(SOLD) G&L Tribute ASAT Special Blueburst 2004
G&L Tribute ASAT Special, blueburst, made in Korea 2004. G&L was started in the 80s by Leo Fender and longtime collaborator George Fullerton; their designs were Leo's final offerings to the world and are among his finest work. The Tribute series are G&L's affordable range and are currently made in Indonesia, but they used to made in Korea, like this one. The ASAT Special is a T-style body, but hot rodded with a pair of Leo-designed 'Magnetic Field Design' single coils and the signature G&L high mass bridge. The pickups are pretty unique: they look like a P90, but they sound more like a Strat pickup with extended low end response and enhanced high end shimmer and harmonics. The combination of crystal clear detail and piano-like fullness on the bottom end make for a great tone, it's very convincing. The chunky bridge and Gotoh tuners are great too, the thing holds tune very well. The neck feels great too, it's arrow-straight, a comfy slim rounded shape and blessed with a tasty slab rosewood board. This left the factory with a cool blue burst finish, which has been rubbed to a matte look by a previous owner... bit of strange choice, but it still looks awesome. This plays and sounds better than guitars three times the price, it's a seriously juicy unit. But: the model name kinda sounds like a rapper's stage name, right?
Model: G&L Tribute ASAT Special
Made: Korea, 2004 (serial 04105392)
Finish: blue burst, formerly gloss poly rubbed to matte
Body: ash
Weight: 3.720kg
Neck: maple, rosewood board, 12" radius, 25.5" scale, modern C profile
Mods: finish sanded to matte
Pickups: G&L 'MFD' single coil x2
Case: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end, bottom edge and back, but no major marks. The neck has some rub wear and dimples on the back only, no major marks. The back has some dimples on the horns, elbow area and bottom edge, as well scuffs from the finish being rubbed back to matte. The sides have dimples around the whole body plus some scuffs and a bald patch in the clear poly on the bottom edge. The front has widespread rubbing/scuffs from the finish being rubbed to matte, some discolouration patches in the elbow area, scuffs around the bridge, rub wear along the back edge and play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets have some normal wear but there's heaps of height left, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiner strings.