Which pickguard?

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:46 am

Just bought my first G&L!
It's a beautiful Asat Classic in transparent blue. I'll eventually probably change the pick-ups, so I'm wondering if I should also change the pickguard?
What do you prefer: white, pearl or black (or something else)?

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:49 am

Also, I want to be absolutely sure it's an ASAT classic, and not an ASAT classic tribute....
How can I tell the two apart with certainty?

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 1:01 pm

Philippe Elskens wrote:Also, I want to be absolutely sure it's an ASAT classic, and not an ASAT classic tribute....
How can I tell the two apart with certainty?

Looks like a USA model to me ... the neck pickup is closer to the end of the fingerboard on the tribute model.

Tribute
http://glguitars.com/instruments/Tribut ... 0-1200.jpg

USA
http://glguitars.com/instruments/USA/gu ... D-1200.jpg

... plus on the Tribute model it says "Tribute Series" on the headstock .. unless someone removed it

Post by **Craig** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:35 pm

SouthpawGuy wrote:
Philippe Elskens wrote:Also, I want to be absolutely sure it's an ASAT classic, and not an ASAT classic tribute....
How can I tell the two apart with certainty?

Looks like a USA model to me ... the neck pickup is closer to the end of the fingerboard on the tribute model.

Tribute
http://glguitars.com/instruments/Tribut ... 0-1200.jpg

USA
http://glguitars.com/instruments/USA/gu ... D-1200.jpg

... plus on the Tribute model it says "Tribute Series" on the headstock .. unless someone removed it

One additional way to tell is to look at the serial number. See: Serial number significance.

Post by **Craig** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:39 pm

Philippe Elskens wrote:Just bought my first G&L!
It's a beautiful Asat Classic in transparent blue. I'll eventually probably change the pick-ups, so I'm wondering if I should also change the pickguard?
What do you prefer: white, pearl or black (or something else)?

The body finish color is Blueburst. What don't you like about the MFD pickups? What's wrong with the current pickguard?

Hosteen · Post by **Hosteen** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:09 am

I did a quick google image search for Blue Electric Guitar...nearly everything had a white pick guard, couldn't see anything that wasn't white or black except for the odd sky blue guitar which showed some different ideas. I like blue and orange, but I think it might cheapen the look of yours with that transparent finish. Pearl white I can imagine

Fumble fingers · Post by **Fumble fingers** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:15 am

that thing is beautiful .... I would leave it alone , but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get another G&L with black PG

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:17 pm

Fumble fingers wrote:that thing is beautiful .... I would leave it alone , but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get another G&L with black PG

Haha:-d another one is always the answer:p

Well, I tried a couple of tele's before I settled on G&L. I very often find tele pickups too bright... The first tele that I really liked was a Nash-T, which had Lollar pickups! The fact that it Nash T has 21 frets and only exists 'relict' was enough reason not to buy it. Then I discoverd G&L: 22 frets, beautiful finish, cheap (paid 750 for this beauty!) and AMAZING quality! I still have the Lollar pickups in the back of my head, but I haven't decided yet whether I'm gonna swap, since the MFD's sound good. I'll take some time to get to know the guitar, and take a couple of trips to the music store to compare to the Lollar's. So if I swap them, it's definitely not because they're not good, but rather a personal preference...

The pickguard: I've never liked white pickguards... always looked quite cheap I think:p So I decided that every guitar with white pickguard I would ever buy, I would switch it...
I did this with my sunburst strat (tortoise pickguard), and it looks amazing!
But I have to admit that this guitar is so beautiful that I'm not sure if I need to switch!:p I think the blue burst and the grain are just stunning! Just trying to figure out if I can make it even more beautiful:p I fear that a black pickguard would take attention away from the grain... maybe best to have some contrast. Maybe pearl... not sure

Some examples I found on the net of black and pearl (comparison made more difficult by the fact that the body of mine is more beautiful than these 2:p)

Hosteen · Post by **Hosteen** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:23 pm

The black doesn't do it for me. Have you got good photoshop skills. You could mock up some ideas see what looks good.

Fumble fingers · Post by **Fumble fingers** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:26 pm

you need a Blues Boy sitting next to your Classic ..... that way you have some Humbucker goodness to go along with that black pick guard ...lol

SouthPaw · Post by **SouthPaw** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:44 pm

I think the one with the black guard in your picture above works because it has a rosewood neck... But i think with the maple neck it would look less "balanced". I could see perhaps a white pearl... But honestly i really like yours just the way it is...

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Sun May 01, 2016 8:14 am

Good remark about the rosewood! It didn't cross my mind!

I've tried a couple of blues boys and they don't really do it for me... Great guitars off course, but I prefer single coils in my tele's;-)

NickHorne · Post by **NickHorne** » Mon May 02, 2016 11:14 am

VERY nice guitar!

If you must change, I'd say go with the pearl for a maple neck, OR have a look at Pickguard Heaven's "Blue Candy Crush" for something more flamboyant. Pickguard Heaven (Chandler) is the place for G&L guards.

Before changing pickups, be sure to use the tone control more than you would on a Fender! It's actually useful on a G&L. The neck pup does way more than a regular Tele, and the bridge can do both twang and tough.

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Tue May 03, 2016 6:44 pm

Thanks!
I definitely think a tel can be a little more over the top compared to my other guitars:-)

My Asat arrived today, and man, what a guitar!:-o
I know, honeymoon phase... but I would go so far to say that this is the best guitar I've ever played!:o and that for the cheapest guitar I've ever bought!

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Sat May 07, 2016 8:28 am

Will a regular Fender tele pickguard fit on an Asat Classic??

Post by **Craig** » Sat May 07, 2016 8:34 am

Philippe Elskens wrote:Will a regular Fender tele pickguard fit on an Asat Classic??

Not on the US ASAT Classic, because the neck pickup location is different.
See: asat classic pickguard

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Sat May 07, 2016 6:16 pm

Ok, thanks Craig!

I am registering my Asat, but I'm not sure of the wood type:-s Can anybody take an educated guess (maybe by looking at the graining pattern:-s). I can definitely tell you it is a very heavy guitar!

Post by **Craig** » Sat May 07, 2016 8:05 pm

Philippe Elskens wrote:Ok, thanks Craig!

I am registering my Asat, but I'm not sure of the wood type:-s Can anybody take an educated guess (maybe by looking at the graining pattern:-s). I can definitely tell you it is a very heavy guitar!

The body is Swamp Ash.

I have updated your registry entry.

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Mon May 09, 2016 7:55 am

Thanks Craig!!:-)

Philippe Elskens · Post by **Philippe Elskens** » Mon May 09, 2016 7:57 am

Does anybody know how I can know the building year from the serial number (CLF12944)?
Thanks!

Post by **Craig** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:55 am

Philippe Elskens wrote:Does anybody know how I can know the building year from the serial number (CLF12944)?
Thanks!

Take a look in the G&L Knowledgebase and look at these two posts: "How do I determine an instrument's age?" and "Serial number significance".

Hope this helps.

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