• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ashbory (Guild/DeArmond/Fender) Club

#82
SBassman said:
Is there any way to get it to hold itself up?

I realize it's a weird design and neck dive is likely.
It's not fatal to me, but, am I being a dense about this?
Is there a way with any kind of strap to get it to hold itself up?
Click to expand...

The strap buttons are in crazy places. Here's what I did:

1. Moved one strap button to an inch or so above the output jack.

2. Removed the other strap button completely and bought one of those attach-at-the-headstock strap adaptor thingies.

This makes the Ashbory about 100 times more playable.
 
#84
SBassman said:
Is there any way to get it to hold itself up?

I realize it's a weird design and neck dive is likely.
It's not fatal to me, but, am I being a dense about this?
Is there a way with any kind of strap to get it to hold itself up?
Click to expand...

Oh come on, man! It weighs about as much as a basketball! Just hold it with your left hand. ;-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: TolerancEJ
#87
I'd like to play this at my next bass gig. Having lots of fun with it - with Thunderguts on it.

[I don't know how any of you got enjoyment out of the stock strings. Not only were they completely unstable, but, I was surprised that the material was really a gummy rubber. Kinda shocked that this instrument went all those years before Pahoehoes and now Thunderguts.]

Anyway, do you gig with this? I'm a little afraid of these plastic tuners snapping in the middle of a gig. Anyone ever have a tuner break on them?
 
#88
SBassman said:
I'd like to play this at my next bass gig. Having lots of fun with it - with Thunderguts on it.



Anyway, do you gig with this? I'm a little afraid of these plastic tuners snapping in the middle of a gig. Anyone ever have a tuner break on them?
Click to expand...

I used to gig with it. The tuners are total crap, but are still working.
 
#91
scotch said:
Ive just started using Aquila Thundergut strings on my Ashbory. Wow! Higher tension, vastly improved tuning stability and they are easier to glissando on. Cannot comment on durability yet.
Click to expand...

I just put a set of these on my Guild Ashbory. MUCH BETTER! It's so much easier to tune and play now. No powder needed, either.
 
#95
OK, I decided to try the Aquila strings on my Ashbory.

I've been using Pahoehoe stings for a while now, so my comparisons are with them, more than with the stock strings.

My opinion so far is that I prefer the sound of the Pahoehoes, but I prefer the feel of the Aquilas.

The Aquilas have more sustain, which is nice, but they lack some of the "thump" (for want of a better description) of the Pahoehoes. I'd say that the Pahoehoes are a little bit more double-bass-sounding than the Aquilas, but only a little. The Pahoehoes have a bit more "complexity" in their timbre, the Aquilas sound a bit more focussed.

The Aquilas also seem to be a bit more consistent, and for whatever reason - perhaps the fact that the tension feels a bit higher - they seem to play in tune better than the Pahoehoes. I had to feel around a bit more to play in tune with the Pahoehoes. The Aquilas are more usable up at the dusty end of the fingerboard.

So, neither is a clear winner for me. The Pahoehoes sound a little nicer, but the Aquilas are more usable. For the moment, I'll stick with the Aquilas, but I might go back to the Pahoehoes if I find myself missing their timbre too much.

I was a bit worried about how the white Aquilas would look on my black Ashbory, but while I think the black Pahoehoes look better, the white Aquilas look surprisingly good.
 
#96
djetz said:
OK, I decided to try the Aquila strings on my Ashbory.

I've been using Pahoehoe stings for a while now, so my comparisons are with them, more than with the stock strings.

My opinion so far is that I prefer the sound of the Pahoehoes, but I prefer the feel of the Aquilas.

The Aquilas have more sustain, which is nice, but they lack some of the "thump" (for want of a better description) of the Pahoehoes. I'd say that the Pahoehoes are a little bit more double-bass-sounding than the Aquilas, but only a little. The Pahoehoes have a bit more "complexity" in their timbre, the Aquilas sound a bit more focussed.

The Aquilas also seem to be a bit more consistent, and for whatever reason - perhaps the fact that the tension feels a bit higher - they seem to play in tune better than the Pahoehoes. I had to feel around a bit more to play in tune with the Pahoehoes. The Aquilas are more usable up at the dusty end of the fingerboard.

So, neither is a clear winner for me. The Pahoehoes sound a little nicer, but the Aquilas are more usable. For the moment, I'll stick with the Aquilas, but I might go back to the Pahoehoes if I find myself missing their timbre too much.

I was a bit worried about how the white Aquilas would look on my black Ashbory, but while I think the black Pahoehoes look better, the white Aquilas look surprisingly good.
Click to expand...

I think that's a very fair assessment.

Did you notice the time it took to reach stability with the Thunderguts v.s. the Pahoehoes? For me, it's been -
2 days v.s. 2 weeks.
 
#97
SBassman said:
I think that's a very fair assessment.

Did you notice the time it took to reach stability with the Thunderguts v.s. the Pahoehoes? For me, it's been -
2 days v.s. 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

Agreed, the Aquilas reach stability a lot quicker. They're a lot less hassle in every way, which makes up for the somewhat less bassy sound, in my opinion. The difference in sound quality isn't that much, and a bit of EQ twiddling will probably sort that out anyway. So, the Aquilas stay on.
 
#98
I'm new to this club but have played Guild Ashborys since they came out.
I've just moved on to the DeArmond and am letting my Guilds do the vintage stay at home.

The original strings are the best to me.
The Pahahoehoes are similar to me. After being on for a week they have gotten more musical. The notes that could be played way up the neck are slowly creeping up the neck. :)
The Fenders, passable.

I play the Ashbory in an upright position and don't look down.:eek:
The Guilds were perfect that way the DeArmond has a little sway.

If it hasn't been said here before, I believe the DeArmond and original Guild cases are responsible for the G string breakage. Once I changed cases I've had no breakage in 10+ years gigging up to three times a week. I have heard folks say their G has broken out of the case however.

I have the upgraded Alun pickup on one of my Guilds.
A/Bed the DeArmond had a pleasing mid punch and clarity that carries better in a gig situation.
 
#100
scotch said:
I've been an avid, if not ravenous, Ashbory abuser for years! I love it! 'Blown up a lot of p.a. subs with it & certainly upset a few stomachs! :bassist: A track I used it on even charted pretty decent back in '03.




I'm gonna be honest, though,... my newly acquired Kala U-Bass is likely going to force an early retirement for the Ashbory. :crying: There will always be a place in my heart for the Ash' though...
Click to expand...

Kala replace an Ashbory????
NNEEVVEERR!! :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back