OLS options

[Fumble fingers]

can you get forearm cut and belly cut with OLS bodies ??

thanks , Eric

[Craig]

can you get forearm cut and belly cut with OLS bodies ??

thanks , Eric

Yes, see: Original Leo Spec Body Depth for solid-body ASAT guitars (1.625” mill-depth) and
also referenced in this G&L Knowledgebase post: July 1, 2015-present Body Options Other.

[Fumble fingers]

Craig , or anyone , do you have anyway of finding out if a OLS with Emperess wood , quartersawn Classic C + neck (1 11/16 string spacing )with locking tuners , belly cut , arm contour will make a new Bluesboy in this specification neck heavy or out of balance with the OLS body ??

or would I be better off with just straight OLS and NO arm or belly contours ??


getting ready to pull the trigger on a new light weight solid body Bluesboy ..... besides the arm/belly cut with OLS I'm down to rosewood or maple , tangering orange or Royal metallic purple

[oldhatt]

The Emperess is new to me. My impression is that it's very light. Is it supposed to have some great tonal qualities and can you hear it through the electronics ?

[Craig]

Craig , or anyone , do you have anyway of finding out if a OLS with Emperess wood , quartersawn Classic C + neck (1 11/16 string spacing )with locking tuners , belly cut , arm contour will make a new Bluesboy in this specification neck heavy or out of balance with the OLS body ??

or would I be better off with just straight OLS and NO arm or belly contours ??


getting ready to pull the trigger on a new light weight solid body Bluesboy ..... besides the arm/belly cut with OLS I'm down to rosewood or maple , tangering orange or Royal metallic purple

The body wood name is "EMPRESS" and it is NOT available as an optional wood type because G&L cannot find a good source of high quality wood. Their wood suppliers
periodically get small quantities and the factory uses those to build instruments which they then make available to dealers. As far as I know and heard directly from Dave McLaren,
dealers (including the Premier dealers) cannot place orders with Empress body wood.

When the OLS body size came out I asked about bodies with OLS body size and both of the body contour options in regards to the possibility of an instrument being neck
heavy and Dave said it is very unlikely. However, that did not include Empress body wood in that discussion. I've looked back at several of the Inventory lists and have not
seen any ASAT models with OLS, front and rear contour with an Empress body, so perhaps they could be neck heavy in that combination and that might be why the factory
has not build that combination. I was recently at the factory and Dave took me to the wood drying room and was able to hold a body blank of Empress wood. I could not
believe how light it was, almost as light as balsa wood!

The Emperess is new to me. My impression is that it's very light. Is it supposed to have some great tonal qualities and can you hear it through the electronics ?

See my comment above regarding weight. Empress wood has been described by G&L as:

Good midrange punch, but a little more of the top end of swamp ash. Swamp ash tends to have a bit of midrange scoop to it;
this has a flatter response, closer to alder than ash.

[Fumble fingers]

I have already been approved to order a Empress BB in OLS with contours if wanted , so I may be the first with this combo ...... order will be placed tomorrow so trying to decide tonight , otherwise I'll start over-thinking it and won't be able to decide colors and such

do you happen to know which neck is lighter between rosewood or maple or are the same weight ??

thanks

[kakerlak]

I have already been approved to order a Empress BB in OLS with contours if wanted , so I may be the first with this combo ...... order will be placed tomorrow so trying to decide tonight , otherwise I'll start over-thinking it and won't be able to decide colors and such

do you happen to know which neck is lighter between rosewood or maple or are the same weight ??

thanks

I would guess that the difference between a maple neck and a maple neck with a rosewood board would be pretty nominal, with the rosewood being theoretically heavier (though I suppose there's some extra weight in finish on a maple board vs unfinished rosewood). Practically speaking, I think the variation in weight between different pieces of maple from neck to neck is probably greater than the difference in the final weight of any one neck if finished with a maple or rosewood board.

[Craig]

I have already been approved to order a Empress BB in OLS with contours if wanted , so I may be the first with this combo ...... order will be placed tomorrow so trying to decide tonight , otherwise I'll start over-thinking it and won't be able to decide colors and such

do you happen to know which neck is lighter between rosewood or maple or are the same weight ??

thanks

Which dealer are you working with? If the factory approved the order with OLS and contours on Empress body, then I would not worry about it being neck heavy.

Maple fretboard should be lighter in weight, but not by much (perhaps a few ounces).

[Fumble fingers]

thanks !! ...... I think I'll just get the arm contour with maple neck and no belly cut ....

so far here is what I am going to order

**** OLS Bluesboy ****

Quartersawn neck , Classic C+ (1 11/16)

12 degree radius , stainless medium jumbo frets ,

Vintage gloss tint and maple board

locking tuners

Empress wood tangerine metallic body with matching head stock , full G&L model decal and arm contour

1 ply black pick guard

football head output jack

I think that's it

[blargfromouterspace]

I have a Telecaster with a very light cedar body - the whole guitar weighs less than 6.5lbs - and it is not neck heavy at all. I'd imagine an Empress bodied ASAT with OLS depth would weigh about the same, and thus not be neck heavy.

I think the positioning of the strap buttons play a more significant role in neck dive - I've not ever experienced neck dive on a Tele-style guitar. Acoustic guitars should be neck heavy, but the way your arms sits on them stops them diving. SGs are the only guitars I can think of where it is a constant concern.

If you are still concerned about neck dive, you can reduce the risk by not going with locking tuners and getting a thinner neck carve to reduce the neck weight.

As for fretboard wood, go with what would look best - IMO, that'd be maple 9 times out of 10.

[kakerlak]

I have a Telecaster with a very light cedar body - the whole guitar weighs less than 6.5lbs - and it is not neck heavy at all. I'd imagine an Empress bodied ASAT with OLS depth would weigh about the same, and thus not be neck heavy.

I think the positioning of the strap buttons play a more significant role in neck dive - I've not ever experienced neck dive on a Tele-style guitar. Acoustic guitars should be neck heavy, but the way your arms sits on them stops them diving. SGs are the only guitars I can think of where it is a constant concern.

If you are still concerned about neck dive, you can reduce the risk by not going with locking tuners and getting a thinner neck carve to reduce the neck weight.

As for fretboard wood, go with what would look best - IMO, that'd be maple 9 times out of 10.

All of the above -- and even neck-heavy SGs aren't the end of the world unless you have one of those slick nylon straps.

[Fumble fingers]

I thought about foregoing the locking tuners and getting the slim C neck like Leo era guitars , but if this thing is under 7 pounds then it's getting gigged with my Fallout but would really like a little more room between the strings with a similar neck as the classic C modern era guitars and to be able to change strings quickly if needed

[Craig]

I thought about foregoing the locking tuners and getting the slim C neck like Leo era guitars , but if this thing is under 7 pounds then it's getting gigged with my Fallout but would really like a little more room between the strings with a similar neck as the classic C modern era guitars and to be able to change strings quickly if needed

I do suggest you go with the Classic Plus C, as you first mentioned instead of the Classic Modern because you will get the 1 11/16" string spacing with the Classic Plus C.

Classic Plus C - Just 1/16” wider than the Classic C with added string spacing. A good choice for players with big hands who find 1 5/8” a little too narrow.
1 11/16” nut width, slight edge roll, medium taper from 0.830” to 0.960”. It starts off fairly slim and gets beefier up the neck. These specs were part of the #3 neck.

Modern Classic - 1 11/16” nut width with 1 5/8” string spacing allows a generous edge roll for superb comfort without string fall-off.
Fairly slim with mild taper from 0.820” at 1st fret to 0.870” at the 12th fret.

I also suggest you go with the Locking tuners because you can always swap them out with non-locking of the same brand without any mods required.

Which dealer are you ordering from? Let us know once you pull the trigger and get an ETA, so we can look for your guitar, should it show up on G&L's
facebook page.

[Fumble fingers]

my local dealer Centerville Music , if all goes well I will be putting a deposit down on Saturday ....... I figured neck dive might not be a problem with the ASAT , my SC2 non locking and DF with the bigger headstock dives slightly compared to my Fallout with locking tuners and saddle lock .... I contributed it to the bigger head stock and the SC2 still balances in a area that doesn't bother me at all but slightly noticeable compared to the Fallout with the same strap , ASAT's have a small headstock so I was hoping for the same result ..... I also didn't belly cut after spending some time with the Broadcaster last night .... my "new wall" makes it quick and easy to change out guitars

[Fumble fingers]

Just got the phone call from C'ville that "the game is on "...... wait is on too !! ...lol

[Craig]

Just got the phone call from C'ville that "the game is on "...... wait is on too !! ...lol

Congrats!
... and "the waiting is the hardest part".