The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
This is a pretty cool guitar. It's very lively, kind of an aggressive in your face attitude which I like. Cosmetically this guitar looks great, other than a lot of grim on the fret board, but there are some issues I need to deal with.
Bought this used from Guitar Center. The frets are really worn down in an odd way. Mainly under the 2nd and 3rd string. Tech said it looks like he played cowboy chords. Other issue is two saddles are frozen to where the screws can't be turned for adjusting the intonation. Guitar Center said they would have their guy do a level crown polish job on it which is cool but they won't do anything about the bridge. I've taken the bridge off the guitar, put liquid wrench on the screws and gripping the saddle with pliers (cloth wrapped) I can not get the screws to move. So I'm faced with sending it back for a refund or have them fix the frets and buying at least a new set of saddles if not a whole new bridge.
If anyone has a tip for removing the frozen saddles please let me know. Not enough room for bolt cutters or a hack saw. Fortunately have have a few weeks to figure this out while in my return period.
If you like the guitar, I would negotiate the GC down in lieu of fixing the saddles. Get $75 to $100 off instead of returning it and order new saddles from G&L. Still make them dress the frets. They really would rather have it out the door than have it back. Negotiate with the manager. I agree with the tech. That is what cowboy chords do. If you look at the fretboard you can usually see the area that has been played.-- Darwin
That's a nice looking ASAT. Are you sure the tech at GC knows about the locking screw on the treble side of the bridge casting? If he didn't back it out far enough, some or all of the saddles could be locked in place (thus the name "Saddle Lock"). I very stupidly stripped out a couple of height adjustment screws on one of mine, long after I should have known better.
Depending on the year your ASAT was built, it may not be possible to directly replace the saddles with new ones. I understand that a couple of years ago the factory switched to an Asian source for the bridges, and the exact tolerances of the older American version were not followed.
I had a softball approach negotiation with the manager but I will have one last go at it now I understand what his position is.
The tech didn't touch the bridge. I guess he was satisfied with my report and I am aware of the lock screw on the side though I could see how others not familiar with the guitar would miss it. The 2 saddle screws are definitely locked. I tried again and all I'm accomplishing is stripping the screw head. I could try drilling the head off but I'd hate to slip and tear up the bridge.
Thanks for the heads up about the hardware change. This guitar is a 2007 model. Do you know which bridge it would have? I should call G&L and make sure to know if the cost is only $40 or $90 for a new bridge.
There was some confusion between the 2 stores. The manager of the Houston store where I bought it from did tell the tech that they would cover the cost of any fret work and bridge repair. The only bad thing now for me is they will have it for about a week and a half depending on delivery time of the parts.
I'm sure that once I take it in on Sunday to start the work that I will then find a late model ASAT Special in Belair Green, which is what I really want, at a great price. Not in a position to order it new.
Salmon wrote:Although plenty of Classics, I have not seen an ASAT Special in Belair green so no need to worry.
I came across one once. It was a '98 with triple binding, and IIRC it had a figured neck. Unfortunately, I had just pulled the trigger on a different guitar. I still dream about that one.
I'm happy to report back that they completed the fret work and installed a new set of saddles. Plays and looks great. Guitar Center really came through this time and considering I have a practically new guitar now, I consider that I got a decent deal. Now I have to consider how to work it in. I like to take 2 guitars to a gig, a mahogany body humbuckers, another with at least one hot single coils with a tremolo. May have to do without a tremolo sometimes or bring a humbucker with a tremolo.
