G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy - what to buy?

[BillEvans1956]

Hi there folks,

Very keen to have an ASAT Classic Bluesboy semi-hollow custom built for myself maybe next year now. Thinking maybe Red Burst with a Flame Maple top and natural wood body binding. But, I can't decide on what pickguard to have. Thinking maybe White Pearloid or Creme, but can't really picture either of those combinations. Anyone want to offer some suggestions to go with the Red Burst? Maybe 3-ply black would be just right? Would set off the chrome of the SD HB and the rest of the hardware? Was thinking also of going for a maple neck / maple fingerboard combo. Number 2 neck with satin finish and matching headstock.

Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks.

Bill
Shrewsbury, UK

[KenC]

Hey Bill,

I'm not the best judge of color, but it sounds like the top will be pretty intense between the maple's figure and the shades of red. I would probably go on the simpler side with the pick guard. Three-ply black or white could be really nice and not distract the eyes from the wood figure and finish.

Ken

[darwinohm]

Bill, with a flamed cap I would try to order without a pickguard. That would be sweet.-- Darwin

[BillEvans1956]

Thanks guys. Both good ideas. I'll try to picture that.

eBay have an ASAT SD here in Red Burst: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280771644087? ... 1423.l2649. I'm trying to picture that as a Bluesboy with no pickguard.

Thanks.

Bill

[blargfromouterspace]

Creme pickguard with white binding.

Check out THIS VIRTUAL CUITAR BUILDER. It's very, very helpful!

[louis cyfer]

no pickguard hands down. why cover up so much of a beautiful top?

[KenC]

I want to change my vote! IF you do a pickguard I would go with a simple one, but it would look nicer without one.

Ken

[louis cyfer]

[louis cyfer]

or with lighter binding and no f-hole

[darwinohm]

Wow!!!!-- Darwin

[BillEvans1956]

Guys! Guys! Guys!

You have all been very helpful. Thanks a bundle. Asking that question has thrown up a lot of leads and ideas. I like that "Virtual Guitar Builder". Thanks Louis for those pics. Definitely no pickguard then.

Thanks. Bill

[Lefty]

Guys! Guys! Guys!

You have all been very helpful. Thanks a bundle. Asking that question has thrown up a lot of leads and ideas. I like that "Virtual Guitar Builder". Thanks Louis for those pics. Definitely no pickguard then.

Thanks. Bill

It wouldn't hurt to select one for future use. You could install it later, if desired. I'd go for a White Pearloid pickguard shipped in the case

[SouthpawGuy]

My ASAT Special in redburst with binding and black pickguard

[BillEvans1956]

My ASAT Special in redburst with binding and black pickguard

Thanks SouthpawGuy. That works really well. The body binding sets it off nicely.The maple neck too. That's gun oil gloss on the neck? I was thinking about a coloured headstock option, but I reckon not now.

Thanks. Bill

[SouthpawGuy]

My ASAT Special in redburst with binding and black pickguard

Thanks SouthpawGuy. That works really well. The body binding sets it off nicely.The maple neck too. That's gun oil gloss on the neck? I was thinking about a coloured headstock option, but I reckon not now.

Thanks. Bill

Yes, that's a gun oil tint neck, the binding does make it look extra fine !

[astutzmann]

wow

my vote, natural wood binding, no pick guard, maple on maple neck. Would think about GOT neck (have it on my blues boy and its nice), but I must say, my favourite neck is the natural satin finish neck on my legacy. (I tried a $2400 Suhr Strat with the same type of neck on it this week, natural, satin finish and I must say, the legacy neck was just as good, fast and wonderful)

Just a thought, you might want to decide whether you want the traditional Neck with the blues boy, 7.25" radius, or a 12" radius neck!

I ordered my asat special with neck #3, slightly wider with 12" radius, glad I did.

[BillEvans1956]

wow

my vote, natural wood binding, no pick guard, maple on maple neck. Would think about GOT neck (have it on my blues boy and its nice), but I must say, my favourite neck is the natural satin finish neck on my legacy. (I tried a $2400 Suhr Strat with the same type of neck on it this week, natural, satin finish and I must say, the legacy neck was just as good, fast and wonderful)

Just a thought, you might want to decide whether you want the traditional Neck with the blues boy, 7.25" radius, or a 12" radius neck! I ordered my asat special with neck #3, slightly wider with 12" radius, glad I did.

Thanks for that. Thought about the GOT neck, but I think satin finish is my preference to be honest. Re. The neck radius, surely the regular BB neck is 7.5"? I have two ASAT Special Deluxe - one has the regular 7.5" neck, the other has the #1 neck (12"). I'm undecided yet about the BB though. Still thinking about which I really prefer. What was your reason for going for the wider #3 neck? It's only 1/16th" wider than standard width. Is it really that noticeable to play?

Thanks again. Bill

[darwinohm]

Bill, I will comment on that. I have a PRS Johnny Highland with a wide thin neck (Same as you are talking about), When fingerpicking near the nut it is easy to get muffled, muted notes with standard necks. When I do these same things on the PRS with the wider neck, it is a breeze. I can still do them on the standard narrow neck but have to be extremely precise in finger placement. 1/16 can make quite a difference while playing near the nut.-- Darwin

[BillEvans1956]

Bill, I will comment on that. I have a PRS Johnny Highland with a wide thin neck (Same as you are talking about), When fingerpicking near the nut it is easy to get muffled, muted notes with standard necks. When I do these same things on the PRS with the wider neck, it is a breeze. I can still do them on the standard narrow neck but have to be extremely precise in finger placement. 1/16 can make quite a difference while playing near the nut.-- Darwin

Thanks Darwin. Useful to have that feedback. Very helpful.

Bill

[louis cyfer]

wow

my vote, natural wood binding, no pick guard, maple on maple neck. Would think about GOT neck (have it on my blues boy and its nice), but I must say, my favourite neck is the natural satin finish neck on my legacy. (I tried a $2400 Suhr Strat with the same type of neck on it this week, natural, satin finish and I must say, the legacy neck was just as good, fast and wonderful)

Just a thought, you might want to decide whether you want the traditional Neck with the blues boy, 7.25" radius, or a 12" radius neck!

I ordered my asat special with neck #3, slightly wider with 12" radius, glad I did.

i just wanted to point out that the 2400 dollar suhr is basically their tribute line. not really comparable the the real ones. i was very underwhelmed by those. the nicer suhrs start at 4k.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

+1 on the black pickguard. I consider pickguards an ornament or jewelry and not necessarily something that blocks a beautiful finish. There is an element of less is more involved. One thing to consider is that you are unable to select the body. Not all grains are stellar (EDIT: I must say that the redburst posted by yowhatshakin shows that a pronounced grain is not required for the finish to look beautiful. Perhaps you should ask yourself whether the absence of the pickguard would work as well with a grain like this). The idea of having the pickguard included uninstalled in the case is a good one. You could always sell it for a profit even. They are a better buy from the factory and shipping will be handled with the guitar. If you were to pick one up new from the G&L supplier you would end up paying more. That is unless you are dead set against the possibility of ever having a pickguard of course.

+1 on the natural satin finish neck, for both feel and appearance.
+1 on maple fretboards. It is not the tone influence to me it is the feel and look. I enjoy glancing at my fingers on the light wood for some reason. I have a dark guitar and a light guitar. It is a yin and yang thing. I currently favor playing the yang. I am just using yin/yang as a reference to the contrasting of light and dark finishes and woods.

Natural binding would tie in the maple neck very nicely.

With a redburst you would have red, redburst and black as options in a painted headstock. I would not go with a painted headstock unless you chose an ebony fretboard and black painted headstock.

[BillEvans1956]

Was also thinking that rear-mounted controls would be a good idea? No pickguard still a real seller for me. Thinking a Bluesboy looking a little like my ASAT Special Deluxe but with the BB pickups and bridge.

Can you picture that?





Bill

[BillEvans1956]

One thing to consider is that you are unable to select the body. Not all grains are stellar (EDIT: I must say that the redburst posted by yowhatshakin shows that a pronounced grain is not required for the finish to look beautiful.

I was hoping that maybe I could request that G&L select a particularly well-figured flame maple top for this guitar? Would that not be possible for a custom build? I'd like it to be very pronounced. Something like these:






Bill

[BillEvans1956]

Does anyone have an opinion on gold coloured hardware?

Tuners



Bridge plate



Seth Lover humbucker cover



Would G&L offer such options? I thought it might go well with the Red Burst body and maple neck?

Bill

[blargfromouterspace]

Pretty sure that the gold hardware option was ditched when gold prices went through the roof. They may have started again now, but you don't see any new G&Ls with gold hardware.

Seems like you're after one bling-tastic guitar, Bill!

[Craig]

Jamie's right that G&L used to have the gold hardware option and it was dropped due to cost of gold going up so high.

I doubt that G&L will be re-offering this option any time soon.

I have a few G&L's with this option and would love to see it return, too.

I was hoping that maybe I could request that G&L select a particularly well-figured flame maple top for this guitar? Would that not be possible for a custom build? I'd like it to be very pronounced.
Bill

You certainly can ask your dealer to request a "well-figured flame" maple top with the order. I have not seen
any less than stellar flame maple tops from G&L, so I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hope this helps.

[louis cyfer]

Was also thinking that rear-mounted controls would be a good idea? No pickguard still a real seller for me. Thinking a Bluesboy looking a little like my ASAT Special Deluxe but with the BB pickups and bridge.

Can you picture that?





Bill

i could swear i have seen a bluesboy like that somewhere. i do like the control plate though, i like to flip it around, the rear mounted controls don't line up as well for me.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Does G&L do this degree of customization? I was inquiring about similar but different options and was told flat out by a renowned dealer that G&L does not do that kind of customization. You are confined to a limited list of options period. IOW, it isn't Burger King. It is more like a buffet of items G&L already has in mind. You are talking "Bluesboy" so that is available with predefined limitations.

[astutzmann]

yes, I notice the difference with the wider neck, for a big guy with fat fingers it makes a difference. Was thinking of a #4 neck but I think that would have been too wide. Happy with mine. Glad its a 12 degree, that's what I wanted and just decided to try the wider neck.

[BillEvans1956]

Does G&L do this degree of customization? I was inquiring about similar but different options and was told flat out by a renowned dealer that G&L does not do that kind of customization. You are confined to a limited list of options period. IOW, it isn't Burger King. It is more like a buffet of items G&L already has in mind. You are talking "Bluesboy" so that is available with predefined limitations.

Ok. Was hoping that rear-mounted controls might still be possible? Was planning on routing my order / wish list via Buffalo Bros., so if Tim is tracking this post, can he maybe make some enquiries on my behalf please? No firm order from me for another 12 months though.

Thanks.

Bill

[BillEvans1956]

Gonna have to put this one 'on hold' for 2012, I'm afraid. Having just bought myself a Taylor 412CE Fall 2011 Ltd acoustic guitar (Spruce / Rosewood), my plans for an ASAT Classic Bluesboy have now slipped into 2013.

I can wait though!

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Bill

P.S. My new 'baby': http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/li ... sewood400/

[darwinohm]

Bill, sometimes we get sidetracked and that is not all bad. You now have a Bluesboy to look forward to. Nice Taylor by the way.-- Darwin

[BillEvans1956]

Bill, sometimes we get sidetracked and that is not all bad. You now have a Bluesboy to look forward to. Nice Taylor by the way.-- Darwin

Thanks Darwin. Thought maybe I needed to develop my 'acoustic' side. Yes, the Bluesboy is a long-term project now. I want to get a nice custom guitar there, so think maybe 12-24 months now. I can certainly wait.

Merry Christmas to you!

Bill