ASATmaster build

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sirspens
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ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:53 pm

I've got a big project coming up at work, so I decided to take on a low key partscaster project that I have been wanting to do for a long time that I can tinker around with in my spare time. I am building an ASATmaster.

I'm not a huge fan of Telecasters, mostly the neck and headstock, but I've really loved my ASATs, so I am making a Jazzcaster with a G&L twist. But, then, I am a sucker for that classic Telecaster look...

I've ordered an alder body with butterscotch blonde finish from Warmoth, with a tort pickguard:
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And a bunch of my parts arrived today:
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The specs will be as follows:

Body: Warmoth Jazzcaster, alder, butterscotch blonde finish, Strat/JM neck pocket. Neck pickup routed for a P90 in case I want to put in a P90 or minihumbucker in the future.
Neck: Fender Jazzmaster (still looking for this, but I have some time before the body arrives to make a decision). I'm hoping to get an American Original.
Bridge: G&L ASAT Classic ashtray bridge with individual brass saddles (great bridge)
Bridge Pickup: G&L ASAT Classic Alnico
Neck Pickup: G&L ASAT MFD
Electronics: 920D pre-wired harness with VVT and 3-way selector switch

I briefly owned an ASAT Classic. I loved the neck pickup but didn't care much for the bridge pickup. The neck pickup was actually surprisingly bright and crisp, more akin to a Jazzmaster neck pickup than a Telecaster neck pickup. I love the bridge pickup on my ASAT Classic Alnico. I figured the MFD pickup might be so different from the Alnico bridge pickup that it should go on its own volume control. So, I started looking for a 3-hole Tele control plate, and I found someone selling this pre-wired 920D harness, still in original packaging, for just a bit more than I could find 3-hole control plates, so I just went with it.

The project will likely move slow as I'll probably get at most an hour or so to work on a week once the body get in.

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:05 pm

All the parts for my project have shown up in the last few days. I did a quick mock-up today, but not in the best light...

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It's hard to see here, but the grain looks really great. And I really like the tort.

My only disappointment is that the finish from Warmoth is super thick. It's fine, just a bit more than I expected.

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Embenny
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by Embenny » Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:13 pm

That's fantastic. Great build! Love the G&L pickups.
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by min7b5 » Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:48 pm

the colour is great!

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Tue Oct 02, 2018 7:03 pm

min7b5 wrote:
Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:48 pm
the colour is great!
Thanks! I really like it, too. And it is spot on for the G&L butterscotch blonde, so fits my theme.
mbene085 wrote:
Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:13 pm
That's fantastic. Great build! Love the G&L pickups.
I LOVE the G&L pickups. I'm so excited about this.

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Shadoweclipse13
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Oct 02, 2018 9:13 pm

The guy I took lessons from as a kid, had a blue ASAT and the thing just killed. This is great! I personally really love Jazz-casters too! Also! Kudos on the very clean wiring on that plate. Those 4 hole plates are tight to work in, and that wiring looks fantastic!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Sun Oct 07, 2018 6:31 pm

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Tue Oct 02, 2018 9:13 pm
Kudos on the very clean wiring on that plate. Those 4 hole plates are tight to work in, and that wiring looks fantastic!!
Oh I did not do that. It's from 920D.

In fact, at this point, I'm kind of scared to mess it up....

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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Sun Oct 07, 2018 10:55 pm

sirspens wrote:
Sun Oct 07, 2018 6:31 pm
Oh I did not do that. It's from 920D.

In fact, at this point, I'm kind of scared to mess it up....
Then, at least it's money well-spent. It does look great. I always strive for that look, but it's almost always takes solid core wire, which can be a pain to work with in a guitar cavity sometimes.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:29 pm

After an almost good day today, I found an extra hour to work on the project. Things are going pretty well. I got the neck, bridge, pickguard and control plate put on, as well as the strap locks.

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Here's the weird thing... The G&L MFD neck pickup is deeper than most telecaster neck pickups. However, even the screws that came from G&L with the pickup aren't long enough to lower the pickup to a proper height. See... the screw in the foreground is loosened to the point that it has come out of the pickup.

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Pretty much all I need to do at this point is get it wired up, then set up.

I'm a bit worried that my soldering skills aren't up to the standards of this build. I'm considering having it soldered up professionally. Also, the harness didn't come with instructions on how to wire it up.

For those of you who have built Telecasters or Jazzcasters: should I shield the tiny pickup and controls cavities?

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s_mcsleazy
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by s_mcsleazy » Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:22 am

sirspens wrote:
Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:29 pm


For those of you who have built Telecasters or Jazzcasters: should I shield the tiny pickup and controls cavities?
depends. i've found depending on the pickups and how resonant the guitar is, you might need it more. for example. my zippymaster has no shielding and it's fine. my old squier tele is much more resonant and needs it way more.
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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:53 pm

The guitar is finished. I have been playing it off and on all day, even though I should have been working. And... it sounds great.

I am getting the ASAT Classic Alnico bridge pickup sound I was looking for, and the ASAT Classic MFD neck pickup sound I was looking for.

Here's the big surprise: Using the MFD neck and Alnico bridge, I used two volume knobs because I suspected the MFD pickup would be much louder and need separate controls. But it isn't. Full volume and pretty standard starting height levels for the pickups, they are perfectly balanced in volume. However, having the two volume knobs allows me to blend the pickups in the middle position. By putting the bridge at full volume and the neck at about a 4, I can get a sound almost identical to a P90 with just a hint (but just a hint, too much would sound bad like every stupid humbucker) of the compression that comes with a humbucker. It is great!

The two pickups in center position also have a very well balanced shoegazy wall of sound capability that just churns and swirls with reverb and the creamy overdrive I use. It wasn't something I was expecting to get out of the guitar.

I'll get pictures up in the next two days and try to get a sound sample up, maybe back to back with my G&L ASATs.

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:44 pm

PICTURES

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blimpage
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by blimpage » Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:21 am

Wowzers. Nice axe and nice photos!

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sirspens
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by sirspens » Sat Oct 20, 2018 8:49 am

blimpage wrote:
Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:21 am
Wowzers. Nice axe and nice photos!
Thank you! I am really enjoying it. And glad I finally got around to building it.

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solfege
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Re: ASATmaster build

Post by solfege » Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:28 pm

That looks fantastic.

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