way. G&L does everything by hand (including winding and potting pups I believe) and not all of them sound exactly the same to my ear but they are all good. They have a natural compression to them that I really like. Listen to some Desert Rose Band cuts with John Jorgenson and you can probably hear some of this. For sure other things are in play with Jorgenson's sound, but I still hear some of that ASAT pup compression. I much prefer the neck pup to a standard tele neck and the in between position is great for funk, R&B and soul (and blues I suppose). The bridge is a little fatter and may not get the exact "tele" twang but as evidenced by the Desert Rose Band and early Hellecasters stuff (Will Ray and John Jorgenson were ASAT guys then), the guitar can twang in it's own way. I have solid and hollow ASATs and enjoy both types. Good guitars. hunter
I recently got an ASAT Classic with the smaller MFD pickups. The bridge pickup tends to squeal with high-gain. Do the larger pickups have the same problem? I know the tele bridge is adding to the problem but it's not loose or anything.
My classic had the same problem, IT was the bridge not the pickup. I tried a Barden in the bridge and the problem remained-I finally put a little double stick tape under the bridge and the problem went away. A more elegant solution is to use melted wax under the bridge. I think thats why certain controversion Tele bridges feature extra screws. Hunter -Will Ray still uses G&L guitars as his main axe-its based on the ASAT Z-3.
Thanks Jordan! You were right it was the bridge, I put a little bit of double sided tape under the front edge of the bridge and the squealin' is gone. I owe you a beer or 6. My classic is clear orange too.
