Still a little early for lunch. I haven't even had breakfast yet! But I forgot to post this yesterday and don't want to make the same mistake today.
Many years ago I started collecting guitars. My favorite guitar then, and actually still now, was my '99 Butterscotch Blonde G&L ASAT Classic with TGN BEM neck. Some of the earliest additions to my collection were a Legacy Special, George Fullerton, Semi-Hollow ASAT Bluesboy, and ASAT Super. At that time I decided to focus on G&L models. But it still needed a theme. Should you stick to pre-BBE era? CCD Limited Editions and Special Build models? Prototypes? Wood types? After getting some more guitars, and starting a website to document all these beauties, a theme more or less emerged: all pickup combinations in which the G&L ASAT was released.
Over many years, the holes and missing pieces were steadily filled. About a month ago, I got what I believe was the last missing link: an employee guitar that seems to be the precursor of the ASAT™CAT Special Edition. That was the 53rd ASAT and the 27th pickup combination (not counting overwinding because then the number bloats to about 30-31 combinations). I hope I don't miss too many but you all can tell me. I know there are some test mules out there that would have pickups built by the usual suspects while G&L was assessing the concept model and/or tooling up to bring it in production. KateFan's Bluesboy like prototype featured yesterday might be one of those. But all in all I think it is pretty complete.
For todays Lunch Report all combinations in my possession will be presented. At first I thought to break it up, but it might be nice to keep it together. We will also get a quicker assessment of what's missing. This link to the List of pickups used in G&L guitars page is handy if you want more info on these pups and a description what they sound like. The DC-impedances listed are as measured on my guitars and provided as a range when more than 1 was available. If a particular pickup was introduced on a different non-ASAT G&L model, this is indicated. In most cases, the close-up(s) of the pups are for the same guitar but sometimes I use a better shot from a different guitar of the same model. Pics can be clicked for larger versions. Please don't ask me for sound files because I do not have them. If that ever get "fixed' in the future I'll update this post or report it with audio included.
Have fun,
- Jos
| pickups: | 2 G&L wide-bobbing Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1985 Broadcaster |
| neck: | 4.60-5.48kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.71-5.28kΩ |
| wide-bobbin MFD first introduced on: | 1982 SC-2 |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT, ASAT Special, ASAT Custom, John Jorgenson Signature, ASAT Junior, 20th Anniversary, ASAT Super, C.L.F. Centennial ASAT, 30th Anniversary Collection ASAT Special, Detroit Muscle Series: R/T Collection ASAT Special, Detroit Muscle Series: SS Collection ASAT Special. Some of these have one or more overwound pups. |
wide-bobbin MFD pickup
The pickup with which it all started. Still loved and admired even though it has gotten a couple of more windings over time.
| pickups: | 3 G&L S-500 Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1987 ASAT III (shown 1989 ASAT III) |
| neck: | 4.43-5.02kΩ |
| middle: | 4.44-4.94kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.48-4.97kΩ |
| S-500 MFD first introduced on: | 1982 S-500 |
| Other ASAT models: | www.guitarsbyleo.com Ltd Ed |
S-500 MFD pickup
Another keeper that has gotten hotter over time, with additional changes in gauge and insulation material. Found its way on a handful of ASAT in the late '80s-early '90s.
| pickups: | 3 G&L Skyhawk (SC-3) Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1987 ASAT III |
| Skyhawk MFD first introduced on: | 1983 Nighthawk/1983 SC-3 |
These pups were also intended as direct drop-ins for Fender pups and are also referred to as SC-3 pups. You notice this model is missing. It is not too hard to find pre-ASAT IIIs, enough pop up in marketplaces. But to ask people to get a multi-meter and measure the DC impedance might be a little too much. I just hope to stumble over one of them one day.
| pickups: | G&L wide-bobbing Magnetic Field Design single-coil (neck), G&L Cavalier (HG-2R) Magnetic Field Design humbucker (bridge) |
| model: | 1987 'CavASAT' prototype |
| neck: | 4.21kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.48kΩ |
| HG-2R MFD first introduced on: | 1983 Cavalier |
Mixing it up, Part 1
When you have several pups laying around in your lab, what's holding you back to try to combine some of them? Here is the marriage between a Broadcaster and a Cavalier.
| pickups: | 2 G&L Skyhawk (SC-3) Magnetic Field Design single-coils (neck/middle), HG-2 (GHB) Magnetic Field Design humbucker |
| model: | 1990 ASAT III SSH (shown 1991 ASAT III Signature SSH) |
| neck: | 4.28kΩ |
| middle: | 4.25kΩ |
| bridge: | 3.89kΩ |
| HG-2 MFD first introduced on: | 1983 HG-2 prototype |
Mixing it up, Part 2
In only a handful of cases, the bridge pickup on an ASAT III was swapped out for a HG-2 neck pup for some delectable tones. That HG-2 prototype referenced in the table above was the subject of one of my previous posts.
| pickups: | 2 G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1990 ASAT Classic (shown 1991 ASAT Classic Signature) |
| neck: | 4.00-5.03kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.50-5.79kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | Lacewood Commemorative Edition, ASAT Classic Commemorative Edition, ASAT Classic Custom (pre-2002), ASAT Classic Rustic, ASAT Classic Spalted Maple Top Special Build, 30th Anniversary Collection ASAT Classic, ASAT Classic "The Wrangler", ASAT Classic "The Roses", ASAT Classic Korina prototype |
ASAT Classic MFD
This model subclass consists of about 10 guitars in my collection. The DC-impedances listed above are the lowest and highest value of the set. These pups are marginally hotter in the modern day compared to when they were introduced 25 years or so ago.
| pickups: | 2 G&L wide-bobbing Magnetic Field Design single-coil (neck/bridge), G&L S-500 Magnetic Field Design humbucker (middle) |
| model: | 1991 ASAT Signature '500' employee guitar |
| neck: | 4.32-4.95kΩ |
| middle: | 4.46-5.01kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.02-4.65kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT™Cat Special Editions |
First attempt at adding a middle pup to an ASAT
Adding a third wide-bobbin MFD to the ASAT met with a fair amount of resistance. But you could use a smaller footprint MFD like the one for the S-500. I'm pretty sure the guitar referenced above is an employee guitar, which is why I marked it that way. About a decade later it was reintroduced by Alley Cat Music with their ASAT™Cat Special Edition.
| pickups: | 3 G&L Z-coil Magnetic Field Design humbuckers |
| model: | 1997 ASAT Z-3 (shown 2001 ASAT-Z3 SH) |
| neck: | 4.73-4.83kΩ |
| middle: | 4.68-4.82kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.65-7.85kΩ |
| Z-coil MFD first introduced on: | 1990 Comanche V/1990 Comanche VI |
| Other ASAT models: | John Jorgenson Z-3 prototype, Will Ray Signature Z-3 w/ overwound bridge pup |
Z-coil MFD
Why not split some coils and try something new. Leo's final contribution to pickup heaven. The bridge pickup on the modern day Will Ray Signature is overwound. The high values correspond with what they read on my Turquoise exemplar.
| pickups: | Seymour Duncan '59 (SH-1) humbucker (neck), Seymour Duncan JB (TB-4) humbucker (bridge) |
| model: | 1997 ASAT Deluxe (shown 2011 ASAT Deluxe Korina prototype) |
| neck: | 7.19-7.26kΩ |
| bridge: | 16.54-16.64kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | Korina Collection ASAT Deluxe II, Black Ice Collection ASAT Deluxe II, Savannah Collection ASAT Deluxe II |
Deluxe, deluxe, deluxe …
The venerable combination of the SH-1 and TB-4 found on so many double humbucker models. So why not on an ASAT?
| pickups: | 3 G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1998 ASAT ASAT 'Classic III' Limited Edition |
| neck: | 4.48kΩ |
| middle: | 4.56kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.70kΩ |
Triple Classic treatment
The only model ever released with 3 ASAT Classic pups. Soon the middle pickup would be replaced with an S-500 variant.
| pickups: | Seymour Duncan Seth Lover (SH-55) humbucker (neck), G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design pickup (bridge) |
| model: | 1999 ASAT Blues Boy Special Edition |
| neck: | 6.87-7.13kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.71-6.02kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic Bluesboy, ASAT Classic Bluesboy Spalted Maple Top Special Build, Korina Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy, Black Ice Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy, Savannah Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy, ASAT Classic Bluesboy "The Roses" Special Edition |
Do like Keith
The first contribution of Mr Tim Page (guitarsontheweb) to the stable of G&Ls. The idea may not be that original but he was the first to do it on an ASAT. And we all know it works like gangbusters.
| pickups: | G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coil |
| model: | 1999 ASAT '50 Special Edition |
| bridge: | 5.92-6.10kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic Solamente |
Do like Jeff?
Another Tim Page creation: take away the neck pup and do something interesting with the tone stack. Keep Jeff beck's Esquire in mind. We all had to wait about 14 years before the Solamente came along with a slightly different tone stack.
| pickups: | 2 G&L Z-2 Magnetic Field Design humbuckers |
| model: | 1999 ASAT Z-2 Special Edition |
| neck: | 4.32-4.80kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.53-4.90kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Z-12 'Big Red', also have seen a prototype in a picture once from when Leo was still alive. |
Do like Tim
Third Tim Page idea: strip that center pup away from a Z-3 to make it easier for the chicken-pickers. And then make it look like one of Jerry Donahue's axes. I also have a Z-12 nicknamed "Big Red" with 2 Z-coil pups disguised as buckers. Interesting stuff ...
| pickups: | 3 G&L wide-bobbing Magnetic Field Design single-coils |
| model: | 1999 ASAT S-3 |
| neck: | 4.73-5.90kΩ |
| middle: | 4.91-6.56kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.38-6.53kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Trinity Special Edition, ASAT S-3 Special Edition for Midlothian School of Music |
OK, OK, we give in …
Finally, what the original SC-3 should have looked like. And then people don't like it due to the middle pickup taking up too much space and interfering with the picking hand. But we all got the Trinity out of this idea; another Tim Page creation.
| pickups: | G&L AS4250B humbucker (neck), G&L AW4370B humbucker (bridge) |
| model: | 2002 ASAT Deluxe |
| neck: | 7.52kΩ |
| bridge: | 14.11kΩ |
Who needs Seymour?
MFDs are G&L's thing: F-100, G-200, Cavalier, HG-2. But they also build their own Alnico buckers and sometimes they showed up on an Deluxe. This is one of them. Now you find them on Tribby's.
| pickups: | G&L wide-bobbing Magnetic Field Design single-coil (neck), G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coils (bridge) |
| model: | 2002 ASAT Classic Custom (shown 2013 ASAT Classic Custom) |
| neck: | 6.39kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.89kΩ |
The Classic Broadcaster?
Of course one could expect a model with the bite of a Classic bridge pup and the smoothness of a wide-bobbin MFD. This model has now been replaced by the Bluesboy 90.
| pickups: | G&L Legacy (CLF-100) single-coil (neck), G&L AW4370B humbucker (bridge) |
| model: | 2004 ASAT HB |
| neck: | 6.78kΩ |
| bridge: | 13.83kΩ |
| CLF-100 MFD first introduced on: | 1992 Legacy |
The ASAT HB
One of the sweetest sounds you'll ever hear, a Legacy neck pup on a mahogany body. Combine that with a pretty good bridge bucker and you have to wonder why this model saw less than 35 being produced.
| pickups: | 2 G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coils (neck/bridge), G&L S-500 Magnetic Field Design single-coil (middle) |
| model: | 2004 ASAT Classic 'S' Special Build (shown 2007 ASAT Classic 'S' Special Build) |
| neck: | 4.68-5.04kΩ |
| middle: | 4.81-4.95kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.91-5.92kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic 'S', ASAT Classic 'S' Nearly Naked (NENA) Special Collection |
ASAT Classic III Part 2
As stated above, use an S-500 middle pup and all is just a little better. Initially original ASAT Classic neck and bridge pickups were used with a RW/RP S-500 middle. Nowadays, the neck pickup is also RW/RP compared to the original leading to hum canceling in positions 2 and 4.
| pickups: | Seymour Duncan '59 (SH-1) humbucker (neck), G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coil (bridge) |
| model: | 2005 ASAT Classic 'Blues Boy' mahogany |
| neck: | 7.02kΩ |
| bridge: | 6.00kΩ |
Worst pickup combination … By far!
My least favorite guitar. Tim picked the correct pickup for his Blues Boy design by selecting the SH-55 over the SH-1. The hog body of this guitar is still not able to rescue anything in this disaster.
| pickups: | G&L Legacy (CLF-100) single-coil (neck), Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD single-coil (bridge) |
| model: | 2005 ASAT JD-5 |
| neck: | 7.21kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.75kΩ |
Who is JD?
There is an interesting story behind this guitar but the short is that you find Jerry Donahue's signature bridge pickup and 5-way switching scheme combined with an CLF-100 neck pup on this model. Sonically it all works really well but that is not why this model failed.
| pickups: | 2 G&L F-100 Magnetic Field Design humbuckers |
| model: | 2006 25th Anniversary Model |
| neck: | 9.82kΩ |
| bridge: | 15.32kΩ |
The original MFD humbucker
It only took 20 years since the introduction of the Broadcaster/ASAT for somebody to try to mount those MFD buckers as found on George and Leo's first G&L guitar on their most popular model. At that time the F-100 had not been reissued yet! These pups work really well in a hog body.
| pickups: | Seymour Duncan Seth Lover humbucker (neck), DiMarzio DP421 Area Hot T stacked humbucker (bridge) |
| model: | 2011 ASAT Classic Bluesboy Pine prototype "Port & Chocolate" |
| neck: | 6.99kΩ |
| bridge: | 8.69kΩ |
All Alnico Bluesboy
This is an example of a test mule. When it finally left the factory, it has a DiMarzio humbucking Alnico bridge pup. Things changed so fast on this thing that the spec sheet could not keep up ...
| pickups: | 2 G&L P-90 Alnico single-coils |
| model: | 2011 Korina Collection ASAT Junior II Limited Edition |
| neck: | 6.66kΩ |
| bridge: | 7.51kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | Savannah Collection ASAT Junior II Limited Edition |
P-90, finally!
After the wide-bobbing MFD had to undergo the injustice of being mislabeled as a "P-90", this problem finally got fixed by Paul Gagon. His P-90s proper are some amazing pups working extremely well in the bodies of the models on which they appear. Growl, bite, and then you dial it all back a bit and there is smooth, warm.
| pickups: | 2 G&L Alnico single-coils |
| model: | 2012 ASAT Classic Alnico prototype |
| neck: | 6.97kΩ |
| bridge: | 6.80kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic Alnico Launch Edition, ASAT Classic Alnico |
You want a Tele? Well darn it! Here's your Tele!
Some like Leo's latest contributions to pickups. Some like them a LOT. And then there are those who like tradition. They like tradition a LOT. So after about 30 years, the ASAT Classic is finally available with more traditional Alnico pups, again beautifully designed by Paul. I'd claim it is still better than most Telecasters out there. You'd have to go pre-CBS, Custom Shop, or boutique to get something equivalent.
| pickups: | 2 TV Jones Filter'Tron humbuckers |
| model: | 2012 ASAT Deluxe SH TV Jones prototype |
| neck: | 4.03kΩ |
| bridge: | 4.91kΩ |
TV Jones, the Gretsch pick-up
There are pickups out there that are so associated with a brand if not a particular model that seeing it in a different contexts makes your eyebrow lift up. It works great in a semi-hollow hog body I can tell you. I even know there is one out there with original Bigsby for an even closer resemblance.
| pickups: | 2 G&L Alnico single-coils (neck/bridge), G&L Legacy (CLF-100) single-coil (middle) |
| model: | 2013 ASAT Classic 'S' Alnico |
| neck: | 6.53kΩ |
| middle: | 5.79kΩ |
| bridge: | 6.84kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic 'S' Alnico Launch Edition |
Why stop at 2 for a good thing ...
To stick with the Alnico theme, understandably the Classic S Alnico has a CLF-100 middle pickup. Gives it sonically a different character but works great.
| pickups: | G&L Alnico single-coil (bridge) |
| model: | 2013 ASAT Classic Solamente Alnico |
| bridge: | 6.88kΩ |
… when you can take it all away?
Of course you can also go the other way and remove the neck pickup. Now you are even closer to the Esquire as you were with the ASAT '50 and ASAT Classic Solamente.
| pickups: | G&L P-90 Alnico single-coil (neck), G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coil (bridge) |
| model: | 2013 ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 (shown 2013 Savannah Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90) |
| neck: | 7.37kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.87kΩ |
| Other ASAT models: | ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90, Detroit Muscle Series: R/T Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90, Detroit Muscle Series: SS Collection ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 |
Changing the ASAT Classic Custom
Replacing the ASAT Classic Custom is this model with a P-90 in the neck instead of a wide-bobbin MFD. Great choice, but I like the original a bit better.
| pickups: | Lollar Charlie Cristian single-coil (neck), G&L ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design single-coil (bridge) |
| model: | 2014 ASAT Classic Charlie Christian Ltd |
| neck: | 3.11kΩ |
| bridge: | 5.72kΩ |
Go back in time
Go back in time to one of the very first pickups designed specifically for the guitar. Of course you use a pickup guru to get you one but after that you really have something.
Yer selection is an enviable one.
) Recently scored a new ukulele from a small maker in Hawaii that drained funds for one of those, specifically the SUPER that Jeff just sold.
. -- Darwin
Thanks for putting this together and I especially appreciate the personal observations of each configuration. I will have to go over it in greater detail this weekend. It's always a surprise that the wrong pickup can make a guitar such a dud. On the reverse of that, I have one guitar that is all maple and I can't find ANY pickup that makes that guitar sing for me.