Lunch Report for Thursday, August11th 2011

[y2kc]

Hey,

Finished that Braz Cherry floor this morning. It looked nice. The only problems with that species is that the sun bleaches them out big time. There are other woods that don't do well with direct sunshine but this is the worst. Good window treatments are a must.

I haven't discussed my actual lunch this week. Today I had chicken salad my wife made. yummy!

G&L discussion: Asats

The G&L Asat is actually a guitar that non G&L owning guitar players have heard of. I think its just the funny name they have heard of so they remember it. Anyways with all the models of Asats that are available, which one ,if any, nail that country, steelbendin ,chicken picking nashville sound?
If you could design an Asat with that sound in mind what would you do. Would you use parts from other manufactures.

The tele is possibly the one guitar that people get the most passionate about. They crave the sound of the older teles. These are also the most simple electric guitars ever made.

Would G&L have a market for a real Asat Classic with a thinner finish, better bridge and saddles and aftermarket pickups?

Garden Talk: Vegetables

What are you growing this year?
We are growing in containers this year . I won't do that next year if possible.

Take it easy,

y2kc

[sirmyghin]

The ASAT special in my hands gets quite country sounding, the benefit is I can drive it to hell and have it kick different kinds of arse in turn. But clean the spank is all there. I am sure the classic is theoretically closer but oh well. A lot of the country tone is in how you are picking. I can do it with split buckers to some extent too, and firmly believe a split bucker never replaces a single coil, not even close. I like the special as it is, once I aluminum guarded it anyway but that was done for aesthetics.

No garden here.

[blargfromouterspace]

Would G&L have a market for a real Asat Classic with a thinner finish, better bridge and saddles and aftermarket pickups?

Absolutely and I'd be first in line for one. I'd like to see them make a pickup like that in the Legacy, not an MFD but a vintage type AlNiCO pickup. Would I change them? Most likely.

Better bridge - Not possible. The standard G&L bridge is as good as any of the replacement ones and better than most vintage examples.

Thinner finish - Doesn't bother me all that much but I know there are a ton of people who would buy one if it was a 'thin skin'

Great idea KC

[repoman]

An ASAT with a better bridge and pickups? I think they did that already and called it an ASAT Special

My liitle veggie patch has the usual assortment of `maters. They were producing like crazy until I went on vacation and the 3000 degree heat we were having did its damage. Things are starting to bounce back a bit now that I'm watering. I also had an early crop of sugar snap peas but those are long gone.

[Philby]

+1 for the ASAT Special sounding real country through a clean amp, volume dialled back a bit, and light strings on (9's or lighter). Play it through a higher gain amp and it's like you're wearing a different guitar though. It almost gets into Les Paul territory. I don't know how those big MFD's do that? The standard ASAT MFD's sound more rounded and 'even' to me. It's a very pleasant sound but not authentically 'twangy' or spikey like a vintage tele.

My veggie patch is growing 4 different varieties of garlic, some carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. There's also 20+ varieties of weeds which I should be more diligent about removing.

[stagecoach]

An ASAT with a better bridge and pickups? I think they did that already and called it an ASAT Special

I agree. The only thing I could maybe suggest is the 3rd pickup in an ASAT Special for added sounds

Veggie Garden- This is the wife's department, but I believe we Have Broccoli in (That is easy to recognize), I don't know what else she has in

[KenC]

Setting up for an ASAT/ASAT Classic A/B test now...

[Philby]

Setting up for an ASAT/ASAT Classic A/B test now...

Ooh goody.

Will there be sound clips too Ken?

[KenC]

OK, I did a quick A/B (sorry, but I don't have a microphone rigged - not to mention that the crying you'd do over my country playing wouldn't be the good kind).

The guitars were an '88 ASAT and a '98 ASAT Classic. Both guitars are all original. I'm not sure what strings are on the ASAT (I'm guessing they're 10s - I haven't changed them yet). The Classic has DR Pure Blues, 50-11 with a plain G. I ran them through a BBE Bench Press compressor on the recommended "chicken pickin'" setting into a US-made Blues Junior, which had flat EQ, volume on 1, master on 3 and reverb on 3. The beer was a Flying Dog Woody Creek White, which was set on Belgian-style Wit Beer.

Although the Classic looks perfect for country (butterscotch blond over swamp ash, with a tortoise shell guard), it somehow just has too thick of a sound through the Blues Junior to get good twang. The compressor definitely helped, and I could probably have pulled it out more with some EQ tweaking on the amp or more volume (not an option as the kids are in bed upstairs). Don't get me wrong - this guitar has a gorgeous sound, just not quite right for country.

The ASAT doesn't have country looks in my opinion (candy apple red finish, and black crinkle plate and hardware - not sure whether the body is maple or ash), but the sound from the bridge pickup was dead-on perfect for country to my ears. The attack was crisp, the bends were clear, and it really worked well with the amp's spring reverb. It was also great for rockabilly-type open chords. If I played with the amp I'm sure it would have been even better. Maybe tomorrow when the kids are awake.

Since it was there in the room and I didn't want to hurt its feelings, I had to break out the S-500 ('82 mahogany body, black polyester finish, all original, and strung with 10s). I would have to say that on the bridge pickup it beat the Classic and very nearly matched the ASAT for a country sound. I would describe it exactly the same way that I described the ASAT, just maybe a touch thinner.

Of course, the amp has a lot to do with this. If I had tried the same thing with the JC-120, the Classic would very possibly have come out on top of the ASAT. With that amp the Classic really thins out and sparkles, and the ASAT is too strident to play without effects. To my ears, at least...

The Flying Dog has held up well. The crispness right out of the fridge has mellowed a bit as it warmed up, and the fruitiness of the Belgian style is coming to the front. The sediment at the bottom of the bottle will give a nice, full finish in a minute. Then it will be time to A/B everything again, including the beer. Next up will be something from Heavy Seas (another Maryland brewery), either a Loose Cannon IPA or a Small Craft "Uber Pils".

ASATs, summer beers and an approaching three-day weekend. Ah, the good old days.

[KenC]

I might have been too harsh about the Classic. After more playing (and the sound of the ASAT out of my ears), the Classic does give a nice country sound. Maybe it's a matter of the amp having warmed up more, but now I'm hearing a better sound out of the Classic when the compressor's off. I'm not sure why that is, though. Anyway, I would definitely recommend the ASAT Classic for country. It just seems to do a little bit better for Polkadots and Moonbeams as a chord melody, or Train in Vain, than it does for Alone and Forsaken.

I might restring her with 10s in the morning, tweak the setup, and try this again.

Ken C

[darwinohm]

y2kc, I just got back from a 300 mi trip on my Gold Wing. The weather was perfect and I had to go to a meeting in Alexandria. I hope you all feel sorry for me.

Asats, I would have to say the classic S would do some good country. Also the ASAT Special will do the job. I would have to say the queen of twang is my 62 Tele reissue, chambered and I wired the pickup sw. modern. It has twang that hurts the ears.

We used to garden but our whole back is flowers now. Ginny put in one Tomato plant that has teeny tomato's that are tasty.

I like KenC's AB test tonight. My kind of test. More Flying Dog and things get smoother. A few more and it couldn't get any better as things will sound totally great and your country picking will amaze you.. Than you have to reproduce your results tomorrow night to make sure you were right. Boy do I get some good ideas from this forum!!-- Daaaaarwineeeee

[sam]

My Oh My!! ASATs As a current owner of six ASAT's - Classic Signature, ASAT, Deluxe, Z3 SH, Jr, parts Jerry Donahue this appears to be habit forming I am always looking for others.

For the country bending pickin' the closest I have is the JD with a Callahan brass saddle bridge. The Duncan Donahue bridge p-up and a Super Switch give some tasty options. Still don't know why the JD-5 didn't take off. Design a new one? I do love an ASAT Special so how about an ASAT with the ASAT Classic style Callahan brass saddle bridge to make it slightly brighter. Thin skin is nice for looks but as Sirmy said there is a lot in the picking and p-ups so that would be nice for me but a toss up for many. Dialing in your amp plays into the sound equation as well.

In the garden this year is tomatoes, jalepeno and banna peppers, and spices. My kids are helping my parents larger garden with more tomatoes and cayenne peppers as well as squash, red cabbage, sunflowers and even pumpkins.

Happy pickin. Both yer garden and guitars

[blargfromouterspace]

For the country bending pickin' the closest I have is the JD with a Callahan brass saddle bridge. The Duncan Donahue bridge p-up and a Super Switch give some tasty options.

I have those saddles and that pickup in my Bluesboy. Makes for one hell of a great twangy country/rockabilly guitar as well as a blues/soul/R&B monster.

[sam]

Blarg,

Yer talkin my language! Bluesbay could be on the radar soon.

[darwinohm]

Blarg, that ASAT BB that you have cooks. The demo that you posted about 3 weeks ago was as good as it gets. Last night I listened to the Chet Atkins/ Jerry Reed clip and then I got into Chet and Paul Yandell and the Chet and Mark. It takes some time to download this stuff on my computer so I have a have a refreshment while waiting. Last night when I came in the house Ginny says "have you been having fun" You damn right!!! There should be a warning label on this. Is this harmful to my health???? Darwin

[zapcosongs]

With an early ASAT and a wonderful Bluesboy (and given my basement status, and the economy), I have no need for any Classic.

But we do grow things: http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/ ... =slideshow

- ed

[yowhatsshakin]

Howdy gang,

Anyways with all the models of Asats that are available, which one ,if any, nail that country, steelbendin ,chicken picking nashville sound?

Geez, tough question. I liked Ken's A/B test too but with more than 25, I just have too many ASAT's to do an all out A/B testing. No, I didn't say I have too many ASAT's so stop hoping ... I said I have too many ASAT's to do the test. In any case, from memory this would be my assessment:

True Nashville: I'm with Sam, the JD-5. Great for bends behind the nut.


Country pickin' with modern pups: The Z-2


"Where the hell is my neck pup?" pickin': the ASAT '50. Any other ASAT Classic would do just fine too


"What chicken? We're gonna bite and snarl!" pickin': the ASAT Super

If you could design an Asat with that sound in mind what would you do. Would you use parts from other manufactures.

Nope. Would buy a Fender Telecaster. They are very good for that stuff you know

IWould G&L have a market for a real Asat Classic with a thinner finish, better bridge and saddles and aftermarket pickups?

Although not ever having played one, at least finish wise G&L might have something going there with their Rustics. As far as sound is concerned, see previous answer.

What are you growing this year?

Lots of stuff. Herbs (sage, parsley, thyme, dill, basil, rosemary, chives, etc.), artichokes, heirloom tomatoes, kale, brussel sprouts, and raspberries. Some of that stuff has been enjoyed already. Yums ...

Take it easy,

You too Casey.

- Jos

Edits: Fix image link after album was lost.

[sam]

Hey Ed,

Let it grow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUD2IX1UfM

[zapcosongs]

And we quote:

True Nashville: I'm with Sam, the JD-5. Great for bends behind the nut.

Then I says:

STOP that! Yow! - ed

[blargfromouterspace]

Sam & Jos: What makes the JD-5 good for behind the nut bends? Is it deeper there or something?

[yowhatsshakin]

Sam & Jos: What makes the JD-5 good for behind the nut bends? Is it deeper there or something?

Hey Jamie,

Although, the neck of the JD-5 has so-called 'increased roll' on the fingerboard edges, I don't think it is structurally different at the nut (at least I don't see it), but it does have a traditional string tree instead of the 'T' placed further away between the D- and G-string posts compared to other ASAT's which gives it a little more string length behind the nut at a slightly less steep angle. However, for me, I think it is mostly psychological. The JD-5 is the most Tele like guitar with a 3-saddle bridge and a Jerry Donahue spec'ed SD APTL-3JD bridge pickup which as far as Nashville chicken pickin' is concerned hits it pretty much on the nail. So you feel more inclined to at least try some behind the nut bends. I'm still horrible at it though ...

Hope this answers your question,

- Jos

[yowhatsshakin]

And we quote:

True Nashville: I'm with Sam, the JD-5. Great for bends behind the nut.

Then I says:

STOP that! Yow! - ed

Eh, ... OK. Sorry Ed

- Jos

[blargfromouterspace]

Thanks Jos. Totally in agreeance with the APTL-3JD, one of the best pickups I've ever used. How about them 'catch bends'. Try 'em one time if ever you want to approximate the sound of an 8 year kid learning the violin....

[Katefan]

No gardening projects to report on but I've just swapped the stock MFD's out of Char, my '90 ASAT Sig and replaced them w/ some custom made Alnico MFD style SD pu's I bought from Mac (Burnt999) a few years back. Never thought I'd do this as I really dig the stock pu's but I have to say these Alnico pu's really nail the classic tele sound! I'm stoked as I've tried several times before to obtain this from the stock pu''s and only could come close. Lowering the action and turning down the volume pot would help some as well as adjusting the individual pole pieces but the bridge pu still didnt have that classic twang and the high end clarity. I thought some of it may have to do with the bridge design (and that may be) but the '90 ASAT Classic Sig I had while sounding closer to a tele (to my ears) still didn't nail the classis tele sound. I really believe a lot of it has to do with the types of magnets.


Re the Alnico pu's - Mac designed & constructed from a set of standard G&l MFD pu's. He basically took the bobbins from them, removed the windings, replaced the adjustable pole pieces with Alnico slug magnets and then set them to Seymour's shop to have the coils wound and the pu's completed - potting, string wound round the coil wire etc...
The pu's fit in standard ASAT MFD pu covers and mount using the same hardware. Both pu's have flush (non staggered) pole pieces and the only the bridge pu has a copper plate underneath.

I think BBE/G&L offering alnico pu's as options would be a smart marketing move as ceramic mags aren't everyone's cuppa.
I only recall one aftermarket pu manufacturer offering replacement pu's for ASATs tho I just saw these for sale locally here on Trade Me (NZ's version of eBay)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-instrume ... 372229.htm

Offering different neck finishes as well as bridge designs might be desirable to others as well. I know alot of folks don't dig nitro but I'm a fan. I also prefer 3 saddle tele bridges over 6 saddle versions.

Btw, I kept Char's stock MFD's intact (meaning I didn't remove them from the stock covers) and used another set of black MFD covers. The stock ones are pretty snug and have alot of wax holding them in place.
She looks fairly stock and a bit spiffier with the cleaner pu covers and a black ply plastic p/g. No porn at the mo but I'll post a pic in the near future...

The change was prompted by the amp I am currently using - a Peavey Transtube Studio Pro 112. I wanted to get more of a classic fender (tube) clean sound and I feel I've achieved that not to mention nailing the classic tele tone. All my other amps since I've owned Char have been Silverface Fender amps, a Peavey Vintage & Classic (70's models) Musicman 210 HD, and a vintage Ampeg Rocket II. Down the road once I get a tube amp again, I may revert back to the stock MFD's but I dunno - these Alnicos sound Sweet as! Oh and I'm really impressed with the Transtube Peavey! Its a latter (redstripe) version and sounds heaps better to my ears than the earlier ones. There's alot of praise for this model of Studio Pro 112 on the telecaster guitar forum... (Craig - can I say that here???) No good vids/demos of it on youtube but it sounds very similar to this -

http://youtu.be/ZZDfx7EEtyg

Cheers,

Kf

[jwebsmall]

The sound of an ASAT III is closest thing to heaven to my ears.

It has the ASAT special bridge which is thunderous
but with the "thinner" S-500 pickups it is a super
twang monster.

Could this be the reason they have a picture of it on
this forum's splash page?

[Craig]

The sound of a ASAT III is closest thing heaven to my ears.

It has the ASAT special bridge that is thunderous
but with the "thinner" S-500 pickups it is a twang monster.

Could this be the reason they have a picture of it on
this forum's splash page?

See www.guitarsbyleo.com Limited Edition.

Hope this helps.