This custom ordered ASAT Classic Custom Semi Hollow guitar features the following:
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Semi Hollow Swamp Ash Body w/f-hole
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G&L #1 "Heritage C" maple neck, 12" radius
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Dunlop 6100 Frets
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Abalone fret markers
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Vintage tint neck finish
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Schaller drilled and split tuners
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Natural wood (scraped) binding
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G&L large MFD specially wound neck pickup
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G&L ASAT Classic bridge pickup
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3-way pickup selector
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Plek® laser guided fret finishing
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Tortoiseshell pickguard
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Deluxe tolex hard shell case
Listen to a sound clip! http://www.upfrontguitars.com/blog/2012/02/gl-guitar-sound-clips/
The Classic Custom Semi-Hollow represents the epitome of the ASAT Classic Line. With it's semi-hollow swamp ash body and specially wound large MFD neck pickup the Classic Custom is truly special guitar. We played it through both a Rivera Venus 5 and Dr. Z Remedy head with a G12H30-loaded pine cab. We also tried it with a couple of our favorite overdrive pedals; a JHS Charlie Brown and Pigtronix Aria.
Tonally, the Semi-Hollow Swamp Ash design balances the midrange of the guitar, mellows the high end and creates a very smooth and balanced sound. It's not a guitar that lacks high end, but it's a rounded high end devoid of edges and brittleness. The chambered body has a marvelous effect and there is a near-perfect blend of warmth and cluck with a leaner midrange and good clarity.
The specially wound large MFD neck pickup has a slightly thicker sound than the standard ASAT Classic MFD, with strong bass that is full but not flabby. It's still got that slightly spongy attack which gives a nice bounce to the notes and is responsive to picking technique. The overall tone is throaty and Strat® like but with a smoother top end and more body. Clean it can be funky or jazzy, and overdriven is positively huge with a creamy top end and a strong tight low end.
The bridge pickup is slightly subdued, with not as much natural bite as you would find on a solid body. But it can be strummed enthusiastically without sounding harsh or peaky. With a little tweak of the amp EQ there is plenty of twang if you want it. Both pickups combined produces Nashville Nirvana with plenty of pop and twang and great string-to-string balance. This bridge pickup also responds enthusiastically to overdrive, with gobs of overtones and harmonic complexity, no doubt aided by the chambered body. With the Aria pedal, it was a love-fest of pinched harmonics and tight chunk. With a good pedal, the ASAT Classic bridge pickup is one of the best Rock 'n Roll lead pickups out there.
This guitar is fitted with the standard G&L #1 12" radius neck, just like on the Legacy. The setup on this guitar was right on, with the action right around .060" across the board, and smoothly finished fret ends. The #1 neck can best be described as "medium": Thicker than an American or MIM Strat but still very comfortable. This particular neck feels to be on the beefier side of the tolerance, providing plenty of support for your hand, and I for one believe that a little more mass in the neck has a positive effect on producing a nice strong, snappy tone.
This is an addictive guitar, and it's ability to flow from country twang to jazz, blues, funk and monster rock crunch makes it hard to put down. Jamming along with just a drummer we jumped from Steely Dan to Gin Blossoms to ZZ Top, and in every case the tone and response was spot on. The Classic Custom combines classic looks, flawless finish, and outstanding flexibility. |
