G&L ASAT Special Semi Hollow Honey Okoume w/G&L gig bag

How does being semi-hollow affect the tone of your typical ASAT? To our ears the chambered body tends to even out the response of the guitar, giving it a slightly smoother overall manner. Compared to a solid alder guitar there is a little less attack and low end punch, and more "refined" is maybe how to best describe it. G&L Semi-Hollow guitars have traditionally been Swamp Ash, but Okoume -- which is an African hardwood similar to Mahogany -- adds a little midrange fullness and a warmer top end. We like the rounder character of the Okoume body and we're making a note of that for future builds. 

The G&L large MFD (magnetic field design) is one of Leo Fender's signature developments at G&L, and deserves a place in the annals of great single coil pickups. Utilizing a low resistance coil and strong ceramic magnet, the MFD has the touch sensitivity, dynamics and slightly scooped midrange of great vintage single coils, but with much greater tonal flexibility and output. The neck pickup has a glassy quality that is clean and articulate with a nice slightly hollow Strat tone on the upper frets. But it's broad frequency response and strong low end makes it very versatile, and it can easily mimic a rounder Tele or even a Jazzmaster-ish vibe. Roll off the tone control, and it takes on a warmer character, while still retaining upper and low end definition. The MFD is not just different, it's a real improvement; and the ASAT large MFD is one of the sweetest and most versatile neck pickups available in any guitar.

The bridge pickup has plenty of jangle and twang without being too sharp, and is great for clean, crisp rhythm playing. It's very much like a traditional Tele pickup, but with a top end sweetness that many Tele pickups lack. While not voiced for hard rock, the bridge has plenty of output, and a with a good pedal produces a sparkly crunch that is great for roots music or a little Tom Petty. There is a lot of high end content on tap, so rolling off the tone control a bit yields a thicker, warmer sounding tone. Both pickups together create that familiar twang and cluck that you'd expect, and with great clarity. But there's a sweetness to the top end that keeps it from getting too bright or tiring. Pickers will love this position, and so will rhythm guitarists and fans of California rock like the Byrds and Eagles.

The neck on this guitar is the standard Modern Classic which blends a slightly wider nut width with G&L's Slim C profile, and a 9.5" radius fretboard. The wider nut reduces the chance of string falloff, and the slimmer profile and 9.5" radius keeps the extra width from feeling cumbersome. G&L still offers several different neck profiles, but the Modern Classic has really been a hit with players of all types.

Often overshadowed by the more traditional looking ASAT Classic, the G&L ASAT Special has its own unique vibe that provides a catalogue of classic single coil tones with the fidelity and output that modern players expect. Combined with G&L's build quality, fit and finish and you have a unique USA value with custom shop looks and feel.

We are an authorized G&L Premier dealer located in Bellingham, Massachusetts, and this is a new guitar with all tags, tools, paperwork and certificates. We have a wide selection of G&L’s in stock at all times, and please feel free to browse our other listings, or contact us for information on a custom order.