Hatsubai « Bigger low end »
Published on 08/16/11 at 18:19While alder is their main wood that Fender likes to use, they're also known for their ash bodies. The ash bodies bring a different flavor to the table that none of the other strats seem to have. This guitar has an ash body with a one piece maple neck, 22 frets, two point tremolo, three single coil configuration, one volume, two tones and a five way switch.
UTILIZATION
The major issue this guitar had was that the nut needed to be reshaped a bit. There was a buzzing on the g string that wouldn't go away no matter what angle the string was at. Some work with my nut files fixed that bit up, but it's just something to keep in mind. The frets on this were pretty good without too many issues. They were a touch flat, but they were nice and even. The ends were also rounded, so they don't cut your hand every time you go up and down the neck.
SOUNDS
The first thing I should mention is that ash bodied guitars tend to have extended lows and highs. This can work out nicely with strats at times, but it can also make them too bright if you have the wrong pickups in it. This had the Fender SCN pickups in it, and they were great. The bridge was super powerful and fat sounding, but it had enough treble to cut. The neck got an awesome vowely/bubbly lead tone going on, and the in-between positions were awesome for that quack sound. However, they're not terribly dynamic, so low gain guys might not enjoy them.
OVERALL OPINION
The ash bodied version of this guitar has more bass and more high end. It gives you a fatter sound, but it also allows you to cut more. Some people really like this, and some dislike it. In reality, you just gotta play it and see how much you like it yourself. I also find them to be a tad heavier than normal alder bodied strats, so keep that in mind.
UTILIZATION
The major issue this guitar had was that the nut needed to be reshaped a bit. There was a buzzing on the g string that wouldn't go away no matter what angle the string was at. Some work with my nut files fixed that bit up, but it's just something to keep in mind. The frets on this were pretty good without too many issues. They were a touch flat, but they were nice and even. The ends were also rounded, so they don't cut your hand every time you go up and down the neck.
SOUNDS
The first thing I should mention is that ash bodied guitars tend to have extended lows and highs. This can work out nicely with strats at times, but it can also make them too bright if you have the wrong pickups in it. This had the Fender SCN pickups in it, and they were great. The bridge was super powerful and fat sounding, but it had enough treble to cut. The neck got an awesome vowely/bubbly lead tone going on, and the in-between positions were awesome for that quack sound. However, they're not terribly dynamic, so low gain guys might not enjoy them.
OVERALL OPINION
The ash bodied version of this guitar has more bass and more high end. It gives you a fatter sound, but it also allows you to cut more. Some people really like this, and some dislike it. In reality, you just gotta play it and see how much you like it yourself. I also find them to be a tad heavier than normal alder bodied strats, so keep that in mind.