Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
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Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
1st post for this longtime follower. Just picked a new ASAT Tribute Bluesboy semi-hollow in tobacco sunburst. Absolutely love the playability and tones I get out if both pickups.
I have a question on the finish. The are some blemishes in the top that look like scratches that were filled in by the finish- they're under the poly. Is this normal/acceptable or should I ask guitar center for another?
I have a question on the finish. The are some blemishes in the top that look like scratches that were filled in by the finish- they're under the poly. Is this normal/acceptable or should I ask guitar center for another?
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
If you bought this new I would take it back for a replacement. The more shabby work that gets sold without reprisal degrades the work ethic or standard of any company. If they have to constantly replace guitars they will find the source of the problem and fix it. This benefits all future buyers and the company. You do us all a favor.
Someone will buy it used cheap and be happy because it is so playable. The used price on this particular guitar will never be high because of the scratches. My 2 cents.
Someone will buy it used cheap and be happy because it is so playable. The used price on this particular guitar will never be high because of the scratches. My 2 cents.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Thanks-I was leaning in that direction. This is actually my second round on this. The first one was so bad I didn't even bring it home.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Welcome!asatdude wrote:1st post for this longtime follower. Just picked a new ASAT Tribute Bluesboy semi-hollow in tobacco sunburst. Absolutely love the playability and tones I get out if both pickups.
I have a question on the finish. The are some blemishes in the top that look like scratches that were filled in by the finish- they're under the poly. Is this normal/acceptable or should I ask guitar center for another?
Please post some photos and if possible a closeup of the areas showing these blemishes.
See Tutorial: Posting photos for details on posting photos.
Also check out this post, too (if you haven't already): Welcome! Read This First
--Craig [co-webmaster of guitarsbyleo.com, since Oct. 16, 2000]
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Still waiting for photos showing these blemishes. I will forward them to the G&L for their inspection.
Also, what is the serial number of this guitar and which dealer/location did you purchase from?
Thanks.
--Craig [co-webmaster of guitarsbyleo.com, since Oct. 16, 2000]
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Hi asatdude,
Craig sent me the pics. I'm seeing the natural woodgrain of the Swamp Ash. Very often there are those cross-grain streaks that are part of the character of Swamp Ash. You'll find that on $2000 guitars as well including our Fullerton-made guitars, Fender Custom Shop etc. Yours also has some cool figuring in the lower area beneath the bridge. It was forming large Bird's Eye shapes, quasi-flame. I like it!
Dave
Craig sent me the pics. I'm seeing the natural woodgrain of the Swamp Ash. Very often there are those cross-grain streaks that are part of the character of Swamp Ash. You'll find that on $2000 guitars as well including our Fullerton-made guitars, Fender Custom Shop etc. Yours also has some cool figuring in the lower area beneath the bridge. It was forming large Bird's Eye shapes, quasi-flame. I like it!
Dave
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Here are the photos:Darth Invader wrote:Hi asatdude,
Craig sent me the pics. I'm seeing the natural woodgrain of the Swamp Ash. Very often there are those cross-grain streaks that are part of the character of Swamp Ash. You'll find that on $2000 guitars as well including our Fullerton-made guitars, Fender Custom Shop etc. Yours also has some cool figuring in the lower area beneath the bridge. It was forming large Bird's Eye shapes, quasi-flame. I like it!
Dave
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Welcome asatdude!
In looking the photos over, I don't think I'm seeing a flawed finish. Looks to me like the unique characteristics of the wood selected for your beautiful guitar.
If I were you and I loved the way the guitar plays and sounds, I'd leave well-enough alone here. Just my two cents.
Have a great day. - ed
In looking the photos over, I don't think I'm seeing a flawed finish. Looks to me like the unique characteristics of the wood selected for your beautiful guitar.
If I were you and I loved the way the guitar plays and sounds, I'd leave well-enough alone here. Just my two cents.
Have a great day. - ed
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
That is the beauty of a natural wood finish. Love the cross-grain streaks as well as the curling around the bridge. Sweet!
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Maybe I am the only one who agrees with the OP that this looks like crap. It may not be "finish flaws" but this particular piece of wood should have been used for a solid color rather than a natural finish. I don't believe that this piece of wood would have been chosen for a natural finish if it were a USA made G&L. I guess this is to be expected from the import line.
I've never seen that on Fullerton-made guitars.....I could be mistaken...I'd like to see examples.You'll find that on $2000 guitars as well including our Fullerton-made guitars, Fender Custom Shop etc
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Thanks to all for your responses to my posting. I personally agree most with the last posting. Regardless of whether this is or isn't/should shouldn't be acceptable on this I didn't like the wood on this guitar or the prior one I ordered from G and L. I'll chalk it up to personal preference. I decided to go with a standard Tele which arrived in a flawless sunburst alder. I am very satisfied with the Tele (though I may throw a mini humbucker in the neck). I plan to look into G and L in the future - perhaps if/when I can justify going American. Thanks again.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
I have that all over my Anderson Hollow T Classic, alder body. It's natural and it's a $4,000.00 guitar too...
Cheers,
Will
Cheers,
Will
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
I think they look great. You can pick a bit of this figure up in this pic of my L-2000 fretless:
There's a bit of the figure running in line with the switches, and another line of it running above the pickups. It's much more pronounced in person. I love it.
Sorry if this pic has shown up in too many threads lately...
Ken
There's a bit of the figure running in line with the switches, and another line of it running above the pickups. It's much more pronounced in person. I love it.
Sorry if this pic has shown up in too many threads lately...
Ken
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
I see nothing in that picture that relates to what I see in the OP's post. What I see are blemishes that cross the grain and look like scratches that are not sanded out in the upper left bout. They probably did not show up until it was stained. The figuring in the lower part of the body does not look bad. The L-2000 has a beautiful piece of Ash with fine looking grain. The wood on the ASAT almost looks like Pine with hardly any nice grain showing except in the lower part. If I had ordered that guitar I would have sent it back also. I've seen many Tributes with fantastic looking Ash bodies--that one is not exceptional at all.I think they look great. You can pick a bit of this figure up in this pic of my L-2000 fretless:
Do you have any photos of that? I would expect that more on an Alder body.I have that all over my Anderson Hollow T Classic, alder body. It's natural and it's a $4,000.00 guitar too...
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
In person, they really do look like scratches that weren't properly sanded that showed up after stain was applied.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Here:
Darth is right...
Cheers,
Will
Darth is right...
Cheers,
Will
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
I agree that the marks are just figuring in the wood, personally, I like it but to each his own I guess
-Dave
-Dave
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
suave eddie wrote:Maybe I am the only one who agrees with the OP that this looks like crap. It may not be "finish flaws" but this particular piece of wood should have been used for a solid color rather than a natural finish. I don't believe that this piece of wood would have been chosen for a natural finish if it were a USA made G&L. I guess this is to be expected from the import line.
I agree. It looks like scratches one would find on a used guitar. Hard to believe that is flaws in the wood.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
Well, it's wood (flaws are relative to the human experience).meowmix wrote: Hard to believe that is flaws in the wood.
I've bought many guitars onine, but only one that I didn't see pictures of the instrument beforehand .
I can see how personal preferences and online purchasing can create situations like this.
I see it as sorta sad that the overhead costs of online vendors have to include some returns that could be avoided with a digital pic and a little more patience on the buyers side when considering a purchase.
Here's an Alembic bass with similar inclusions in the figuring, though with a bit more mineral content in the streaking.
These basses go for a couple grand and up.
el wood
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
it's under the finish. it is easy to differentiate from surface scratches. now, to tell the difference whether it is a surface scratch before finishing that the stain brings out, or it is figuring in the wood is more difficult, usually not being able to sand it out.meowmix wrote:suave eddie wrote:Maybe I am the only one who agrees with the OP that this looks like crap. It may not be "finish flaws" but this particular piece of wood should have been used for a solid color rather than a natural finish. I don't believe that this piece of wood would have been chosen for a natural finish if it were a USA made G&L. I guess this is to be expected from the import line.
I agree. It looks like scratches one would find on a used guitar. Hard to believe that is flaws in the wood.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
That's a beautiful bass, Elwood. Great wood uniquely figured. Powerful stuff. - ed
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
My bad. They pretty well disappeared in the scaled down pic, and as I mentioned they didn't show as well in the original pic as they do in person. The most I can make out in my posted photo are a series of small squiggles above (that is, on the bass side of) the pickups and some in line with the control switches. My intention wasn't to show that the bass is flawed, but rather that one owner's defect can be another owner's figuring.suave eddie wrote:I see nothing in that picture that relates to what I see in the OP's post.
My swamp ash El Toro has a large area of intense flame, with a lot of stray marks and squiggles all around it. My photography skills aren't up to the task of getting it to stand out without massive reflections from the Clear Blue finish, so I don't have any good pics showing the marks. Again, I find them pleasing but could see other players thinking of them as distractions from the grain pattern.
I agree. I was referring to the cross marks, which look like a natural figure to me (or clearly a flaw to others). The ASAT has about the most flat-sawn body I've ever seen, to the point that the upper bout bout has no visible growth rings. It's pretty typical of lumber from a large tree that had no shade and grew very quickly - possibly a farmed tree? If I had bought this guitar new I would probably have been bummed about the overall lack of grain, but not the cross marks. Then again, that's just my personal preference.suave eddie wrote: The wood on the ASAT almost looks like Pine with hardly any nice grain showing except in the lower part.
I wouldn't expect hand-selection and matching for the relatively low-cost import line, especially considering how much value there already is in the construction, electronics and finish. There has to be some aspect of chance. AFAIK, it's not possible to specify anything about the body wood other than species and having a flamed or quilted cap for USA models. The only grain option I'm aware of is going with a quartersawn neck. The one thing I'm concerned about with my eventual purchase of an LE-2 is the possibility of being underwhelmed by the body's grain.suave eddie wrote:I don't believe that this piece of wood would have been chosen for a natural finish if it were a USA made G&L. I guess this is to be expected from the import line.
Thanks for those Alembic pics. It's been hard enough containing my GAS while I wait for the LE-2 to be ready for ordering. Random Alembic porn makes it even more difficult...Elwood wrote:Here's an Alembic bass with similar inclusions in the figuring, though with a bit more mineral content in the streaking. These basses go for a couple grand and up.
Ken
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
hhehe.. I hear ya. (You'll be happy to hear that my new to me L-2000 rivals the tone Alembics are known for..KenC wrote:
Thanks for those Alembic pics. It's been hard enough containing my GAS while I wait for the LE-2 to be ready for ordering. Random Alembic porn makes it even more difficult...
Ken
watch for a new porn thread soon )
elwood
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
I've said it on the LE-2 thread and I'll say it here, I've asked Darth if we can swing some AAAA highly figured Ash in one piece slab bodies for LE-2. We all might be upset about a big pick gaurd if we're able to get it.
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
In that case, I'll be ordering an aftermarket pick guard that only covers the routes!JagInTheBag wrote: We all might be upset about a big pick gaurd if we're able to get it.
Ken
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Re: Finish flaws on ASAT Tibute?
In that case, I'll be ordering an aftermarket pick guard that only covers the routes!JagInTheBag wrote:I've said it on the LE-2 thread and I'll say it here, I've asked Darth if we can swing some AAAA highly figured Ash in one piece slab bodies for LE-2. We all might be upset about a big pick gaurd if we're able to get it.
Ken[/quote]
Elwood wrote:hhehe.. I hear ya. (You'll be happy to hear that my new to me L-2000 rivals the tone Alembics are known for..KenC wrote:
Thanks for those Alembic pics. It's been hard enough containing my GAS while I wait for the LE-2 to be ready for ordering. Random Alembic porn makes it even more difficult...
Ken
watch for a new porn thread soon )
elwood
Guys, you have hijacked this thread-the LE-2 discussion belongs in the LE-2 subforum, not here.
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