So I bought something

Ravelleman

... a G&L ASAT.

So, since May I've graduated from college and gotten a pretty good job in Spain. One of the main perks of no longer being a student and having few financial commitments is disposable income! I doubt it will last though giving the impending Euro-Apocalypse so I thought I should treat myself to something exciting while I can.

I recently posted about getting an Epiphone Elitist Casino. I've always liked Casinos but the MIC Standard models don't do it for me. I've always said that if I get one, it will have to be an Elitist, especially given that they're made in the Terada factory, where Gretsches are made. The decision was made.

But...

nowhere in Europe has them in stock at the moment and I don't feel like waiting while there are many excellent alternatives floating around.

Another guitar that I've long lusted after is the Tele. But not just any Tele. American Standard Fenders feel all wrong to me. I don't like the 9.5" fretboard radius (it's neither here nor there; neither round nor flat). I tried the American Special Tele but it's way too expensive for what it is and doesn't even come with a hard case. That and the fact that I don't really like vintage style bridges.

No, Fender wasn't right for me. But G&L was.

Originally I wanted something vintage-style but with modern perks - fiesta red but with a 12" radius fretboard but I decided to think outside of the box a little. While I love my Legacy, it's not a very 'G&L' guitar. Leo Fender, by all account, didn't want G&L to make a Strat-style guitar with alnico pickups, hence the presence of the S-500 in their lineup. After his death, however, the new management introduced the Legacy as a more popular vintage-style Strat, to satisfy demand. The Legacy is a great guitar, true to Fender style, it's just not exactly true to G&L style.

I decided to go for something non-standard - an ASAT. No ASAT is truly standard to Fender design, given that they do have ceramic, MFD pickups, unlike the Legacy. But this one is non-standard even for ASATs.

It's a butterscotch blonde ASAT Special Deluxe 'No Top'. So that's an ASAT with a mahogany body, large MFD pickups, no pickguard, a black headstock, a saddle-lock bridge and modern controls.

Here's a pic: .

More on this later.

Alanstrainor

Jealous...

Bloody lovely yoke man!

boycey

Thats a tasty guitar.
I was checking those 'No Tops' out on ProGuitarShop.com recently, my kind of guitar. I'm kinda surprised a G&L hasn't passed through my revolving doors over the years. I'll have to remedy that at some point!

Ravelleman

Thanks for the compliments, I´m really looking forward to trying it out. Hopefully it should arrive before next week, but if not I don´t mind waiting a while long.

Ultimately I decided to go for the ´No Top´ because I figure it will be the best way to compliment my Legacy - rosewood fretboard instead of maple, large MFDs instead of standard alnico pickups, mahogany instead of alder - but still with some important features that I really like - 12" fretboard radius, tolex case, very high quality.

The best part is that I got ~ off the list price.

Here´s a few more photos. I´ll take some of my own when it arrives.

Ravelleman

She did nay make it on time for Christmas, unfortunately. Hopefully it will be here next week!

Gaspode

'tis a beauty though, she'll be worth the wait I reckon!

wild turkey

Congrats
I picked up one a few months ago, lovely top quality guitars with superb pickups.
Hope you like it.

Ravelleman

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to seeing how the mahogany body lends itself to the big single coils. If it works for SG Specials, I imagine it will work nicely here too!

Hopefully I'll see an interesting contrast with my Legacy in terms of feel and sound, but I know the quality will be top notch.

Got a camera for my birthday a couple of weeks ago so I'll be posting a lot of family pics and some shots of the new pedals I got as well.

hidinginthebush

She's a beaut, congrats on the new addition to the family! Where did you buy it from, may I ask?

Ravelleman

Pro Guitar Shop in Oregon. They're pretty good for G&Ls, although the best deals definitely come from Grapevine Guitar Works/Dallas Used Guitars on ebay. New Legacies and ASATS can be picked up for les than ~.

hidinginthebush

Ravelleman wrote: »

Pro Guitar Shop in Oregon. They're pretty good for G&Ls, although the best deals definitely come from Grapevine Guitar Works/Dallas Used Guitars on ebay. New Legacies and ASATS can be picked up for les than $900.

Cheers mate! I love G&L's, would love to get one someday! Gonna check that place out now to drool over. What was the shipping cost like?

Ravelleman

They're quality instruments, often for a lot less than equivalent Fenders.

I got my Legacy there for ~ last year.

The prices often start high with Dallas Used but they usually slap 15-25% off, depending on how long they've been waiting. You can also make an offer. They always go for low.

Pro Guitar Shop are also pretty flexible. I'd expect to get at least 15% off their prices too.

Shipping will normally be $80-$110 and you have to factor customs into the price but all in all, it's well worth checking G&L out, even if you can try before you buy. If you know what you want, it's hard to go wrong. They're very consistent.

Let me know if you ever get one. I imagine you'll echo my sentiments if you do!

punchdrunk

jesus christ that's beautiful!

Ravelleman

Thanks everybody! Hopefully it will be arriving tomorrow morning.

I'm really interested to see the finish in person. Officially it's butterscotch blonde but it has a TV Yellow vibe going on too. Maybe it's TV Butterscotch!

Real pics as soon as I get it.

Ravelleman

Cripes, an Post are so unbelievably slow. I'm still waiting...

punchdrunk

any update?