Lite Ash Strat

steinberger

I'm thinking of getting one.A few people here seem to rate them highly.
Can they be got with a rosewood neck?
Would like to hear from people who have one or had one and what they thought of it - Be it good or bad.
Are the standard Pickups,Tuners any good? etc

Karl Hungus

steinberger wrote:

Can they be got with a rosewood neck?

No, only maple.

Johnny Storm

If you have done a search you may have read my comments already but here goes:-
I have one and its my favourite of all my guitars. The Seymour Duncan pickups are excellent IMHO. I've never had a problem with the tuners. (Well, I had a lot of problems for the first week or so but that was me getting used to the Strat ) Great sound, great feel.

If you really want a rosewood neck you can get a Korina Strat (beautiful looking) that is quite similar to the Lite Ash except with Rosewood board and Korina topped body.

The main disadvantage to my Lite Ash was that five or six of the frets were not seated properly and to get this fixed, with a new nut cost over €300. That problem did not become noticeable until I had had the guitar for several months. It is made in Korea which may not be every Strat purist's cup of tea.

So I would recommend one but watch out for the frets and if you are buying online be prepared to send it back, until you get a good one. The nut is cheap but serviceable.

Voodu Child

Johnny Storm wrote:

The main disadvantage to my Lite Ash was that five or six of the frets were not seated properly and to get this fixed, with a new nut cost over €300.

I dont know how in the hell you can recommend a guitar to someone that had those problems.

Ive been of the same opinion since they first came out - they skimped on quality in favour of crowd pleasers like duncans and birdseye maple. I wouldnt spend my money on one. Thats an unpopular opinion here, but there you go.

feylya

Nice specs but I just didn't get on with the neck. Ended up getting a nicer guitar from Ishibashi

Johnny Storm

voodoo_child wrote:

I dont know how in the hell you can recommend a guitar to someone that had those problems.

Ive been of the same opinion since they first came out - they skimped on quality in favour of crowd pleasers like duncans and birdseye maple. I wouldnt spend my money on one. Thats an unpopular opinion here, but there you go.

Well, simply because its a very nice sounding and playing guitar (now that it has been expensively fixed). And as I said "if you are buying online be prepared to send it back, until you get a good one."

OTOH I believe that Fender has really improved some of the higher end Mex Strats like the 50s Classic, 60s Classic (or similar name) and the Highway 1 during 2006. So those may be worth considering. And for best value second-hand is probably the way to go.

Bratach Bán

Johnny Storm wrote:

Fender has really improved some of the higher end Mex Strats like the 50s Classic, 60s Classic (or similar name) and the Highway 1 during 2006.

The Highway 1 is American made, just to clarify, and yes it's a beautiful guitar. Second hand prices are very good, but because of the thin finish, chances are your guitar won't look new when you buy it. They have a great price in Goodwin's at the moment though.

steinberger

Thanks for the replies guys.

Johnny Storm

Let us know how it works out for you, please. And of course there MUST be pictures.

Ravelleman

Johnny Storm wrote:

If you really want a rosewood neck you can get a Korina Strat (beautiful looking) that is quite similar to the Lite Ash except with Rosewood board and Korina topped body.

Just to clarify - it's Koa not Korina. I believe it's a veneer over a basswood body.

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Personally, I didn't really like the Lite Ash Strat I played. I didn't get on with the unfinished neck.

I would recommend any of the Mexican Artist Series Strats (Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray in particular), as well as the new Classic Player Strats. You can't go wrong with either really.