Too many options

[suave eddie]

Hello all

I am toying with the idea of ordering a G&L built to my specs if I can afford it.

I have never bought a guitar without playing it first and I wanted some input regarding all the upgrades and options that are available.

Most important is the neck profile. I like a chunky neck….the neck on my Fender custom shop Nocaster reissue was perfect. I don’t want a “wide” neck, just something with some girth to it.

I assume the modern “U” would be the closest to this shape?
The only problem with the U profile is that it appears to only come with the tallest frets available….I hate tall frets…I like them to be as low as possible. (When I bought my SC-1 new, the first thing I did was have my tech actually file the frets lower—even after almost 30 years of playing there is still no significant wear on them)
I believe the “Vintage C” is the same profile as the one on my old SC-1…is this correct? What is the difference between the Classic “C” and the Heritage “C” other than the fretboard radius? I prefer the 7.5” radius over the 12”.

Other neck options are Flatsawn or Quartersawn……Pros and Cons anyone? I would go for the Birdseye but don’t think the cost is worth it.
I think I would prefer the feel of a satin finish on the neck but would it look weird with a Clear Gloss finish on the body?

Next consideration is frets. I believe I would prefer the Vintage frets over the Medium Jumbo. Other than longevity, is there any advantage to Stainless Steel frets? For those of you who have gone Stainless, is there any perceptible difference in feel or sound with stainless frets?

Next up would be nut options—G&L offers either bone or Graph-Tech. Pros or Cons anyone?

Question for Sirmy—Did you order your guitar from a U.S. or Canadian dealer? If it came from the U.S. were there any taxes or duties due on delivery? This goes for anyone else in Canada that may have ordered a guitar from south of the border.

I think this wraps up my questions for now—I appreciate any input.

[suave eddie]

Well I’m even more confused now………..
I went to one of the only local stores that sells G&L today. They had an ASAT Classic with a #2 Vintage “C” 7.5” radius and two Legacys with #1 Classic “C” 12” radius necks. They all had the jumbo frets. I now have no idea what the profile is on my SC-1 because all the guitars I played today had beefier necks than the SC-1. I would describe the SC-1 neck as “flat”.
Bottom line is that all the guitars I tried today were very playable. To my surprise, I hardly noticed the difference between 7.5” and 12” radius, and the large frets were also playable but I still think I would prefer the Vintage frets. I still would like to try the #1c Modern “U” neck…..does anyone here have one of these? How would you describe it?

So now if I were to place an order I have no idea which neck profile I would want.
What I am interested in is an ASAT Classic with Natural gloss finish.

[glvourot]

I can't help you with your neck dilemma. But if you buy a guitar made in America you will not have to pay any import duties ( NAFTA ). You might have to pay HST/GST on the purchase price when you recieve it. Seems to be a bit of a crapshoot though as sometimes you pay and sometimes you don't.

[blargfromouterspace]

I'm pretty sure G&L upgraded to have a bone nut as standard recently. Seeing as your getting an ASAT (no vibrato) I can't see the point getting a graph tech nut. All of mine stay in tune forever even with 'behind the nut' bends.

I'd like to try the quartersawn neck. Supposedly it makes for a better, stronger neck. I too would avoid birds eye, mainly because I don't like the way it looks.

Based on what your said it sounds like you want a fat neck with vintage frets and a 7.5" radius (a #2 or #2a). Only you can decide!!!

I'm guessing that the neck on your SC1 would be closest to the #2b - heritage vintage C. That flat feel is probably due to the shallower depth.


The difference between Heritage and Classic C necks is in the thickness, not the radius of the fingerboard. It's all very clear on the G&L options page.

[suave eddie]

I feel dumb now--I didn't realize the specs for the 1st and 12th fret depth were referring to the thickness of the NECK! I don't know what I was thinking--I thought it had something to do with how tall the frets were....duh!
Now that chart makes more sense.

[blargfromouterspace]

I thought it had something to do with how tall the frets were....duh!

A guitar with frets 0.9" high!!! Almost like a sitar - it could be a Ravi Shankar signature ASAT!

[astutzmann]

my 2008 Bluesboy came with a plastic nut, so I had a bone nut put in, works great. Now new G&Ls come with bone. My legacy has the graphtec nut and I love it, perfect since its cut on a machine and works and sounds great. So either is a good choice.

If you order it thru a canadian dealer, you will pay slightly more for the guitar and then have to add the canadian taxes, hst.

If you order from a US dealer, you will pay slightly less, have to pay the US taxes and then pay the HST when its shipped across the border.

If you order from a US dealer and go pick it up and bring it across the border yourself, you may or may not have to pay the HST.

I have ordered one from a canadian dealer and one from a US dealer. The advantage of the canadian dealer is that if they are local, you can go check it out before you accept it.

In my case, I ordered from a dealer in alberta (friend and no sales tax) and he checked it over very carefully and then shipped it to ontario.

Good luck

[suave eddie]

A guitar with frets 0.9" high!!! Almost like a sitar - it could be a Ravi Shankar signature ASAT!

What confused me is that the neck width was measured in fractions of inches but the depth was in decimals--I'm not used to seeing fractions of inches expressed this way and I thought it was millimeters.

If you order from a US dealer, you will pay slightly less, have to pay the US taxes and then pay the HST when its shipped across the border.

So if I have it shipped from a U.S. dealer I would pay double taxes but there is a good chance the pricing would be better.

[astutzmann]

yup, that's correct

[BadJaxx]

note that Vintage frets are on the tall side whereas Medium Jumbo are lower and wide...

[sirmyghin]

I got mine from Pongetti's Music in Hamilton, Mark was great to work with, I made him call the factory a few times over options (such as SS frets which were not available at the time..) In the end the prices aren't different enough in Canada to warant trying to import it in my experience.

Badjaxx, the "Medium Jumbo) G&L uses are 6100 wire, they are both taller and wider than vintage frets.

You will pay your provinces sales tax on an import crossing the border also.

[BadJaxx]

ok...i go by Warmoth's definitions as they seem to be the norm...

[sirmyghin]

ok...i go by Warmoth's definitions as they seem to be the norm...

Every company I have dealt with uses different definitions for 'medium jumbo' and 'jumbo'. That is why I look at wire sizes, and if they are not listed, I hunt them down one way or another. I think G&L's 'vintage' is 6230.

.080" x .043

while 6100 is

.112" x .055"


Both wider (first number) and taller go to the 5100 by far.

[BadJaxx]

yeah Warmoth lists the same sizes but calls the 6100 "Huge! This is big stuff for the almost scalloped feel."...6130 "Medium Jumbo"...6150 "Jumbo"...
6100 referred to as "Super Jumbo" other places including Fender, i think...

this will cause confusion...

here's a link to Warmoth's fret sizes...may help some...

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/FretSize.aspx

[sirmyghin]

To add another to the mix Carvin calls 6150 med-jumbo and 6100 jumbo. Ibanez calls 6150 Jumbo iirc. ESP or Edwards on some guitars use 6000. It is the biggest fretwire commonly available.

I like Jescar, they list their product names as sizes. 55090 is what is on my next build .55 up, .09 across. Pretty much 6100 wire from them. Theirs is height (00XXX) and width (XX000)

[suave eddie]

After some research I should clarify a point that was posted above. If the guitar is purchased from a U.S. dealer and SHIPPED to Canada there is no U.S. tax collected--only the Canadian HST when it crosses the border. If the guitar is purchased in the U.S. and picked up there and DRIVEN across the border then you would be charged tax from both countries.

I'm still agonizing over the myriad options available and am getting it narrowed down.

I'd like to take this opportunity to heap some praise on Tim from Buffalo Bros--I've been picking his brain and and he has graciously taken much time to answer many of my questions--I was thinking about perhaps ordering from him rather than one of the smaller local dealers here--He actually encouraged me to buy locally rather than to make a sale himself.

A public thank you, Tim for your time!

[suave eddie]

Now I have questions regarding neck finishes.
I know I don't want the satin finish.
I don't like the yellow color of the Gun Oil Tint--Is this what is now referred to as "Vintage Tint Gloss"? I would like to know what "Light Tint Gloss" looks like. I can't find examples anywhere. I would hesitate to order without seeing it.
I'm leaning toward a honeyburst finish and wondering which neck finish would go best. WIthout seeing examples I would hesitate to order any tint. Does anyone have experience/photos of the "Light Tint"?

[Martin S]

I don't like the yellow color of the Gun Oil Tint--Is this what is now referred to as "Vintage Tint Gloss"?

Correct!

I would like to know what "Light Tint Gloss" looks like. I can't find examples anywhere. I would hesitate to order without seeing it. I'm leaning toward a honeyburst finish and wondering which neck finish would go best. Without seeing examples I would hesitate to order any tint. Does anyone have experience/photos of the "Light Tint"?

To my knowledge, there are no photos of a light tint gloss neck yet. Also see this post: Neck Finishes - Vintage Tint Gloss vs. Light Tint Gloss.

[suave eddie]

Does anyone have an example of a Honeyburst finish with a tortoise pickguard?
Especially on an ASAT body?

[Craig]

I don't like the yellow color of the Gun Oil Tint--Is this what is now referred to as "Vintage Tint Gloss"?

Correct!

I would like to know what "Light Tint Gloss" looks like. I can't find examples anywhere. I would hesitate to order without seeing it. I'm leaning toward a honeyburst finish and wondering which neck finish would go best. Without seeing examples I would hesitate to order any tint. Does anyone have experience/photos of the "Light Tint"?

To my knowledge, there are no photos of a light tint gloss neck yet. Also see this post: Neck Finishes - Vintage Tint Gloss vs. Light Tint Gloss.

This morning I posted this in the G&L Knowledgebase, General G&L Questions sub-forum: Comparison of Neck Finishes.

Hope this helps.

[suave eddie]

Is an ebony fretboard an option for any guitar. The G&L website lists it as an upgrade, but dealers I've talked to show it only available on fretless basses.
If it is available on any guitar approximately how much should I expect to pay?

[sirmyghin]

Is an ebony fretboard an option for any guitar. The G&L website lists it as an upgrade, but dealers I've talked to show it only available on fretless basses.
If it is available on any guitar approximately how much should I expect to pay?

I would say not much, fretboards are not typically a large bit of the cost equation in a guitar. Ebony gets totes as more valuable due to use on higher lines line gibsons and whatnot than it actually is.

[astutzmann]

I have an ASAT Special Deluxe, #3 neck on order, ebony fretboard, SS frets. Its an option on all guitar necks

[suave eddie]

Well............
After changing my mind four times on the color I finally placed an order for an ASAT classic with ash body in Blueburst--3ply black guard and an ebony board. A #1 neck with vintage frets--Glossy "Light Tint"

After going back to the store about 3 or 4 times to compare the 7.5" to the 12" radius I finally got it--after playing a 7.5" for almost 30 years that is what I thought I wanted--but after giving the 12" a good workout I finally see what everyone is talking about--the bends are a bit easier and strings don't feel as crowded.

[suave eddie]

Well the wait officially begins--After waiting over a week I finally got confirmation of my order from G&L. Estimated ETA mid July.

ASAT Classic

Blueburst on Ash

Black 3-ply guard

Number One neck with Ebony FB and Vintage frets--Light Tint gloss.

[Dr B]

I went through a similar process myself last year. So many options and not the chance to try them all in the shops. It was worse here in the UK as USA G&Ls are few and far between, and very few, if any, will be fitted with non-standard necks. I tried a USA ASAT in one shop - i have no idea what neck profile it was - but for me it was awful - far to 'chunky'. It was well finsihed and the fretwork was supurb - but i struggled to play it. The shop owner claimed he had no knowledge of any special neck fitted to it - but I was skeptical.

I tried another one some weeks later and it was fine. Perhaps it was a special build that never got paid for....you have to wonder if that happens and if so, what happens to the units.

The neck and frets on my new legacy (arrived today!!!!) are supurb. The neck is very nice to play. It has standard frets on it - but they are well finsihed and not hard to play at all. I have no idea what the specs are for the neck - other than its fairly standard (even though its a custom creation guitar) - and it feels fantastic. I am well impressed.
The vintage frets on the Fenders are very small (check out the EC or dave gilmour strats - both have vintage frets) - but G&L may use different wire (as discussed above). I liked the soft v fender necks on the EC strat - but could not get any info or model to try for the G&L take on the soft v neck at the time. Ah well...sometimes best to play it safe unless the guitar just falls into your hands and 'you know' its for you...