I would like to buy a new US ASAT Classic, really but...

[Cal Webway]

I returned one earlier this month: The frets were bevelled in 1/16." Too much.
(yes, via online purchase...)
I have a related thread here on neck pocket width. The thread responses confirmed that G&L's are a tad wider than Fenders.
The bevel totally negates that.

Fender use to bevel in too much, and in the last few yrs have done a superb job on changing that.

*Is this typical on the newer US G&L's? Of the PLEK programming? Input is appreciated!


thanx, Doug

[Cal Webway]

As a new member, I hope this is not seen as a 'dis'

At another forum it was suggested I ask here for any specifics.

.

[Case24]

Hang tight Doug. I'm sure Craig or someone will be along with an answer for you. My ASAT is 11 years old so I'm of no help to you.

Greg.

[Craig]

I returned one earlier this month: The frets were bevelled in 1/16." Too much.
(yes, via online purchase...)
I have a related thread here on neck pocket width. The thread responses confirmed that G&L's are a tad wider than Fenders.
The bevel totally negates that.

Fender use to bevel in too much, and in the last few yrs have done a superb job on changing that.

*Is this typical on the newer US G&L's? Of the PLEK programming? Input is appreciated!


thanx, Doug

It's really difficult to answer your question without details of the guitar you returned (serial number, build year, neck size, fret size, new or used).
Photos of the fretwork showing the bevelling would be helpful too.

The PLEK machine only levels and crowns the frets. The bevelling of the fret ends are done by hand.

Here's some photos (sorry for the blurry ones) of my 2014 GbL LE-2 #1 neck fretwork:




My other #1 necked G&L's (2010-2012) fretwork looks the same.

Hope this helps.

[Cal Webway]

It was new. Sorry, I thought the title implied that. oops.
Their ASAT Classic in gold w rosewood board, 12" radius, the standard large frets. Neck size
felt like a larger C, but the site did not specify which one.

I measured with a precision ruler and my magnify headset on. 1/16" was it. B4 I even measured it I knew
immediately from playing it was too much.
Returned it the next day. No pics.

Believe me this is not to dis G&L.
If the moderators feel this is trolling or too inflammatory, I would understand a deletion.
I just wondered if this is pretty standard on newer US G&L gtrs. And can't measuring from the edge of fb inward to
where the bevel ends at various points, give the most accuracy here? That's what I did.

thanx for replies!!

[KenC]

Wecome, Cal. I don't think your questions are inflammatory at all. I don't have any experience with new G&Ls (my newest being a '99), but one thing to keep in mind with G&Ls is that every one is unique to some degree. The process has a lot more automation than in the old days, but they still have a lot of human touch.

I have bought a lot of used G&Ls long-distance, and there were a couple that I just didn't bond with. They were in the minority though. In your situation I would try to get my hands on a couple of new or recent G&Ls to try, even if you plan to order one from the factory afterwards. That could give you a better feel for whether that one guitar was an outlier, or if other G&Ls feel the same way to you. You might also consider going through a dealer and having the guitar built to your specifications. You might be able to request less of a bevel.

Ken

[Fumble fingers]

do you mean the frets are too large ??... neck too large ??...... radius curve too much ??....... I don't understand the what you mean by bevel ?

[Cal Webway]

Craig, not sure if that helps but I appreciate u going out of your way.
Ken, thank you.

Fumble,

Bevel is the very end of the fret at the fingerboard edge to where the frets' inward filing ends..
45 degrees may be used traditionally, but is alot, taking away from the fingerboard playing space.
Fender's US and MIM are < 15-20 degrees. Many manufacturers do that now.
In my situation, from the very end of the fret and fb, the filing angle (bevel) was a length of 1/16."

Reason: I guess to facilitate the feel in playing where you don't feel clunk, clunk, clunk fret ends going up/down the fret.
But w a very shallow bevel you shouldn't feel this too.

This is actually more apparent in 'fret sprout' when dry winter conditions cause fb shrinkage and a bit of the fret end actually
sticks out in that obtrusive clunk, clunk way. And sometimes sharp too!!
Hope that helps, and is fairly accurate!
.