ASAT classic custom or bluesboy

[supereiv]

Hi, it's been a long time, and for some reason, my former account has been deleted (maybe due to lack of activity...) anyway, I need a little help.

I'm tossing between the classic custom and the bluesboy, primarily use is jazz and blues, but clean sound for the most part. I'm the proud owner of a 3 bolts legacy special (that I loaded with dimarzio 54 pro last summer, was looking for more of that single coil sound ).this guitar is already registered, with my former login "reiv". And I'm now searching for another axe. I'm so pleased with the legacy that I want a G&L, again !
I tested the bluesboy SH, and that's a nice guitar, but I feel the custom may help in my search of an original sound... actually the jury is still out (is that right ?).

can anyone help about the asat classic custom ?

thanks

[blargfromouterspace]

I have an I have a SH Bluesboy - that Seth Lover pickup has one of the sweetest jazz tones going and it works extremely well with the G&L bridge pickup.

I'd love to try a Classic Custom, I've never actually seen one here. I'm sure it wouldn't be disappointing!

[sirmyghin]

Never tried a classic custom, but love my ASAT special, especially the neck pickup. Not as warm as a seth lover granted, but tones of warmth. I think I would probably go for the BB, but seems like a close run.

[Lefty]

I've never tried the Classic Custom but I own a SH Bluesboy. I feel the semi-hollow body & the Seth Lover bridge pickup combined give it a very unique tone. For jazz - I'd definitely go for a semi-hollow body.

[supereiv]

thanks for the answers !
I'm not so enthusiastic about semi-hollows, for reasons that I can't fully understand nor explain. I find the attack too mellow somehow, and my right hand (I'm right handed btw) has a major place in my playing style. But I only tried a bluesboy SH (and a SB as well in the same store) and I'm not totally against the Sh concept (pardon my french )
I don't want to emulate a so-called "jazz sound" if you please. I'm in search of a particular sound that I feel might be in between a full humbucker and an single coil tone (hence my interest for the custom).
the bridge pickup is alright anyway for that frisell stuff.

thanks for the input guys, it's a little tough to explain sound I have in my head by writing in english, so accept my apologies for all these intricate toughts

[sirmyghin]

removed as I don't do enough homework before I open mouth

[Craig]

Hi, it's been a long time, and for some reason, my former account has been deleted (maybe due to lack of activity...) anyway, I need a little help.

I'm tossing between the classic custom and the bluesboy, primarily use is jazz and blues, but clean sound for the most part. I'm the proud owner of a 3 bolts legacy special (that I loaded with dimarzio 54 pro last summer, was looking for more of that single coil sound ).this guitar is already registered, with my former login "reiv". And I'm now searching for another axe. I'm so pleased with the legacy that I want a G&L, again !
I tested the bluesboy SH, and that's a nice guitar, but I feel the custom may help in my search of an original sound... actually the jury is still out (is that right ?).

can anyone help about the asat classic custom ?

thanks

Welcome back!

You GbL account is still active and is used for the G&L Registry and Marketplace.
When we updated the G&LDP in March of this year, you need a separate registration due to
the software package we are using for the Forum.

You should do a back to back comparision of these two guitars, if at all possible.
The neck pickup in the ACC is a beefed up Soapbar MFD pickup and many really like it.

Hope this helps.

[Craig]

the neck pickup on my ASAT special, same pickup in the ASAT custom.

Actually, this is not true. The ASAT Classic Custom and ASAT Classic Custom Semi-hollow neck pickup pole piece bushings are longer than the standard ASAT Special pickup. An extra 200 windings were added, but they stack up entirely differently and the magnet is further down under as well. They are warm and fat but still have tonal characteristics of the standard MFD single coil.
See List of pickups used in G&L guitars in the G&L Knowledgebase.

Hope this helps.

[sirmyghin]

the neck pickup on my ASAT special, same pickup in the ASAT custom.

Actually, this is not true. The ASAT Classic Custom and ASAT Classic Custom Semi-hollow neck pickup pole piece bushings are longer than the standard ASAT Special pickup. An extra 200 windings were added, but they stack up entirely differently and the magnet is further down under as well. They are warm and fat but still have tonal characteristics of the standard MFD single coil.
See List of pickups used in G&L guitars in the G&L Knowledgebase.

Hope this helps.

I seem to under appreciate the variety of pickups G&L has, I guess that is a good thing (that they offer so many). A nice change of pace for a proprietary manufacturer. Editted my previous post.

[blargfromouterspace]

I'm not so enthusiastic about semi-hollows, for reasons that I can't fully understand nor explain. I find the attack too mellow somehow, and my right hand (I'm right handed btw) has a major place in my playing style.

I notice this in SH guitars too. The attack is somewhat subdued when compared to a solid body and the tone is softer overall. In a band, the sound of a SH guitar seems to 'float' a bit, to my ears. I love these characteristics, hence I favour SH models.

I don't want to emulate a so-called "jazz sound" if you please. I'm in search of a particular sound that I feel might be in between a full humbucker and an single coil tone (hence my interest for the custom).
the bridge pickup is alright anyway for that frisell stuff.

It sounds like you'd be better off with the Classic Custom. Bill Frisell uses a standard tele setup a lot of the time - you can actually get a very nice tone for jazz out of the Classic! They're very articulate pickups which is very important for jazz. Decisions are hard to make sometimes!

[Sprinter 92]

I have an Asat Classic Custom and I love it! The ACC is a very versatile guitar. I've played several Bluesboy's and I think I'd like them better with a different neck pickup.






Sprinter 92

[supereiv]

woaw !
looks like a redburst am I right ?
she's beautiful... hope I'll have one soon

[Sprinter 92]

woaw !
looks like a redburst am I right ?
she's beautiful... hope I'll have one soon

Yep, it's redburst!



Sprinter 92

[supereiv]

could you describe (if at all possible !) how does it compare to a bluesboy ?

[meowmix]

could you describe (if at all possible !) how does it compare to a bluesboy ?

Well, one is red and the other is blue.

[supereiv]

[SouthpawGuy]

I have a couple of Bluesboys, a semi hollow and a solid, and a Classic Custom. If push came to shove and I had to choose between them I would go for the Bluesboy. The humbucker in the neck makes it extra versatile, and the combination of the the bridge MFD with the Seth Lover is just magical. The neck pickup in the Classic Custom is a very fat and warm sounding single coil, extra fat actually. As usual ymmv, imho, etc etc.

Gratuitous pics

[jwebsmall]

Would an ASAT special pickup neck pickup fit into
the ASAT Classic custom neck position?

[Craig]

Would an ASAT special pickup neck pickup fit into
the ASAT Classic custom neck position?

Yes, the pickup covers are the same.

Hope this helps.

[jwebsmall]

Thanks Craig,

This definitely helps.

Sorry for all the questions but the local dealers don't
carry many G&L models to A/B. I'm getting close to
deciding which ASAT to get. Thanks for all the help.

John

[NickHorne]

Hope this isn't throwing a spanner into your logic process here!
But, how about the option of fitting a Duncan Phat Cat (P90 in 'bucker-shaped chassis) into a Bluesboy in place of the Seth (which would then be put somewhere very safe, of course)?
This is what's going through my mind right now for myself.
Would this be a drop-in fit, I wonder?

[NickHorne]

But is the Special-type neck pup more P90-like anyway, compared to the superfat Custom one?
If so, going the Custom Classic-with-a-Special-pup-transplant route, as you suggest, might be the better plan.
What thoughts? This is really interesting!

[supereiv]

I don't own a special but I do own a classic custom. The neck pickup is fat, but remember that MFD technology is really in a class of its own. The pickups are hot but with none of the common drawbacks you find in other pickup, IE with regular technology. They are articulate, really responsive, and juicy at the same time, it's just a different animal you have to grow accustomed to. With P90 you have that sound in a minute, problem is you only have THAT sound, with MFD and especially the CC neck pickup you definitely can have a big single coil sound, but you have plenty of other nuances as well, and that's the "tour de force", IMHO of course !
And last but not least, that neck pickup goes really well with the bridge MFD.

My 2 cents

[NickHorne]

Totally agree with what you say about MFDs! I love my Z's very much after getting to know them. I am still intrigued by the notion of mixing with old alnico vibe, especially turning the Seth around and having the screw coil alone in series with the back MFD, with that coil somewhere in between a regular front and middle location. And an option to coiltap via a cap? (don't know whether the Seth comes out as just coax or if it's tappable).
Just fun thoughts, that might lead to a fun axe..

[NickHorne]

But having said that, I'm going to seek out a CC (perhaps easier said than done in the UK?), as I think I can suss a bit of the soul of the guitar you're writing about!
The lovely Redburst further up this thread has attractively hidden pup screws and an attractively "old Gibson" atmos to the front pup; the modern equivalent on G&L's site seems to look like half a Special. I don't seriously mind, but if the Redburst's incarnation was available now, I'd prefer it. I won't be looking for an older one just to have that detail though, as I'm wanting an extra-wide neck so it looks like a new order.
Watching this thread with keen interest!

[NickHorne]

Is the Bluesboy back pickup any different from a Classic unit?

[Craig]

Is the Bluesboy back pickup any different from a Classic unit?

It is modified to work with the Seth Lover HB.

See these posts:

tribute bluesboy pick-up question

Converting an ASAT Classic to Bluesboy

Hope this helps.

[supereiv]

Hidden screws look fine, but with that pickguard you cannot set the neck pickup height, I had the problem a couple of months ago when I received my asat CC. If you search the forum you may find the thread about this. Craig did forward the info to G&L and it looks like they've fix this issue.

[Craig]

Hidden screws look fine, but with that pickguard you cannot set the neck pickup height, I had the problem a couple of months ago when I received my asat CC. If you search the forum you may find the thread about this. Craig did forward the info to G&L and it looks like they've fix this issue.

As a refresher on this subject, here is text from the previous post you are referring to:

Hey,
I tried to set the height of my pickups yesterday. For the neck pickup you have to remove the pickguard first, then you have to put a block under the pickup to raise it (it's screwed directly in the wood) Once all this is done, the surprise is : you can't put that pickguard in his place because the "ears" of the MFD don't fit in the hole...
Well, I compensate for the impossibility to raise the neck pickup as a whole, with raising the poles, but it's only compensation right ?!

All I can do now, is have the pickguard cut to let the "ears" of the big MFD out.

Anyone has experienced this with is classic custom ? or that guitar is not meant to have the neck pickup raised up ?

I remember a post about that in G&LDP versions 1 but I can't find it.

thanks

Xavier

There has been some confusion in the past about this model and adjustment of the neck pickup. I contacted
Steve Grom (Director of Manufacturing) and he provided some information.

Hi Craig,

I checked with a couple of the guys here and they tell me the very early versions of this model (like the one pictured on the web site) had a larger opening in the pickguard and access to the adjustment screws.

A decision was made to go to a hotter pickup with longer pole pieces and adjusting screws along with a smaller opening in the pickguard for the pickup. I was told the reason was to get more of a "P-90" look and vibe to the neck pickup.

I would say the current configuration has been around for at least 5 years.

I've got some sample pickguards coming with a larger opening for the neck pickup and will take a look to see if that change is appropriate.

Thanks

Steve Grom

I also asked him if the pickup adjustment is currently limited to the individual pole pieces. Here is his response:

Correct, the pole pieces are the only adjustment, at the moment.

Once we take a look at one of these with the a modified pickguard (access to adjusting screws) we will do one of two things ...

Go to the new pickguard, making the web photo correct or get a new photo

I'll let you know as soon as we have made a decision

Thanks

Steve Grom

Hope this helps.

I have not hear back from Steve on this yet. The G&L website pics for the ACC and ACC-SH are still the original pictures
prior to this change. AFAIK, the factory continues to build them with the pickup ears below the pickguard.

I will followup with Steve and Dave after the annual factory maintenance shutdown (August 1-12).

Stay tuned.

[supereiv]

Hi Craig,
I saw a brand new ASAT CC on sale on the website of upfront guitars, and it has the cut pickguard. That's why I thought the change was made. Maybe it's a "custom order" from that shop.

[Craig]

Hi Craig,
I saw a brand new ASAT CC on sale on the website of upfront guitars, and it has the cut pickguard. That's why I thought the change was made. Maybe it's a "custom order" from that shop.

Well, I don't know. They may have made the switch back to the original pickguards. I will find out after August 15th.

Stay tuned.

[jwebsmall]

I think SouthPawGuy's ASAT CC is one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen.

Do you have any more pictures of it you could post?

The "wave" grain of the wood in natural finish with the black
pick guard (instead of butterscotch or natural with tortoise shell
pickguard) combined with the maple fingerboard is gorgeous IMO.

The ash grain seems to come in two varieties either "pin stripe"
or "waves" like your guitar. If you order a new one can you
request "waves" as the grain pattern? When you order can
you request pictures of the unfinished/unassembled bodies
and choose one to go into your guitar? Is one heavier than
the other?