G&L ASAT Classic MFD pickups
- Thread starter Dr Anatta
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I bought an ASAT Classic many years ago and the pickups came out in the first week. I did not like the "hard" ceramic sound of the bridge pickup and my neck pickup was really dull and quiet. I put them back in before I sold the guitar.
George
George
I have a ASAT which I changed pickups to Rio Grande Muy Grandes the first year I had it. A few years ago I had Pete Biltoff make me a set of P90's to fit the ASAT size.
That's the standard, not the classic. I always thought those sounded pretty good.
jvin248
Doctor of Teleocity
.
First things I recommend before pickup replacement is change the pup height to the strings and then start with tone cap value and on to volume pot value.
I had a Tele I fixed with a tone cap change and a LP that needed the tone cap and a resistor added to the volume pot to alter its value (rather than replacing). Nearly sold both of those but they stayed in the fleet after the changes and get play time now.
Use a meter to measure the actual values of the parts in your guitar since many are 10% or 20% different from each other when marked with the same target value. Then find new parts that get you in the direction you want to go.
First things I recommend before pickup replacement is change the pup height to the strings and then start with tone cap value and on to volume pot value.
I had a Tele I fixed with a tone cap change and a LP that needed the tone cap and a resistor added to the volume pot to alter its value (rather than replacing). Nearly sold both of those but they stayed in the fleet after the changes and get play time now.
Use a meter to measure the actual values of the parts in your guitar since many are 10% or 20% different from each other when marked with the same target value. Then find new parts that get you in the direction you want to go.
suave eddie
Friend of Leo's
I wouldn't consider swapping the pickups in my ASAT Classic.
Jammin'John
Friend of Leo's
+1 on mess with pickup height.
They are not at all like regular fender pups.
They have a much wider range.
I'm on my 4th asat,an ASAT Classic Custom.
Great guitar.
JJ
They are not at all like regular fender pups.
They have a much wider range.
I'm on my 4th asat,an ASAT Classic Custom.
Great guitar.
JJ
Catawompus
Tele-Meister
Adjusted the string height, using the Bill Lawrence method. Can you provide more details regarding the use of a cap and resistor? Do you have a link to something that has a schematic or diagram?
I'd rather not replace the volume pot, though. I like the way it works. It provides some cool tonal changes when adjusted to various points in its sweep.
Thanks
MissoulaGriz
TDPRI Member
First off, I have to say that for some applications, you really can't beat the MFD pickups. They are amazingly articulate, clear, powerful and just straight up amazing for clean tones. I had them in my US G&L ASAT Classic.
Where I was struggling with them was overdrive tones. They work so dang hard to stay clear and articulate, that when overdriven, they tend to get really harsh and some strange frequencies start to happen.
I tried them with my '67 Bassman through a 2X12 cab as well my 18watt Phaez SIBLY (plexi clone) and I just could never get them to work for that great crunchy overdrive tone. I fiddled with pickup height, pole piece height, you name it...I fiddled with it.
I ended up putting a Duncan Jerry Donahue in the bridge and I couldn't be happier. I really like how the JD rolls off just a touch of the extreme ice-pick highs that are typical and they overdrive so incredibly well. It's like a cross between a sweet tele pickup and P90. They just have that great growl that you get from a single coil pickup that has killer low mids.
I kept everything else the same on my guitar, same tone and volume pots and even kept the MFD neck pickup. Both pickups in the middle position sound incredible. I can't recommend the SD JD enough.
Where I was struggling with them was overdrive tones. They work so dang hard to stay clear and articulate, that when overdriven, they tend to get really harsh and some strange frequencies start to happen.
I tried them with my '67 Bassman through a 2X12 cab as well my 18watt Phaez SIBLY (plexi clone) and I just could never get them to work for that great crunchy overdrive tone. I fiddled with pickup height, pole piece height, you name it...I fiddled with it.
I ended up putting a Duncan Jerry Donahue in the bridge and I couldn't be happier. I really like how the JD rolls off just a touch of the extreme ice-pick highs that are typical and they overdrive so incredibly well. It's like a cross between a sweet tele pickup and P90. They just have that great growl that you get from a single coil pickup that has killer low mids.
I kept everything else the same on my guitar, same tone and volume pots and even kept the MFD neck pickup. Both pickups in the middle position sound incredible. I can't recommend the SD JD enough.
bigben55
Friend of Leo's
I like the little MFD neck tones, LOVE the big MFD neck tones, kinda like the big MFD bridge tones, but don't like the small MFD bridge. I often hear them as HI FI sounding, but I dunno about that being accurate. The small MFD bridge is too bright. Coupled with the boxed bridgeplate, way too bright. I swapped it out of my Bluesboy for a Cavalier Fat Lion which is a killer pickup for the blues and rock I play.
I'd like the big MFDs more if they weren't so noisy.
I'd like the big MFDs more if they weren't so noisy.
JoppaSub
NEW MEMBER!
I have two ASAT Classics...and find the MFD's to be exactly what I want. They have more response than I was used to...in a regular Fender pickup.
If I get another Strat-type guitar...it will be a Fender...but my two Teles are happily G & L.
If I get another Strat-type guitar...it will be a Fender...but my two Teles are happily G & L.
rze99
Doctor of Teleocity
I kept mine
I really like the MFDs Rolled off the vol a little they sound wonderful through my amps. Yes they are height sensitive but that's fine just adjust to taste.
I like them because they are a good tone option as a different take on the Tele and I keep it stock for this reason.
Every time I use it I live it and think why don't I play it more often? And the truth is I love my other guitars too and usually go to a p90 or humbucker guitar when I want a different tone to a Tele.
But I wouldn't have it as my only Tele. Great as an alternative.
I really like the MFDs Rolled off the vol a little they sound wonderful through my amps. Yes they are height sensitive but that's fine just adjust to taste.
I like them because they are a good tone option as a different take on the Tele and I keep it stock for this reason.
Every time I use it I live it and think why don't I play it more often? And the truth is I love my other guitars too and usually go to a p90 or humbucker guitar when I want a different tone to a Tele.
But I wouldn't have it as my only Tele. Great as an alternative.
HWTele
Tele-Holic
I really didn't like my Legacy Pickups. I fiddled with them non stop and could never get them to sound right no matter how much I played with the height and tone controls. G&L's are nice made guitars but if you're expecting Tele or Strat tones and feel forget it ... Totally different animals.
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bigben55
Friend of Leo's
See, I actually love my Legacy neck pickup but it's old, 1993.
HWTele
Tele-Holic
That's because in 92 through 94 they were Seymour Duncan SSL Vintage not G&L Alnicos.
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