NGD - '86 ASAT with Kahler

[KenC]

I was fighting serious GAS before Jos's recent Lunch Report, and his ASAT porn put me over the edge!







This one has neck and body dates from May and June '86, making it a very early ASAT and a contemporary of the Broadcasters. I lusted after this same guitar when it was for sale at Guitar Center last year, but it was out of my price range. It showed up again just as I was about to vent my GAS on a fretless bass, but this time it was listed well below value. I wasn't about to let it get away again.

This guitar has a maple body, which weighs well over ten pounds. I don't have a scale, but it is definitely heavier than my 'hog L-2000. In a word, this beast is massive.

I have heard negative things about Kahlers, but so far my experiences have been positive. This ASAT has plenty of sustain and tone, and the action and intonation are great all the way up the neck.

The thing that's struck me most about this ASAT is how the controls interact. Much like the SC-1, this guitar is happy with the tone and volume knobs halfway for most playing. It can go from super bright and jangly on the bridge pup with the tone maxed, to almost muddy on the neck pup with the tone at zero. The middle position is wonderful, in ways that none of my other guitars can seem to match. Every bit of the bridge pup's sparkle comes through, with the neck pup's fullness underneath it. It's almost like hearing two guitars on completely different settings, rather than the blended sound I'm used to.

Enough writing. Time to play some more.

Ken

[darwinohm]

Great find Ken, How do you find these things. This must be quite rare. -- Darwin

[KenC]

Thanks, Darwin!

As I mentioned in the OP, I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a fretless L2K from GC's site when I noticed a used black ASAT had popped up at their Buffalo NY store. The photo wasn't up yet. I remembered this guitar being at that store last year, so I called just on the chance it was the same one. Turns out it was...

Ken

[yowhatsshakin]

Ken,

What can I say but CONGRATS! Have fun with your decked-out, 'poor man's' Broadcaster!

Whereas the tone controls are great on the SC's, on my Broadcasters I love the volume pots, the taper that is. In both cases, when the guitars came in, for the first hour or so all i was playing were phrases with finger-controlled swells. Amazing.

Ken, if you get the chance, I would to see what is in the neck pocket. This model still has so many features in common with the Broadcaster, I'm just curious.

- Jos

P.S. I eagerly await the commission check from said GC

[louis cyfer]

i love those kahler trems. the most responsive trems i have ever played.

[KenC]

Ken, if you get the chance, I would to see what is in the neck pocket. This model still has so many features in common with the Broadcaster, I'm just curious.

Here are the cell phone pictures I took when I got her home:





As you can see, there's not much going on there. There were no markings I could make out other than what's in these photos.

Do you see any similarities to your Broadcasters?

Ken

[yowhatsshakin]

Do you see any similarities to your Broadcasters?

Hi Ken,

The body has a date stamp commensurate with the first month in which production of the Broadcaster was halted. And I was interested to know what came in place of the famous inspection sticker which turns out to be the kind of scribbles left behind by inspectors I see in many of my other guitars. Clearly they right away put a lid on including Leo-signed stickers. But beyond what is is hidden in the pocket, the quality of the guitar will be the same and in the end that is more important

Thanks Ken

- Jos

[RampageFan]

Hi Ken,

Fantastic find! That is one great looking guitar! And quite the rarebird! I would love to find a vintage ASAT with the Kahler! Just curious, does it have the 25" neck radius? I've read that there were a few made with the flat neck and ebony board.

Here's a tip for the Leo/Graph tech locking nut: When I re-string mine, I tune them a step and a half flat. When I tighten down the locking nut, I am close to pitch. Just need a little fine tuning at that point. I think the reason people didn't like that system was because they tune the strings to pitch then lock it down and it's hard to get it in tune. Also before you lock it down, stretch the strings and it will improve the tuning stability.

Enjoy!
Dave

[KenC]

Dave,

I think this one has a 12" radius. In any case it isn't the 25" option.

I haven't set the locking nut yet. I've never needed to use the one on my Superhawk. The strings I put on this ASAT are pretty lousy, so I will probably swap them out this weekend and set the nut once they've stretched. Thanks for the tip!

Ken