Im not sure what I have

[warrengholso]

I know nothing about G&L guitars except I love mine. I bought it used some time ago and the more I play it the better I like it. It is an older solid body ASAT Telly sn G022527. Im sure the pick ups are original. they are single coil and the neck one dies periodically. Just goes away. When it's on it sounds great then starts fading away. I guess I should change it but I'm not sure what to order. These are screwed directly to the wood of the body as opposed to being mounted on the pick guard. The local music stores try to sell me Strat pickups but they won't work the way these are mounted. Can anybody help me?
Goldie

[zapcosongs]

Have you determined that the pickup is the problem? If it is, it should be repaired or replaced with another G&L pickup of the same kind. These are available from G&L or can be found aftermarket on eBay, gear sites, etc. You won't get the MFD sound you love from any Strat pickup.
It may help if you post a picture of your guitar here. There are many knowledgeable members that will be more than happy to advise you as to how best to get you and your G&L back up and running on all cylinders. - ed

btw, Welcome!

[warrengholso]

Thanks. I'll try to figure out how to post a photo ASAP

[blargfromouterspace]

Hi Goldie, welcome. The problem might not even be the pickup - it could be the switch or even just the connection of the pickup to the switch. If you're not handy with this sort of thing then take it to a tech. Stores will always try and sell you whatever crap they have lying around rather than solve problems.

[Lefty]

I know nothing about G&L guitars except I love mine. I bought it used some time ago and the more I play it the better I like it. It is an older solid body ASAT Telly sn G022527. Im sure the pick ups are original. they are single coil and the neck one dies periodically. Just goes away. When it's on it sounds great then starts fading away. I guess I should change it but I'm not sure what to order. These are screwed directly to the wood of the body as opposed to being mounted on the pick guard. The local music stores try to sell me Strat pickups but they won't work the way these are mounted. Can anybody help me?
Goldie

Have you checked the pickup selector switch? If you play with the switch in the middle position (both pickups on,) does it still fade out?

[KenC]

Goldie,

I'm with the others - troubleshoot the electronics first, and then consider repair or a replacement pickup. Your serial number suggests that your instrument is from the 1980s. I would research the options for a period-correct replacement before buying anything, to maintain the Leo-era vibe and sound and make sure the parts fit.

What is the logo on your guitar's headstock? If the local shop tried to sell you a Strat pickup for a replacement, it sounds like you have an ASAT Classic. The pickups are completely different between the ASAT and the ASAT Classic, so this is important to know.

Ken

[zapcosongs]

Goldie,

I'm with the others - troubleshoot the electronics first, and then consider repair or a replacement pickup. Your serial number suggests that your instrument is from the 1980s. I would research the options for a period-correct replacement before buying anything, to maintain the Leo-era vibe and sound and make sure the parts fit.

What is the logo on your guitar's headstock? If the local shop tried to sell you a Strat pickup for a replacement, it sounds like you have an ASAT Classic. The pickups are completely different between the ASAT and the ASAT Classic, so this is important to know.

Ken

Yeah, what he said. - ed

PS: I would suspect a switch or soldered connection before keying on the pickup, as others have wisely suggested. To the extent you might need to replace anything, using G&L parts (as well as technicians qualified (/authorized?) to work with and on them) would serve you well and will preserve the value of your instrument - and likely enhance your enjoyment of it.

[louis cyfer]

that does not sound like a pickup problem. usually a pickup works, or it is dead. you really want to go over the electronics to see where the problem may be.

[warrengholso]

Thanks for all the good info. I agree that I've never seen a pickup just come and go. Sometime it works for weeks at a time. I can pretty much fix anything on them except the electronic parts so I guess my next stop is a good tech with electrical background. I almost lost this baby last week when I got burglarized. They got all the gadgetry, a wireless set up, two amps and a flat top but dropped the G&L on the way out. I think I surprised them. I'll take your advice and have it checked out. You guys are great==wish I'd found this site before.
Goldie

[louis cyfer]

Thanks for all the good info. I agree that I've never seen a pickup just come and go. Sometime it works for weeks at a time. I can pretty much fix anything on them except the electronic parts so I guess my next stop is a good tech with electrical background. I almost lost this baby last week when I got burglarized. They got all the gadgetry, a wireless set up, two amps and a flat top but dropped the G&L on the way out. I think I surprised them. I'll take your advice and have it checked out. You guys are great==wish I'd found this site before.
Goldie

sorry to hear about that. did you catch them in the act? a little over a year ago someone broke into my place, i can only think to get the gear. the pitbulls and chow chow welcomed them with open arms (actually open jaws is more like it).

[Craig]

I know nothing about G&L guitars except I love mine. I bought it used some time ago and the more I play it the better I like it. It is an older solid body ASAT Telly sn G022527. Im sure the pick ups are original. they are single coil and the neck one dies periodically. Just goes away. When it's on it sounds great then starts fading away. I guess I should change it but I'm not sure what to order. These are screwed directly to the wood of the body as opposed to being mounted on the pick guard. The local music stores try to sell me Strat pickups but they won't work the way these are mounted. Can anybody help me?
Goldie

Hi Goldie,

Please post a photo of your ASAT. It sounds like it is an ASAT Special (just has ASAT decal on headstock).
If it's an ASAT Classic it will have an ASAT Classic decal on the headstock.

I agree with the others that you should have the controls and wiring checked before replacing the pickup.

For posting photos, see: Tutorial: Posting photos

Hope this helps.

[warrengholso]

Craig, you're right, it just has ASAT on the head. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to pull it apart and check the solder connections and wires. I'm an old buzzard and computer things come a bit slow. I have an IT guy at work that I will press into service to get a photo or two posted. Once I get a hands on walkthrough, I'll be ok doing it again.
Goldie

[Craig]

Craig, you're right, it just has ASAT on the head. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to pull it apart and check the solder connections and wires. I'm an old buzzard and computer things come a bit slow. I have an IT guy at work that I will press into service to get a photo or two posted. Once I get a hands on walkthrough, I'll be ok doing it again.
Goldie

If you send me the photos, I can get them posted for you. Send them to craig@guitarsbyleo.com.

Thanks,

[Craig]

Here are the photos Goldie sent me:





As you can see, it's an ASAT III, with a fantastic custom flame paint job!

For more info on the ASAT III, see: ASAT III (Pre-BBE), which is in the Rarebirds section of the G&L Registry.

Here are links to the two diagrams (from main G&L website), which cover this model guitar:
ASAT (all 3 single coil pickup models plus Z-3) - schematic block diagram
ASAT (all 3 single coil pickup models plus Z-3) - schematic drawing

Goldie, if you can, please take some higher res photos and I will add them to the Gallery and Rarebirds page.

Hope you can resolve your electronics problem. You definitely want to keep those pickups (S-500 MFD single coil).
If you need to replace a pickup, you can order them from the G&L On-Line store.

Hope this helps.

[warrengholso]

Finally found the electrical problem in the neck pick up that was dying. It was a cold solder joint. Guess it had had the problem since before I bought it because that joint had never been messed with since I've owned it. I just took a wild hair shot at re heating all the connections and it has worked fine ever since. Thanks to all for all the good advice and best wishes to all for Christmas and the New Year.
Goldie

[Kit]

Good to hear the problem is just a cold solder joint. And the paint job is very cool looking.

[warrengholso]

It was simple once I got it figured out. Thanks for the compliment on the paint, I've been doing custom bikes and my guitar looked so bad I couldn't stand it any longer. I might be looking for more of them to paint when I get time. I kinda hate to mess with one that has a good finish to start with because original is usually better. It's almost sacrilige.