The Steel Guitar Forum

I hear Fender is reissuing the odd Ashbory Bass.

Does anyone have any experience with them?

I recall them from the 80s, a very short scale instrument with an unbelievable Bass Sound.

THere's a lot of info about the originals here: http://www.largesound.com/

A couple of those have popped up a some of my gigs lately. It's got a decent sound but it's a little tough to play in tune with the short scale and no frets. I don't think the big basses are getting too scared.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Billy Wilson on 15 August 2006 at 10:45 AM.]</p></FONT>

I have one. As Billy said, they sohnd great and are really hard to play in tune.

If you have my Firebird Suite CD, you can hear it on the tune "Gymnopodies." I had to record each bass note seperately to make sure they were all in tune.

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Wasn't it originally Guild Ashbory? Then reissued as DeArmond Ashbory? Fender owns both brands so what will it be called?

You've just gotta love a stringed instrument that uses tightly streched surgical rubber tubing for strings that takes 2 weeks to stabilize everytime you change one.

I've heard them sound pretty cool in the right hands, but in my experience those hands were'nt mine. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 15 August 2006 at 04:53 PM.]</p></FONT>

Fender has been selling the Ashbory under the DeArmond name for a few years. I bought one a while back just out of curiosity, and I ended up using it much more than I expected.

It is challenging to play in tune, especially above the 12th fret, but once you get used to it, it's not that bad, especially if you're used to playing a fretless instrument. The silicone strings are sticky, so you have to rub the strings or your fingers with talcom powder occasionally.

It's a unique sound, yet when it's blended in with an ensemble, it has many attributes of an upright bass, it terms of the attack and decay of the notes.

I really enjoy taking it to jazz jam sessions and I even gig with it now and then. It always attracts a lot of attention. People are always curious about my rubber stringed "toy" bass that gets such a big sound.

Since it's so small and light (about 2 pounds) it's easy to grab it and tuck it under your arm.

If a string breaks, and they do (generally the G string), it's usually at one end, so you just tie a knot in it and put it back on, and you're back in business.

It's not for everybody, but if you're attracted to the unusual, and you can adapt your technique to it, it's about the most fun you can have playing bass!

Just played mine on a gig last night!

Mine's a DeArmond version... I wouldn't try to make it my main bass but it is fun and has a certain amount of stage appeal

Best sources on Ashbory would include these

http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/index.php

guildguy.com

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"And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves." --Father Mapple