For a background, The ASAT Equatorial Bluesboy is a semi hollow, f hole and very light in weight. and the ASAT Launch is Western Pine, a solid body and a bit heavier.
The Launch has the new Alnicos and the Bluesboy has a special wound Alnico in the bridge paired with the Seth Lover neck pickup.
I had formed opinions about these guitars unplugged and I was convinced that the Equatorial had more sustain and is extremely rich in overtones unplugged. I would described the Launch as a bit more focused unplugged.
It is hard to make objective comparisons but here is what I did. I used both channels on the custom 15 and swapped channels several times and I could not hear a difference between channels. The tone controls were set the same and the amp seemed neutral between channels. I put the guitars side by side on the table and plugged each of them in. Just before this I had adjusted both guitars so the pickups were balanced volume wise, bridge and neck. I only had to make slight pickup height adjustment on each. I set the tone controls the same (both treble all the way). The volume was about equal. I plucked each guitar, open strings with the same pick. All measurements are with my old ears.
The two are almost identical on the bridge pickup. The Bluesboy may be wound a bit hotter but these Alnicos have the jangle and overtones that are hard to describe other than sweet. In the center positions they sounded almost identical, the Bluesboy just a tad fatter. It is in the neck position that the tone changes. The Bluesboy is fatter, more low overtones noticeable on the lower strings. Not a big difference in the high e. The Bluesboy is really a smooth tone, not quite as jangly as the alnico and probably more focused. I was surprised how similar these guitars sound other than in the neck positions. I am sure that different pickup adjustments could alter the tone a bit but here is an example of different woods and build construction and they sound extremely similar to me other than the in the neck positions.
Here is the bottom line. They are very different animals unplugged. I was convinced the Equatorial Mahogany had more sustain. It turns out that may be deceiving due to the semi hollow, f holed body and you can hear it more clearly. The Alnico Launch has longer sustain. I knew it had great sustain but plugged in, it just keeps singing, especially the lower strings. Keep in mind that these are both Classic Bridges. I haven't measured the resistance of the Bluesboy bridge Alnico but will do so and report on it when I get around to it. It was an interesting experiment for me and I am convinced the pickups are 90% of the tone and the differences you notice playing uplugged are that only. Thought I would share for what it is worth. For those of you who are not familar with these G&Ls', here are pictures of them. By the way, I have really become an Alnico fan.-- Darwin
Alnico Launch
Equatorial Mahogany Bluesboy
