One sure way to appreciate a '96 G&L ASAT Special ...

[mad dog]

Is to put it up for sale.

This is my second G&L tele from the 90s, the first being a '94 ASAT Classic I never should have let go. Still regretting that move, I got this beautiful Special last year, looking for the perfect open tunings and slide guitar. Excellent instrument.

Soon as it came in, I modified the setup for open tunings and slide, got it restrung. After awhile, concluded it wasn't quite right. Didn't feel right at all. So I put it up for sale, then took the time to set it up for regular playing, standard tuning. Meaning action low. I'd not done that initially, had immediately raised the action a bit when I bought it. Never spent much time just playing regular style.

So now I'm giving it that last play ... which turns into several days of playing. It's becoming clear that I completely misjudged this guitar. Now that it's optimized for regular playing, it feels completely right. I can even play slide on it, in regular tuning. No doubt, now that I've gotten it to the optimal setup and feel, I could now tweak it a bit for open tunings if desired.

Just when I think I know a little something, turns out there's much more to learn. Such as ... take the time to get to know an instrument before messing around.

 

[Killing Floor]

Beauty!

 

[superjam144]

Killer instruments. Only company close to ever bringing me away from fender teles.

How are those pickups? I know they are louder and sound different than fender pups.

 

[superjam144]

Man that thing is perfect. That color is insane.

 

[rickthescot]

Fine looking! Never played one but its on my bucket list.

 

[Blues Twanger]

I've been a fan of mine since it landed in my lap a few days ago.

 

[JL_LI]

I keep learning new things about my guitars all the time, even guitars I’ve had for 10 years or more. Good that the OP discovered what his guitar is capable of before he sold it.

 

[TheOtherNeill]

Killer instruments. Only company close to ever bringing me away from fender teles.

How are those pickups? I know they are louder and sound different than fender pups.

They *can* be louder, but aren't necessarily: I actually think they're a little smoother. You can really customize the sound, because the individual pole pieces are adjustable and have a fair bit of travel.

 

[Blues Twanger]

I like the tone of the Jumbo MFD pickups as an almost impossible combination of the chime of a good, low wind single coil BUT with the punch of a stout P90. The tonality of the pickups and how they interact with your amp can vary quite a bit with a little tweaking of the volume and tone knobs as well. I find that about 90% on the volume and 80% on the tone yields a smooth, vintage sound that can be brought in and out of the mix as needed by turning up either as desired. I really am sold on this pickup design though I will say the Jumbo MFD does these things better IMO than the smaller MFDs found in ASAT Classics and S-500s.

 

[mad dog]

How are those pickups? I know they are louder and sound different than fender pups.

Good question. I'm usually not at a loss for words, but it's hard to describe the character of these p/us. First off, the neck p/u is so flexible, changing with volume adjustment, tone knob tweaks in particular, that I never switch from the neck only spot. The neck p/u seems to have the big, wide sound reminiscent of a dynasonic, but not stiff or harsh. As I find Dynas can be. Loud, powerful, yet not flat and dark (a usual consequence to my ears of overwinding.) Hints of P90, hints of the best classic tele single coils, warmth when you want it - adds up to a sound not quite like anything else.

Whatever these p/us are, I like how they sound.

 

[JDB2]

I love MFD pickups in all their flavors. It seems wrong that G&L remains an enthusiast’s niche brand and you don’t see them in the hands of more pros. I guess because they don’t say Fender on the headstock? We know they are just as much “Fender” as “Fender”.

 

[brookdalebill]

Cool color!

 

[EugeneWeemich]

Is to put it up for sale.

This is my second G&L tele from the 90s, the first being a '94 ASAT Classic I never should have let go. Still regretting that move, I got this beautiful Special last year, looking for the perfect open tunings and slide guitar. Excellent instrument.

View attachment 921625
Soon as it came in, I modified the setup for open tunings and slide, got it restrung. After awhile, concluded it wasn't quite right. Didn't feel right at all. So I put it up for sale, then took the time to set it up for regular playing, standard tuning. Meaning action low. I'd not done that initially, had immediately raised the action a bit when I bought it. Never spent much time just playing regular style.

So now I'm giving it that last play ... which turns into several days of playing. It's becoming clear that I completely misjudged this guitar. Now that it's optimized for regular playing, it feels completely right. I can even play slide on it, in regular tuning. No doubt, now that I've gotten it to the optimal setup and feel, I could now tweak it a bit for open tunings if desired.

Just when I think I know a little something, turns out there's much more to learn. Such as ... take the time to get to know an instrument before messing around.

beauty of a finish. nice!

I purchased a G&L recently. one of those ASAT tributes carved top flame maple. very happy except for the less than quality pots, which I am replacing. Sweetwater having G&L send me new pots.

Set up the guitar to my liking and plays beautifully.

 

[TheOtherNeill]

beauty of a finish. nice!

I purchased a G&L recently. one of those ASAT tributes carved top flame maple. very happy except for the less than quality pots, which I am replacing. Sweetwater having G&L send me new pots.

Set up the guitar to my liking and plays beautifully.

I was kind of jonesing for an HB guitar, and was looking at these. I keep seeing different specs for the fretboard: is yours rosewood?

 

[EugeneWeemich]

I was kind of jonesing for an HB guitar, and was looking at these. I keep seeing different specs for the fretboard: is yours rosewood?

 

[TheOtherNeill]

View attachment 922084

Yep, I get it, but I saw at least a couple of sites specify cherry (which I did not want) for the fretboard.

 

[hemingway]

beauty of a finish. nice!

I purchased a G&L recently. one of those ASAT tributes carved top flame maple. very happy except for the less than quality pots, which I am replacing. Sweetwater having G&L send me new pots.

Set up the guitar to my liking and plays beautifully.

I've had one of those for a few years, but it now has P90s in it. Very classy guitar for the price.

 

[hemingway]

I love that model. Those pickups are intriguing.

 

[Sax-son]

I had one of the same year and for the most part, I liked it. The neck profile was a little too thin for my hands and I traded it for some drums. At the time, I needed the drums more than the guitar, but I wouln't mind having it now.

 

[Truthurts2k]

Is to put it up for sale.

This is my second G&L tele from the 90s, the first being a '94 ASAT Classic I never should have let go. Still regretting that move, I got this beautiful Special last year, looking for the perfect open tunings and slide guitar. Excellent instrument.

View attachment 921625
Soon as it came in, I modified the setup for open tunings and slide, got it restrung. After awhile, concluded it wasn't quite right. Didn't feel right at all. So I put it up for sale, then took the time to set it up for regular playing, standard tuning. Meaning action low. I'd not done that initially, had immediately raised the action a bit when I bought it. Never spent much time just playing regular style.

So now I'm giving it that last play ... which turns into several days of playing. It's becoming clear that I completely misjudged this guitar. Now that it's optimized for regular playing, it feels completely right. I can even play slide on it, in regular tuning. No doubt, now that I've gotten it to the optimal setup and feel, I could now tweak it a bit for open tunings if desired.

Just when I think I know a little something, turns out there's much more to learn. Such as ... take the time to get to know an instrument before messing around.

I have a 1980 G&L it is my go to guitar for everything