My guitar collection - G&L

 
 

How does a company decide on new models? Do they have a “skunk works” project? In the case of G&L, many of their current models were inspired and/or requested by the very people using their instruments: the players. The birth of the Broadcaster is a great example. In November 1998, Tim Page, great admirer of G&L, decided to commission several Special Edition models to be sold exclusively through his and brother Bob’s shop, Buffalo Brothers. The Blues Boy (two words) was his first design. Inspired by a common Telecaster mod made popular by players like Keith Richards, it combines a neck humbucker with a single-coil bridge pickup. For the latter the choice was easy: an ASAT Classic Magnetic Field Design pickup. The choice for the neck pickup was a bit harder but, as advised by Seymour Duncan, Tim settled for a (potted) SD Seth Lover (SH-55N) pickup. The wiring harness is no different than any other ASAT (Classic). ‘Contour’ has a solid alder body, top binding, Three-tone Sunburst finish, gun-oil tinted hard-rock maple neck, 7½” radius East Indian rosewood fingerboard, Dunlop vintage Medium 6230 frets, and G&L branded Schaller closed tuning machines. Out of the complete lot of 32, it is the only with a belly contour, giving it its nickname. Like the ASAT ’50, the ASAT BB came with a TKL faux-tweed vinyl hardshell case, “G&L Special Edition” neck plate, and special Certificate of Authenticity. No webpage on the ASAT BB is available on the G&L site since the Bluesboy (now one word) soon become a production model. But it is discussed among the Rarebirds on the Guitars by Leo website at:

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/AUTOREG/Rarebirds/ASATBB.php3.

 

ASAT BB (blues boy) ‘Contour

The story behind this guitar

Year:

Serial number:

Neck date:

Body date:

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One of the guitars that started a bestselling product line! Who would have thought? This is #9 (Tim’s favorite number!) and, beyond being the only ASAT BB with a belly contour as introduced on the 1996-1997 ASAT Classic Custom, is also the only with an “Original Blues Boy” decal. That decal coining the model name was specially designed by Tim and he wishes all of them would have had one. But alas! Almost any tone can be gotten with this beast. Its strength is in the great balance and smoothness of the middle position. Due to the alder body, the sound is slightly different than my other Bluesboys, emphasizing different harmonics and frequencies. No wonder the Blues Boy/Bluesboy has become such a commercial success!

The story behind this guitar

1999

CLF12095 (#9 of 20)

28(?) APR 1999

date stamp illegible, marked ‘Rosewood neck’, ‘Tim’s Contour back’

D’Addario EXL110 Nickel Wound Regular Light (10-46)