Hello from Massachusetts

Hello friends,

Please let me introduce myself. I'm a new owner of an 80's ASAT Special tribute that has become my favorite guitar! I've played guitar for over 50 years: first 40 or so on acoustic steel string playing finger style bluesy improvisation but the last few years I've tried to follow my dreams of playing jazz inflected chord melodies. I have a Sadowsky SS-15 archtop, a couple of Ibanez electric hollow and semi hollows, a fun Agile Harm I semi and my old Yamaha FG-180 ('67) and a newer Taylor grand concert. But the ASAT is the most playable and balanced tonally and just nails the kind of sound I want for jazz through my Polytone Minibrute III. It's the first 25.5 in scale electric I've had and love the string tension and tone I get with Thomastic Power Bright 11-53 round wounds. I just can't believe the quality of the ASAT and to think I got it for a bit over $300 in virtually new condition! -Thanks Leo!!!

Resp'ly

Gary B.

Gary,

It sounds like you are hooked.

Enjoy,

Y2kc

Welcome, Gary. Congrat's on your ASAT. They started making the tribute series in 2003. What is your serial #? Please post a pic or two, and add your guitar to the GBL registry.

My bad! I believe the guitar is from mid 90's. I somehow jumped a decade or so. I've registered the guitar with the serial no. 070718848 which seems to indicate a mid-2007 construction date. Tri-color sunburst, swamp ash, rosewood board.

It would be July 2007 build. The Tribute sn have build date coded in their format. USA sn do not.

Sounds lile you found a wonderful deal. Enjoy!

Cheers, Dan

Wait a minute, you got that guitar for $300.00 bucks? WTFender!

y2kc

Well, it was $325. 10 years old and virtually un-played. I believe the original owner rejected the guitar because of an improperly cut nut. the slots were too high but a few minutes with the nut files fixed the problem. I also shimmed the neck a bit and now the guitar plays beautifully.

Welcome and congratulations on your great deal !

but the last few years I've tried to follow my dreams of playing jazz inflected chord melodies

Sounds like Planetalk would be right up your alley. " Melody loves chord tones " , Kirk is not wrong.

I don't know about Planetalk but reading the info on the website does seem like its my general approach to playing. I never did play scales or single note soloing. The more I play jazz standards I find my improvisation skills have improved considerably with chords transitioning into chords in more complex and fluid ways. My wife actually says I sound good sometimes but still asks why I don't play "songs with words"!

Its made a huge difference in my playing , that's for sure. I wish I had found his site years ago.