Price of used ASAT Classic

[PotLuck]

Hello All!

I just purchased a used ASAT Classic from Guitar Center, in "Excellent" condition, 3-tone 'burst, for $599 (with case).

The guitar appears to be in mint condition, so I'm wondering why GC priced it so low. I routinely see used ASAT Classics priced at $800 - $1200 in excellent condition. Since it's a "Standard" color, it's alder rather than swamp ash. I can't imagine that the color or the alder accounts for the low price.

So, I'm wondering whether there is something wrong with the instrument or I just benefited from someone at GC mis-pricing it. I'm having a luthier whom I trust examine it. Any comments or advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

David

[KenC]

Congrats on the ASAT Classic. You paid the lower end of the price range for a used ASAT Classic without fancy cosmetics but in clean condition. The ones you see north of $1000 are either loaded with options, or cases of Guitar Center overpricing. More often than not, it's overpricing.

FWIW, I've owned two ASAT Classics and paid $750 for each of them from a local used gear shop. The first was a '98 in Blonde over swamp ash, with a birdseye neck. The second is a mid-'90s ASAT Classic Custom, with a swamp ash top, wood binding and belly cut. I got a pretty good deal on the Classic Custom, but it still wouldn't have been a $1000 at full price.

Ken

[PotLuck]

Thanks, Ken.

Your comments have put me more at ease. If I'd had my choice of color, I'd have chosen Butterscotch or Natural over swamp ash. I've never played a Tele or a Tele copy before, so I'd like to ask more questions. Is 3-Tone Sunburst an unpopular or less-than-desirable color scheme for a Tele style guitar? Yes, I know it's all a matter of personal preference. I just usually see Teles in solid (or transparent) colors.

I sent an e-mail to G&L support giving them the serial number, asking when it was manufactured. Is this the easiest way to get such information? I've already registered the Classic with guitarsbyleo's database.

I chose the Classic because it appeared that this particular ASAT model is most like a traditional Telecaster in terms of sound. Is that the general consensus?

I've read every opinion comparing swamp ash with alder. Nevertheless, I think that which species wood the body is made from is nearly the least important factor in sound quality, after pickups, strings, and amp. Agree?

Thanks so much in advance for your comments.

David

P.S.: If Guitar Center often overprices used guitars, which retailers have a reputation for pricing more fairly?

[Katefan]

+1 what Ken said…. the other thing IMO is that your have just encountered the very much under valued aspect of Pre and Post Leo-era ASATs…. for many diff reasons they can be had for some very low $…. sometimes so much so it easy to think there's something wrong… Nah, just pretty much business as usual…. As far as GC goes, they are known for blowing stuff out the door & selling at lower prices b/c they can and b/c they seem to want to turnover their inventory of used instruments quite regularly...

Re type of woods re tone etc… LOL… you may be opening the proverbial can of worms or pandora'a box with that question. I believe there is a difference. I much prefer ash or maple over alder…. can't really tell you why other than the formers tends to be much more resonant than the latter…. BBE switched over to using alder not long after they took over the helm. The thing I've noticed the most is that heavier and denser ash Leo-era bodies really cut thru the mix in a live setting. My '90 ASAT Sig is bit over 8lbs but its sound glorious in a live loud setting.

Welcome to the G&L Club!

Cheers,
KF

[Fumble fingers]

sounds like GC just doesn't know what they had ..... tri color sunburst is as desirable as anything else ..... out of the 4 tele's I've had , three are 10 pounders , 2 BBE and one Leo era but they don't feel that heavy playing them , the one that is 8 lbs was a 98 BBE blonde 4 bolt that I don't have anymore and it was probably the best feeling guitar I've ever had

[JagInTheBag]

sounds like GC just doesn't know what they had ..... tri color sunburst is as desirable as anything else ..... out of the 4 tele's I've had , three are 10 pounders , 2 BBE and one Leo era but they don't feel that heavy playing them , the one that is 8 lbs was a 98 BBE blonde 4 bolt that I don't have anymore and it was probably the best feeling guitar I've ever had

10lbs?! Damn near Les Paul log size at that!

[KenC]

Is 3-Tone Sunburst an unpopular or less-than-desirable color scheme for a Tele style guitar? Yes, I know it's all a matter of personal preference. I just usually see Teles in solid (or transparent) colors.

It may just be cheaper for mass production to churn out solid colors: no need to worry about the body's grain, less paint shop mistakes to turn guitars into B-stock, limiting choices makes for easier advertising, etc. Keep in mind also that many Telecasters are made out of wood that wouldn't look very good under transparent finishes. Cheap wood needs a solid finish.

As long as the burst looks good to you, that's all that matters. G&L was using sunburst finishes on most models from the very beginning (first over mahogany, then maple, and finally ash and alder).

I sent an e-mail to G&L support giving them the serial number, asking when it was manufactured. Is this the easiest way to get such information?

If you get a response, that will be a definitive answer. You can probably get a very close estimate by posting photos and details here. For example, the type of neck plate (three vs. four bolt) can establish your guitar as pre- or post-1998, and the serial number format can narrow the possibilities down for post-1997 instruments. ASAT Classics have remained pretty much unchanged over the years, but there may be some tell-tale details that could help with dating.

I chose the Classic because it appeared that this particular ASAT model is most like a traditional Telecaster in terms of sound. Is that the general consensus?

An ASAT Classic is probably going to sound warmer than most Teles, and will also be much more versatile. You can cover a lot more sonic territory with an ASAT Classic than with a Tele.

I've read every opinion comparing swamp ash with alder. Nevertheless, I think that which species wood the body is made from is nearly the least important factor in sound quality, after pickups, strings, and amp. Agree?

My only alder guitar is the ASAT Classic Custom (althought it has a swamp ash top). I could not hear a significant difference between the Classic Custom and the '98 ASAT Classic I traded for it.

I like the feel of Leo-era maple bodies, but I'd hesitate to say that body wood makes a large difference to amplified sound (the exception being Leo-era 'hog basses, which sound to me like they are running through a good low-pass filter). At least it won't be as much of a difference as you'll get from pickups or string sets. I was a bit late in realizing just how much the amp matters. I've been happy over the past five years with almost every amp I've tried (mainly in the $150-$350 range), but a mid-1970s Champ outclassed all of the others and really opened my ears to just how good single coil MFD pickups sound. I would put the choice of amp far above body wood in your overall sound.

P.S.: If Guitar Center often overprices used guitars, which retailers have a reputation for pricing more fairly?

That's hard to say. I've bought one G&L bass from Sam Ash, and feel it was a fair deal. I've seen my local GC hang two used Legacies up on the wall at the same time; one was listed above the MSRP for a brand new Legacy with the same options, and the other was just over $500 with a case. The one that was above MSRP sold after a couple of months, but the one with a very decent price is still there after a couple of years. Over the past 4-5 years my GC scores have included a very clean '87 ASAT for $599, an '81 F-100 for $599, and an '81 L-2000E for under $500 (it was unplayable due to a bad setup - all I had to do was put on more appropriate strings).

I try to give most of my business to a local shop, where I always get fair pricing. They had a couple of very clean, recent ASAT Classics on the floor last weekend. I think they were both in the $750-$800 range.

Ken