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Post by Hohn on Apr 22, 2007 17:54:45 GMT -7
The only G&L I've really played was about 30 minutes with an ASAT Classic (tele with the big pickups) back when I didn't "get" the Tele thing.
What do most of you think of the G&Ls relative to a comparable Fender?
It seems to me that Leo himself "moved on" and really thought that his previous designs could be improved upon, and the G&Ls exhibit a lot of "out of the box" thinking relative to the Fender classics of days past.
It seems like Leo was a victim of his own success. His initial designs, once placed in the right hands, were venerated to legendary status by virtue of all the great music recorded with them. Yet, Leo comes along with "better" designs and the mainstream is quite slow to embrace them. His own previous designs had become entrenched in "guitar culture."
So what of the guitars themselves? I many aspects of the G&Ls, but you have to like the WHOLE package, because many of the "innovations" of a G&L have no aftermarket replacement options-- especially some of their pickups.
Some of the G&Ls like the Legacy look like they would be better than their Fender equivalents (Strat, in this case). But the G&Ls just seem to be a LOT less popular than their Fender equivalents.
Sorry that this is sort of rambling. Anyone else care to comment on G&Ls relative to Fenders, or on G&Ls in general?
Justin
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Post by nitehawk55 on Apr 22, 2007 18:10:33 GMT -7
From what I have seen the G&L's in general are built much better, unfortunately a lot of people can't get past the headstock shape nor the fact it doesn't have Fender on it but in reality just as much a Fender . I really like my Comanche , plays and sounds awsome . Just sold a George Fullerton sig model too , very nice .
I guess G&L's customer service is excellent which says a lot about the company .
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 22, 2007 18:32:53 GMT -7
G&L is like any other company that produces guitars of high technical value. They have poor resale because they are not "real" Fender guitars. But they really are, aren't they? How could they be any more "genuine Fender" since Leo himself designed them? But the reality is that there are a lot of folks out there that are put off by ANY shape not EXACTLY like the original Fender design. My Grosh is a great example of this - a lot of buyers turn up their noses simply because Don spent a bit of time and developed a more modern shape for the body and the headstock. That equates to poor resale value if you go to the general marketplace. So the bottom line is, if you buy a guitar for resale, stick with the name brand regardless of the quality. If you want a player, find the instrument that touches your soul, and play that. You'll be glad you did, resale be damned.
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Post by detuned on Apr 22, 2007 18:33:46 GMT -7
Somestimes you just want a Fender... And nothing wrong with that - they're perfectly nice guitars. I personally don't care for the strat-style G&Ls, but I do *adore* my ASAT Classic.
For the dough, they're fantastic values. Mine plays like buttah & has the best intonation of any guitar I've ever played.
I rarely look at the headstock when I'm playing, anyway. :-)
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 22, 2007 19:11:17 GMT -7
I had a very early ASAT with the lower output pickups. I might like them now but then I couldn't dig it. It also had a neck that wouldn't straighten out so I dumped it quick. After Leo slowed down they wound the pickups a little hotter, as they are now. If you're a tweaker then that would be a drag because on some of them, ASAT and Commanche in particular, there are no aftermarket replacements, as previously mentioned. I don't change parts on guitars anymore. I buy guitars that sound good as use them as they are. I think the G & Ls are as high a quality as anything out there. If you like what it does, buy it, keep it and use it. I've seen worse headstocks, Tyler and Lindert come to mind. I think G & L's headstock is fine.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Apr 22, 2007 19:12:00 GMT -7
Yeah the resale value is a killer like benttop says and it's a shame people put brand names before a quality instrument but in the real wold that's how it is . I always recommend trying to buy used to avoid that big hit you will take but if it's one that you know is a keeper then it doesn't matter . And to clarify , I wasn't knocking the headstock shape I was being sarcastic
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Post by jwr on Apr 22, 2007 19:24:32 GMT -7
I played a G&L at Guitar Hanger about 2 months ago and it was amazing. Swamp Ash body and rosewood board, it was one of the best "strats" in the store. Better than all the Fenders, Suhr's, and a very close 2nd to a Don Grosh they had there. I'm with benttop, resale be damned. I ordered a Don Grosh Retro Classic 2 days later. Should have it by July. I think that in the guitar market, a lot of people refuse to move on. It's amazing, so many people will only play a Fender, even if Grosh, Surh, Anderson and G&L build a much better instrument. I'm very loyal to Gibson LP's, but I might buy a PRS Singlecut if I find myself lusting over another guitar in that style. If it's built better, it's built better. That should be the bottom line.
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Post by (8^D) on Apr 24, 2007 15:03:26 GMT -7
I actually like that the resale value is sooo poor...can buy a used, superbly hand-crafted USA G&L for the price of a used CNC'd USA Fender. End up with better quality, better fit-n-finish for the same price. Yeah, I'm ok with that. Not knocking Fenders, have some of those too and love mine. I wouldn't buy either new because I change guitars as gigs/studio/playing styles change and don't want the hit; but, with used prices similar, I'd go for the G&L every time! Comparing similar models between Fender/G&L, I think you'd have to look at the Fender Custom Shop guitars - get into their handbuilt lines. At that level, the guitars are similar quality but the G&L's are a better inital buy - cost less new than the Custom Shop Fenders new. They're a worst buy if you're not looking to keep them - will lose about 1/2 the value upon delivery. So, in terms of quality of product, buying a used G&L would be like getting a used Fender Custom Shop guitar for the same price as a used Fender American series guitar. And, again, yeah, I'm ok with that.
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Post by Curt on Apr 24, 2007 15:30:36 GMT -7
I bought a brand new G&L ASAT Special with the large pick ups in 1997 for $750, mary kay type blond, thin nitro, heavy flame maple neck, large frets, and TONE.
Was a great guitar, It was the only guitar I held on to during the "No Play Zone" marriage I went through. coming out of that and started playing out I went gear chunking crazy and STUPIDLY sold that guitar in 2004 for $550.........can't replace it, was a GREAT one.
I agree with above that the "Strat" style G&L's just do not interest me, but the ASAT's, any ASAT, are really well built high quality guitars IMO.
I'd buy another, but it's be used.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Apr 24, 2007 16:26:25 GMT -7
I think the only real beef I have with the Strat type G&L is you can't lock the trem down like the Fender and I don't like the trem arm lock screw , I would have thought G&L would have improved on that by now , it's a PITA . I would like to get the 3 pickup Asat ( bluesboy? ) with the Z coils , I really like the ones in my Comanche . I agree that G&L build quality is above Fender and used ones are great deals .
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Post by marsellus on Apr 26, 2007 5:55:54 GMT -7
The G&L ASAT special is awesome. I got mine used, and it is my main guitar. (Pics at www.flickr.com/photos/marsellus)My backup guitar is an American Fender Tele (ash, white pickguard). I like it, but the ASAT special has hotter pickups, and a more powerful tone. Still very clear. An ASAT special through a Route 66 is just amazing...and the headstock looks cool, too.
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Post by dock66 on Apr 26, 2007 6:18:11 GMT -7
Love my US made ASAT tele with hollow body. The best sounding Tele. A used is the way to buy.
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Post by scottguitar on Apr 26, 2007 11:59:33 GMT -7
Speaking of G&L's...has anyone tried the Will Ray Tribute with the z coils and the b-bender?
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Post by Joey Beverages on Apr 30, 2007 14:05:46 GMT -7
Speaking of G&L's...has anyone tried the Will Ray Tribute with the z coils and the b-bender? not yet - but I did have a Z3 semi-hollow for a little while before I got my first Z amp. the z-coil pickups can be pretty hot - lotsa bite and clarity. the b-bender? cool idea, but would probably confuse the heck out of me ;D
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Post by Joey Beverages on Apr 30, 2007 14:08:17 GMT -7
Anyone else care to comment on G&Ls relative to Fenders, or on G&Ls in general? Justin I like 'em - the ASAT can be a really sweeee-t guitar, if you get a good one. And, the Legacy is cool too - especially in Fullerton Red with the gun-oil maple necks ;D
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