Should You Buy A G&L ASAT Classic Tribute Guitar???

[@swmorgan515]

The lack of finish on the neck would be a selling point for a lot of players. This Tele seems like a great deal.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

This felt like rubbing my hands on a barked tree. A satin finish would have been preferred.

[@MrSDFD18]

All that’s needed on the neck is a light rubbing from a green scouring pad. The nylon scouring pad will make the wood smooth as silk and will stay that way as the natural oil from your hands seal the wood. It’s a perfect design to build tone over time as the instrument is played. Trust me, designers don’t make mistakes. Your opinion is based on feelings, not playability.

[@mellovato2177]

On some guitars, the neck feels like it's unfinished, but as you play it more and more, the neck becomes very nice and smooth. Don't put anything on it, just break it in.

[@lazvt8469]

buy it for the MFD pickups alone. LOVE my S-500...payed $550 (SW demo)...and quickly bonded with it whereas I sold both an American Strat Std and a Deluxe. It did have a poly run/bubble on the neck heel....other than that, flawless. Oh, I did sand the back of the neck to give it a smooth, slick feel.

[@georgestanley9140]

what did you sand it with?

[@lazvt8469]

@@georgestanley9140 green scrubber pad

[@timchalmers1700]

I bought a twin of that one - also on SW. For me, the satin neck feels absolutely perfect. Hum from the single coils is perfectly normal. Yes, for recording you might want to use the middle position and adjust the tone knob to suit. It's true that semi-hollow guitars are not the axe of choice for high gain or volume. But for me, the tones from the MFD pickups is wonderful - and using the tone and volume knobs gives a wide range of tones. Depending on the guitar you used previously, you might want to adjust your amp. Grittiness from the frets was gone after a bit of playing - no big deal. After playing this guitar for a couple of years I love it more every time I pick it up.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I have since gotten a few Kiesels and there is no going back. Absolute dream to play. I also prefer Reverend guitars over any Fender or G&L. Thanks for watching.

[@itssupermilodude]

I played 2 2023 models of asats and didnt even notice the rough neck. They were not semi hollow body though. (21 year player)

[@jotwea]

My G&L ASAT Classic Tribute is in a perfect condition. No flaws and a perfect neck. The frets are fine, there is no grittiness. Sounds great.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

This one just didn't feel as good. I would have to play on a few different ones to see how consistent they are.

[@DavidDavis-FA-photog]

I have a 90's ASAT Classic and the neck is nicely finished.

[@guyincognito320]

Install magnet-less dummy pickup in the cavity. Gets rid of the buzz without affecting tone much.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

That would work but the guitar was returned. I mainly play Reverend guitars and the Greg Koch Gristlemaster Tele is amazing.

[@plarkin304]

Good review! I just bought a similar guitar (lilac finish w/maple board) and I agree, the neck feels raw and looks cheap. I own 3 other G&L tributes and all of them have at least a tinted satin finish on the neck. But I really love the guitar...so I threw caution to the wind and gave it the ol' Kiwi brown shoe polish trick. It works, but you have to apply evenly or you'll end up with patchy spots. Less is more. Also, this trick should only be used on a non-glossy polyurethane finish. I did 2-3 coats and then gave it a good polishing. It actually has a nice sheen on the back of the neck and doesn't look pale and sickly anymore.

[@plarkin304]

Oh, and I also replaced the stock tuners with Hipshot locking tuners. Had to drill new set screw holes, but I'm never selling it so it's not an issue for me.

[@sandman0123]

Thanks for the review! 5:40 Full thumbs up for tung oil. I used it on the neck of a DIY build Tele style guitar. It requires not too much effort but a fair bit of time (many thin coats and sufficiently long drying time in between, to properly harden). Most of the effort was in the thorough prep of the (maple) wood. However, the result was really worth it! The neck finish on my G&L Tribute "Strat" is kinda middle of the pack. Better than some but not as good as the best. It doesn't feel raw though, it feels finished.

[@rdjmillan]

I have the same guitar in red. The neck is smooth, finish is natural. No major hum except if using very high gain. No issue for me, beautiful guitar!.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I had a G&L years ago with a Birdeye maple neck. Should have never sold it.

[@MelGibsonsFist]

MFD pickups are hot so you're going to get some single coil hum / buzz. Middle position is hum cancelling and will fix that. Your body also grounds things so that quiets it down. You'll be touching the strings as you play so that fixes the issue,

[@maximevallieres5104]

I own 2 G&L ASAT, one with a satin finish neck and the other is gloss. Yours has a satin finish. If you play it everyday for a few weeks, eventually the satin finish will feel very close to a gloss finish.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I am a Reverend guy so my Gristlemaster is my main Tele. The ASAT is a good guitar though.

[@KenFernbach]

I think the neck would wear in nicely after some playing time to break it in- that’s what I would expect. You may find that in time it feels better and smoother- (I hope I’m right) 🎸

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Nah I returned it. I now play Kiesel guitars and the neck is perfectly smooth out of the box.

[@fantomas9240]

The hum is absolutely normal on single coils no issues. I juste bought one (not received yet). If the neck need some work it's fine for me because i like this kind of work on my guitars

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I really prefer my Reverend guitars and I didn't want to pay $700 for a guitar that I wasn't in love with.

[@davidlalremruata]

The one with the humbucker on the neck sounds really like my humble homebuilt teak Tele but not this one. This one sounds tinier but in a nice way.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Definitely has its own character.

[@jeshely]

Considering it has single coils it is surprisingly quite. The fact that it gets quieter when touching the strings or bridge tells me it has good ground wiring and shielding done. I would consider buying the Fullerton USA version.

[@biggstavros5876]

Its all the same hardware etc in both versions.

[@nadavmat3032]

This guitar sound amazing

[@RubicksAir]

ASAT tribute Classic vs ASAT tribute special What do you think?

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I have not played a tribute special so I wouldn't know. Im sure its a great guitar.

[@TedSchoenling]

Yes.... I have one.. and it is amazing... If you have a problem with the finish on the neck sand it. you said MDF pickups.. that is wrong. I'm not takin this seriously now... you could have easily caught that in edit.

[@1977gsmith]

Yep, was going to buy one then I noticed the neck pickup was installed incorrectly. It was about 5mm to far towards the bottom of the scratchplate so didn't align with the strings...

[@fabrizioluccitti6960]

That's a great review. Ich was actually going to buy that really guitar but the neck story is just making me hesitating. Don't know, for me the neck is the most important part of the guitar. Of course it can be replaced with an American made one but then the overall price to build the guitar would not justify a made in Asia axe. I still think that generally we should invest more money to have few but great guitars.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

It wasn't for me but I did like the color :)

[@artyom108]

Most Tributes are known to come with partially “unfinished” frets. Particularly if they are bought in volume by sites like Sweetwater. Back of neck being matte is likely what you have. You can use steel wool to lightly remove some and let the natural oils create more slickness. That will likely do the trick and improve w time. Noise is pretty typical of any single coil instrument.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Yeah I could put a bit more work into it but for $700 I expected more. Unfortunately I sent it back. I will stick with my Reverend guitars.

[@ramspencer5492]

That's a really sweet, open sounding semi-hollow body tele-tone, though! That is a lot of noise though!

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

yeah I didn't keep it. Reverend guitars are way better.

[@victortapia1324]

A clear review, thank you

[@Diemoreman]

I played one of those today at GC, and I have to agree - the neck feels a bit lacking. Most of my guitar necks are very lightly finished (or no finish), and I'm a little spoiled in the texture department.

[@TedSchoenling]

you can sand the neck..it is very easy

[@waynecribb4922]

Sounds good.

[@charles3200]

I have a G&L ASAT classic tribute series and I have no problems with the finish on the neck. It feels absolutely amazing. I think you may have just gotten a bad apple. In all single coil guitars are going to have that hum in it. That's not specific to any G&L guitar. Fender has the same thing

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

The guitar played great but my Reverend guitars blow it out of the water.

[@charles3200]

I don't doubt your Rev guitar sounds great. But it has humbuckers in, not single coils. Completely different guitars designed to sound different.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

@@charles3200 the Gristlemaster has single coils but they are noiseless.

[@ramspencer5492]

I like a tele with a humbucker on the neck...... They do have a version like that as well.

[@charles3200]

@@DoctorMcFarlandStudios oh ok. But noiseless aren't true single coils. They still sound great, but very different. It's all subjective, bro. Just enjoy the journey. 👍❤️😎

[@sidestyle05]

I LOVE an unfinished/satin neck

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

yeah it was a little too "unfinished" for me.

[@Cdnaxeman88]

If you go for a used tribute from the Korea build Era, the necks are a hell of alot better. I have both an Indonesian and Korean tribute and you can tell the difference.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I liked the guitar overall but that neck just wasn't my thing.

[@Cdnaxeman88]

@DoctorMcFarlandStudios The Indonesians can't pass the cotton test.... try one of theKorean ones if you can.... they almost match to a US built one.... well the guts are the same and the quality is on par because they were double checked in the US.

[@willdenham]

I just played one of these today and it played nice. I am trying to decide between it and a Sire T7. Problem is, nobody retails Sires so I have no idea. Can anyone help? Do Sire pickups have plenty of juice?

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I never heard of the Sire. Sorry.

[@willdenham]

@@DoctorMcFarlandStudios Got the Sire. It's awesome, pure tele tone, great fretboard and neck!

[@stewtech]

Do you think the fret hum is worse because it’s a semi hallow? Do you think it’s just normal 60 cycle hum?

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Hum is not dependent on the shape or density of the body. Its just a pick up thing.

[@delmarwyatt1027]

I prefer without finish on the neck.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

yeah but this was felt like the bark was still on the tree. :)

[@sketchyold]

What do you want for $550-600?

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

There are plenty of guitar in that price range that feels way better than this guitar. I was expecting more.

[@duarteestelita7257]

Thanks for this, and specially for showing the clean tones. Yes, the neck lacks that wood graina bit, to give it a little.more character. But the satin feel is EXACTLY what i always look for on a guitar neck. I wish it was roasted maple, actually. Cheers from Portugal

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I am spoiled by the roasted maple necks on my Reverend guitars. There is no comparison.

[@graemero5532]

Tung oil on a rosewood fretboard. I'd save that for the MDF pickups, Lol. Seriously though, MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is a cheap wood product used to make things like skirting board. Those are MFD (Magnetic Field Design) pickups. Leo Fender designed those as an upgrade to traditional alnico single coil pick ups. And please anyone reading this, do not put Tung oil on your fretboard.

[@andysanchez9108]

Well said!! Was watching this vid and was like wtf?? MDF and Tung oil?? Lol....I have an Indonesian made ASAT Classic Tribute Series Tele..butterscotch blonde. The quality is absolutely incredible. The MFD pickups are amazing. Check other G&L review vids....

[@graemero5532]

@@andysanchez9108 Yeh exactly, I've got three G&L's, one American custom build Asat and two Indonesian made tribute guitars (A Legacy and the one which this review is based on). All three are great guitars.

[@johnokeefe3841]

Its a great looking Guitar!!!! But it sounds like every other guitar..But i have bought my fair share of guitars because the way they look! LOL every 2K guitar i own as a matter of fact!

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Looks do play a huge part in certain purchases. I try to keep my price range from $500-1000 based on quality and features. Unfortunately the neck just didn't cut the mustard.

[@johnokeefe3841]

@@DoctorMcFarlandStudios The neck on my Wolfgang (Peavey} is unfinished and i love the neck on that guitar! I think its more the overall feel and sound that sways ya one way or the other! I had a Paul's guitar PRS there top of the line and sold that thing fast!!! I ain't found a PRS i liked yet!

[@davidpenwell3432]

Sounds like my cheap japanese fender strat through my zoom707

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Well its not that bad. Maybe listen through headphones or studio monitors.

[@PNGtwentyfour]

Gotta pimp out the back of the neck.

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Or just return it :) I prefer Reverend guitars any way.

[@sketchyold]

Do some chickin’ pickin’

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I will have to learn some licks