NGD - 96 ASAT Classic (maybe a custom?)

[mjj]

I've had an ASAT Classic Tribute for the last 4 years, and it's been my go-to guitar the whole time. So when I saw a made in the US model show up a few hours up the road, I leapt on it. One owner since 96, who's basically hardly played it. Apparently he bought a Legacy at the same time, and sold that a few years ago. Since this one has been sitting around gathering dust since, he decided to move it on.

Picked it up for $900AUD (about $680USD) and I couldn't be happier. Amazing guitar, fantastic neck, and it just sings in every position. That said, the neck pickup was much quieter than the bridge, but I've managed to resolve that. Turns out the springs had been installed over the pickup tabs, not under - and it had been screwed hard to the base. Pretty sure it didn't come from the factory like that, so I guess he had a tinker at some point. Anyway, got the springs in the right position, measured the bridge clearance and tidied it up - now it sounds and feels amazing in every position.

The fellow selling it advertised it as a US Classic, but it has a belly cut, so it seems like it's actually a Classic Custom? If anyone has any extra info about it, I'd love to hear it - he'd lost the COA + case somewhere along the way, so it's all a mystery from that perspective.

Regardless of the specs, I'm incredibly impressed with the quality - unbelievable feel in the hands.

Now, pics!

[blargfromouterspace]

Nice one, and a good price too.

[mjj]

Honestly, feels like it would have been a steal at twice the price. Still can't put it down.

[Craig]

I've had an ASAT Classic Tribute for the last 4 years, and it's been my go-to guitar the whole time. So when I saw a made in the US model show up a few hours up the road, I leapt on it. One owner since 96, who's basically hardly played it. Apparently he bought a Legacy at the same time, and sold that a few years ago. Since this one has been sitting around gathering dust since, he decided to move it on.

Picked it up for $900AUD (about $680USD) and I couldn't be happier. Amazing guitar, fantastic neck, and it just sings in every position. That said, the neck pickup was much quieter than the bridge, but I've managed to resolve that. Turns out the springs had been installed over the pickup tabs, not under - and it had been screwed hard to the base. Pretty sure it didn't come from the factory like that, so I guess he had a tinker at some point. Anyway, got the springs in the right position, measured the bridge clearance and tidied it up - now it sounds and feels amazing in every position.

The fellow selling it advertised it as a US Classic, but it has a belly cut, so it seems like it's actually a Classic Custom? If anyone has any extra info about it, I'd love to hear it - he'd lost the COA + case somewhere along the way, so it's all a mystery from that perspective.

Regardless of the specs, I'm incredibly impressed with the quality - unbelievable feel in the hands.

Now, pics!

An ASAT Classic Custom would have a bookmatched Swamp Ash top on an Alder body with a Pearloid pickguard.
Pickguard could have been changed to this 3-ply guard, but the top does not look bookmatched. Please post a photo of the back of the body to see if the body is Alder.
Here's the page of the 1996 G&L Catalog showing the ASAT Classic Custom:


Your's is a beauty regardless which model it is.
Once you determine which model it is, please add it to our G&L Registry.

[KenC]

That's a beauty! It looks like a bookmatched top to me. I'm not sure how it compares to what the factory is doing these days, but my ASAT Classic Custom doesn't have perfectly matched grain either. The top was definitely resawn from a single board, though:



Ken

[mjj]

You guys are awesome - love the catalog image!

I would have guessed the pickguard was original, as the guy told me he'd not done anything with it over the last 20 years - but someone put the bridge pickup springs back in the wrong place, so it's definitely been fiddled with at some point - which means all bets are off.

Here's a pic of the back, but I'm not sure that will be much help on determining the wood given the opaque finish. Can pop the control cavity and grab a pic if that helps.



And yes, regardless of model it's lovely. Far and away the most resonant guitar I've ever played - it sustains forever.

[Craig]

You guys are awesome - love the catalog image!

I would have guessed the pickguard was original, as the guy told me he'd not done anything with it over the last 20 years - but someone put the bridge pickup springs back in the wrong place, so it's definitely been fiddled with at some point - which means all bets are off.

Here's a pic of the back, but I'm not sure that will be much help on determining the wood given the opaque finish. Can pop the control cavity and grab a pic if that helps.



And yes, regardless of model it's lovely. Far and away the most resonant guitar I've ever played - it sustains forever.

Yes, a photo of the control cavity could help.

I also see that the saddles were upgraded to the current brass saddles. See: Steel to Brass Saddles?.

[mjj]

Cavity shot here http://imgur.com/zOXrzCr - on Mobil so can't embed that properly.

The saddles are steel - or at least, they're magnetic and they look like steel up close.

[y2kc]

Sweet guitar and it has the fantastic micro tilt neck. Great guitar at a heck of a price.

y2kc

[mjj]

Thanks - I'm pretty pleased. I've thrown new strings on, but I need to go and pick up some imperial allen keys - this is my first axe that needs the 0.05" key. I'm looking forward to tweaking the setup then. Have to say though, it's pretty great even as is, and even having sat around pretty much unused for the last 20 years. Fellow who sold it thought it still had the original strings on!

[Craig]

Cavity shot here http://imgur.com/zOXrzCr - on Mobil so can't embed that properly.

The saddles are steel - or at least, they're magnetic and they look like steel up close.

Yeah, I can see now that they are silver colored not brass.

Here's your photo:


I can see that the body is Alder with a Swamp Ash cap, so this is an ASAT Classic Custom model.

Enjoy.

[yowhatsshakin]

mjj,

That is a cool piece and definitely a (fairly rare) Classic Custom. BTW, this is what mine looks like when you take the guard off showing the extend of the book match:


Given the figure of ash it certainly has a less perfect appearance as what one frequently sees with book matched curly maple. But it still looks great!

- Jos

[mjj]

Thanks for the pic Jos - I was just looking at that serial number in the registry, having registered mine. Also added mine to the registry - thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

[sam]

mjj,

nice score and a beauty to boot! Congratulations