ASAT pickup swap?

[zwish]

I just picked up a G&L ASAT Classic. It's a great guitar and I really like the feel of it, but I wish it were a little more classic tele sounding. I'm a Richmond, VA local where Fralin is located. I was thinking about giving the stock set a try. Would this be a drastic improvement over my ASAT pickups if I'm looking for that classic twang? Thanks very much!

[zwish]

Bump, any thoughts? Much appreciated.

[Chris S.]

"Improvement" is subjective, but yes, the Fralins will give you more of a classic Telecaster twang sound. The ASAT pickups are often described as sounding like "a Tele on steroids," if that gives you any help. -- CS

[sa paine]

Great guitar (ASAT Classic) and you can put any Tele pup set in it you want, they will fit.

[boris bubbanov]

I've seen a few guys do it. It gets a few of them there.

What you may find is, there's still something awry. And that thing IMO would be the 6 hammer saddle bridge plate. Sure, it is built with so much more precision than the Fender "vintage" 6 hammer bridge that was invented far after the "Vintage" era. But there are just too many parts, too many instances where the string is making unavoidable contact with the intonation springs. But you gotta be careful putting a stock or liteweight type of 3 barrel bridge plate on there because the stock bridge pup/bridge assembly is prone to ugly squeal (not a fun kind of squeal :^)). if you change plates, keep it beefy or change the pickup as you've proposed.

[zwish]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

But there are just too many parts, too many instances where the string is making unavoidable contact with the intonation springs.

I have run into that. Luckily I like to think I'm pretty crafty with setups and there is jussst enough clearance that the strings aren't hitting the saddle spring/screws. I had some glorious tone with the ASAT last night while playing through an AC30. All kinds of twang coming off the thing. I might just need to revisit my Lonestar's EQ. I think some of the pickup appeal might just be the pickup cover on the neck pickup haha! It's just tough because it seems like something I won't know until I actually buy the pickups and install them. No friends around with Fralins, or Teles for that matter. Thanks for all the info guys!

[zwish]

Just figured I'd post back. I'm located in Richmond, VA where Fralin is based and I actually had the pleasure to head out to his workshop and spend an afternoon with him. I ended up putting the Fralin Stock Tele pickups in my ASAT classic and it is EXACTLY the tone that I'm going for. I played it right next to my dads '73 Fender Tele and honestly, I'd take the G&L. Hope that helps for anyone who is wondering.

[1962guitargeek]

Originally Posted by zwish

Just figured I'd post back. I'm located in Richmond, VA where Fralin is based and I actually had the pleasure to head out to his workshop and spend an afternoon with him. I ended up putting the Fralin Stock Tele pickups in my ASAT classic and it is EXACTLY the tone that I'm going for. I played it right next to my dads '73 Fender Tele and honestly, I'd take the G&L. Hope that helps for anyone who is wondering.

Hmmm, very cool......

[Texas Special]

As much as I like Teles, I'd take the G&L too. Had my ASAT Special for 15 years and would NEVER part with it.

[mad dog]

Zwish:

I'm happy to hear that p/u swap worked for you. If you're still curious and want to take it further, upgrade the bridge and saddles. I struggled for years with the stock setup. Saddles wore out, moved around, whatever. Ultimately, I wondered if a better-designed set of saddles would add sustain or preserve tone.

The answer is yes. Put on a Glendale bridge and saddles (the set with steel E/A saddle.) Along with a different p/u in the bridge spot, these mods made an already excellent guitar even better.

MD

[zwish]

Originally Posted by mad dog

Zwish:

I'm happy to hear that p/u swap worked for you. If you're still curious and want to take it further, upgrade the bridge and saddles. I struggled for years with the stock setup. Saddles wore out, moved around, whatever. Ultimately, I wondered if a better-designed set of saddles would add sustain or preserve tone.

The answer is yes. Put on a Glendale bridge and saddles (the set with steel E/A saddle.) Along with a different p/u in the bridge spot, these mods made an already excellent guitar even better.

MD

Thanks! I was actually looking swapping out the bridge/saddles as well haha. I basically should have just built this thing from the ground up. I don't know much in terms of what bridge I would throw on there, but those 3 saddle glendale bridges look great. Thanks again for all the info everyone.

[frank4001]

Originally Posted by zwish

Thanks! I was actually looking swapping out the bridge/saddles as well haha. I basically should have just built this thing from the ground up. I don't know much in terms of what bridge I would throw on there, but those 3 saddle glendale bridges look great. Thanks again for all the info everyone.

I'd say you did the right thing because building from scratch has allot of pitfalls that you avoided by buying something already done well. I lowered my pickups and pole pieces as far as possible and slightly raised the "D" and "G" poles on my ASAT Classic to get a more traditional thing happening and so far I really like it...Glad it worked out for you...

[zwish]

Originally Posted by frank4001

I'd say you did the right thing because building from scratch has allot of pitfalls that you avoided by buying something already done well. I lowered my pickups and pole pieces as far as possible and slightly raised the "D" and "G" poles on my ASAT Classic to get a more traditional thing happening and so far I really like it...Glad it worked out for you...

Yeah, I've been loving those Fralin pickups. The exact bright, classic tele tone that I was going for all with the awesome build quality of G&L. Thanks again for the tips everyone.

[Texas Picker]

So what are you going to do with the old G&L pickups?

I pulled a Gotoh blade pickup out the bridge position on a G&L Legacy Special years ago. Had it sitting around doing nothing. I slapped it into the neck position of a really cheap Strat clone on which I'd raised the action for playing slide. That guitar sounds awesome (as long as I use nothing but the neck pickup).

[zwish]

Originally Posted by Texas Picker

So what are you going to do with the old G&L pickups?

I pulled a Gotoh blade pickup out the bridge position on a G&L Legacy Special years ago. Had it sitting around doing nothing. I slapped it into the neck position of a really cheap Strat clone on which I'd raised the action for playing slide. That guitar sounds awesome (as long as I use nothing but the neck pickup).

I know this is frowned upon by many but I sold them on ebay. I try not to keep stuff lying around. I'm kind of a minimalist in my space and with my gear, plus I'm young and hurting for money! haha. I've got my PRS 513 and my Tele and I'm pretty set, although eventually I see myself wanting a Gibson 335 or something like that.

[felixq78]

Amazing! Leo moves ahead and makes a better axe and you want to make it sound like what he was attempting to improve on.

[garytelecastor]

I don't know for sure if they put them in the ASAT Classic, but if you have the Z-style pickups, I will buy them from you.

[telepath]

Cant resist asking (- with tongue in cheek and no offense intended!)
The ASAT Classic is a great guitar, and Leo's 'evolutionary improvement'.

.. so long as you swap out the pups .. and the bridgeplate .. and the saddles ..
I hope the neck is good!
.. hmmm but that headstock .. ;)

Only kidding - v. glad it worked out for the OP, and that a new twang machine is re-born.
Would have been worth it for the day out at Fralins!

[zwish]

Haha, you guys are absolutely right! I don't think I'm going to switch the bridge plate. Everything with this G&L is great, I was just going for that classic tele tone but I like the cost and build reputation that G&L has.

[Targ]

Originally Posted by telepath

Cant resist asking (- with tongue in cheek and no offense intended!)
The ASAT Classic is a great guitar, and Leo's 'evolutionary improvement'.

.. so long as you swap out the pups .. and the bridgeplate .. and the saddles ..
I hope the neck is good!
.. hmmm but that headstock .. ;)

Only kidding - v. glad it worked out for the OP, and that a new twang machine is re-born.
Would have been worth it for the day out at Fralins!

-with tongue in cheek-

I think the "ASAT" (special) was the new and improved Leo design...

The "classic" came later when Leo realized their were still some old farts hanging around out there that hated change.

Don't hate on me, I'm one too