How to tell if an ASAT is semi-hollow ?

(assuming no F-hole, of course)

Story time... I recently picked up a rather pimped out a used ASAT Z3... it's got a flame maple top, guntint birdseye maple neck/fretboard, first class all the way. Oddly enough I was holding out for a semi-hollow but couldn't find one, so ended up buying what I thought was a solidbody.

So after a few days I notice that the Z3 is noticably lighter than my other ASAT's. Tapping around on the top / back of it, it sounds as if the body is chambered, but since there's no F-hole, I'm not aware of any way to tell for sure (aside from running it through an x-ray machine). Is there some way to tell for sure? (like if I pop the pickguard, should I be able to see into the chamber? or is there a way to tell based on body dimensions? - this is the best way to determine if a PRS Custom model is semi-hollow, for example)

Thanks!
--B

(assuming no F-hole, of course)

Story time... I recently picked up a rather pimped out a used ASAT Z3... it's got a flame maple top, guntint birdseye maple neck/fretboard, first class all the way. Oddly enough I was holding out for a semi-hollow but couldn't find one, so ended up buying what I thought was a solidbody.

So after a few days I notice that the Z3 is noticably lighter than my other ASAT's. Tapping around on the top / back of it, it sounds as if the body is chambered, but since there's no F-hole, I'm not aware of any way to tell for sure (aside from running it through an x-ray machine). Is there some way to tell for sure? (like if I pop the pickguard, should I be able to see into the chamber? or is there a way to tell based on body dimensions? - this is the best way to determine if a PRS Custom model is semi-hollow, for example)

Thanks!
--B

You should be able to view the chamber by removing the control plate.

Here's a few pictures of ASAT semi-hollow bodies during production:






Hope this helps.

Hello,

Being an ASAT Classic SH owner, I found out that it is quite easy to determine if your ASAT is a semi even without the f-hole.
Although mine has an f-hole, there are other characteristics as well.
First of all, it is lighter than a solid body. Hold your ASAT for several minutes to get used to the weight and then grab a solid body. If yours is a semi you'll notice the difference in weight.
Secondy the sound of a semi is much fuller than a solid body. I believe the chambers give a wider range of frequency to the sound (please correct me if i'm wrong, I'm no expert, I'm relying mostly on my experience with the instrument, and every other instrument that i played). I noticed that after a while playing my Asat because every time i heard any solid tele style play I found that it sounded a little different than mine, maybe a little "treblier".
Thirdly you can tap the wood, as you already mentioned, although I've also tapped the wood on my guitars a bunch of times but I'm not so good at telling the difference that way.
Finally, and most importantly, I believe if you pop open the control plate, either it's front or rear mounted, the mystery will be revieled. I always wondered if my ASAT was chambered on either sides of the body or just the upper one where the f-hole is. One day I popped open the control plate to see if the volume pot has a capacitor to retain the highs when rolled off and voila! The lower side of the body was chambered as well, plus a capacitor was connected to the volume pot!

So I believe if you open the control plate it will be quite obvious whether your asat is a semi or a solid. Either way enjoy it and keep on rockin'!

Delus

Oh and one more thing!
I've noticed that my ASAT (semi) is fatter than my Strat (solid). Maybe that's because the semi has also a top on the body, as I saw in the previous pics. I don't know if other solid asats have the same dimensions. If i had to guess i'd say that the top on the semis make them thicker than the solids.
Don't matter, just rock on!

Thanks for the tips... took all of 15 seconds to unscrew the control plate and verify that my Z-3 is in fact semi-hollow. Again, this is a total bonus since I originally wanted a semi-hollow and had a hard time finding one I liked and had mentally "settled" for the solidbody version. Yea!

--B