Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

[B2D]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

I haven't seen one in Aus yet, but by the pics on the fender site + your description, they sound great. And I love natural timbre guitars.

For comparison, are they priced below a made in mexico Fender, but above a squier?

The price is right in between a Mexican-made Fender and an American Std. $600 for this kind of instrument is GREAT, IMO.

[B2D]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

Thanks for the review. Sounds right down my alley.

What kind of neck profile? is it the 'modern c' like the Am Stds, or something chunkier?

The neck profile is like the V shape on the Jimmie Vaughn Strat, but a bit softer of a shape. Very comfortable, IMO.

[B2D]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

How is the Fender Ash Telecaster. I'm debating whether I should order a custom guitar or buy the lite and try painting/dyeing it myself (I am going to build that transparent orange tele at some point). I'm mostly concerned about the size of the neck and the quality of the woods.

Good review of the Strat, I'm itching to try this new series

I actually sold the Tele to one of my friends and it was still very Tele-sounding but the tonal differences were consistent... smoother and warmer tone but still retaining clarity.

[StefanM]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

I haven't seen one in Aus yet, but by the pics on the fender site + your description, they sound great. And I love natural timbre guitars.

For comparison, are they priced below a made in mexico Fender, but above a squier?

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

I've been wanting to build this guitar for the last year. Now fender makes it for $589? I was prepared to spend nearly a grand to get this combination and now it can be had for almost half that much. I knew that the pop of ash and maple along with the smoothness of the Alnico 2 SD pups would be a real winner and it looks like I was right.

BTW - All my money isn't gone, but I still need to buy a truck and get my CR-500's transmission fixed.

[McLaughysSN]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

Thanks, Now i have G.A.S.

i haven't G.A.S in a long time.. and all my money is gone :fing25:

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

bump

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

Thanks for the review. Sounds right down my alley.

What kind of neck profile? is it the 'modern c' like the Am Stds, or something chunkier?

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

How is the Fender Ash Telecaster. I'm debating whether I should order a custom guitar or buy the lite and try painting/dyeing it myself (I am going to build that transparent orange tele at some point). I'm mostly concerned about the size of the neck and the quality of the woods.

Good review of the Strat, I'm itching to try this new series

[brisk]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

hey we koreans can do certain things right!

[JumpMarine]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

Cool, I've been waiting for a good review. I was hoping that they played as good as they looked.

[xerxes]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

damn man, that sounds like a sweet guitar! have to check one out. thanks for the review!

[Hoss]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

sounds like i need to check those out next time i go to a music store...!?!?

[TheMist]

Re: Fender Strat Lite Ash - 2 thumbs WAAAY UP!

yeah man I know what ya mean I played the Lite Ash Tele and its the best sounding/playing Tele I have played. And its a steal at the price.

[B2D]

We got the new Fender Strat and Tele "lite" models in stock at the store today... I tried the Strat first. here;s the facts.

- Ash body, natural finish
- Birdseye maple neck with satin finish, soft V shape
- Abalone dot inlay, 22frets with vintage style fretwire
- American Standard-style bridge (but with non-offset saddles!)
- The same tuners that come on the American STD Strats, but non-staggered
- Black pickguard, covers, knobs, etc
- REAL Seymour Duncan APS1 set (N, RWRP, and B models)

First off the setupand intonation was perfect right out of the box! I plugged it in using one of the new Vox Valvetronix combos and let 'er rip.



This thing sounds INSANELY good! The body is ash and weighs in at about 7.5 punds, and the maple neck give it a lot of weight, brightness and clarity but the Alnico II Duncan singles give it a very smooth, vintage, creamy, warm sound. The bright articulate top of the ash and maple coupled up with the pickups make for one of the most tonefully balanced Strats I've ever heard. It's a very vintage vibe but much, much smoother and warmer than what you'd expect from, say, a '57 reissue. and it's still clear and articulate too! A PERFECT blend. Killer sustain and dynamics, too. Sounded otherworldy for blues-rock and fusion styles. Distortion-overdrive sounds were sweet, fat, and harmonically rich while clean sounds were deep, warm, and sparkly on top.

Like I said the setup and intonation were perfect right out of the box and that coupled with the neck and fretwork had my fingers flying all over the fretboard! The radius was flatter as well, probably an 11 so bends as well as chording were very easy. And the birdseye maple, simple logo (just a gold "Fender" logo, serial number on the back and that's it) and abalone inlay gave it a classy look.

The trem system is almost identical to an American Std trem system except that the saddle screws are not offset like they are on the Americans. It stayed in tune very well under moderate use.

Oh yeah, it's Korean made (but obviously has american parts) and only costs 589.99! About the same as the Highway 1 Strats.

My only grip is that the pickups aren't noiseless and they only come in that natural-black PG scheme. But considering the AWESOME tone and feel that's secondary to me.

This is EASILY one of the best Strats I've ever played. On par with the American Standards (and maybe even a little bit above) IMO.

Go check this thing out!