ASAT Classic vs ASAT Classic S

[jwebsmall]

Does anybody own both of these ASAT's?

Which do you play the most?

From what I can tell from youtube videos (not much)
the ASAT classic S is not just an ASAT classic plus a multiple
pickup. It seems to be an entirely different animal even
though it shares 2 common pickups. Any thoughts? Can
any one do an A/B review here?

[blargfromouterspace]

I wouldn't say they're entirely different at all - the Classic S is just a Classic with another pickup in it which will give you strat type sounds (ie bridge/middle and neck/middle combinations) and of course regular tele type sounds.

[jwebsmall]

It would seem like they would sound identical without the middle pickup
engaged. But the ones I hear online (granted not a good measure)
don't sound like either a ASAT classic or a strat. The middle sounds
somewhat like it does in the S-500. But the other two seem darker
some how than on a classic.

I'm wondering if the extra pull on the middle pickup changes things.

[Ribsspare]

My understanding is that the Classic S and the Classic are the same guitars. The Classic S just gives the extra mobility of another sound option with the middle pick up.

But if I'm wrong, just correct me. I too am curious because I am seriously thinking of ordering an ASAT Classic S.

[Craig]

My understanding is that the Classic S and the Classic are the same guitars. The Classic S just gives the extra mobility of another sound option with the middle pick up.

But if I'm wrong, just correct me. I too am curious because I am seriously thinking of ordering an ASAT Classic S.

The 2004 - 2011 (January) builds of the ASAT Classic S were an ASAT Classic with an S-500 middle pickup.

In February of this year, the neck pickup was changed to correct the hum in #2 position (neck+middle).
The solution was to make a new pickup for the Classic “S” where the neck pickup had the same wind/polarity as the bridge.
The Revised Classic “S” now cancels hum in positions 2 and 4 and gives you that “in between” or “pseudo out of phase sound”
that is characteristic of Legacys, S-500s and Strats.

See the Gallery Album: Instrument Manuals and Wiring Schematics -> ASAT Classic S Wiring Diagram and Picture Diagrams for details of both versions.

Hope this helps.

[Ribsspare]

Interesting. Hopefully, it still basically sounds the same though in a good tone way.

[BadJaxx]

how does the new neck pup change the neck+bridge setting?
does the new neck pup sound any different on it's own?
is it available for purchase?

[NickHorne]

Seems like that selection won't hum-cancel, and the hum behaviour scheme is generally now the same as a Strat, i.e. cancelling in pos 2 & 4.

[NickHorne]

Other than that, I wouldn't expect the pup combinations to sound any different. Reversing the polarity of the magnets and the phase of the coil at the same time just cancel out as far as the guitar itself is concerned, and it's only the pups' response to external noisy fields (as distinct from string movement) that changes.

Personally, I think I'd rather like to keep the hum-cancelling neck+bridge selection. I'd even use the "neck-and-middle" switch position for something else altogether; I'm thinking of middle-and-bridge in series, love that!

But lots of folks love the Strat-neck-and-middle tone zone, it's a cool place for some good things! And none of this is hard to wire / rewire to personal preference anyhow.

It would, of course, be helpful if both polarities / phases of neck pup were available at the online, for those of us who wish to modify G&L's nice babies to our own ideas of perfection!