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G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 Tangerine Metallic quartersawn neck

One of G&L's most underrated guitars, the ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 straddles the line between single coil and humbucker, providing more body and attack without sacrificing definition and clarity. If you don't think you like P-90 pickups, it may be because you have not played a good one. G&L has made a really good P-90, and in the process opened up a new range of options for players willing to think out of the box and forge their own style.

This USA ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 features the following:
  • Tangerine Metallic finish on Alder, 8.2 pounds
  • 1.625" body depth
  • Plastic White Top Binding
  • G&L 'Modern Classic' neck profile, 1-11/16" width at the nut, 12" radius
  • Quartersawn Maple neck with satin vintage tint finish
  • Medium jumbo frets
  • Bone nut
  • G&L split and drilled tuners
  • 3-ply parchment shell pickguard
  • G&L P-90 neck pickup
  • G&L ASAT Classic MFD bridge pickup
  • Ashtray bridge with 6 individual brass saddles
  • 3-way switch, volume and tone control
  • 10 year warranty and certificate of authenticity
  • Deluxe tolex hardshell case

The P-90 pickup was originally developed by Gibson around 1946, and was a mainstay in their hollow body jazz line for years. It was also the original pickup used in the the first Les Paul guitars in the early 50's. Using a fairy shallow, wide bobbin and a bar magnet underneath, the P-90 "Soapbar" develops a thicker tone than a traditional Fender single coil, with more midrange.

Many players have never experienced a good P-90 pickup, and oftentimes they are wound too hot, making them sound stuffy and dull. The G&L P-90 is anything but that. Moderate in output, the G&L P-90 is open and clean with a full midrange, defined bass response, and a high end that is softly rounded but detailed. It sounds more open and less compressed than a traditional Alnico Tele pickup, with better attack on the wound strings and more upper end clarity.

Played cleanly, the P-90 has has enough attack to punch through the mix, but it's got some body and it's not sharp or spiky. Paired with an alder body, it's punchy with solid wound string response and a high end that is bright but with more girth than a Fender style single coil. As more gain is applied, the pickup takes on a creamy voice that sings nicely, without a stuffy, congested midrange that afflicts over-wound pickups. How does it sound compared to the chrome covered humbucker used in the standard Bluesboy? Leaner, cleaner, with more high end extension and a tighter low end. For jazz or really fat blues crunch the humbucker is a good choice, but the P-90 stylistically is a better match to the bridge pickup.

The ASAT Classic bridge pickup is well known for its strong output, excellent clarity, and ability to both twang and rock. The low notes have a great chewy, bouncy twang that is perfect for country picking, and there's plenty of detail, depth and sparkly sweet high end. However the ASAT's beefy output also makes it a great lead pickup, and with overdrive this pickup bursts forth with rich detailed overtones and tons of sonic complexity. It's reminiscent of a Les Paul Jr. (also a P-90), but with leaner mids and less snarl. Don't be fooled by its looks: This can be a serious rock and roll pickup, or you can play a Square Dance with it.

This guitar also sports a quartersawn neck, which means that the grain of the wood is perpendicular to the fretboard, instead of parallel like the standard flatsawn neck. The quartersawn grain orientation makes the neck stiffer and more stable. The stiffer less vibration-damping nature of the this neck enhances the attack and "pop" of the notes

The G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90 is a great marriage of G&L's excellent P-90, and their immensely flexible ASAT bridge pickup. These pickups are great individually, and there is also plenty of synergy between the two. If you don't think you like P-90 pickups, it may be because you have not played a good one. G&L has made a really good P-90 and in the process opened up a new range of options for players willing to think out of the box and forge their own style.