If your G&L was custom built, how did it turn out?

[krp312]

Hi G&L players,

Brand new to here (greetings everyone!) and was just wondering if you ever did a custom order from G&L, and how it turned out. Especially interested in your thoughts on the sound. Things like -- was it as you expected, worse/better, a dud even?

I'm pretty torn on whether to go custom or not because I can't ever test out the sound of such a guitar, but so far I've heard nothing but great things about G&L. I'd be ordering an ASAT Classic, just with offbeat colors; most if not all of the specs will be default. I've played stock ASAT Classics before and I love the sound already.

Thanks in advance,
krp

[Nubs]

I seem to remember answering this question elsewhere lately...

Anyways, I'm a lefty & I had my heart set on a custom ASAT Alnico because I wanted a traditional looking & sounding T-style. So I custom ordered one. Man, am I sure glad I did! After having a Tribute ASAT Classic, I knew I had to invest further into G&L. This is the kind of company I (as a lefty) have been looking for. A custom built T for around $1200? Yeah, sign me up!!

Owning a Tribute led me to believe this company is all about quality. And with my Alnico being here, I was right. These custom built beauties are all about total quality. From the looks, feel, sound, etc. You'll be very hard pressed to find another company out there who will offer all of this for such a reasonable price.

Now I understand the whole concern about not trying before buying. Believe me, it's especially true for us lefties. Most of the time we have to roll the dice on buying a guitar online and hope for the best when it arrives. And I kind of did this when I ordered my Alnico. But when I first picked it up, I knew it was a lifer.

I love the fact that there are so many options you can order with a custom G&L build. At times it can be very difficult to settle on options. I contemplated so many times over color, pickguard color, neck finish, etc. that I needed to force myself to finalize on a combo & just order. But really I think pretty much any combo you go with will be awesome.

Here are a couple of pics of mine if it helps:







Just do it already!

[Challenger]

You will not be disappointed. The hard part is to decide amongst all the options available. If you have already played the model you are looking at ordering, there will be no surprises.

Here is my custom order.

[Fumble fingers]

I have 6 custom orders .... all fabulous ..... seems like there is always something you wish you would have added later after you receive the guitar , most recently for me is after the fact I wish I would have order the belly cut on my new Bluesboy , still love it but if I had a Do-Over that is the only thing I would have added ..... another thing I missed on the first couple orders is the Quartersawn neck (small price for the best neck) and locking tuners

[WitSok]

I have two built to order G&L's: A GbL LE-2 and an ASAT Classic S. I was going to order a Fallout, but when I went in Bob from Music Source asked me if I had considered an LE-2. I didn't really know about the LE-2 and that is why I actually registered on this forum so I could get to the LE-2 discussion group. After reading the LE-2 discussion I decided that this would actually be more to my liking. Same body style of a Fallout, but with MFDs! So even without being able to try a LE-2 (or a Fallout for that matter) I ordered a LE-2. The hardest part was waiting... The LE-2 took a long time, but that is understandable as it was not production model. Love the quality is outstanding. Killer looks and the MFD tone I love! The next hardest part is picking the colors, I was always second guessing myself even after placing the order. The only real option I picked was the color, pickguard, and body match headstock. Here is a shot of my LE-2 with what were my other two guitars at the time.



And a close up



Very happy with it. The only thing would change is the pickguard. What I would really like is a brushed aluminum or nickle pickguard. The mirror looked really good with the protective film on it as it gave it that aluminum type appearance.

When it came to the ASAT Classic S, I kept going back and forth between a ASAT Classic and the Classic S. I knew I wanted something with ASAT Classic pickup in it. I've always been more of a two pickup guy and everything I owned was two pickups, so I decided to break out and go with three pickups with the ASAT Classic S. I knew the color I wanted - Margarita Metallic. The color sample on the G&L guitar website doesn't do this color justice. Music Source had a Legacy in this color and it was stunning. I did option up this guitar with: OLS body, football plate output jack (off menu pick - Music Source didn't even know about it), arm and body contours, quarter sawn neck, light tint satin finish, body match head stock, graphtech nut and string tree. I really like the graphtech on my Washburn as it self lubricating. Not sure it made a big difference on my ASAT. The hardest part with this one was picking the color for the pickguard and what finger board. To be honest I wouldn't change a single thing on this guitar. LOVE IT! Another great tone machine. I really like both the neck and middle poisitons. I need some better pictures of it so I will post the picture from the factory that was on their facebook page.





As you can tell, I really like body matched headstocks.

Go for it, you will not be disappointed.

[JagInTheBag]

I currently have three custom ordered G&L's and one more on the way. There is no other way to go!

[trem]

Hi G&L players,

Brand new to here (greetings everyone!) and was just wondering if you ever did a custom order from G&L, and how it turned out. Especially interested in your thoughts on the sound. Things like -- was it as you expected, worse/better, a dud even?

I'm pretty torn on whether to go custom or not because I can't ever test out the sound of such a guitar, but so far I've heard nothing but great things about G&L. I'd be ordering an ASAT Classic, just with offbeat colors; most if not all of the specs will be default. I've played stock ASAT Classics before and I love the sound already.

Thanks in advance,
krp

Just get the custom if the aesthetics please you, or if you need different tuners, neck radius/thickness etc. If the sound is all you care about, then go stock and save a few bucks.

[blargfromouterspace]

You can't go wrong with an ASAT Classic. All the ones I've played are great. The one I custom ordered is pretty damn good.

Only G&L duds I've owned/played have been ASAT Specials. Something about them just doesn't work for me at all.

The OLS body is a solid option that I'd get if I ever order another, a thinner body makes for a better more characterful guitar IME.

And how long ago did you play a stock Classic? Just be warned that the stock specs changed dramatically this past year to be much more standard Fender - 9.5" radius as opposed to 12", different nut width and a different neck shape!

[krp312]

And how long ago did you play a stock Classic? Just be warned that the stock specs changed dramatically this past year to be much more standard Fender - 9.5" radius as opposed to 12", different nut width and a different neck shape!

oh wow thanks, great to know. i played an ASAT a week ago, and i think it was a guitar ordered a year ago on custom. i'll have to look into this.

everyone, thank you for your input. i'm gonna marinate but i feel a lot more informed now.

[Copper Coyote]

Speaking of custom orders, does anyone know if the OLS ASAT can be ordered with a soft maple body, like the originals?

[Craig]

Speaking of custom orders, does anyone know if the OLS ASAT can be ordered with a soft maple body, like the originals?

No, Maple is not an available optional body wood. The only models which have Maple bodies are the Jerry Cantrell Signature models.