I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

[telerifik]

Here are my thoughts.

Price: $599.99
Made: Korea
Body: Very light and BEAUTIFUL. This thing sings acoustic resonance and sustain before you even plug it in.
Sound: The Duncan pups are very warm yet SPANK with the best of them. The sound is very much like a 52.
Neck: The neck overall is a big let down. The Birds eye has very little curl and the fret work is crap... very much like a budget squier. The neck also feels very thin.

I give it an 8 out of 10 only because of the neck. If I were to buy one I would swap necks asap and then this guitar would be a dream.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Thanks for the review. I've been G.A.S.ing for one since I saw them on Fender's site about a month or so ago. I'd be willing to bet they're like most guitars....good ones and bad ones....you probably just have to play a few to find the one that fits you. I'm gonna try to go check them out this weekend. Thanks again.

 

[xerxes]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

cool. thanks for the review!

 

[tone4days]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

thanks for the review telerifik .. where in the b'more area did you play one .. i need to go feel one and hear one before i decide ... Bill's in Catonsville? GC in Towson? other?

cheers,
t4d

 

[TheMist]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

well I loved the one I played. It had a nice birdseye neck and great tone and setup. sorry you got a dud man.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Bummer about the small neck size. I'd want one with at least a 60s c shape...

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Thanks for the review, could you tell us a bit more about the three saddle bridge? What was your impression?

 

[mrfjones]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

i have the tree saddle bridge on both of my teles and i think thats how you get the best tele sound. I think the individual saddle bridges take away from that cool, almost in tune twang that only belongs to the tele

 

[telerifik]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

thanks for the review telerifik .. where in the b'more area did you play one .. i need to go feel one and hear one before i decide ... Bill's in Catonsville? GC in Towson? other?

cheers,
t4d

GC in Towson.

 

[telerifik]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Thanks for the review, could you tell us a bit more about the three saddle bridge? What was your impression?

I loved the bridge, of course 30 min of play say nothing for long term use, but my first impression of the bridge was KILLER VINTAGE TONE! The saddles were solid and on mark right off the rack. I just wish it did not have such a damn small neck. :smack:

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Thanks for the review.

I was afraid of this, I hate small necks. Looks like I'll be going the custom route.

 

[B2D]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

...I have small hands so I tend to like small necks.

Te birdseye is not as heavily figured as something you'd get from warmoth but it's still nice. And the fretwork and setup on the ones in my shop were flawless.

 

[FenderBender03]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Did i hear the words "Made In Korea"? Wow, i thought at least Japan. They do look like cool guitars though.
If i was to get one, i'd have to ditch that 3 saddle bridge. I really don't like those things anymore. That "almost in tune" sound started to drive me crazy and is causing me to part out my 50's tele so i can get the MIM Standard Tele i've had my eye on for awhile now. I've liked those from the start, so i'm gonna get one even if it is MIM lol They have everything i like about a tele. Perfect neck for my hands, all the ones i've had experience with have rarely needed tuning, and i just think they look pretty cool. I even like the pickups! I like a tele to have a thinner, "biting" tone with really articulate single notes, and this does just that! :laugh2:

FenderBender

 

[Scott_F]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Semi Rumor Alert

did you guys know that the MIM Fenders use american necks? Makes me wonder if the Korean ones are american as well. Probably not, to far to have to ship them to.

I got this tidbit from someone in the know. Someone I trust, but it's only one source.

 

[xerxes]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

scott, are your sure they use american necks? i think you mean the highway 1 guitars use american necks....


could be wrong though of corse

 

[telerifik]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

I have owned many american and other teles and if they are in fact made in america I am shocked as I see feel and hear a huge diff in the mim necks.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Like I said, it's nothing more than a rumor until I can substantiate it elsewhere. If it is true, I'm sure they cull out the "lesser" necks and ship the to Mexico.

Might be bogus. But it's interesting anyway.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

i have heard that same thing about the necks but i have also heard that it was only on certain series of guitars made in mexico. I don't really know how true that is but all the mexican fenders i own have great necks.

 

[korinastratkyle]

Re: I played the new Lite Ash Tele today

Like I said, it's nothing more than a rumor until I can substantiate it elsewhere. If it is true, I'm sure they cull out the "lesser" necks and ship the to Mexico.

Might be bogus. But it's interesting anyway.

I looked at a website of someone who had taken a tour of the Mexico factory. According to the website; the necks themselves are in fact American-made, but the fretting and the finish are done at the Mexico factory.
Also, I played a Custom Tele FMT HH at Guitar Center, and I was very impressed! It sounded great and played great! Had I had $600, I would have definetly bought it! But, there's always the bad egg or two.