Hug your guitar week
I am declaring this week “Hug Your Guitar Week.”
IG BLOG reader Paul S e-mailed me about something, and in passing mentioned that he had gotten a new guitar: “I got me a Tele-style G&L recently. Killer guitar! Wow… too much fun.”
I asked him more about it, and this was his reply:
It’s an awesome guitar… I was looking for a Tele, but something a little different… maybe something with a humbucker in the neck? Maybe semi-hollow? Then I noticed that the top two people in the 2007 Guitar World Guitar Hero competition BOTH played G&L ASAT Bluesboy guitars (humbucker in the neck, and Les Robot’s is semi-hollow too) — hmmm… these guys know something.
Sure enough, the more I looked around, the more I realized that lots of great Tele players aren’t playing Fender, but are playing G&L. People seem to have the impression that G&L are “expensive” because they’re the same price as Fender off-the-line, but they don’t realize (and I didn’t until the manager at the shop where I went said he could order anything for me) that these are more like Fender Custom Shop guitars (which are generally at LEAST double the price) — I was VERY surprised to learn that I could order whatever I wanted (any finish options, wood, neck, etc.) for the SAME price as the floor models, and it takes just 6-8 weeks.
So I made my laundry list (ASAT Bluesboy Semi Hollow, Honey burst, swamp ash body, maple fretboard, hand-rubbed gun tint oil neck, white pickguard) and sure enough, 6 weeks later it arrives, for LESS than the price of the Fender 52 Hot Rod I was looking at (and I paid extra for the gun oil tint neck and burst body over swamp ash). How sweet is that?? A custom built guitar for about $1600? I paid $1200 for my US Strat which is an assembly line affair.
It plays like a dream, is impeccably made, perfect setup with no buzzes or anything (unlike my Strat) and the tone you can get from those 3 positions (middle with humbucker + screaming Tele = blues heaven) is crazy. Awesome for country, blues, jazz, even heavier rock stuff (check out Les Robot). Anyway, I feel it was worth it (fine custom-made ANYTHING these days usually costs more than that). Though at first the finish was so fresh it gave off lots of fumes so if I played it for more than 30 minutes it got me a bit lightheaded… a plus or minus depending on your point of view I guess!!
You sense the guitar love in that? Makes you want to hug your guitar doesn’t it?
Yes, “Hug Your Guitar Week.” Declared today, lasting all week.
If you can, share YOUR guitar love and send me a pic of you and your guitar for posting (igblog at aol.com).
…
Photo of Paul and his new G&L, courtesy Paul S.
IG dishes out inspiration and ideas to guitar players everywhere. 
Sweet Telecaster. G&L makes great instruments, indeed. I bought a custom made relic tele from thisoldguitar.net made from swamp ash, finished in white nitrocellulose, Duncan 58 humbucker in the neck postion, and with an awesome Warmoth neck. By all accounts, as good as a high end Fender relic for $1300. It sings like a Les Paul (in the neck position), twangs like a hot tele in the bridge, and comps like a 335 in between….and plays/sounds exactly the way I like it. Take a look:
http://www.tubefreaks.net/vintage-guitars/78-my-new-tele.html#post384
If you scroll up, you can compare it to the $3500 Fender Relic that it was modeled after. The Fender was quite possibly the best guitar I’ve ever played….and I was foolish enough to not buy it on the spot. The one I had made is nearly as good for less than half the price. Dave Swisher makes excellent relic’d instruments that you wouldn’t mind leaving on the stage of a dive bar while you flirt with the ladies….
That is a pretty, pretty instrument. I’ve not yet fallen in love with the humbucker in the neck thing, but I do get the desire to have something a bit more in the neck.
I’m looking forward to doing a write-up and sending in pics. But tell me, is it permissible to hug my mandolin, too?
Rick - You and Paul are REALLY making me want to get a Tele. Although, I am still hugging my Strat this week.
Sans - If you must on adding a mandolin, go ahead…
IG
IG, a tele is much more huggable than a strat, IMO. I switched from strat shaped guitars to teles as my preferred instrument because they were more “solid”/”sustaining” and felt more comfortable sitting down than strats. With a tele you can crouch over it without the top of the body holding you back. Ultimately, 2 of the 3 very best guitars I’ve ever played were telecasters….the other was a 1969 ES-335.
Yes, I agree… the extra wood in the Tele shape really is nice. Both for sound and just the way it sits in your lap when playing seated. You’d think (assume) that all that carved stuff in a strat would make it more “comfortable”, but I don’t think that’s always the case. Anyway, this thing really sings… super resonant… actually sounds pretty nice unplugged (which I do all the time since the kids are young and in bed early). What can I say… I suffer from pretty acute GAS. But I skimp on cars and everything else, so I’ve convinced myself it’s okay
When my Strat has a headache, I court my ‘72 Thinline– one fine piece of ash. Fender’s ‘72 Thinline reissues don’t have the mojo. Those humbuckers look the same, but the design is different inside.
Good for G&L to do a serious Thinline type.
That boy wearin’ a Gatton t-shirt has gotta mean bidness!!!
G&L currently has three different semi-hollow Strat-type models too, they’re promoting right on their home page. Hot stuff!
FYI - The Thinline that Fender Custom Shop builds for Jonny Lang sports two 500 series Bill Lawerence humbuckers in the neck and bridge position– and a Duncan P-90 in the middle.
I wanna get a Warmoth Tele Thinline body, and do that.
Then maybe I’ll send it over to Cary at EGR for a relic makeover LOL!
Boy -
That’s a sweet one!! I am curious of the finish on the other side… I am at the point to build my own out of the exotic African Koruna wood and I am still debating the finish. I am thinking natural since the grain is famulous, it would be a shame to actually hide it.
Yar, Strat, that Gatton shirt is tight. I gotta get me one.
FINALLY, someone noticed the Gatton shirt!!!
It’s the greatest shirt ever. Head on over to http://bigmo.com/dannygattoncds.html and pick up every Gatton cd and the shirt. The live CDs will blow your mind… if you’re only familiar with his two Elektra “big label” albums (bland bland bland) FORGET it all, and pick up Unfinished Business, then the live stuff — all incredible and fun and musical.
Yes, it’s interesting how G&L seem to have hit on something with the semi-hollows. They’re fun, a bit unusual looking and sounding… just nice to see someone doing something classic but fresh instead of just more cookie-cutter Strat and Tele and Les Paul clones.
I stuck in the Humbler after a while of not being constantly humbled, and fairly soon after picking up some Roy Buchanan and I was surprised at how much my ears had caught up to the Telemaster. My hands? Nowhere near, but my ears get it more now.
Redneck Jazz? “Ugly Man”? That’s still a treat.
And I found and linked to that shirt already. I’ll be hinting to my wife for a birthday present….
If you are looking for an even more affordable G&L guitar, check out their Tribute line. They are usually sub-$700 and the series includes the Bluesboy (humbucker) Tele-style. They are factory assembled in Asia, but have the same pick-ups as the USA models.
You can pick out some quality differences from the USA made G&Ls, but still a damn fine guitar. I hug mine every day.
hehe i think i’m gonna hug my new HUGhes and kettner instead!
I’ll probably get hurt for saying this - considering the Fender enthusiasts here - but I hug my SG more than my custom Strat, it’s lighter lol.
I’ve been hugging my Gibson ES-333 as of late. Wonderful guitar! IG, you already have a picture of me playing it.
But I also hug my Strat as well… GROUP HUG!!!
As far as G & L is concerned, I’ve got my eye on the Comanche. It has those Z-coil pickups - like a hybrid single coil/humbucker, and it also has a coil tap, so you get a bunch of tonal possibilities out of one guitar. Had the chance to play one in a shop a few weeks ago, and just loved it! Now if I can only come up with the 2 grand to pay for it, I’ll be in hog heaven!
Jesse - No need to fear my friend, all guitars apply, Strats, Non Strats, US made, Chinese made, Mexican made. As long as it is a guitar, and you love the heck out of it, give it a hug! A good one!
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iG:
I just read your article: http://igblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/hug-your-guitar-week/
I arrived here via http://www.guitarflame.com/2008/why-i-love-my-guitar/
Some guitars need hugs… or they will simply cease to exist.
I sent you a picture via igblog@aol.com thanks for being a real man and hugging your guitar! Patrick Darnell
moopigwisdom.blogspot.com
IG: just wanted you to know I have posted your link to this blog o’ mine:
http://fast–faithfulandsteadfast.blogspot.com/2008/05/hugs-arent-just-for-girls.html
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this is such a great idea, I am going to hug mine and try to send you a pic
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