Question about ASAT Deluxe

[Salmon]

(EDIT: Initially, I used "bridge" when I meant to say "neck" and have indicated where the corrections were made.)


I have been thinking about ordering an ASAT instead of an S-500 Deluxe.

Someone recently posted a picture of their ASAT Del Semi-hollow in Blueburst taken out in natural light and I really like it.

Questions:

1. Can you order an ASAT Deluxe with a large MFD in the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") position instead of a humbucker? *

2. With a natural wood body binding such as what comes with the guitar shown/linked to below what neck tint matches it best? In pictures the tinted necks sometimes appear too yellowish. I will be getting a neck in satin but it would be a choice between the non-tinted, light tint and vintage tint = whichever best matches the binding. *


What I want is essentially an ASAT Deluxe Semi-hollow in Blueburst except not a semi-hollow unless it came without the F-hole and with an MFD in the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") instead of the humbucker.



http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/us ... /index.asp

Maybe there is a different approach to get the same result.

Because it does not come with a pickguard I doubt you could deviate from the common route. In that case I would rather get an ASAT Special Deluxe except two MFD's without a pickguard do not look right to me. They stick out too much or something. I really don't want a pickguard over a flame top. This leads me back to an S-500 Deluxe.

Somehow I want an MFD neck with something full/fat in the bridge. I have an ASAT Classic so I liked the S-500 idea. A legacy Deluxe would also work if I could substitute MFD's for the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") and middle.

Can anyone answer the questions (*)?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[louis cyfer]

i am very confused when you mean neck and when you mean bridge. in think you mixed up the terms, but i don't know when.

[Salmon]

Yes, I misstated my thoughts. In my initial post I made a mistake referring to the bridge position when I meant to say neck. I edited the post pointing out and corrected the error.


Here is a mock up of what I would like except without the F-hole. I threw this together in OS X Preview and didn't have time to use Photoshop which would have had the tool to clone out the F-hole.

The guitar can be hollow or solid, I just don't want the F-hole. Solid is probably better because it would be less costly. There is no guarantee the benefit of less weight would be reliable. I have read of some semi-hollows being heavier than solids. It all depends on the piece of wood.




If I cannot get the ASAT with an HB-MFD or the S-500 with an HB-MFD-MFD as described this is a very nice alternative:

[supereiv]

AFAIK the ASAT deluxe doesn't come with MFD, I've been lurking for something like that for a while now.
The S-500 deluxe doesn't come in semi-hollow body, but it is a great guitar. It doesn't sound like a strat, nor a humbucker guitar, I don't know what you're after, but it has its own voice that's really nice and find a place in a lot of situations thanks to the PTB system.

[Elwood]

Boy that S-500 Deluxe is spectacular ...that'll be in my dreams.
There aren't any S-500 Deluxes with a HB bridge yet? I'll admit I haven't looked.

elwood

[SouthpawGuy]

(EDIT: Initially, I used "bridge" when I meant to say "neck" and have indicated where the corrections were made.)


I have been thinking about ordering an ASAT instead of an S-500 Deluxe.

Someone recently posted a picture of their ASAT Del Semi-hollow in Blueburst taken out in natural light and I really like it.

Questions:

1. Can you order an ASAT Deluxe with a large MFD in the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") position instead of a humbucker? *

2. With a natural wood body binding such as what comes with the guitar shown/linked to below what neck tint matches it best? In pictures the tinted necks sometimes appear too yellowish. I will be getting a neck in satin but it would be a choice between the non-tinted, light tint and vintage tint = whichever best matches the binding. *


What I want is essentially an ASAT Deluxe Semi-hollow in Blueburst except not a semi-hollow unless it came without the F-hole and with an MFD in the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") instead of the humbucker.



http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/us ... /index.asp

Maybe there is a different approach to get the same result.

Because it does not come with a pickguard I doubt you could deviate from the common route. In that case I would rather get an ASAT Special Deluxe except two MFD's without a pickguard do not look right to me. They stick out too much or something. I really don't want a pickguard over a flame top. This leads me back to an S-500 Deluxe.

Somehow I want an MFD neck with something full/fat in the bridge. I have an ASAT Classic so I liked the S-500 idea. A legacy Deluxe would also work if I could substitute MFD's for the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") and middle.

Can anyone answer the questions (*)?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

My lefty ASAT Deluxe in green has a pair of P-Rails installed, along with triple shot switching rings.

I can get 4 sounds independently from each pickup ... series / parallel / P90 / single coil, and I can combine those in any way I wish. Neck P90 + Bridge series, neck series + bridge series, neck parallel + bridge P90 etc.

[supereiv]

That must be supra versatile, sort of a L2000 spirit in a guitar

[Craig]

1. Can you order an ASAT Deluxe with a large MFD in the neck (I've corrected from "bridge") position instead of a humbucker? *

2. With a natural wood body binding such as what comes with the guitar shown/linked to below what neck tint matches it best? In pictures the tinted necks sometimes appear too yellowish. I will be getting a neck in satin but it would be a choice between the non-tinted, light tint and vintage tint = whichever best matches the binding. *

Can anyone answer the questions (*)?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

1. No, the stock pickups are SD humbuckers, see ASAT Deluxe spec page on G&L's main website. There is the EMG 85/81 humbucker set as the
only optional pickups, see G&L Guitar Options page.

2. Any of the satin neck finishes should work fine with the natural wood binding (Maple top).
G&L does mention this on the Options page for the Vintage Tint Satin:

Has a hue of an aged finish with the modern feel of a satin finish. Can work well for both a vintage or modern look. Not recommended with Wood Binding on a Swamp Ash body (doesn't match well).

Here is one suggestion I can offer: The GbL Limited Edition II which has a Soapbar MFD Single coil in the neck and
a Large MFD Humbucker in the bridge in a modified Fallout body (with a DF or DFS bridge or optional Saddle-Lock bridge). See LE-2 FINAL OPTIONS RUNDOWN!.

Hope this helps.

[Fumble fingers]

LE 2 is only going to have 25 guitars total production run too ! .... so you can still get in on a very special " rare bird " instrument if you act quickly

[Craig]

Boy that S-500 Deluxe is spectacular ...that'll be in my dreams.
There aren't any S-500 Deluxes with a HB bridge yet? I'll admit I haven't looked.

elwood

The factory did do some S-500's with a SD TB-4 humbucker as a Special Build: see 2010 S-500 HB Trio Special Build.

[Salmon]

Southpawguy,

The slider switch on your guitar is at a different angle than what I have seen. I this the lefty standard or is the guitar an older model?

I may end up doing exactly what you have done with yours. The S-500 option (my decision to acquire one or an ASAT Deluxe) is limited to what I can find already built. I have concerns about ordering a burst in an S-style guitar. I will be posting examples to explain what I have noticed in recent models.

How do you like using those switches on the switch rings? All of the sound variables interests me. That whole specialization is another $450+ on top of the price of the guitar am I correct, including having it done by a decent luthier?


Craig,

I don't know how body binding is added to guitars. I thought it was a separate piece of material. From your post it looks like the wood used for the binding is a factor when avoiding a mismatch of color between the binding and a neck tint, particularly with swamp ash but not with maple. Can we choose the wood used for the binding? I want a flame top with natural binding. Would you please clarify what I should watch out for when trying to match a neck tint and natural body binding?

Thank you.

[Craig]

Craig,

I don't know how body binding is added to guitars. I thought it was a separate piece of material. From your post it looks like the wood used for the binding is a factor when avoiding a mismatch of color between the binding and a neck tint, particularly with swamp ash but not with maple. Can we choose the wood used for the binding? I want a flame top with natural binding. Would you please clarify what I should watch out for when trying to match a neck tint and natural body binding?

Thank you.

See Wood Binding.

[louis cyfer]

Southpawguy,

The slider switch on your guitar is at a different angle than what I have seen. I this the lefty standard or is the guitar an older model?

I may end up doing exactly what you have done with yours. The S-500 option (my decision to acquire one or an ASAT Deluxe) is limited to what I can find already built. I have concerns about ordering a burst in an S-style guitar. I will be posting examples to explain what I have noticed in recent models.

How do you like using those switches on the switch rings? All of the sound variables interests me. That whole specialization is another $450+ on top of the price of the guitar am I correct, including having it done by a decent luthier?


Craig,

I don't know how body binding is added to guitars. I thought it was a separate piece of material. From your post it looks like the wood used for the binding is a factor when avoiding a mismatch of color between the binding and a neck tint, particularly with swamp ash but not with maple. Can we choose the wood used for the binding? I want a flame top with natural binding. Would you please clarify what I should watch out for when trying to match a neck tint and natural body binding?

Thank you.

you do not want a luthier to put in the pups, and probably don't even need a tech. (remember luthiers build guitars, techs fix them, set them up, etc). it is a pretty simple procedure. i have tried those and those mini switches work pretty well.

[Craig]

I have concerns about ordering a burst in an S-style guitar. I will be posting examples to explain what I have noticed in recent models.

See this post in the G&L Knowledgebase, General G&L Questions: Can you explain the Bursted finishes on G&L instruments?

Hope this helps.

[Salmon]

you do not want a luthier to put in the pups, and probably don't even need a tech. (remember luthiers build guitars, techs fix them, set them up, etc). it is a pretty simple procedure. i have tried those and those mini switches work pretty well.

Thanks Louis. Here I was trying to use the proper term and I picked the wrong service. I should have just said someone who I know knows what they are doing would be doing the installation.

[Salmon]

See Wood Binding.

Craig,

I know what binding looks like but thanks for that example. I think viewing that picture might just be responsible for several upgrades. Gorgeous!

My question referred to your earlier post which stated that natural binding on a swamp ash body would not match vintage tint neck.

The part that I am focusing on is the reference to a specific wood in the body.

If the guitar has a flame maple top over a swamp ash body which material will the natural binding consist of, maple or the swamp ash?

Frequently bindings on guitars are made by adding a separate piece of material. Does G&L tape off the edge to create a natural binding? Do they use different woods for body binding or are all guitars with natural binding made using one type of wood for the binding?

[darwinohm]

Salmon, I will take a shot at this. The wood binding is a masked off area on the top that will only have clearcoat and is most often used on solid or candy colors. If you have a maple cap on any kind of wood body, the binding will be on the maple cap. I have a Candy Apple Red Legacy made of Alder so the binding it transparent alder. It is beautiful. In the end the binding will be the body wood or the Cap wood if you have a cap. It is clear coated with the body so the thinking is that a tinted neck may not look as good with the binding as a non tinted neck. Hope that explains it. -- Darwin

[Elwood]

It's also referred to as a 'scraped' binding ('natural' sounds much less abrasive).
...can't add much more...but check out this SC-2, it really makes the lines pop:


link

[Craig]

See Wood Binding.

Craig,

I know what binding looks like but thanks for that example. I think viewing that picture might just be responsible for several upgrades. Gorgeous!

My question referred to your earlier post which stated that natural binding on a swamp ash body would not match vintage tint neck.

The part that I am focusing on is the reference to a specific wood in the body.

If the guitar has a flame maple top over a swamp ash body which material will the natural binding consist of, maple or the swamp ash?

Frequently bindings on guitars are made by adding a separate piece of material. Does G&L tape off the edge to create a natural binding? Do they use different woods for body binding or are all guitars with natural binding made using one type of wood for the binding?

The reason I pointed you to that page on the G&L website is that it explains wood binding:

Wood Binding is an uncolored clear band of finish around the perimeter of the front of the body. The effect is particularly stunning on instruments with maple tops.

Perhaps Darwin's explanation will clarify it for you.

Like Darwin said, it's the body's top wood which is masked out before the body color finish is applied. After the body finish
dries the mask is removed and body is prepped for the final clear coat and then the full body including the natural wood binding is clear coated.
The only finish they will not do a wood binding on is Blackburst (and is mentioned in the USA Price List).

[Salmon]

Thanks Darwin and Craig for explaining how the binding is done. I had quickly Googled it and saw a lot of added strips similar to working with inlay but I think the information I came up with in the search had to do with the keywords I used and there was not enough to go by to get any sense of what is most often done.

Craig,

I guess I was so impressed with the picture I didn't fully comprehend the text underneath.

You said, "The only finish they will not do a wood binding on is Blackburst (and is mentioned in the USA Price List)."

1. Where is this price list found?

2. It is odd how they would say that about Blackburst yet here is an example of natural binding on Blackburst. Funny thing, I would not want Blackburst without the natural binding. It looks elegant/finished/complete/ not lacking/a perfect display of Blackburst…..however I think this is probably the only burst that looks better without a flamed top:




Elwood,

My my that SC-2 is just beautiful. I mentioned earlier that I thought the large MFD's did not look right on an ASAT Special. I think the binding serves to balance them off when there isn't a pickguard. These are even a contrasting cream to the black and that guitar looks great.

I have not yet but I will have to read about the LE 2. I have been interested in the S-style and T-style bodies.

[Craig]

Thanks Darwin and Craig for explaining how the binding is done. I had quickly Googled it and saw a lot of added strips similar to working with inlay but I think the information I came up with in the search had to do with the keywords I used and there was not enough to go by to get any sense of what is most often done.

Craig,

I guess I was so impressed with the picture I didn't fully comprehend the text underneath.

You said, "The only finish they will not do a wood binding on is Blackburst (and is mentioned in the USA Price List)."

1. Where is this price list found?

2. It is odd how they would say that about Blackburst yet here is an example of natural binding on Blackburst. Funny thing, I would not want Blackburst without the natural binding. It looks elegant/finished/complete/ not lacking/a perfect display of Blackburst…..however I think this is probably the only burst that looks better without a flamed top:




Elwood,

My my that SC-2 is just beautiful. I mentioned earlier that I thought the large MFD's did not look right on an ASAT Special. I think the binding serves to balance them off when there isn't a pickguard. These are even a contrasting cream to the black and that guitar looks great.

I have not yet but I will have to read about the LE 2. I have been interested in the S-style and T-style bodies.

The Price List I was referring to is the G&L US Dealer Price List and is not available for anyone but G&L Dealers and Distributors (plus me, of course ).

I asked Dave about this restriction and included the link to the ASAT Classic Custom SH you posted and he said:

Hi Craig,

If he likes that guitar he should buy it. It’s no longer available. Thanks, Craig.

Dave

I asked for clarification because the image of the guitar you posted was discontinued last year and I wanted to be sure he was referring to the Wood Binding and
Blackburst finish note in the 2013 Dealer's Price List. He said they dropped Wood Binding on Blackburst finish this year, due to a technical issue with this combination.
Once they get it worked out they will bring that combination back.

Hope this helps.

[SouthpawGuy]

Southpawguy,

The slider switch on your guitar is at a different angle than what I have seen. I this the lefty standard or is the guitar an older model?

I may end up doing exactly what you have done with yours. The S-500 option (my decision to acquire one or an ASAT Deluxe) is limited to what I can find already built. I have concerns about ordering a burst in an S-style guitar. I will be posting examples to explain what I have noticed in recent models.

How do you like using those switches on the switch rings? All of the sound variables interests me. That whole specialization is another $450+ on top of the price of the guitar am I correct, including having it done by a decent luthier?


Thank you.

That one is a three bolt neck model from the later '90s, I also have an early '00s semi hollow ASAT Deluxe which has the same angled selector switch. Don't know when they changed to a different style to be honest.

The triple shot mounting rings when mounted on a lefty guitar have to be installed with the switches near the 1st string. On a right handed guitar they will be near the 6th string. I like them fine as they are, I never hit or switch them by accident. It didn't cost me near that amount for the mod, the p'ups were bought as a set, as were the switching rings, off Ebay and a friend did the work. I have P-Rails with triple shots in four guitars, you could say that I like them quite a bit.