Do You Refer To Your G&L ASAT as a Tele?

[Sgt Pepper]

Would be kind of funny if Fender corp went back to Broadcaster and left Telecaster for all the copies. I bet Fender would still sell more of them. And yes, I know that's never going to happen.

 

[Gitfiddler]

I like Fender Telecasters and currently own a very cool Kotzen model. And yes, I love my Fender SRV Strat. Both are awesome!

However, I've long been a huge fan of G&L, owning several ASATs, Legacys and now an amazing S-500.

In my view Fenders will always be Telecasters and Strats. G&L guitars will always be ASAT, Legacy, etc. Sure Leo had a hand in the development of all of these instruments, but they are all so different, they deserve to be their own thing...with their own identity and name.

 

[soundcloset]

Well you’ve got it easy with your Asats. My guitar only has a G&L neck, what should *I* call it? View attachment 1129142

Partscaster? Mean (or Lean) Green Tone Machine? Quite nice, tho!

 

[tehuti]

“Tele” has become a generic name, like “Kleenex” or “Coke”. When you consider that the ASATs are also designed by Leo it is even more appropriate.

I also consider my LB-100 a P Bass.

 

[Jukka Mallenius]

I have a G&L ASAT Z-3 Custom Order from 1996. The name says it all. ASAT, that means "as a T".

And as a T, it's a Tele because of its body shape. But this T-model is a different of Ford models T some 115 years ago. It's black as a choice but has also its very different Z-3 engines.

 

[Jukka Mallenius]

.

 

[Sax-son]

Yes! I definitely consider it a Telecaster. You have to look at it was a design and not a model title. With the exception of some bridges and pickups, it is right in there as a Fender style design.

 

[Pokey Tele]

Wow, legalized weed....4, 5 pages on what is a tele? No wonder we have so many problems at the national level. C'mon man.....If you identify as a telecaster then you must be one ? Isn't that current thinking......I wish I could Identify as dime and join the tour to rock out some classics....not

That’s right, you do you Sc outbag

 

[badscrew_projects]

ASAT, that means "as a T".

Oh.

 

[Swirling Snow]

Keep in mind Leo did not want to make copies of S&T guitars, but the dealers demanded it.

 

[eichaan]

I think of mine as "Sassy" (because of the sassafras wood), but to me it is an ASAT.

 

[Vermoulian]

This is an odd comparison.
But okay, let's roll with it: the company inventing, patenting and selling paper handkerchiefs in Germany back in 1929 called their brand "Tempo".
Even today a lot of germans - me included - will ask for or say "Tempo" instead of the german term for handkerchief (Taschentuch).

Americans could tell this same story with Kleenex, which somebody else recently cited as an example of a product name that has become generic.

I always find it interesting that the posts claiming that only something produced by Fender that says Telecaster on the headstock is a Tele all seem to have this chip-on-the-shoulder moralism about it. I think that they know that Tele (and Strat) have become generic terms for guitars with those shapes in casual conversation, but feel that such usage disrespects the heritage and significance of their favorite guitar. (Or, maybe they finally bought that expensive American (maybe even vintage) Telecaster and don't like the idea that other lesser instruments are being lumped in with it.) There's something weird about people getting all hot and bothered about somebody else's trademark.

Fender themselves have diluted the concept of Telecaster almost beyond recognition. My Telecaster Deluxe has humbuckers, but it says Fender Telecaster on it. It has little in common with a classic Telecaster (besides, you know, shape) but there you are. But that's minor differences compared to something like the FMT, which is a set-neck all-mahogany guitar with Gibson-style humbuckers, but still somehow a Fender Telecaster. Even within Fender itself Tele just refers to a body shape. Anything else can be changed and it's still a Tele; if you change that it's not. To me, whether it says Fender (or Squier) on the headstock doesn't change what the guitar is. Trademark law just means that nobody else can sell one and call it a Telecaster. So if G&L makes a Tele, they call it an ASAT. Peavey called their Tele the Reactor. Suhr calls their Tele the (not particularly original) Classic T.

 

[Caffiend]

Personally I probably would if I had one. Almost bought a bluesboy a couple of times. I figure if anyone was entitled to the name it was Leo.

OTOH, I don't get the whole 'T- type' and what have you. I know it's correct to talk about vacuum cleaners, disposable razors, refrigerators etc but sod that. Hoovers, Bics, Fridges. Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, etc just the same. Trademark BS applies to corporate use and marketing types who want to tell you how you're allowed to use a name.

Other opinions may be available

 

[Jeru]

I do. To me, any G&L guitar is a continuance of the Fender guitars that Leo Fender created. I refer to my ‘Legacy’ as a ‘Stratocaster’, and the ASAT as a ‘Telecaster’. They were, in fact, the last word Leo had on them. After researching every variation of Fender guitars, (I simply could not find an acceptable Fender, because I have small hands, and the only Fender branded guitars, that met my need, were the ‘made for children’, very cheap (and poor quality) guitars, the Squire ‘entry level guitars, so I just ordered a G&L ASAT (with a Slim C neck, featuring a 1 5/8” nut). It’s due to arrive in 10-12 weeks. I good to be alive in these times.

An ASAT is a T-Type, just like the other T-Types.

 

[ezra1]

Sometimes.... I have a US made Blues boy. I changed the Humbucker to a Jim Wagner and liked the MFD bridge pickup

 

[radair0502]

I do. To me, any G&L guitar is a continuance of the Fender guitars that Leo Fender created. I refer to my ‘Legacy’ as a ‘Stratocaster’, and the ASAT as a ‘Telecaster’. They where, in fact, the last word Leo had on them. After researching every variation of Fender guitars, (I simply could not find an acceptable Fender, because I have small hands, and the only Fender branded guitars, that met my need, were the ‘made for children’, very cheap (and poor quality) guitars, the Squire ‘entry level guitars, so I just ordered a G&L ASAT (with a Slim C neck, featuring a 1 5/8” nut). It’s due to arrive in 10-12 weeks. I good to be alive in these times.

I refer to my G & L ASAT, Bluesboy, and my Doheny, as simply my two best guitars… But yes, you will catch me calling one, my Tele, and the other my Jazzmaster. Leo’s best work. I am 72 and have waited all my life for the MFD(magnetic field design), pups… Everything I need and everything I don’t need. God bless Leo and George.

 

[TheZ]

I call it my G&L since I only have one but if I had multiple I'd probably refer to it as my ASAT, S-500 etc.

 

[thescarecrow]

My ASAT Special is an ASAT, my Legacy is a Legacy.
My Tele is a Tele, my Strat is a Strat.
Now, my Legacy is more Strat-like than my ASAT is Tele-like. But they are not Strats and Teles.
That's kinda the way I see it.

 

[Diamnddave]

I have an early ASAT with the MFD pickups. I bought it at a guitar show after playing about 6-8 USA teles. I loved the rosewood neck. I gigged with it for at least a decade until I ran into a Trini Lopez. My only knock on the G&L is the weight. It is the heaviest guitar I ever owned, though I never owned a LP. It is a tank of a guitar and handled all the travel and falls I could dish out.

It may be a tele style guitar but it is definitely different. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.

I love my “ASAT CLASSIC”. I played it today while a squire thinline is having a rebuild, in part because it’s so light. Today though I have to say the G&L stays out to played great. I’m wanting to trade it for a thinline G&l of the same value but I think that will be difficult.

 

[Swirling Snow]

My ASAT Special has "Patent Applied For" pickups, so I call it "my Gibson".

He was a sly little fox, wasn't he?