ASAT Z3 questions

[Salmon]

Does anyone know if there is anything preventing someone from converting a Z3 to an ASAT Special in terms of the route? I read that a Z3 has a bathtub route. Apparently the ASAT Special does not. Are the larger MFDs so much longer that they need more room? Do they need the individual route for mount support?

The Z3 does not have PTB. If I retain the Z3 system I am considering adding a third pot to a control panel and wiring in PTB. I read that Mark Rutters has a control panel that fits USA ASATs. I might have to drill for the additional pot as three knob control panels are uncommon enough let alone something that will fot a G&L. Has anyone ever come across Tele knobs that are narrower than the standard to accommodate the tighter proximity of three knobs?

Thanks

[NickHorne]

The Special pickup does need its own type of rout for mounting support, as you suspected. Fitting those in a Z3 would mean part-filling the swimming-pool with new material, and possibly removing a little wood too, for the mounting "ears", though I don't know that for sure.

But for just about any other pickups, what a chassis! Fantastic guitar.

As for the PTB, you might consider doing that with a dual-concentric tone pot. It would mean dismantling a CTS dual pot, and replacing one track with the 1meg reverse log that G&L use for the bass control, or finding a tech to do it. I change the tracks in those duals quite a bit (though you can't just keep opening up the same one, the tabs fatigue!) and it's not hard; just fiddly. If you don't need the full extent of the PTB's bass cut, you might try a 500K reverse log track, which might be easier to find.
Come to think of it, I'm not even sure that the PTB bass pot is a CTS; the track might not fit in a dual. But "left-handed" CTS pots are available, as a source of 500K reverse log track.

[Salmon]

Thanks Nick.

I will probably pick up an ASAT Special. I had found a Z3 that felt so good to play that I was considering buying it regardless of whether I liked the Z-coils, never having heard them. I was looking ahead at the possibilities. So today I was playing it again along with an ASAT Special and realized that I liked the tone of the Special more than I liked the fretboard of the Z3.

This being the first time I played a guitar with Z-coils I found them usable and I think I understand how Leo Fender would consider them so highly. I'd probably leave the guitar stock and not try to implement PTB after all.

It is just that I can only justify so many guitars and it is a decision to have one or the other. If I end up with two guitars from now instead of only one it may be something with Z-coils or it may be an S-500. I think the Special could provide the additional dimension I am seeking that will satisfy me for now.

Thanks again for your information.