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SHOP NEWS
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• New Asher Guitar & Lap Steel Models for 2008! • Bill Asher featured in "Lap Steel Guitar" by Andy Volk. • "Guitar Player" Magazine: Q&A with Ben Harper. • "Frets" Magazine: Review the Asher Electro Hawaiian® Lap Steels • I know I've seen an Asher somwehere!!! But where? • Bill has worked on their guitars! See the impressive list! ASHER GUITARS IS PART OF HISTORY AT NAMM 2008! “I’m honored that they chose my instruments,” says Bill Asher, owner and master luthier of Asher Guitars & Lap Steels. “It’s pretty rewarding to think that something I made has earned a spot in a museum.” The exhibition, which opens October 11, 2008 and runs to the beginning of April 2009, will be a historical presentation touching on the instruments’ past, present and future. Experts in the slide guitar, from various fields relating to the instrument including musicians, builders, historians, and collectors, collaborated on the exhibit revealing a dynamic history, lively presentation and unique outlook for the future. Two Asher instruments were loaned to the Museum by Henry Kaiser for its initial exhibition preview, which debuted during NAMM 2008 at the Anaheim Convention Center in January. An Electro Hawaiian Model I and an Electro Sonic, both custom made for Kaiser in the early 2000s, were displayed in the Main Hall at the NAMM show. They were crafted from a matching set of superior grade koa, with clear gloss nitro lacquer finishes. Both are early representations of the models that are in production today. Asher lap steels that will be on display at the main show in October, will include a custom shop inlayed “Lotus Flower” Electro Hawaiian Model I, a special Ben Harper Limited Edition prototype, and an Electro Hawaiian lap steel that was played on a recent album by Robert Randolph and demoed live by Jerry Douglas. For more information about the exhibit, please visit the museum website at www.museumofmakingmusic.org/ ASHER GUITARS ON THE ROAD – FIND OUT WHOS PLAYING WHAT
Marc Ford and his talented son Elijah Ford not only have teamed up in the Marc Ford band, they are both touring and recording with their Asher guitars. They each have Asher Ultra Tone double cutaway models. Asher made Marc’s Ultra Tone with a swamp ash body, custom wound Asher pickups and a TV yellow finish. There is talk in the works that this may someday become a signature Marc Ford model. If you haven’t had a chance to check out their album Weary and Wired, it’ll blow you away. Check out his site for details. www.marcford.net
Rich is using his Asher Dual Tone semi-acoustic lap steel with a California redwood top and says it is his favorite slide guitar. Not too long ago Rich was on the cover story in Vintage Guitar Magazine where he talks all about his music and gear. The Black Crowes live shows are incredible to experience - be sure to look out for their new album coming out soon. Check on their tour dates at www.blackcrowes.com “Man, I can write a love song on that,” said Randolph when he first played his Asher Electro Hawaiian lap steel with Bill backstage at the Greek Theater. His multicultural funky soulful sounds landed him on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time list. Check out his website to find out when he is coming to your town. You won’t be disappointed! www.robertrandolph.net Lee Alexander, Nora Jones' bassist and partner, is also a lap steel connoisseur. He was so happy with his Asher Electro Hawaiian Model I lap steel, which he toured and recorded with on her #1 album “Not Too Late”, that he purchased two more custom models! Alexander has two Fender-inspired lap steels that Bill has named the Slidecaster-S and Slidecaster-T. They are both made from traditional woods and built to a 25.5 inch Fender scale. The Slidecaster-S is made of alder, and the Slidecaster-T is made of swamp ash. Both are finished in nitrocellulose lacquer. These instruments sound incredible, are made with the best materials and show off Asher’s inventive style. They will be made in a limited quantity only through Asher Guitars.
* * * * * ASHER GUITARS LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE NEW LAP STEEL FOR A REVIVING ART The new Asher Electro-Hawaiian® Junior boasts impressive resonance, quality tone, and a professional feel, much like Asher’s top of the line model that was originally designed for Grammy Award Winning rock star Ben Harper. Built with simpler materials and components, the Junior caters to entry-level players by offering wider string spacing for smoother playability and a longer scale length suitable for guitar and dobro players. Asher’s unique designs has made loyal clients of musical greats like Harper, Greg Leisz, Cindy Cashdollar and Lee Alexander with Nora Jones.
“The lap steel has made a comeback in recent years. Players have discovered it produces a very dreamy, soulful sound, almost like the human voice,” said Asher, who has been in the guitar business for over 24 years. Nor does the Junior make any aesthetic compromises. Personally designed by Asher himself, both neck and body are crafted from solid mahogany and available in an elegant tobacco-burst, antique-white or cherry red finish. The guitar, complete with gig bag, retails for $759.00
* * * * * CNC PRODUCTION, ROCKS! Although quality and masterful craftsmanship have always been a hallmark of Asher Guitars, the integration of CNC production will not only help maintain the highest standards of quality and accuracy, but also allow for more efficient and lower production costs--savings that Asher plans on passing on to his customers.
The integration of CNC production will have a big impact on the company and its ability to compete with other market leaders. It will allow the company to develop a more extensive product line and enable it to produce exquisite guitars in larger numbers without compromising on quality, sound or detail.
NEW ASHER GUITAR & LAP STEEL MODELS FOR 2008! The Electro Sonic body shape is similar to the Electro Hawaiian lap steel and reminiscent of a Les Paul, with a sloped cut-away. This guitar features the same mahogany neck-through-body design, koa top and cylindrical tone chambers as the Asher lap steel. The bridge design however, is a unique feature to the round neck with six individual graphite bars for each string, creating much more sustain and string separation. Yes, its been a project with a long time in the works, but it will be well worth the wait!
* * * * *
LAP STEEL STRINGS FOR SALE!
Electro Hawaiian® (EH6-15) Electric Lap Steel Strings Nickel Round Wound, Medium Gauge, .015, .018, .028, .038, .048, .058 $10.15 set; ($91.35 for a box of 10) Acoustic Hawaiian® (AH6-14) Acoustic Lap Steel Strings Phosphor Bronze, Medium Gauge, .014, .017, .028, .036, .046, .056 $12.15 set; ($109.35 for a box of 10)
ASHER FEATURED IN NEW LAP STEEL BOOK
 
BEN HARPER TALKS ABOUT HIS ASHER IN "GUITAR PLAYER" MAGAZINE
"I was excited when Billy built this guitar--it gets such a mad tone. Finally I could get solid body volume and sustain, control feedback, and still have some hollow resonance that filters up through the pickups instead of through the open hole." Read more... "FRETS" MAGAZINE: REVIEW THE
ASHER ELECTRO HAWAIIAN® LAP STEELS
ASHER NEWS CREDITS
*please contact the publication to get the full story. |
Many of the musicians we work with are on the road and in the studio – they continue to inspire us to build better products and stay true to our craft. Here is what some of our clients are up to, and what Asher’s they have in their arsenal.
Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes are touring and in the studio with their Asher Guitars! We made Chris a custom Ultra Tone, double cutaway model with a natural finish and a tri-colored Mandala artwork on the front. He had some specific ideas of how he wanted this guitar to be. It was a lot of fun building it (not in the picture shown).
Robert Randolph, frontman for Robert Randolph and the Family Band, is the latest onboard Asher’s list of endorsing artists. Although trained as a pedal steel guitarist in the House of God Church, Randolph is equally as stealth on a lap steel guitar.
Multi-instrumentalist Freddy Koella, formerly with Bob Dylan, has added an Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior lap steel to his arsenal that he is now using on tour with KD Lang. Visit 
Ben Harper, who tours with at least three Asher lap steels and has another ten in his collection, continually inspires us with fresh ideas and approaches to achieving innovative sound and style. On a recent album Both Sides of the Gun, you can hear his Series II Limited Edition Asher lap steel throughout (through his Dumble Amp of course). We are currently working with Ben on some new ideas, which may or may not become available to the public. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can find out more information about his most recent work titled “Lifeline” as well as upcoming tour dates on his website 
Canadian Steve Dawson has amazing slide skills and we love his new album titled “We Belong to the Gold Coast”. Dawson, who plays an Electro Hawaiian Model I lap steel (flame Koa top, tortoise shell binding, pearl inlays and steel buckers), has many credits to his name including founding the successful independent label Black Hen Music, producing artists such as Kelly Joe Phelps and Jim Byrnes, and authoring an instructional book “Getting Into Slide Guitar. You can find out more information on Steve and his music at 
Asher Guitars, known for its ultra high-end lap steels, is launching a new lap steel guitar model - one that is specifically tailored for those looking for an entry-priced instrument that doesn’t lack in quality or sound.
Founder and Master luthier Bill Asher, who has earned the reputation of L.A.’s “go-to-guy” when it comes to precision guitar work and restoration, said that the enormous popularity of the original Electro-Hawaiian® model inspired him to create the Junior, which would still retain the trademark Asher design, but come at a more inviting price point.
“Although this guitar does not have the tonal complexity of its big brother, the tone it does have is screamin’, with an extremely punchy midrange,” celebrated funk guitarist Pete Madsen said after trying out the Junior for a Frets Magazine review. “I play a lot of blues and blues-inspired music and I found this guitar was a perfect tonal match for my sensibilities.”
"Converting
to CNC (computerized numerical control) production is a win-win situation
for everyone," says Bill Asher, who has just begun to convert some
of his guitar production to CNC computerized technology.
Asher
is known for his innovate lap steel designs and is continually
pushing the envelope when it comes to refining and perfecting his
instruments. CNC machinery will enable Asher to design and create
his instruments like never before. The CNC router will drastically
reduce the time required to develop prototypes and will streamline
the entire development process of new guitar designs. This means
the faster that Asher comes up with ideas, the faster he can get
them out there for the public to enjoy.
Production of the Electro Sonic Round Neck Guitar is moving forward and has many players chomping at the bit. The prototypes of the Electro Sonic Round Neck Guitar have been getting some noticeable attention. Asher's Electro Sonic model has a super smooth round neck electric guitar with all the crunch and slide tones of Asher's Electro Hawaiian® lap steel!
"When guitar players heard the incredible tone and sustain of the Electro Hawaiian, they demanded a round neck version with the same dynamic character," says Bill Asher, who made the first custom Electro Sonic prototype for Henry Kaiser in 2001.
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