ASAT Classic to Esquire advice?

[MickM]

I have a '93 ASAT Classic (G&L Tele) that I want to rid of the thin 22 fret neck, neck pickup and six saddle bridge. My Questions are:

If I install a nice fat 21 fret neck can I use/bolt on a 3 saddle tele base?

Will I be able to use/bolt on a standard Esquire pickguard? I'd prefer 5 hole but really doesn't matter.

Please alert me to any bumps in the road that I might run into if you've done this switch. Many thanks.

[Miles Smiles]

What is the leftover? The body and the bridge pickup, essentially. So why do you not sell it as it is and buy another one?

G&L necks, especially the older ones are made to fit exactly in the very body with which it has left the factory and moreover they seem to be wider at the foot, as fender necks are. As your guitar has a 3 hole neck to body joint, that connection is only stable, if the neck fits with absolutely no gaps to the body.

The other thing is the position of the last fret. Fender guitars often do have an overlap of the fretboard, but G&Ls don`t have them. So the position of the bridge might be wrong with a new neck, because the nut has another distance to the body. As you wish to replace the whole bridge, which is in my opinion the only option to have it with 3 saddles, it seems to be no problem, but then you'll probably have drill new holes for the string through body thing.

Did I already write something like: "Don't do it!" ;)

[MickM]

Thanks. The allparts neck I have fits perfectly plus there're LOTS of '70's Fenders with 3 screw micro-tilt necks that are still kicking out tunes and they aren't known for "tight" pockets.Can also mount it with 4 screws if I like.

Mainly looking for info from someone who's done a bunch of parts swapping.

[Jack Wells]

I was about to ask whether you would be able to intonate the guitar with a Fender style neck on it but I checked and it looks like you will be able to. The saddles will have to move away from the neck pocket. You may need to cut the springs or shorten the intonation screws.

The Esquire pickguard won't fit out of the box. However you can probably make it work by lengthening the neck cut-out so the pickguard moves away from the bridge.

[DMace]

Originally Posted by Miles Smiles

What is the leftover? The body and the bridge pickup, essentially. So why do you not sell it as it is and buy another one?

G&L necks, especially the older ones are made to fit exactly in the very body with which it has left the factory and moreover they seem to be wider at the foot, as fender necks are. As your guitar has a 3 hole neck to body joint, that connection is only stable, if the neck fits with absolutely no gaps to the body.

The other thing is the position of the last fret. Fender guitars often do have an overlap of the fretboard, but G&Ls don`t have them. So the position of the bridge might be wrong with a new neck, because the nut has another distance to the body. As you wish to replace the whole bridge, which is in my opinion the only option to have it with 3 saddles, it seems to be no problem, but then you'll probably have drill new holes for the string through body thing.

Did I already write something like: "Don't do it!" ;)

Yep, I'm with you.

[boris bubbanov]

You may execute a breakthrough here, but my impression from measuring, and test fitting Fender type aftermarket necks to ASAT pockets, at least USA ones, is the fit will not be up to standards.

To me, that's the #1 black mark on G + L guitars. No readily available aftermarket necks that are cut to fit. Part of the premium of a G + L guitar, sound/quality/price over a Fender is the exquisite way the stock neck is fitted to the body. I do wish virtually any G + L neck, but especially pre BBE G + L necks (except the Fullertons) were larger.

I'd sell the guitar and start fresh, were it my choice.

[Miles Smiles]

This is my G&L ASAT Bluesboy:



As you can see, there's a gap between pickguard and neck. The story is, the former owner removed the neck and replaced it with a Fender neck, probably because it was too fat and it really is the fatest neck I've ever touched on a guitar. He had to nag out a little bit from the pickguard, because of the overlapping fingerboard the Fender neck had.

I've got the neck then on ebay for about 60 €, shipping included, but without the tuning machines. The neck didn't fit to the guitar, I bought it for, so I did nothing with it. Month later, I found the rest of that guitar on ebay, same seller. I've got it for about 250 €, 'cause it was pretty worthless for the rest of the world. The seller obviously wasn't happy with the Fender neck solution and made the mistake to put everything instantly away, instead of keeping it for restore, so he lost at least about 1000 € on that guitar.

Uhm, what I'm trying to say: If everything fails, I'll buy the parts for low.

You may go through more pictures in that gallery:
http://i.wuell.net/gallery/view_albu...SAT_Classic_BB

[MickM]

Gonna' have to re-think this. This ASAT has a gorgeous 1pc I think swamp ash translucent blue body with a set of Tom Short's Steel Drivin' Man pickups that I love, especially the bridge! It just sucks playing it since I got used to a no-caster and GE Smith which both have big fat necks.

When I got the ASAT I went to buy a Tele pickguard to spice it up a little and found out that they didn't interchange which is the main reason I posted this. I thought I remembered somebody listing the differences etc.

Anyway, while I have the neck off I'll do some measuring and see how painful it'll be. Thanks for all the advice.

[Jack Wells]

Well as you know a Telecaster pickguard wont' work on an ASAT Classic because of the 22 fret neck on the G&L. This forces the pickguard ~ 3/8 in. toward the bridge. As a result, the pickguard no longer conforms to the body shape. The pickguard needs to move forward and this can't be done because of the neck pickup. However, with an Esquire pickguard the neck pickup no longer an issue. By enlarging the neck notch in the Esquier pickguard, the pickguard can move forward to conform with the body outline and also fit around the control plate. Slight reshaping of the pickguard might be required. I think you should do it.

[MickM]

Thanks Jack, I think it was your posts I saw previously concerning ASAT/Tele combining but it's been a while. I also think that the main issue is the PG. Rushing prior to work today I measured the distance from the nut to different spots on the bridge base which were identicle. I also compared the bridge base from my NOS Nocaster to the ASAT base and PU mounting/adjustment holes and the 4 mounting holes are all in the same place.

What's holding me back is that I bought an Allparts vintage Tele neck that is perfect except I wish it was more the thickness of the nocaster/GE Smith Teles. I could live with this neck as it is fatter than the G&L but I'd really like to do this right the 1st time.
Think I'll try it with the neck I have since it's not going to damage it in any way.

Looks like Allparts applied the tint/lacquer on top of the frets. Is it advisable to clean it off and polish them or just let it wear off naturally?