The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
Today I received the ASAT HB I recently purchased on da bay:
Looking around on the web for information on this model I was surprised by the complete lack thereof. Since I remembered Buffalo Brothers offering this model on their web site for a while, I could find some cached page but that is more or less it. I know it is an all mahogany guitar with a G&L Vintage Style Alnico V in the neck and G&L AW4370B humbucker in the bridge. The latter is not used on any other US made model but the Tribute Series ASAT HB comes equipped with 2 of these pups. The body does not seem to be chambered but I'm not entirely sure since the guitar is still (relatively) light. Does anybody know the story behind this guitar? It was built in the same time period as the Special Built Super and slightly before the 25th Anniversary Model, which came a year later, and all these models have mahogany bodies but with a wide range of pickup configurations. So was the HB a candidate for either a Limited Edition or a Special Built model? After all, less than 35 were built (but it is not listed as a Rarebird!?). Or was it just a model used to test the AW4370B? Or is this 'inverted Blues Boy' something else entirely?
Is there anybody on this forum that knows a little more about this model? Any information is highly appreciated.
BTW, for tomorrows World Cup Final: Hup Holland Hup!!
- Jos
Edit: fix image link after album was lost.
Last edited by yowhatsshakin on Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
yowhatsshakin wrote:Today I received the ASAT HB I recently purchased on da bay:
Looking around on the web for information on this model I was surprised by the complete lack thereof. Since I remembered Buffalo Brothers offering this model on their web site for a while, I could find some cached page but that is more or less it. I know it is an all mahogany guitar with a G&L Vintage Style Alnico V in the neck and G&L AW4370B humbucker in the bridge. The latter is not used on any other US made model but the Tribute Series ASAT HB comes equipped with 2 of these pups. The body does not seem to be chambered but I'm not entirely sure since the guitar is still (relatively) light. Does anybody know the story behind this guitar? It was built in the same time period as the Special Built Super and slightly before the 25th Anniversary Model, which came a year later, and all these models have mahogany bodies but with a wide range of pickup configurations. So was the HB a candidate for either a Limited Edition or a Special Built model? After all, less than 35 were built (but it is not listed as a Rarebird!?). Or was it just a model used to test the AW4370B? Or is this 'inverted Blues Boy' something else entirely?
Is there anybody on this forum that knows a little more about this model? Any information is highly appreciated.
Yes, as you mentioned, the G&L humbucker pickup is used in the Tribute Invader XL and Tribute Legacy HB. It was also used with the AS4250B in the US ASAT Deluxe model for a short period of time.
The body is not chambered and is Mahogany along with the neck. They are both finished with a special color called Caramel. This color was also used on the other Special Build Mahogany models. The fretboard wood is Ebony.
This was a Custom Creations Special Build and so far less than 35 were made. Because it is a Special Build, it is not a candidate as a Rarebird. I don't know the reason why this never was added to the Custom Creations webpage nor listed in any G&L printed catalog. Even Greg Gagliano does not mention it on his G&L webpages.
I've only seen a couple show up on eBay and on Buffalo Brothers website.
Craig wrote:As you have found [or not found ] there is very little about this model. We have them listed in the Production List of G&L Instruments and the Special Edition and Non-Production ASAT-style guitars chart.
As usual, thanks for your input Craig. It is about as far as I got too. And I also noted the 'omission' on Greg's otherwise stellar website. I'll just keep digging around to see if I can find more info on this model. And it isn't the only model not included among the Special Built models on the G&L website. For instance, while the Bluesboy with spalted maple top, Legacy with spalted maple top, and L-2000 with spalted maple top are all listed, the Classic with spalted maple top is not, even though it is built in the same year.
sirmyghin wrote:Dude that guitars looks freaking sweet.
Thanks Kyle! And in lieu of sound clips, I think a tone report is in order. I was completely bowled over by the tones produced by the Vintage Style Alnico V pickup in the neck position. Incredible sweet and warm tones with still a little high-end since it is a single coil. Compared to the MFD in the neck of my ASAT Classic it is warmer, compared to the Seth Lover in the neck of my Blues Boys it is (not surprisingly) brighter. The humbucker is well balanced with the the neck pickup. Great vintage like bucker tones. Warm but with plenty of top-end. I've really grown fond of humbuckers that are NOT screamers, especially after I got my PRS 245 Sunburst with 57/08 buckers. There is something to pickups that leave you with a lot of headroom. And this humbucker is one of them. Still, the HB is a little more aggressive compared to my Bluesboys and even my 25th Anniversary model which has 2 MFD humbuckers pickups.
BTW, after writing this I asked myself what terminology is used in the description of list of pickups used in a G&L. Couldn't state it better than on that page.
Last edited by yowhatsshakin on Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That guitar is just cool. I had that humbucker in my Tribute Legacy HB and can tell you it is fantastic. Best pick up I have had and the one reason I wish I still had the Legacy.
Yow, beautiful guitar! You have a great harem of G&Ls. The body and color of this one reminds me a bit of the Special Build Mahogany Asat Blues Boy that I have. It is also light weight. -- Darwin
darwinohm wrote:Yow, beautiful guitar! You have a great harem of G&Ls. The body and color of this one reminds me a bit of the Special Build Mahogany Asat Blues Boy that I have. It is also light weight. -- Darwin
Thanks Darwin! This one is the lightest piece of solid mahogany I have in my collection. The body has no contours on front and back of the body and still is only marginally heavier than my Super which has a chambered body (I assume similar to your BB LE). BTW, here's a picture of the back:
Again a stunning piece of wood.
- Jos
Edit: fix image link after album was lost.
Last edited by yowhatsshakin on Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gotta pitch in on this one too. I recall when these first came to BBrothers and REALLY wanted one but never got around to it. You are only feeding my gas again. She's a beauty for sure.
How do you compare the HB with yer Super? That's another on my list too.
sam wrote:How do you compare the HB with yer Super? That's another on my list too.
The Super has definitely more bark compared to the HB. As you know, the MFD's on the Super are overwound so to use a term from the pickups page, they are "super ballsy" The Alnico V in the neck sounds a little warmer to my ears but more importantly, its output is also lower. And the humbucker is as expected way warmer than the MFD in the Super. Now having played the guitar a couple of times, I am so incredibly positively surprised in the versatility of the HB. It would make an outstanding gigging guitar. No, getting the spank of an ASAT with an MFD in the bridge you won't get, but beyond that, any rock tone can be gotten.
sam wrote:Lucky dude for sure, enjoy!
I believe it was the famous hustler Minnesota Fats who said: "The more I practice, the luckier I get!" You think that holds true for collecting guitars too ?
] there is very little about this model. We have them listed in the 
She's a beauty for sure. 
