Couple of question on my new ASAT Special

[Slivyr]

Hi All!

Please excuse me if these are silly questions. I've tried running some searches but haven't been able to find answers so thought I would post them:

1. On the description tag that came with my guitar (brand new ASAT Special) it said that one of the features was a master tone tap. What does this mean?

2. I heard from someone else that the two singles are set in a way that the middle position sets them up like a humbucker. Is this true?

3. Not that I want to but, if I ever wanted to change the Special to a Bluesboy-esque guitar by adding a hum at the neck, is that easily done without routing?

I tried to look this up on the G&L website as well, but there's not a lot of info there. Even the owner's manual listed only talks about the set up.

Thanks!
Slivyr
Left Coast, Canada

[smurph1]

Hi Slyver..i too have a new ASAT Special..I freakin Love it..I play it exclusively now..Mine did not come with the tags, So i can't speak about the tone tap function..I would like to know what it is, and if my axe has it though..As far as the middle position being, a humbucker..I DO believe that is true..My single coils (and yours as well) are reverse wired, polarity that is..So when both are on you essentially have a single humbucker on your guitar..Hope this helps, and Merry Christmas!! Scott..

[astutzmann]

I too have an asat special and have no idea what a tone tap is???? I would like to know.

The middle position just sounds so sweet and full to me, lots of punch. Why would you want a humbucker in the neck when you have two fantastic pickups already.

I also have a bluesboy, so go get yourself one of those, they're great!

[suave eddie]

I'm sure someone else will chime in here. As the pickups are reverse wound, it will cancel the hum in the middle position--BUT they are still wired parallel--If they were wired in series (typical 4-way switch option) you would get more of a humbucker sound using both pickups.

Never heard of the "master tone tap"......hope someone here can shed some light. The only thing I can think of is that rather than have separate tone controls for each pickup (like a Les Paul for example), there is only one "master" tone control.

[Ahryn]

I too have an ASAT Special and the middle position is one of my favorites, it does have a smooth glassiness kind of like a humbucker but more importantly no 60 cycle hum

No idea on the master tone tap, is one of the knobs a push pull pot?

Or if you have the time maybe a few pics of the control wiring?

Humbucker in the neck, while you might lose that sweetness of the middle position but I would look out for a HG-2 neck PuP, no routing and it would be all MFD.

[Slivyr]

Let me be perfectly clear...I LOVE the tone as it is and have no intention of changing it. I was originally thinking about a Bluesboy so I was just curious if it was possible.

Is this the pickup you are thinking about? http://www.glguitars.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=263

If I get a chance, I'll scan the tag when I get home and post it.

[Ahryn]

Actually I meant one of these http://www.ggjaguar.com/hg-2.htm the PuPs from these show up on Ebay now and again.

I hear you on not wanting to mess up the tone I only recently lowered mu PuPs for fear of losing the magic... and made the middle position sound even better

[louis cyfer]

you can not put a humbucker in the neck without routing. it is hum cancelling in the middle position, but parallel.

[Slivyr]

Thanks for the answers!

I've got to say, the ASAT works great with Rocksmith!

[Ahryn]

That is great to hear, I was considering rocksmith but wasn't sure about it with the MFDs (even though I am sure that game treats all PuPs the same) and of course the latency thing but all rhythm based games have latency to some degree depending on your setup, what gaming system do you use by the way?

[Ahryn]

According to Thumbs http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewt ... 115&t=3063 and to my knowledge he didn't need to do any extra routing for his HG-2/ASAT hybrid.

I would keep the single coil MFDs though, because of their inherent awesomeness.

[louis cyfer]

According to Thumbs http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewt ... 115&t=3063 and to my knowledge he didn't need to do any extra routing for his HG-2/ASAT hybrid.

I would keep the single coil MFDs though, because of their inherent awesomeness.

that is not a full size humbucker.

[Ahryn]

OP didn't mention a need for full size Hum, only a hum.

Unless by Bluesboy-esque he meant PAF, I didn't read into that way and as when I first got my special I was thinking the same thing but fell so in love with the MFDs that I wouldn't consider it...

... Unless one came my way cheapish.

I think there is also someone who put traditional Mini-hums in one of their G&Ls.

[Slivyr]

TO the Rocksmith question, I use an XBox 360. Rather than try to change it back to analog for one game, I've learned to live with the lag.

[smurph1]

According to Thumbs http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewt ... 115&t=3063 and to my knowledge he didn't need to do any extra routing for his HG-2/ASAT hybrid.

I would keep the single coil MFDs though, because of their inherent awesomeness.

Truer words were never spoken!!

[sirmyghin]

According to Thumbs http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewt ... 115&t=3063 and to my knowledge he didn't need to do any extra routing for his HG-2/ASAT hybrid.

I would keep the single coil MFDs though, because of their inherent awesomeness.

I wouldn't trade that MFD neck soapbar for anything, it is just too damned spectacular.

[jacksonmoon]

If you want a G&L with a humbucker, get a Bluesboy. The middle pickup position with both single coil MFD's singing is one of the ASAT Special's best attributes. Why change it? You won't have an ASAT anymore and worse, you will devalue your own guitar.