I'M RETURNING IT (G&L Placentia ASAT Bluesboy review)

G&L Placentia series ASAT Classic Bluesboy guitar review
Read my full review here: artofshred.com/gl-placentia-a...
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Watch the unboxing of this G&L Placentia ASAT Bluesboy: • WTF IS THIS? G&L Place...
As I mentioned in this video, this isn't a terrible guitar, but I'm unhappy enough that I'm sending it back for a refund.
This is the G&L Placentia series ASAT Classic Bluesboy in Espresso. It's made in China with a Poplar body, a maple 22 fret neck, one humbucker in the neck position, and a single coil in the bridge position. The rest of the hardware is nothing to write home about. It's a Guitar Center / Musician's Friend exclusive guitar that I bought for $269.99 + tax.
The problem is that's the sale price and the regular price is $449.99. This guitar is just not worth $449.99 and I think it's a bad idea for G&L to sell a product of this low quality while pretending it's worth $450.
In my unboxing video of this guitar there was quite a discussion about its quality. One person really liked theirs! I don't doubt that if you get one that's not poorly setup it's an okay guitar, on par with a Squier Affinity series. But if you get one like mine? Ugh, too much work and not worth the price.
Positive: Returning the Musician's Friend purchase to Guitar Center was smooth. While I was still in the store I got an email from MF saying they received my return and it'll take a few days to show on my credit card. I'm a rare returner (first time returning a Musician's Friend purchase in ~25 years of shopping there) and this makes me a lot more comfortable buying sight unseen from MF.
Here's the ‪@PhillipMcKnight‬ video about how to straighten a neck if you get one with a misaligned neck: • How To Fix Bad String ...
artofshred.com/soon/ Thanks for watching!
Read this far? Ooohhh, lucky you. Go to my recent AliExpress Pedals Shootout video, tell me which pedal you want in the comments of that video, and I'll send it to you for free! US only right now as this channel doesn't make money and international shipping is expensive. Thanks!

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Great video. If it helps when I film unboxing videos I film the unboxing part then spend a few days with the guitar and film the second half. The video seems the same to the audience, but you have a really good feel for the guitar. Also I agree with everything you said. G&L should be focused on being better than Fender not worse

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Oh damn! Thanks for checking out the video, Phil. You're the GOAT! Great tip re: how to film unboxings. That would really mitigate the missteps I've made on mine.

[@11thFret]

I feel like this guitar is the one I returned from my unboxing. Likely not, but your issues paralleled my own. I'd likely do what Phillip McKnight said, but mine was so bad out of the box, I didn't see a point of even trying. I love your follow up video though!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

@@11thFret Mine definitely didn't look used upon arrival so I feel confident they gave me a new one. But it doesn't live up to the hype. Thanks for watching!

[@Alaska_MD]

Great review. I love when guys take a stand and don't try to soften it.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thank you! 🤘

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

Awesome when Phil watches your videos!!

[@matthewhowell4060]

Thanks for the info, saved me some headache.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thank you! Happy it helped

[@arniesmith7863]

I must have gotten a relatively good one. I acquired one in a trade. The action was high but man it was dead on as far as tuning and the quartz blues finish is beautiful. Some one had smoothed out the rough fret ends so that was good to go. I changed strings and lowered the action to 2 mm and had considerable buzz. When I checked the relief I noticed that it had way too much, This was perhaps the loosest trust rod that I’ve encountered. I finally got the neck pretty straight with just a hint of relief and the buzz is totally gone with 2mm action. It’s still has rock solid tuning, great pickups and is now very playable. The Placentia is a score for me. I traded a 2020 IBG Epiphone LP Junior for it and I have no regrets.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah you got a nice one! Thanks for sharing your experience

[@joeblough261]

I'm glad I saw this. It's on the STOD today for the $270, and b/c it looks nice and has the humbucker, I figured why not? But it doesn't seem worth the aggravation of having to fix so much stuff. I figured from the start that these "Placentias" would be Squire level type stuff, but now they seem to be in the $450 range and that is what the Tribute series was not long ago? I did buy a traditional Tribute ASAT for about $350 on STOD, and I took it in for a setup and to have sharp fret ends fixed, cost be about $85, and it plays like a dream now. I think the STOD guitars are most often B-stock, hence the price. Only complaint is it's the swamp ash body and it's about 9lbs, pretty heavy for me. Thx for the vid! And congrats on having Mr. Phil comment:)

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thanks, Joe! Yeah this guitar is a pass for a lot of reasons but if you go into it knowing you'll need to get it set up it does have its place for some players. They keep having it as a Stupid deal of the day so I'm assuming it sells well. And every time they do a stupid deal this video gets a little bump in views and a couple subscribers so I can't complain too much. :)

[@laruffa216]

Same here - Saw the sale, and now we see the reason why... Thank you for the video...

[@joeblough261]

Ha, yep, today is a SDOTD :)

[@spammedlars]

Thanks for the video - another SDOTD sub here, right down to sitting in the cart still as I type this, crisis averted. I'll probably just look at a kit now...cheers!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Happy to help!

[@josephclark5965]

On sale again today and I'm considering. It's the saddle grooves holding me back. I put new stainless frets on ALL guitars, so that's not a biggie.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Damn, you refret all your guitars, even the cheap ones? If you're already doing all that might as well replace these cheap bridges too. :) I've only ever done a new neck fret job, never a refret. Seems like fun, though!

[@MajicFreeman]

I don't know about the placentia series, but the tribute series is shipped from indonesia to the g&l plant in fullerton where they do qa before they ship them out. I don't think they do that with placentia though. Also the pickups and bridges are manufactured in fullerton at the g&l plant and shipped from fullerton to indonesia to use in the tribute series. I got a fullerton made doheny which came plekked from the factory, but i plan on trying a tribute out too. They even sell b-stock and clearance stuff on their site so they don't send everything out. I might try one of the b-stock tributes that has just been scratched or had paint shrinkage.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah Tribute is a different level than the Placentia

[@dale8809]

Great video. Was way better at 1.5 speed. Haha

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ok

[@dale8809]

@@ArtOfShredYT haha..sorry buddy. My friends and I love your videos tho.

[@joelshields8807]

I am a total G&L guy - I've owned 5, two of which were Tributes and every single one was fantastic. Totally agree on them diluting their brand with the Placentias. I've heard several bad reviews. G&L shouldn't try to be a bargain brand.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

It's too bad but I get it's a business and profits are the priority

[@robertbaker3126]

Good to know

[@waltercuatto9677]

I have a GyL Asat Classic and it's an excellent guitar. Jumbo frets, mfd pickups, sounds great and the construction quality is better than a squier classic vibe.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ok but this is a Placentia

[@williamdunlap5444]

I have one arriving Monday and will pay for the $109.99 set up at Emeryville. Thanks for the info.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Cool, enjoy!

[@MrSDFD18]

How did you like it after the setup?

[@superelectic45]

I think this applies to all cheaper guitars of any make IME

[@ArtOfShredYT]

What applies?

[@michaelogden5093]

I got me a G&L Tribute Tele. Looked beautiful. Frets were all badly uneven. I ended up just getting a new neck. I changed the pickup cause they were not so great. Should'a just got a better guitar and this G&L Placentia reenforces my opinion.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Damn. The Tribute is usually solid! The Placentia is a huge mistake but otherwise G&L is generally on top of their game.

[@Mindboggle100]

Thank you for cheering my rainy Saturday... I've been in a horrible place for a long, long time. I've just had to quit my abusive "girlfriend", who is so attractive in all the wrong ways. I haven't touched my Partscaster in 3 years, 'cause I suck pretty bad, no matter what! Chanced upon this channel, as have been trying to occupy my mind. I really appreciated your honest opinion and approcach. Loved the apologetic laughs, and the low down on that GL. It could have been worse, I might have blown my last $400 on it! Its the first time I've actually chuckled in a good way, for far too long! Thank you for your honesty x

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Hey, thank you! Happy this video could bring you some joy today. Keep your head up! Guitar is always a fun way to spend some time, whether you think you suck or not :)

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Question for you Was this a tribute you bought or American? I bought astat G&L butterblonde and I'll tell you what I bought the American one. cost few extra bucks but it'll give the regular fender a good run for its money

[@ArtOfShredYT]

It's the Placentia series. Definitely not American made

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

@@ArtOfShredYT oh okay I never really delved into those was that supposed to be like they're offshoot? Or AKA affordable line?

[@ArtOfShredYT]

@@truckerkevthepaidtourist yup! It's all in the video. It's their cheap line that they never should have released 🤣

[@Oldmonstonian1]

Where are they made? Interesting that they didn’t have it correctly set up? That’s poor. Thanks for the assessment, shame about the background noise in the video.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

You mean the background music? Yeah, I mostly stopped using it. Made in China, btw

[@jamesbriley2965]

Yep...I bought a G&L Placentia Series ASAT Bluesboy in Espresso as a stupid deal of the day and I immediately sent it back to M.F. I also emailed G&L and I told them that I love my ASAT Tribute (a previous stupid deal at $299) but that they should be embarrassed for selling such a poor quality guitar as the Placentia. I got no response.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

An ASAT Tribute for $299 is a great deal. I regret not picking one up when they used to do that.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Sincerely hate that it doesn't live up to its name sake. G&Ls, in my experience, have always been a killer alternative to a Fender (even though they are kind of the same thing, seeing as Leo was still involved with them) but still. Hopefully your next venture serves you well, friend! ⚡️🦩

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thanks man! Yeah, it's too bad. Will be interesting to see if it actually messes with their reputation or what happens with that.

[@MrSDFD18]

I bought two when they were on sale. The Placentia does not compare to the Indonesian bluesboy. But not horrible. The workmanship is better on the Indonesian ones. For $270, I can pay for a professional setup and fret dress. I don’t think this line is going to last. Too many people have too many bad things to say about them. I’m holding on to mine. It’s a fine guitar and will be somewhat like the fender mustangs. Discontinued and limited in numbers. Considered junk until Nirvana came around. Then the mustangs were hard to find. It’s all in what you expect.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Except Mustangs aren't comparable to bottom of the line ASATs. If you're buying thinking these ASATs will be worth something you're likely going to be disappointed. But if you like the guitars and enjoy playing them then all good!

[@MrSDFD18]

@@ArtOfShredYT I think I wasn’t clear in my mustang reference. I’m not comparing quality of construction or components, I’m simply saying that this line (Placentia) will be discontinued. That will make them limited in numbers. They’re great guitars once you address all the issues one should expect from a $260.00 guitar. The neck on my guitar is thin and the finish allows my hand to glide up and down the neck easily. The original pickups, I agree we’re fine. However, these guitars are perfect for modding. I have a Seymour Duncan green magic in the neck and a Jerry Donahue in the bridge. Great pickups! Once the frets are leveled and the neck is shimmed, these guitars are a great platform to mess around with. Nobody in their right mind would change out components on a USA Fender or G&L. But these Placentia models are ripe for upgrades. The only problem will be they will be harder to find if they go the way of the Mustang. Discontinued and limited in numbers. These guitars are not comparable to Mustangs. They’re two completely different guitars. And “worth something” is completely subjective. I think you’re suggesting they won’t increase in value. That I agree with. But they will definitely have “worth”.

[@joelpanettaonline]

So, this is basically a Squier Affinity equivalent?

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Essentially, yeah.

[@rizzexponential]

Just discovered this series today, and I’ve been a G&L fan for a while. Funny how there’s no mention of this series on their website. They need to drop this line fast and stick with their tribute and Fullerton series. This is disappointing.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah I agree with you.

[@MrRoosterfoot]

this is such a shame, I have had a few older G&L ASAT Specials and they have always been amazing. the ASAT Special comes with the Same USA MFD pickups as the American made G&L's so it sounds killer. The Only other G&L I have had is a Fallout and it was utter trash and shared lots of the same problems you stated in this vid with the classic, I would like to think that they make them all equal but it would seem like that is not the case.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah, it's a shame. Also sad to hear about your Fallout. I wanted to pick one of those up to review at some point. Maybe I still will, but still too bad. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@barthydemusic]

I hate that G & L is being so cavalier with their well-earned reputation for quality. I have never had a problem with the Tribute series guitars, so I've felt comfortable buying them online, sight unseen. I definitely won't do that with the Placentia series(awful name).

[@ArtOfShredYT]

It really is too bad, but I also understand needing to make money. It is what it is. Hopefully their other lines don't suffer.

[@markmcdonald5711]

Placentia is the next town over from Fullerton, I lived there in the mid 60's, it was nothing but orange groves back then.

[@carlmontney7916]

I've found G&L's QC to be spotty regardless of which line or model it is. In fact, there are a lot of horror stories out there regarding G&L's QC, quality, or lack thereof, which is sad, but it does happen. It's almost like they're coasting along on Leo's name rather than concentrated on the quality of the product. Having been a bassist since 1969 and a guitarist for at least 4 years before that, in my opinion, there is no excuse for sloppy fret work on a guitar regardless of how much it costs. Yet I continue to see it time and again. Not just on cheap instruments but on top of the line stuff too. I also do a few repairs and setups and things like that out of my house and I would say that 95% of my business that comes in is for fret issues and every manufacturer is affected by it. In fact, it's a problem. Industry-wide regardless of the country of manufacture, I won't even buy a guitar or bass anymore at all without being able to play it first. And it's always a crap shoot. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't. I recently was in a GC and I saw a nifty little squire affinity series Jaguar H bass. It played perfectly and the frets were perfect as well. Like I said you just never know. But in all honesty, with a company like G&L a person should expect a lot more than multiple high frets.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thanks so much for sharing! I have to say there are brands that consistently have better QC in my experience (e.g. Epiphone). Based on what you said I guess G&L is taking a page from Squier on their QC though and that's unfortunate. (I like Squiers! But their QC is less-than-ideal.)

[@tomcaron9113]

Really a shame that your guitar was a bummer. Got one on sale for $250, replaced the pups, neck single coil, and it’s a real player now. Frets we’re good but neck needed some fret board sanding, felt unfinished. I flattened the neck really low and now the action is amazing.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

That's cool. Happy yours was good for you!

[@xcodychaosx]

Man but for 240 bucks today? Idk like maybe you just got a duddy one idk glad I saw your video though cuz musicians friend just has all 5 star reviews wondering if I should just do it anyways was wanting to maybe slap a bigsby on it so that'll take care of the bridge and then id just be hoping that the frets are level but I know a guy down the street. And then some of the reviews say theirs came in tune and intonated....lol just watched another bad review crooked saddles and fretsprouts tis a shame I like the sound of the pickups

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Lots of other good guitars for $240 but if you really want it definitely go for it. It seem like it goes on sale every few months so there should be another opportunity if you skip it this time. Definitely possible I just got unlucky and everybody else is loving theirs.

[@markramsey113]

People keep saying these feel “cheap”. Folks…this is a $450, import guitar, aimed at beginners. It looks like many of you got it for even less than $450. What are we expecting? Same quality as USA line?

[@ArtOfShredYT]

You do realize that $450 can buy a really nice instrument and imports aren't inherently worse than USA made, right? The Placentia is an overpromise under deliver situation for G&L, who generally have a stellar reputation even for their import guitars.

[@christopherhenke5545]

I thought these were all made by Cort. From everything I have heard, that should mean quality, for an affordable import. Disappointing

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah, I'm not sure if they're made by Cort, but they're definitely lesser quality than I'd like to see from G&L.

[@WillfulThinker]

"Musician's Friend exclusive" on a budget guitar translates as: Avoid this POS.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ha, well, the Mitchell MS450 (Musician's Friend / Guitar Center exclusive brand) is the best budget guitar around so I'm not so sure about that. :)

[@joeblough261]

I think he's more so referring to non-house brands that make guitars specifically for MF/GC, whether G&L, or Epi, etc. I've also found that most of them are crap, but I agree with you on those Mitchells, but that's their own brand so kind of different scenario? I had bad experience with a couple of amps that were MF/GC exclusive too. But maybe I'll go get a Mitchell today, b/c they have a couple of colors on sale for $219, and hey...we all need another guitar, right? LOL

[@EsteBandido_YT]

"there are no bad products; only bad prices"

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ha, true that!

[@EsteBandido_YT]

@@ArtOfShredYT hii ! What's your take on the Squire Classic Vibes Telecaster 60s? I'm debating between that and the G&L Tribute ASAT Classic. They're about the same price range

[@ArtOfShredYT]

@@EsteBandido_YT I haven't reviewed one of those but here's my review of the Squier CV 50s Telecaster. It needed a significant setup but I really like it kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIPdi3utZdusias

[@jimbailey1122]

In all fairness you're reviewing a typical low end model that ALWAYS needs some work and even component swap-outs to be playable. I have played higher-end Fullerton ASAT Bluesboys and were very high quality. My luthier loves them.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

I've reviewed a lot of budget guitars and not all of them have issues nor do they all need work. The Placentia series is messing with G&L's stellar reputation.

[@mellovato2177]

Looks like you got the cheaper ASAT. No wonder you're not happy.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

well it is true I was reviewing the cheaper ASAT

[@thadlogan51]

A friend brought over one of these and it looked and felt cheap. Then I played it and it was one of the worst sounding guitars I've ever played...junk. pickups terrible. Maybe other models better or others had better luck and got lucky. Even squire classic vibe telecaster I used to have was waaaay better in every way...

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah I hear ya. I just posted a Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster review 2 days ago. It's far better than the G&L Placentia ASAT. No comparison.

[@diamondfoxautodetail1140]

don't buy tribute guitars, learn your lesson.. lol

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Did I learn my lesson though? :)

[@j.waylonmusic642]

@ArtOfShredYT I don't know. Videos like this I feel put the company in a inaccurate light. All of the g&l guitars I've played have been very high quality. You can't talk negatively about a company because you bought some $250 fake tribute guitar.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

@@j.waylonmusic642 ok