G&L Classic Rustic - lacks "twang"

[jammers5]

Hi everyone:

So I have this stunning G&L Classic Rustic. It's an amazing guitar, the setup was perfect right out of the box, quality is on par with "Custom Shop" offerings of other companies, yada yada yada. I recently pulled it out, after a 6 month hiatus (had a custom built guitar that's been receiving a lot of attention recently.) I ran in thru my setup of guitar - paisley drive -keeley compressor - carbon copy delay into a Z Wreck. I was a little dismayed at the lack of twang and sparkle even after some tweaks. The guitar does not have it.....actually the pickups don't have it. Sooooo I am contemplating changing the pickups. I love the guitar. I don't want to sell it.

Just wondering if many others have done this to a G&L guitar? or is it considered a "no-no?" There is nothing wrong with what is in there, they just don't work for me or the style and sound I am looking for. (think of the electric guitar tone in "Guitars, Cadillacs" by dwight yoakam. They are warm when I need twang. To me, pickups are a personal preference and cheap and easy enough to swap out.

I'd like to hear from those that have done it and whether or not they were happy with the results?

TIA,

J5

[KenC]

JS,

If you look back through recent discussions you'll find several about the pros and cons of various aftermarket pickups. I'm usually the first to shout "no" when the topic of modding old G&Ls comes up, but with a recent instrument and non-destructive mods I'd say to go for it. As long as you stick to the same footprint as the original pickups, the mod should be fully reversible.

I'm sure some others will weigh in with recommendations for specific pickups. I stick with old pickups in old guitars, so I don't have experience with current offerings.

Ken

[helle-man]

Funny, but I have a Rustic ASAT Classic and it has plenty of twang.

I personally wouldn't mess with the pickups. Put a new set of strings on, or try different amp/pedal combos.

My 2¢

Will

[Craig]

Hi everyone:

So I have this stunning G&L Classic Rustic. It's an amazing guitar, the setup was perfect right out of the box, quality is on par with "Custom Shop" offerings of other companies, yada yada yada. I recently pulled it out, after a 6 month hiatus (had a custom built guitar that's been receiving a lot of attention recently.) I ran in thru my setup of guitar - paisley drive -keeley compressor - carbon copy delay into a Z Wreck. I was a little dismayed at the lack of twang and sparkle even after some tweaks. The guitar does not have it.....actually the pickups don't have it. Sooooo I am contemplating changing the pickups. I love the guitar. I don't want to sell it.

Just wondering if many others have done this to a G&L guitar? or is it considered a "no-no?" There is nothing wrong with what is in there, they just don't work for me or the style and sound I am looking for. (think of the electric guitar tone in "Guitars, Cadillacs" by dwight yoakam. They are warm when I need twang. To me, pickups are a personal preference and cheap and easy enough to swap out.

I'd like to hear from those that have done it and whether or not they were happy with the results?

TIA,

J5

Sounds like you are looking for a more traditional Tele sound. Have you checked out the new ASAT Classic Alnico?

[louis cyfer]

the mfd's are not exactly a traditional tele sound, but i think they they give plenty of twang. they have the high end,, but are certainly much hotter than traditional tele pups. if you really want to change, my favorite tele pups are the d allen cheetah, the nordstrands, and the fralin blues specials. also the klein epic 1952 pups.

[blargfromouterspace]

I've taken the MFD's out of all 3 of my Classic's and have been happy with the results. If the guitar is a good one then it'll be worth it, not like its irreversible or anything. My favourite for the sound your after is the Seymour Duncan JD, plenty of twang and enough output to still sound 'strong'. The DiMarzio Twang Kings are fantastic too. IME the boutique makers are not worth paying 2-3 times more for, but YMMV.

Let us know what you end up going with

[Miles Smiles]

Funny, but I have a Rustic ASAT Classic and it has plenty of twang.

I think, the problem is, that "twang" is not defined and and everybody has a different understanding of it and it's mostly just a word for "sounds good for me".

I would try fresh strings at first too. I mean, nobody knows what happened to that strings in the half year they were unplayed.

On the other hand jammers5 probably got used the sound of his custom made guitar and now he likes his ASAT to have the same sound. At that point I'm asking: what for? I find it way better to have 2 guitars with different sounds and if the one has "twang" and one just sounds good in another way, I would be fine. BTW. I love the sound of MFDs and I would never ever replace them for one of that dull sounding vintage pickups.

I own a Fender Telecaster HW1, which has that traditional Telecaster sound, and there's my ASAT Special and an ASAT Classic Bluesboy. I don't want the ASATs to sound like the Tele although I love that Telecaster sound too.

[jammers5]

Sorry everyone I did forget to mention that i put new strings on the guitar before playing it again.

As for what is twang I am looking for the highs to be crisp and clean, not round and warm, if that makes any sense. I was actually practicing with a MIJ Paisley Tele when I decided to pull out the G&L. (On a side note those MIJ Tele's are amazing guitars in the >$1000 category!) The sound difference was astounding. I tried tweaking the Z Wreck to accommodate but I couldn't get it where I wanted it.

I'll do some more playing around with it, but if I can't get it with these pickups I may order a set of alnico pickups for it. I have Blues Specials in another tele that i like, but will try a different pickup. My Canadianbreed (Custombuild) has 5-2 in the bridge. I may try a twang king or something more vintage sounding along those lines.

I'll post in her with results if/when I do it. But first i'll play around with the settings.

Cheers,

J5

[supereiv]

funny,
I have a Classic S semi-hollow that had some pretty good alnicos in it (don't know the brand) that the previous owner put. I just had the fund to bring back the MFD's, and I find it more twangy than before ! Of course when I want twang the volume pot is halfway back, and it works really really fine for me...

[meursault]

van zandt make some good tele set (true vintage)... but hey are a little hotter than classic tele pup's...

edit : my classic have enough twang... the special, not really, but the conception is quite different...

[jammers5]

Thanks everyone for the input. I have done some research and I decided to change the pickups. I am going with the SD Vintage 52 specs...there is a local pickup builder that's gonna wind em for me. I already had him do a set of Blues Specials for my Road Worn Tele that are great.

I'll let ya know the results....

Cheers

J5

[jammers5]

ok its crow eating time....

before I made the order i decided to put the guitar thru the paces one more time. This time, I turned off the deep switch on the attenuator and i turned off my keeley compressor, and voila, twang! I have often though that compression is really not req'd with this amp and this kinda proves it! the deep switch is engaged whne i use the MIJ Tele but def not required for the ASAT.

Well just saved myself a hundred bucks.......

J5

[supereiv]

Told ya, MFD rule !

[meursault]

to be honest i wondered how a classic couldn't twang !