Asher SlideMaster with Jason Lollar

[Bill Asher]

Just off Bill Asher's work bench is the stunning SlideMaster prototype.
It has a beautiful curly maple top with b/w/b bindings, neck-thorugh African mahogany, ebony board, and a very special set of Lollar pickups.
Comes with custom case and free shipping within the USA. $3700.00



"This is one of the most powerful lap steels I have ever built. Tested it through my 50w Demeter yesterday and had a hard time going back to work. The sustain and tone options are stellar." Bill Asher

This one may be available call or email us if you are interested.
bill@asherguitars.com

[Howard Smith]

Do ou have pictures of the back?

[Bill Asher]

How can you substantiate charging that kind of price for this guitar...just curious.

Glad you asked, hope this answers your question, and I can’t wait to hear the responses to this one…

Well let’s see, it is hand made by me with 30 years dedicated to the craft. My work is respected because of the unique designs, attention to detail, and solid customer service after a player invests in one of my instruments. I have a great passion for guitar building so I work very hard and sweat the details, tone, and playability of every one I make. There is great value in that, especially when the instrument delivers what the player has always heard in their head but only now has been able to capture in their guitar. And I get that comment a lot by the people that own my guitars.

So for this custom one-off lap steel over 22 hours of shop time and a flawless nitro lacquer finish went into this build. The tone woods are the best you can find so the board foot price is at the high end. The pickups by Jason Lollar are some of the finest made. It has a custom machined lap steel bridge designed by Dave Borisoff of HipShot and me, his tuners are also made to the highest tolerances, and you notice. I should also
mention that all my instruments come with a lifetime warranty.

So lets just add that up:

My labor rate is $95.00 hour x 22 = $2090.00
Flame maple top 80.00
Mahogany, rosewood, and pearl 75.00
Nitro lacquer 425.00
the Hipshot tuners 65.00
the Asher custom bridge 120.00
the Lollar Regal pickup 250.00
the Lollar Horseshoe pickup 375.00
the custom made TKL case 185.00
the CTS pots, .033 oil and paper caps 87.00
the 4 Bakelite knobs 20.00
the Switchcraft jack and metal plate 12.50
the Strings 4.00
the Asher decal logo 10.00
=========
Total $3798.50


Just for clarification on my labor rate. When I started 30 years ago it was $25 an hour and respectfuly has gone up over the years as I became more skilled, older, wiser, and like anyone who works as hard as I do deserves a good wage. Which even at $95 hour these days I think is still low considering most plumbers or car mechanics charge this or more. I have to be honest; a master built instrument takes more finesse, technical skills, and tools then your plumbing or car.

Respectfully, Bill Asher

[Dennis Olearchik]

Hi Bill,

That's a beautiful guitar! And I really like the pick-up combination. Speaking of which, would that pick-up combination be available on one of your Ultra-Tone T or S models as a custom request?

Best regards,

Dennis

[Dave Bertoncini]

Beautiful work Bill

Funny how people think we should make about 25 cents an hour, isn't it?

[Bill Asher]

Hi Bill,

That's a beautiful guitar! And I really like the pick-up combination. Speaking of which, would that pick-up combination be available on one of your Ultra-Tone T or S models as a custom request?

Best regards,

Dennis

Well Dennis, I just spoke with Jason about his Horseshoe pickups availability to do some builds. Unfortunately he is in the middle of a law suit with Rickenbacker over a design patent. There's expired over 30 years ago but they want to try and stop Lollar anyway. We started the build with this custom set form Jason just before things got sticky, so for now this is the last Lollar Horseshoe pickup. Hopefully Jason will win the suit and be able to build more.

But for your request I can offer you one of my UT-S or T models with the Regal neck pickup and I happen to have a few original 1960's Horseshoe pickups left we can use. Shoot me an email or call next week if you want to talk specs.
From what I am hearing on this lap steel a guitar version would be a very good thing! Thanks for dig'n my guitars. Bill

[Howard Smith]

Really a beautiful guitar.........but just like beautiful women...I can't afford one. Also just like beautiful women.....I'd love to see the back of this one.

[Jerry Tillman]

Bill,80 dollars seems to cheap for the maple top.Also did you design this for free.I have a Ben Harper model lap steel,cherry sunburst and I love it.It is worth every penny of the 3 thousand dollars it cost.I feel I have a one of a kind lap steel and I find it has its own sound both recording and live do to the string length and woods it is made of.This is a non paid endorsement.Bill and I are separated by the United States.He is in California and I,m in Florida.

[Bill Asher]

Beautiful work Bill

Funny how people think we should make about 25 cents an hour, isn't it?

And out of our labor money we have to pay the shop rent, indirect costs like glue, sand paper, drill bits, router bits, electricity. So my take home is a moderate income. I really try to keep my guitar prices inline and competitive with the larger companies "custom shop" or "master built" guitars. And at the same time trying to push the attention to details beyond what the factories can spend the time to do.

It is a tough biz sometimes. Players are used to the big bargain discounts from retailer chains. So it creates that mentality like buying a car where you "never pay the full price and shop around". I don't inflate my retail prices so I can then give discounts.

I always offer free shipping for those out of state or 10% off to those buying locally to cover the sales tax. I do all this because I really want players to be able to afford my guitars.

I love this craft and really appreciate those who invest in my work because I want to stay in business and build guitars until my hands get too old. And I have a lot of years left!!

Thanks for Posts and Feedback,
Bill

[Mike Neer]

Stunning. Would love to spend a few nights with that instrument!

Thank you to the Bill Ashers, Todd Clinesmiths, Scott Walkers, Jason Lollars and others who do such exceptional work. This is what it is all about. I want to play these instruments because I believe I deserve the best--not because I am a great player, but because the instruments move me.

[Tom Pettingill]

Beautiful instrument and an interesting pair up with the Regal neck and Horseshoe ... I'll bet its a ton of fun
It sucks about Rickenbacker playing games with Jason. Luckily I scored a couple before they threw their hissy fit.

[Bill Asher]

Really a beautiful guitar.........but just like beautiful women...I can't afford one. Also just like beautiful women.....I'd love to see the back of this one.

Ok, here are pics of the backside. Looks like a beautiful summer blonde...

[Howard Smith]

Amazing piece of work Bill. Has to be one of the nicest looking lap steels I've ever seen. Sure appreciate you posting picks of the back as well. Love it.

[Steve Hamill]

I can attest to Bill's attention to detail as well as the unstated amount of time spent with the end user getting it just the way you want it. This guitar is flawless. Fit and finish is perfect, no excuses. Bill always listened and executed what I had in my head. It's not a steel but it sounds killer with a slide. Sending you a pm on a related topic Bill.