It's truly amazing that more than sixty years since of the introduction of mass-produced solid body guitars, that most players still rely on direct descendants of those original designs. The ASAT Classic is certainly one of those instruments, and all the classic touches are here while still allowing for improvements in playability and flexibility. This ASAT Classic features:
-
Alder body, 8.2 pounds
-
G&L #1 neck, 12" radius (same as the Legacy)
-
Gloss finish maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
-
Single ply black pickguard
-
Sperzel tuning keys
-
Traditional box steel bridge with 6 individual brass saddles
-
G&L Magnetic Field Design Neck and Bridge pickup
-
3-way Switch
-
Medium Jumbo Frets, with Plek® laser-guided finishing
-
Deluxe fitted Tolex Case made in USA by G&G Cases
With the big and bold sounding G&L MFD pickups, the first impression is that this guitar is much more than a typical Tele® type guitar. The neck pickup is thick with a lot of punch but also good clarity. It's super for solos, and on higher gain settings produces thick creamy distortion with excellent sustain. The bridge pickup is also a little thicker than a traditional Tele® with stronger midrange but still lots of sparkle that is crystal clear without being shrill. It's one the best versions of this type of pickup anywhere. Enough power to really rock, but the detail and clarity to twang with the best of them. You don't need no stinkin' Humbucker!
Looking for those traditional tones? Just roll back the volume a little bit and the character of the guitar changes. The bass lightens up a little and there is instantly more snap, more spank and more twang. It's "that" sound that most people associate with this type of guitar. MFD pickups do not go dull and woofy when they are turned down, and minor adjustments to volume and tone reveal a broad pallet of colors. So there is a little Jekyll and Hyde going on here: Wide open this guitar is a big blues machine, but turn it down a tad for snappy articulate tones that are great for chords, picking or more delicate solo work. For whatever your into, this ASAT Classic has a lot to offer.
|
