G&L ASAT Classic Thinline

Well, you know--tele stuff. Two PUs, 3-way selector switch, volume, and tone control. Big, fat 6100 frets. Except it's a semi-hollow. Everything you need, nothing you don't. BTW, this is a telecaster; if you want "features," buy some Jackson or something!

Sound is what it's all about w/ G&Ls. I go to sessions all of the time, and it doesn't matter what I plug this thing into--Vintage Fender, Marshall, Line-6, whatever: IT JUST SINGS! One great thing about this is the bridge pick-up. Yes, it has a stinging, treble sound, but it's not tinny. It just flat-out rocks. The semi-hollow body (ash) "scoops out" the mids, and it sounds especially sweet at lower volumes, but it gives up nothing at full-on jams. Anyway, I'm a blues player, and tone is the name of the game in this genre. I can't get it with much else. Yeah, Gibsons are nice, but I want some money left over to buy an amp.

Are you kidding? The whole reason Leo started this company is because the other guys were shipping crap. I've owned about 10 different G&Ls, and they're all spectacular. Just get one. Give you your delusional attraction to the companies with television advertizing budgets.

Until Fender offers you a contract to pay you to play one of theirs, do what all real musicians do: play a G&L.

Well, I don't know. I have had no problems with my guitar. Ever. However, when I get a recording contract and am ready to have a custom-built axe, I'm sure they'll treat me fine.

I'm a lifer.

This is a 99 model, USA made beauty with exactly the features you know and love about teles. Wonderful in its simplicity and versatility. After six months, this guitar has won me over completely.

This is the best sounding electric I've ever owned (out of about 20 thru the years). I can get every sound I want or need except the creamy fat you can only get from good buckers. This sounds better than any tele, strat, or jazz box I've ever played.

As close to perfect as I've seen. I actually bought this guitar sight unseen thru the net (pretty much a way of life for lefties) and boy did I get lucky! The sunburst finish over swamp ash is beuteous indeed. This one has the most striking birds eye maple neck I've ever seen also and its silky smooth. No flaws.

Everything is solid. I spoke with the dealer over the phone before I purchased and had him check the input jack since I'd heard so much about them being faulty. Sure enough it was. But, he agreed to replace it and I haven't has even a hint of a problem in 6 months. This guitar, a BJ amp, and a 10 foot chord is all I need for live playing.

Never had to but they've got a great reputation. C'mon, its George and Leo.

Have been playing on and off for 30 years. Have always loved teles. This is the first time I ventured away from Fender. I love the feel of a Fender maple neck tele, but this G&L wins handily in every other category. This is a lifetime guitar. It will not get stolen or lost. Period.

Made in 1998 on Fender Ave. in Fullerton, CA. 22 frets. Hollow ash body with 2-piece ash top. There are 2 blocks inside to mount the pickups and bridge. Otherwise, it's all hollow. No laminated wood. 4-bolt maple neck, rosewood fretboard, Schaller tuners, Telecaster form factor with G&L Magnetic field pickups, which are stronger and fatter sounding than standard. 3-way pickup selector, one tone, one volume. Transparent red finish over Ash, pearloid pickguard. One F-hole. Gorgeous! Tele style bridge with 6 barrel saddles and string-thru-body design. Comes with G&L Logo SKB hardshell case. Although the controls are simple, I still rate it high on features such as the G&L pickups, the hollow body, the very light weight (about 6.5 lbs.), Shallers, etc.

This is one of the best-sounding guitars I've ever played. It's replacing my ES-335 Studio, which will blow most anything else away on tone quality. In the neck position, you get a big, warm, full sound. With the tone on full, you get great blues and brighter jazz. With the tone down a bit, you get a classic jazz box sound. And I mean something more akin to an ES-175 than an ES-335. With the tone up full and both or the bridge pickup on, you get all that Tele spank and jangle. It's like having a jazz box and Tele in one. Incredible range of sounds from 2 knobs and a 3-way switch. Have played it into a tremolo pedal and a tubescreamer, both to great effect. The sound quality just makes me smile and makes it difficult to put it down and go to bed.
It always has a big, resonant sound, but is very linear -- it doesn't "boom" at certain frequencies. Sound is very even up and down. It especially sings on jazz chords above the 12th fret.

I have 2 other G&Ls, which I purchased used at ridiculously low prices. This is the first where I bought new/retail, and I don't regret it a bit. Even at that, G&Ls are THE bargain of the current guitar market. I recently had an "Epiphone" Special in my hands that had been custom-made at Gibson's Nashville Custom Shop for Dave Dederer of the Presidents of the United States of America. It showed me what a hand-built guitar meticulously set up feels like. These G&L Thinlines feel exactly like that. They are truly handbuilt by individuals wielding small hand tools. The neck has a satin finish which makes your hand glide up and down easily. The frets are finished smoothly. The guitars hang and balance comfortably. The wood finishing is some of the best you'll ever see. Inside, the wiring is premium vintage-style cloth-covered. The pots are huge, and smooth-turning. Mine has a clear red finish, so there's nowhere to hide bad grain or sloppy finishing. And factory setup was great. I have no intention of changing a thing.
The only flaw is the jack is noisy and will be replaced under warranty when it arrives from the factory. (It's the unfixable enclosed type.)
If you're in the market for ANY guitar, you must try a G&L. You may find that its quality and feel will transcend concerns about short scale, long scale, single coil vs. humbucker, bolt neck vs. set neck, etc.

It's almost like a mil-spec guitar, what with the big knurled metal knobs, big solid-feeling 3-way switch, heavy-duty pots, barrel saddles, Schaller tuners, solid neck joint, and very high grade woods used throughout. Finish appears to be quite deep. I think G&L puts on something like 17 coats of lacquer. Strap buttons are large, strong, and solidly mounted with felt washers to protect the wood. Once the jack is fixed, I would gig without a backup other than that I'd want a second in case of string breaks.

Warranty is 10 years to original owner. G&L is sending a jack to my local shop (which actually offered me another G&L Thinline as a trade or loaner). I'm waiting instead of trading because I want that red finish! G&L seems to be pretty prompt about sending parts to dealers as needed. I needed a whammy bar for my Legacy and they had it to my local dealer in about a week.

I've been playing a year. I bought this almost at the one year anniversary of getting a $159 Peavey Predator. I would buy it again if stolen or lost. I consider this one "my" guitar. The late-60's Fender Tele Thinlines don't resonate anything like these do. I guess my favorite feature is the combination of sound quality and playing comfort. It's much easier to play physically than the ES-335, while having more body resonance. G&L pickups sound great!