Product: G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy Tribute
Price Paid: USD 539
Submitted
02/18/2008
at
06:37pm
by
mike
Features
:
9
The "Bluesboy" is G&L's version of a classic modded Telecaster Thinline- passive humbucker in the rhythm position, standard Tele pickup in the lead position. Other than that it's pretty much typical Tele- maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, "ashtray" pickup cover. Frets are larger than you'd find on a classic Tele but not as big as modern jumbo frets. Tuners are no-name Schaller type. I've heard that some go out of tune, but these seem decent. One difference from standard Teles: This guitar has 6 separate polepieces which makes it much easier to intonate.
This is the "Tribute" version of the guitar, made in Indonesia. I was a bit cautious about this at first, but in comparing the Indonesia-built guitars with the Korean built Tributes, I decided that the Indonesian guitars were every bit as good as the Korean guitars, and perhaps even better. The pickups are exactly the same as are found in the US made G&Ls, which removed my last doubts.
Sound
:
9
This was the deal closer for me. I don't think I've ever owned a guitar in my nearly 40 years of playing that had so much tonal variation available. The pickup will deliver smooth, rounded jazz sounds or good distorted blues leads. The lead pickup delivers that Tele spank for country or crunchy Keith Richards rhythm. Blended together they produce a very full sound. I've used the guitar in a range of solid state and tube amps from Fender, Blackheart, AI, and Tech 21.
Shielding seems very good- I get less hum pickup than I do with my Amrican Standard Strat.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Fit and finish is up there with the best of the Pacific Rim guitars- which is to say it's better than a lot of US made guitars these days. The neck is particularly nice- the ends of the frets are very nicely finished. They're perfectly flush and polished.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Based on past experience with G&Ls and the look and feel of this guitar, I can't imagine having and reliability problems. As for backups- I *always* carry a backup- but with this guitar I probably would never need it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Two year warranty.
Overall Rating
:
9
Been playing since I was 14- almost 40 years. I have a variety of instruments but was looking for a replacement for the Telecaster I sold three years ago. Everyone told me that G&L ASATs blew most Teles away, and my local G&L dealer is the most honest guy I know in the music retail business, so I spent some time checking out his stock.
I played this guitar three or four times before deciding to buy it. I thought about one of the Teles at Guitar Center, but at this price point the G&Ls were simply better- and my local dealer gives me much better service than GC ever did ;-)
Likes: Wide range of tones. Fret finish. Looks. Light weight.
Dislikes: None.
Wish it had: Fatter neck.
If stolen would I buy one again? Yeah, unless I found a 1950s tele at that price ;-)
