G&L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow Clear Blue w/ Wood Binding

The original Fender Telecaster® Thinline was a great concept that never developed the following of its legendary solid body predecessor. G&L has kept this great style of guitar alive with the ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow. Featuring the classic layout and pickup configuration of Leo Fender's groundbreaking Telecaster®, the ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow has several important updates including their specially wound Magnetic Field Design pickups. And while the Semi-Hollow Swamp Ash design makes the guitar even more soulful and resonant, there is plenty of power lurking in the shadows.

This USA custom ordered ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow has some great upgrades and features:

• Semi-Hollow Swamp Ash Body with Clear Blue finish, 6.4 pounds
• Scraped Wood binding
• G&L Modern Classic maple neck, 1-11/16" nut, 9.5" radius
• Clear Satin neck with Indian Rosewood fingerboard
• Jescar medium jumbo frets
• G&L split and drilled tuners
• G&L MFD neck pickup
• G&L ASAT Classic "Ashtray" bridge pickup
• 3-way pickup selector
• Volume and tone controls
• 3-ply Parchment pickguard
  
• Plek® laser guided fret finishing
• Deluxe tolex hard shell case

Why select and ASAT Semi-Hollow? Besides light weight, the semi-hollow design has some very nice benefits. Tonally, it balances the response of the guitar, the swamp ash add a touch more sweetness to the high end and makes the guitar less "peaky". The attack is bit softer than a solid ASAT, but the MFD pickups are very touch responsive and there is more than enough bite available just by varying picking style. Overall it's a great blend of richness and cluck with a leaner midrange and good clarity. If maximum attack and punch is your game, stick with solid Alder; but for a wide range of styles the Semi-Hollow is all good.

If you like the "idea" of a Tele® neck pickup but never seem to actually like them, you'll really dig the ASAT Classic MFD neck pickup. Full up, it's clean, bold, with a very even response across the spectrum. Low notes are big and round with a generous percussive feel, and the high end is clean but smooth. Roll off the volume just a tad and the classic round, slightly hollow Tele neck tone appears, but with better clarity, less compression and a more satisfying attack. This is a pickup that does not necessarily reveal its most interesting tones full up, and players will be rewarded handsomely for using their volume and tone controls. When gain is applied the MFD neck pickup produces smooth lead tones that are more creamy than crunch, but don't get flabby or mushy.

The ASAT Classic bridge is a Tale of Two Pickups. Played clean it is sparkly with plenty of twang on tap, and there is a slight "give" to the attack that lends the notes a nice springy feel. Hit it with some gain and this pickup becomes an awesome classic rock machine with loads of overtones, harmonic complexity, and great sustain aided by the string-through body and brass saddles. It's truly a great lead pickup; more articulate than a humbucker, and enough girth to lay down tight defined rhythms.

Topping it off is G&L's Modern Classic neck profile and dark rosewood fretboard. With its wider 1-11/16" nut and 1-5/8" string spacing, it provides more "edge" to prevent the chance of string fall off, while providing a comfortably slim neck profile. It's their original "Slim C" re-imagined with a touch extra room. It's been a hit, and far and away G&L's most popular neck profile.

In building the ASAT Classic, G&L has solved some of the love/hate issues with this classic design: Mainly, a more consistent and versatile neck pickup, and a bridge pickup with power and sparkle that won't slice your head off. The Semi Hollow design just makes it "more better" in a lot of ways. It is possible to improve on a classic, and this is one of those times.