ASAT Classic Weight

[gitapik]

Howdy. My avatar is my ASAT Classic. It's almost two years old and is an unbelievable ax. I ordered it to spec and it's so fine. I love this guitar.

It's heavy, too. I deal with it because the sound and action are so great, but it's almost as heavy as my Les Paul, which is saying a lot. It can wear on the shoulder after awhile.

I've read some posts where the owner says his G&L ASAT is the lightest Tele he's ever had. Is there a difference in the models in terms of weight? If I got another, lighter model, would the sound and action be different from what I've got now?

Thanks for your time, folks.

Bob

[suave eddie]

Is there a difference in the models in terms of weight?

Even in the same species of wood there is great inconsistency in weight among various pieces.
My swamp ash ASAT Classic weighs somewhere between 7 and 8 pounds which I believe is probably average.
The semi-hollow models are probably lighter in general. Also, I have heard that some have been able to specifically request lighter weight bodies when placing special orders.

If I got another, lighter model, would the sound and action be different from what I've got now?

There is no possible reason why the action would be any different based on weight. Regarding sonic differences based on weight, I think you will find many differing opinions. I believe you may even hear subtle differences even between two guitars of identical weight.

but it's almost as heavy as my Les Paul, which is saying a lot. It can wear on the shoulder after awhile.

Have you tried using a wide strap--like 4 inches perhaps to distribute the weight better?

[gitapik]

I didn't think the action would change...just a flier. My main question has to do whether the weight makes a consistently notable tonal difference. So I guess the Classic and Special are similar weights.

Your suggestion on strap width is well taken. I've used 4" straps for years. The LP got me into them...to the point where I use nothing but, now.

Thanks.

[NickHorne]

Your Classic is extremely good-looking.

My WR is pretty *@$% heavy, even taking the sheer metalwork into account.
But it sustains like a pedal steel, and I wouldn't change it for the world!

I'm ordering another, with a wide neck, and I'm hoping G&L's will make it out of a nice solid bit.

And it's not like wearing a banjo; now that's truly heavy music!

[gitapik]

Your Classic is extremely good-looking.

My WR is pretty *@$% heavy, even taking the sheer metalwork into account.
But it sustains like a pedal steel, and I wouldn't change it for the world!

I'm ordering another, with a wide neck, and I'm hoping G&L's will make it out of a nice solid bit.

And it's not like wearing a banjo; now that's truly heavy music!

Thanks, Nick. Yeah...it's a beautiful guitar.

The Les Paul was my only electric for a decade. Then a Strat. Both great guitars. This G&L is the best of both worlds. Beautiful crisp cleans and an incredible single coil bite with a sustain that you can hang your clothes to dry on.

Yep...banjos are heavy. Reso guitars, too.

[helle-man]

I've always felt G&L should offer lighter bodied guitars for a slightly higher price for those wanting light guitars.

Unfortunately, I find guitars are getting heavier as time goes on, and not just from G&L. Fender, Gibson, Epiphone - they're all getting heavier too.

Oddly enough, most of my lighter guitars seem to be the semihollow Tributes.

My 2¢

WR

[willross]

Yeah, some of these guitars should come with a fitness plan...


Cheers,

Will

[darwinohm]

I find that the weight can vary quite a bit and we've always considered Alder to be light in the past. The heaviest G&L that I have owned was an Alder Bluesboy. My current heavy is a Ash Legacy. It just happens that my ASATs that are semi hollow are the lightest, but ordering a semi hollow is not a guarantee either. I think if you order through a dealer and specify a lighter body, the chances are good that you will get one. I have no evidence or proof that weight is responsible for sustain. My lightest ASAT is the Equatorial Mahogany at 6.2 lbs. One of these day I will weigh all of them.-- Darwin

[Submersible]

My ASAT Classic is a featherweight. It's so light, I assumed it was chambered or something for years. It's a 1999 model.

[Boogie Bill]

At 9.5 lbs., my ASAT Deluxe is heavier than any of my Les Pauls, most coming in right at 9.1 lbs. It has the DF Vibrato. I have one ash Legacy Special that is pretty heavy.

Bill

[Chris Dunsby]

Obviously the wood used changes the weight. My ASAT Classic is Korina and is, without a doubt, the heaviest guitar I have ever encountered. I don't have much for accurate scales here; but from stepping on the bathroom scales with her I would say she's around TEN POUNDS! Not surprisingly I try to play sitting down as much as possible...

[gitapik]

An interesting development to this thread:

My only guitar for a LONG time was a Les Paul Deluxe. When I got into Strats I was struck by the difference in weight. I'd never really thought that the LP was heavy. It just was what it was. But I kept playing the Paul because its a different animal than the Strat.

Then I got a MusicMan Silhouette. Very light and it could do a nice blend of both the Strat and LP. Great for single set showcase gigs. The LP has been in it's case ever since.

Well...once I realized that my ASAT Classic was a heavyweight, I came to accept that and found that its really not that big a deal. The sound and feel of the guitar makes me forget about it. That's when I started thinking about the LP. Same weight. I pulled it out, slapped on some new strings, and am now so happy to say that I've been reunited with an incredible guitar. And the weight isn't a big issue anymore.

So I sold my Silo and used the money to buy a Blues Jr with all the BillM mods. Great grab and go.

I'm a very happy camper.

[KenC]

I don't have a scale, but I can tell the weights of my G&Ls are all over the place. The only ones I would call truly light are the SC-1 and SC-2 with maple bodies. I'd guesstimate 6-7 pounds. My maple SB-1 and Lynx are a pound or two heavier. The maple ASATs and Nighthawk have to be at least ten pounds. The real heavies are the 'hog L1K and L2KE. I wouldn't be surprised if they weighed in at 12 pounds.

Ken

[louis cyfer]

Yeah, some of these guitars should come with a fitness plan...


Cheers,

Will

they do. it's called playing

[meowmix]

When someone says LP weight, I had to look it up because I wasn't sure what that meant.
Still don't. Depending on what model and what mods. I've seen a thread where the weight of LP was low in the 7's and up in the 9's. I don't recall seeing a 10lber in that thread.

With an inaccurate fish scale I weight my 3 S-500s. Ranges were 8 1/2 to 9 1/2. And my new bass L2000 is at 10.

[gitapik]

When someone says LP weight, I had to look it up because I wasn't sure what that meant.
Still don't. Depending on what model and what mods. I've seen a thread where the weight of LP was low in the 7's and up in the 9's. I don't recall seeing a 10lber in that thread.

With an inaccurate fish scale I weight my 3 S-500s. Ranges were 8 1/2 to 9 1/2. And my new bass L2000 is at 10.

Hmmm...that's funny. I never even bothered to check other LP weights. I just took it for granted that they're heavy, as that's what everyone I talked to about them said.

Mine weighs in at just above 9 pounds. Same as my ASAT.

They both sound incredible.