G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Rainmaker

Bee Bee King
There's a huge range of ASAT guitars and quite a few Fender Teles. Based upon your experience, comment on the differences - the pros and cons they have over each.

Cheers
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Didn't we already do this? I'm basically the same as comparing the legacy and S-500 to the stratocaster
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

It's a bit different.

The ASAT classic is pretty close to a standard or vintage reissue telecaster, but the regular ASAT is a somewhat different beast, featuring a very different bridge design and higher output pickups that have more in common with p90s. Hope that helps.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Xeromus said:
Didn't we already do this? I'm basically the same as comparing the legacy and S-500 to the stratocaster

We did that to the Strats. Two different beasts, I'm sure the companies would differ in other ways.


Cheers for the info guys.

Keep it coming :)
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

The ASAT Classics (I think) ... the ones that are setup real vintagey, are absolutely sick. I love those guitars. Of course, they're built just as well as any other G&L (extremely well at that).
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

I can only comment on the Asat Deluxe. Are you interested in that model? If so, I'll compare.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Yep, I don't plan to buy a G&L anytime soon (Looking at Traynors) - but it would be a very good resource (I'm interested in gear, period) and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about your experiences :)
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Welllllll.....I've only owned the Fender Lite Ash Telecaster and the G&L Asat Deluxe. The comparison is sort of apple to oranges.

Fender: swamp ash body, maple neck, two single coils (SD Alnico II's).
G&L: mahogany body with maple cap, birdseye maple neck with rosewood
fretboard, 2 SD humbuckers ('59 and JB).

I liked the way the Fender played...though the neck was slightly less chunky than I like. Really came down to the fact I wasn't a single coil sorta guy.
I'd like to get a non-mahogany bodied guitar with some buckers for purposed of experimenting.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Hot _Grits said:
It's a bit different.

The regular ASAT is a somewhat different beast, featuring a very different bridge design and higher output pickups that have more in common with p90s. Hope that helps.


The G&L large single coil MFD pickups look like a P-90 on the outside. Their design is actually closer to a Jazzmaster pickup. They're really not that close in tone to a P-90.


Sprinter
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Quencho092 said:
what's your favorite G&L Sprinter?


My favorite G&L is the S-500. Too me it's the ultimate strat. I prefer the first style (1982-1989) they have metal pickguards, and huge headstocks. They sound the best with mahogany bodies. My three '82's have mahogany bodies, as does my '04 limited edition. My '88 has a maple body, and is a bit sterile sounding.


Sprinter
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

so these super strat G&L's are like mahogany CBS strats with metal pickguards?

SSS config right?
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

The biggest difference between Fender and G&L is the bridge. That's the defining tonal difference. The G&L high mass bridge has a very bold tone. The Fender 3 barrel is the opposite end of the spectrum with more resonance and air to the sound. The Am Std is right in between. I'd never say that Fender is better, or G&L is better. You have to play the individual guitar through YOUR amp, and then you'll know. I love both brands, and nowadays I don't even think they're all that similar. They're very different IMO.
The differences in construction, that appear to be mere details, make big differences in the feel and tone. Besides the overall shape, they're very different guitars.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

I think the difference in small details, like the neck construction - the radius and frets used, is enough to make the decision fairly easy based on the way they feel to the player.

I like the ASAT Specials - just different enough to make them unique, and they sound terrific - a big hi fi sound.
 
Last edited:
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Wow, they're more different that I first thought! How d'ya get G&Ls in mahogany anyway? It's not an option on their webpage.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

I had a lovely 1988 G&L ASAT with Leo Fender's sig on the headstock, so it was made when Leo was still at the helm. It had a beautiful flame maple body and sounded great, but the neck was horribly skinny and caused significant pain in my left hand and arm. I finally traded it away. I have tried out several other ASATs in the meantime, but I have never found one with a neck that I liked (although they were seldom as skinny as my old one was). There is a serious problem with getting replacement parts for G&L's -- no one, including G&L, could offer a replacement neck for my ASAT. The pickup swapping is difficult on the ASAT Specials, too, so you'd better like 'em as you find them. All in all, I much prefer any one of my 5 Fender American Series Teles. I have never found a significant difference in fit and finish overall between the G&L's I've seen and any of the American Teles I've bought or been tempted to buy. As usual, YMMV, but that has been my experience on G&L vs. Fender.
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

just like with the strats, it's gotta be a fender for me.

-Mike
 
Re: G&L ASAT vs Fender Tele. Comparison?

Rainmaker said:
How d'ya get G&Ls in mahogany anyway? It's not an option on their webpage.


It's not on the option list, but they built some limited edition mahogany bodied guitars in 2004.


Sprinter
 
Back
Top