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.
Hi there fellow G&L lovers.
I've recently acquired a semi-hollow ASAT classic and was thinking of installing a tremolo either a dual fulcrum tremolo or a bigsby tremolo). Is this possible to retro fit to a semi hollow?
I'm interested to hear from anyone who has an ASAT with a dual fulcrum, or other style tremolo or who has experience fitting a tremolo to an ASAT. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Also does the tremolo significantly effect the playability or sound or sustain?
many thanks
I believe it would be possible to fit a dual fulcrum to a semi-hollow ASAT. The centre block, from the neck heel to the strap pin and out to the ends of the pickups is solid, giving the claw of the vibrato to attach to once you route out an enormous cavity for it. Darwin is the resident Bigsby expert and has made THIS THREAD on the topic. A Bigsby certainly looks cooler on an ASAT than all other vibrato systems and would require less routing.
Expect a drop in sustain, a less punchy attack and less stable tuning if you install the vibrato.
I think a Bigsby would be doable, though I'm not a big fan of the Bigsby. I owned a 1968 ash-bodied Fender Telecaster thinline back in the day, and it was a PITA to change strings with the Bigsby. Tuning stability was also an issue.
And I would highly recommend that you have the Bigsby PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED!!!. Not a job for an amateur; go to an EXPERIENCED luthier.
I'm pretty sure you could order a new guitar with the DF Vibrato. Here's a pic of my ASAT Deluxe (solid) with a DF Vibrato. The tone is closer to my 335 than any of my Les Pauls--e.g., less sustain, more air, more "woody". The only real complaint is that the bar is a little bit in the way of getting to the controls. Mine has locking tuners and a graphite nut, so intonation and tuning stability with the DF Vibrato are non-issues. This is a gorgeous guitar, but I am locked in with my Les Pauls as my 2HB guitars, so it doesn't get much playtime.
Along with a Fralin 57 PAF on the neck pickup and a Seymour Duncan Jerry Donohue Special on the bridge pickup. The guitar sounded great but because the Bigsby wasn't recessed like they come from the factory, the feel of the guitar was a lot spongier than I like. But, like I said, the tone was awesome.
Thanks so much blargfromouterspace, Boogie Bill & RIck T for your advice, thread link and the photo.
I have found the DF tremolo on my Legacy Special works far more smoothly than the Bigsby on my Gretsch (albeit they are totally different guitars & tremolo systems) so i'm leaning towards the DF trem even though the bigsby has the more retro look. definitely a job for an professional guitar tech!
Ausistorm wrote:Hi there fellow G&L lovers.
I've recently acquired a semi-hollow ASAT classic and was thinking of installing a tremolo either a dual fulcrum tremolo or a bigsby tremolo). Is this possible to retro fit to a semi hollow?
I'm interested to hear from anyone who has an ASAT with a dual fulcrum, or other style tremolo or who has experience fitting a tremolo to an ASAT. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Also does the tremolo significantly effect the playability or sound or sustain?
many thanks
If you haven't noticed, G&L does not off either bridge type on the ASAT Classic from the factory, see G&L Option page. I think you might be okay with a Bigsby trem but a DF trem is really iffy on a semi-hollow and a Classic.
If you had a solid body Classic, you could go with the Leo Fine-tuner bridge, but finding one will be quite difficult. Here's a picture of one:
Ausistorm. I am a Bigsby fan and have installed them on several Teles. G&L uses a B5 and recesses it in the body. They use a tuneomatic bridge and I own an ASAT Z-3 with the factory set up. I finally installed a F type Bigsy with a jazzmaster type bridge on a Bluesbot and I posted a thread which Blarg already linked you to. I would not recommend this unless you really understand what needs to be done. It is a perfectly working system which my Z-3 is not. The bridge angle is better on the F Bigsby and the result is great tuning stability with the jazzmaster type bridge. I did install a Schaller roller bridge on my Z-3 and it helped but did not solve the problem completely. The z-3 returns to tune perfectly after a down bend but if you lift the trem it will return sharp. The Schaller is a threaded roller to make it adjustable for string spacing. I still plan to install the jazzmaster bridge on my Z-3 and am confident it will solve the problem. It is not a nut issue. Fenders are easier to install on due to the written instructions but the ASAT body is a bit shorter and I had to route for the bridge pickup to fit. The Bluesboy was great as a Bigsby and I did not see a decrease in sustain but actually believe a Bigsby will increase the sustain over a classic bridge.-- Darwin
Hey there Darwin.
Thanks for your informative reply. I have checked out the link the blarg sent.
I also came across the VIBRAMATE system: http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-faq.php
For a tele the VIBRAMATE recommends using a B5 tremolo with a V5-TEV kit which adapts it to a standard fender tele ashtray bridge.
This may be an option IF the ASAT ashtray bridge has the same rear screw holes as the fender one
Here's the link http://www.vibramate.com/vibramate-v5te-install.php
Do you think the V5-TEV system with the B5 might be suitable for the ASAT classic?
I believe that the Vibramate is not a viable option. Keeping in mind that G&L already routs the body for the B5, and you are starting with an installation that sits higher on the body already. The B5 will sit too high for the bridge. That is why I recommend the F Bigsby because it is designed specifically for a T type body and has a lower angle to the bridge giving the proper string tension on the bridge. RickT mentioned that as an issue on the B5 that he had on an ASAT. The bluesboy that I converted played perfectly, returned to tune after either an up or down bend and stayed in tune. The sustain was also very good. The only thing that I did not like about the Bluesboy is that it had an Alder body and was quite heavy. I traded it for a chambered ASAT Special. The Bluesboy is available at American Guitar and Band in Maple Grove, MN and is a very awesome guitar, but a bit heavier than I prefer. It is much mo0re difficult to install the F Bigsby on an ASAT than a Fender because the ASAT has a shorter body. You will have to route the pickup cavity to use the Fender pickup plate. But, if you are confident and careful, it is a perfect Bigsby setup when you are done.-- Darwin
Hey Darwin,
Thanks very much once again for your informative reply regarding the vibramate and recommendation re the F bigsby.
I am all thumbs so I will definitely get a professional to install it if I proceed.
What a beauty you have there!! 
