I've been playing a lot more electric lately playing with a new crew, and although I like my Godin a lot, I'm looking at adding something a little more punchy. My wife has given me permission to pickup something decent as a 40th Bday gift, and I've got about $1500 to work with.

I'm leaning towards a G&L, and I'm wondering if any OFCers have any opinions on them -- ASAT Special in particular -- either good or bad. Next week I'm going to check out a few models at a G&L retailer who has some really nice looking Gs to try out -- ASAT Special, SC-2, ASAT Z3 (very curious about those pickups), and a bunch of classics.

I guess my questions for those knowledgable are as follows:

1. Are G&Ls a good bang for the buck?
2. Are there any other brands I should be looking at for something of comparable quality in this price range?

p.s. My wife is making me sign a 10 year GAS moratorium to fund this purchase, but she says this every time I buy something, and the Jedi mind trick usually seems to make her forget about it   

I beg to differ on the amps. I've been using the X-series for years. Frank Zappa used the same ones. The new V3 amps have stellar reviews and it's high on my list for next amp. Resale value sucks for sure though, amd their solid state stuff was pretty lame. I don't know much about the bass and or acoustic offerings.

Is there a specific model you're speaking to?

I totally agree on resale value on the guitars though. Carvin guitars are built to a specific user's specs. There's not much collectable value there for someone besides the original owner. For this reason they're an even better value when you find used ones, but there aren't that many used ones out there that haven't been used up. My opinion... people tend to hold on to what they had made special for themselves.

As for resale value, G&L is average too, though they hold up better than Carvins and many other brands like another one of my underdog favs Peavey (although the Wolfgang's resell is stellar)

I usta have one and it went to Mr. Ovation. It was traded for something or other. There's nothing more comfortable than a thru-neck. 

As much as I love my UKII, it's retired from giggin. These days my main go-to solidbodies are USA built Peaveys from the early 90s. I have quite a few I use quite a bit, but the main giggers are the Destiny Custom and Odyssey... Both neck-thru.

The Destiny is a pure shredder style guitar ala Jackson's SL1 Soloist. Really, it was the non-signature version of the Vandenberg

The Odyssey is more along the lines of a LesPaul/PRS I suppose, but really it's an Ultra GP killer. It's everything good about the GP but much higher quality and attention to detail (and a fraction of the cost).

If a 'strat' is needed, I use a Falcon Custom (bolt-on). Custom wound stacked hum reducing pups, locking tuners carved and flamed maple cap, flame maple neck with rosewood fretboard... If it said fender on it, it would be $3k

Prior to these, I was using Steve Cropper's fav the Generation S1 and S2 (both bolt-on)... the 'redheaded step twins'. Again, flamey caps and necks like the Falcon. These have active bartolini designed pickups. They still get the call on many occasions.

And the coolest thing, you could probably pick up 3 or 4 of these in this used market and still come in under budget. I could care less about resell value on 'em, they're awesome instruments made with American hands.

I know you're looking for something special, but just one? for the next 10 years? really? (it's this attitude that's kept me away from marriage too)

I know, I know...but new house, two kids in daycare, and a million other expenses equal financial handcuffs for the next couple years. Although she said the same thing when I bought my Adamas a few years ago, and here I am shopping around again!

Beautiful Peaveys. Never played one. Gonna have to check them out. Saw this HP Signature on the local CL:

http://nh.craigslist.org/msg/4771508739.html

I know! Surprising he couldn't play, but maybe that helped him focus on the tone and electronics which are what really shine on these G&Ls.

I was talking to a local store owner that's big into G&Ls and he had a funny story to relate. Apparently after Leo's death they just kind of closed up his workshop at G&L and left everything exactly the way it was as a kind of shrine to the man. Then they realized they coudn't find some of his pickup designs (including the Z-Coils in the ASAT Z3 and Comanche) and looked everywhere including his workshop to no avail. They apparently had to stop making the Comanche for a while because no one knew how to make the Z Coils. A few years went by and a Japanese film crew were filming a piece on Leo and were given permission to shoot in his workshop. They accidentally knocked his desk blotter/calendar thingy off his desk, and lo and behold, underneath were his hand drawn schematics for a bunch of different pickups including the Z Coils. You can't make this stuff up... 

Welp. I made the mistake (or had the good fortune) of going and playing a bunch of new G&Ls the other night. A pine ASAT special, an ASAT Classic S, and an ASAT Z3. Both the Classic and Z3 felt great -- awesome necks, well set up, and comfortable. Z3 ended up winning on tone (you can get about 100 different sounds out of the thing - 7 different pickup combinations, and tone and volume adjustments make dramatic changes to each one). Couldn't out the thing down. So I'm officially the proud owner of a new ASAT Z3 semi-hollow body. Having a play with the guys tonight (been about a month or so), and I can't wait to see how this stands up in the mix. Thanks for all you comments and advice!