Price paid: £ 125
Features: Spruce Top
Mahogany Back & Sides
Rosewood Fingerboard
Dovetail Neck Joint
Rosewood Bridge
Built in auto chromatic tuner
21 frets.
laminate top // 6
Sound: I play mostly Acoustic Indie rock, Folk and various other genres. The Ashton complements me well. On open chords and lower to mid bar chords it produces a crisp and full sound, however on higher fret bar chords it does tend to resonate and distort slightly. Nice range of styles, suits complex picking and simple chord progressions. // 7
Action, Fit & Finish: All quality materials, the space between string and fretboard gets progressivly greater, at such a rate it compromises the sound slightly from the 15th fret onwards. No flaws. // 6
Reliability & Durability: Only played casually. Solid reliable build. Playing two years and counting and playing as well as ever. Bottom stap button broke on dropping. Dependable but not exactly to gig extent. // 6
Impression: This guitar was sold to me as an "ideal for beginners" model, and yes it certainly is the ideal beginners guitar with a built in tuner and affordable price (just incase the investment in musical talent fails). However having been playing the Ashton as a primary guitar for about 2 years now I have grown to appreciate what I feel is a decent quality sounding instrument. Very crisp sound from the lower to mid frets, however it does tend to resonate slightly on the higher fret bar chords. To conclude I am more than happy with this guitar, it far much more than a beginners model in my eyes. Affordability is the initial selling point, but don't let this mislead you from what is a hearty, warm sounding guitar! // 7
