USA 3 piece bodies

jwebsmall · Post by **jwebsmall** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:06 am

I saw a new G&L USA ASAT Special on ebay with a 3 piece ash body.

The seller confirmed it was a 3 piece body (natural finish).

I thought USA G&L's had at least a 2 piece body and only
tributes had 3 piece bodies.

Is the wood for USA bodies hand selected differently than
the wood for tributes?

Over the weekend I played a tribute ASAT Special at a local
dealer and it sounded awesome with a 3 piece body. I figured
a USA body would be even nicer but if it is the same 3 pieces
what's the difference other than cosmetic between a tribute
and a USA body?

Post by **Craig** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:20 am

jwebsmall wrote:I saw a new G&L USA ASAT Special on ebay with a 3 piece ash body.

The seller confirmed it was a 3 piece body (natural finish).

I thought USA G&L's had at least a 2 piece body and only
tributes had 3 piece bodies.

Is the wood for USA bodies hand selected differently than
the wood for tributes?

Over the weekend I played a tribute ASAT Special at a local
dealer and it sounded awesome with a 3 piece body. I figured
a USA body would be even nicer but if it is the same 3 pieces
what's the difference other than cosmetic between a tribute
and a USA body?

Yes, the wood for USA bodies is hand selected and sourced differently
than the wood for the Tributes, which is sourced and selected at the
manufacturing location.

You cannot make generalizations when it comes to wood. Perhaps this
link on tonewoods (previously posted by yowhatsshakin) will help.

Hope this helps.

jonc · Post by **jonc** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:25 am

i have had 3 and 4 piece guitars that sounded great and 1 and 2 piece, which you think would be "best," plink like banjo's. while a 1 or 2 piece body might have better aesthetics with a trans or natural finish, i've never found the # of pieces to indicate quality or sound. go with your ears.

jwebsmall · Post by **jwebsmall** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:45 am

Thanks - both these posts really help me in picking my next G&L guitar.

I guess when something plays great and sounds great I should buy it
regardless of whether it's USA or tribute.

guitar_ed · Post by **guitar_ed** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:50 pm

Hi,

You hit on the REALLY important elements of choosing a guitar: Feel & sound. Not pieces of wood, type of wood, or type of finish. IMHO.

edg

Post by **Craig** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:52 pm

jwebsmall wrote:Thanks - both these posts really help me in picking my next G&L guitar.

I guess when something plays great and sounds great I should buy it
regardless of whether it's USA or tribute.

Please share some photos when you get it.

Glad to have been able to help.

suave eddie · Post by **suave eddie** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:47 pm

Does G&L still make any one-piece bodies? I know I have definitely seen older ones with one piece.
When I got my recent ASAT I assumed it was a two piece body. Upon further inspection it appears to be one piece--I can't really find a seam anywhere. Are two piece bodies generally bookmatched? That is definitely not the case here. It is definitely not three pieces and if it is two pieces the seam is extremely well hidden.

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:53 pm

suave eddie wrote:Does G&L still make any one-piece bodies? I know I have definitely seen older ones with one piece.
When I got my recent ASAT I assumed it was a two piece body. Upon further inspection it appears to be one piece--I can't really find a seam anywhere. Are two piece bodies generally bookmatched? That is definitely not the case here. It is definitely not three pieces and if it is two pieces the seam is extremely well hidden.

Definitely looks like a two piece body to me, check the rear view shot above and below the string ferrules.

otis66 · Post by **otis66** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:06 pm

suave eddie wrote:Does G&L still make any one-piece bodies? I know I have definitely seen older ones with one piece.
When I got my recent ASAT I assumed it was a two piece body. Upon further inspection it appears to be one piece--I can't really find a seam anywhere. Are two piece bodies generally bookmatched? That is definitely not the case here. It is definitely not three pieces and if it is two pieces the seam is extremely well hidden.

Looks like a one piece body to me.

stagecoach · Post by **stagecoach** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:32 pm

to me it's a 2 piece. I don't think the grain disappears in real life. If you look at the back the grain on the right side is nearly straight and on the left side it is more curvy and disappears in the center

suave eddie · Post by **suave eddie** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:08 pm

to me it's a 2 piece. I don't think the grain disappears in real life. If you look at the back the grain on the right side is nearly straight and on the left side it is more curvy and disappears in the center

That's what I thought at first also--in addition to the fact that I thought I had read here somwhere that G&L was no longer making any one-piece bodies.

It wasn't until I showed the guitar to a friend the other day and he remarked that it was a one-piece body--that I took a second close look with my reading glasses on and it looks more and more like a single piece of wood. The straighter grain on the one side does not really "disappear" upon close inspection. Below the ferrule block there is a hint of a seam, but it disappears above the block.....I think it is just part of the grain.

I really don't think it matters one way or the other sonically, but I was wondering if they were still making any bodies from one piece of wood....I've seen some older ones that were one piece without question.

Philby · Post by **Philby** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:01 pm

My late, insignificant $0.02 is on a two piece as well. The join appears to go straight down the centre, but it's a great match of grain.

I have a USA sunburst strat that I always believed to be 1 piece till I finally spotted the join. It's approx 80% one piece with 20% of another piece joined towards the top of the body where the dark part of the burst kicks in. For all that it doesn't resonate as well as a cheap 3-piece tele I have.

blargfromouterspace · Post by **blargfromouterspace** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:24 am

I see two pieces too, Eddie. I thought my blonde ASAT was one piece until I looked at it from the end by the strap pin - the join is a million times more obvious there. If the finish on that gorgeous blue thing is translucent on that part of the body have a close look.

thunder100 · Post by **thunder100** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:30 pm

Just checked ,as stated above,Tone and feel counts more ,but my Invader (2010 production) is one piece.Ill try to picture but on the blueburst not that easy

Roland

Ivo · Post by **Ivo** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:09 am

After reading this thread, I thought I'd check my body's, and my ASAT Z-3 really fooled me for a while. I had to look very close to find out it was a two piece body after all. G&L is doing a real good job matching these parts.

Muffdriver · Post by **Muffdriver** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:19 am

in my experience and talking to an experience luthier in my city, a 2 piece body is more stable than a 1 piece. Neither will affect tone to our limited ears. He told me he has seen some 90s Fenders with up to 5-6 pieces (which he called plywood) and sounded like crap.

Some gorgeous guitars on this thread.

Guitars by Leo (aka "GbL")

USA 3 piece bodies

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