Thinking of another ASAT

[ravelleman]

Well, I'm thinking of investing in another ASAT as myself and my OH have had a stroke of good fortune.

I already have a Special Deluxe 'No Top' that I showed off in the photo forum, as well as a Legacy but I've recently been toying with the idea of getting something closer to the standard 'T-style' design in the new year.

My basic plan is to get something with a maple fretboard, a belly cut and in Fullerton Red, although the colour is obviously a secondary consideration. Apart from that I'm not sure whether I'd prefer a Classic or a Bluesboy.

I love my ASAT's large MFD pickups so the Classic with the smaller versions is very appealing but I also love the fat neck tones available on the Bluesboy with the Seth Lover - obviously it also has the bridge MFD for more bite.

Given that I have large MFDs in my Special Deluxe, standard alnicos in my Legacy, as well as '57 Classics in my SG and Filters in my Gretsch, which would you go for?

As for neck profiles, I love the 12" fretboard radius so that's a definite, but as my other two both have the #1 neck I might try branching out. I've never had a guitar with a V neck so the #1d intrigues me.

I expect this guitar to have it's own sonic character but I also want it to feel different to the others. Any thoughts?

Finally, I had a dealer in mind, but can anyone recommend a place to buy from? Ideally I'd like to get the price down a little as I know from experience that G&Ls can be haggled over. Does this normally apply to custom build too?

[KenC]

Have you thought about an older instrument? If you're willing to accept a few cosmetic dings, some good deals can be found on early G&Ls. As long as you aren't set on finding an unplayed guitar still in the original shipping carton, you should be able to get your hands on the Leo-era vibe for well under the cost of a new instrument. The variety of features in the early days - maple and mahogany bodies, ebony necks, pickups and control circuits that can sound quite different from the current offerings - open up a lot of possibilities for unique tones.

I'm personally a big fan of the early maple-bodied ASATs. I own two '86s (one with SaddleLock and the other with a Kahler) and put them at the top of my collection. The SC-1 and original SC-2 models are what the ASAT line evolved from, and also show off the large MFDs in a maple body. They are getting harder to find, but deals are still out there in the $800-$1000 range. Of course, Broadcasters and ASAT-IIIs add another perspective on the basic ASAT design.

Just my two cents' worth...

Ken