My guitar collection - G&L
With the 30th Anniversary Collection in 2010–2011, G&L started to issue an (annual) run of special instruments with a particular cosmetic touch to them. And although not built by the Custom Creations Department (CCD), these instruments can only be ordered by dealers for a limited time rather than being limited in number and consist of a suite of instruments rather than a single model. The 2012 Special Collection, which was announced on May 17, consists of a Legacy, S-500, the JB and the then just released M-2000 and M-2500 basses, and a single ASAT model: the ASAT Classic ‘S’. The “asterisk” mentioned in the first sentence on the Special Build ASAT Classic ‘S’ page pertains to the fact that due to a high demand by dealers, the ASAT Classic ‘S’ is officially a production model since January 2008. In addition, starting in February of 2011, the traditional sized ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design (MFD) neck pickup is reverse wound compared to the standard ASAT Classic neck pickup giving is similar properties as the bridge pickup. This has the effect that either the neck or bridge pickup combined with the Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity S-500 are now hum canceling whereas bridge+neck no longer is. So what about the cosmetics for this special run? Two years prior G&L had build an instrument with just the desired look and (literally) feel: ‘The Wrangler’. The extremely thin but durable finish got an official name in Nearly Naked™ (NENA) and the hue was dubbed Honey Ale. All instruments in the 2012 Collection sport a 2-piece swamp ash body, NOS Baltic Amber pickguard (except for the M-basses), hard-rock maple neck with clear satin finish, 12” East Indian rosewood fingerboard, and 1⅝” nut. As has become standard, ASAT Classic ‘S’ has a 5-position pickup selector, volume control, which is push-pull to allow neck+bridge and all pickup combinations, and tone control. For more information, see this 2015 archived snapshot of the original page on the G&L website.
ASAT Classic ‘S’ (NENA) 2012 Special Collection
The story behind this guitar
Year:
Serial number:
Neck date:
Body date:
Strings:
When the 2012 Special Collection was issued, ‘The Wrangler’ was already on the radar which initially reduced the importance of getting this model. But it is still worthwhile to be able to compare the effects of the mod of the reverse wound neck pup. With that in mind, and given my preference for unique models, I jumped on the opportunity in August 2013 to acquire a reasonably priced 2nd hand NENA Classic ‘S’ through Music Go Round in Burnsville, MN. Unfortunately, the guitar came in an incredibly smelly (cigarette smoke), non-G&L branded G&G tolex case so I swapped it for a properly branded and period-correct, form fit case I still had as surplus. Also no paperwork was provided at all. Guess that comes with the territory of buying 2nd hand. This guitar has a nice beefy neck, especially in the higher registers which, with the satin finish, feels great to my hands. The updated circuitry gives it a more Strat-like sound with these pups and some great tones can be had. My wife remarked that the guitar is a little brighter but my guess is that remarks finds it origin in me having played the Classic Alnico prototype the week before. MFD pups have their own peculiarities with their flatter response and more highs as well as lows compared to traditional pups.
The story behind this guitar
2012
CLF065230
none
JUL 16 2012, marked ‘E7’
