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Topic: Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel for Aussie |
Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 11:42 am |
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Hi guys - I'm a new member with plans to learn lap steel 
Have over 30 years as a pro guitarist, bassist and keyboard player.
Have played in many rock, blues and jazz bands in Australia and have my own recording site - see signature.
I have owned many guitars, pedals and tube amps, play slide and finger pick so I know what I want in a lap steel.
Unfortunately you can't get a good quality mid priced lap steel in Australia and only way I could get what I want locally is to pay $3-4K for a custom built one from Cole Clark or Maton. Yes, we can get the cheap Gretsch Electromatics and SX models here but they don't suit me at all. I want humbuckers, a 25 inch scale length and good spacing between strings.
My intention on lap steel is to play blues n rock in styles like Ben Harper, David Gilmour, Lindley, Ry Cooder mostly in double drop D tuning.
So with some research I found Asher guitars of California and have emailed Bill about the Electro Hawaiian Junior model. I've seen some reviews here on SGF praising these lap steels and they appear to be exactly what I want. But before I order I've a few questions for the experienced crew here.....
1) Can any Asher lap steel owners please give their opinions on these instruments, including things you don't like?
2) Have you tried other humbucker pickups besides the Asher stock one's. If so, what?
3) Bill Asher offers the pup and electric pot upgrades which I'm sure improve the guitars but his website says this is not currently available. I'm a big fan of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbuckers. They are also an alnico 2 magnet and almost same K output as the Lollar Imperials Asher uses but they're $140 cheaper for 2. You can also split the coils on Pearly Gates for good single coil tones. Has anyone tried SD Pearly Gates humbuckers in an Asher Electro Hawaiian?
4) I'd be shipping this lapsteel from California to east coast Australia via Fedex. Both the Asher soft gig bag and his hard case look good. Once arrived I don't need a hardcase but do I really need one for shipping or.... would the soft case packed well in cardboard box be adequate for shipping in your opinion ??
Hi and thanks in advance for your replies
_________________
check out my recordings at https://www.soundclick.com/homoerectusaus |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 12:37 pm
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No experience with Asher, But there are MANY builders in Australia (myself included) who can custom build anything you want.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 12:45 pm
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| Jeff Highland wrote: |
| No experience with Asher, But there are MANY builders in Australia (myself included) who can custom build anything you want. |
Hi Jeff - can you build me a lap steel with same design, quality and features as the Asher Electro Hawaiian for under $A 1500.
I've looked at local builders and they're all $3-4000 for similar.
If you can then please give me your contact details - thanks
_________________
check out my recordings at https://www.soundclick.com/homoerectusaus |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 1:58 pm
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More like 1500AU plus hardware.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 2:21 pm
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I see you are only up the road from me at merewether, I'm at Caves Beach
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 4:58 pm
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At that price it's a bargain
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 4 Jan 2024 8:03 pm
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I'm sure you will be very happy with it.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Ian
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 5 Jan 2024 8:21 am
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Peter,
I have an Asher Electro Hawaiian Jr. and I think it's just great. It was certainly fine with the stock pick ups but I had the Lollar Imperial humbucker and attendant pots and wires installed and am quite pleased with the results. I think you will be very happy with it, describing, as you did, the style of music you're into. And I'm sure a Pearly Gates upgrade wouldn't hurt either.
Enjoy,
Ian |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 5 Jan 2024 11:35 am
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| Ian wrote: |
Peter,
I have an Asher Electro Hawaiian Jr. and I think it's just great. It was certainly fine with the stock pick ups but I had the Lollar Imperial humbucker and attendant pots and wires installed and am quite pleased with the results. I think you will be very happy with it, describing, as you did, the style of music you're into. And I'm sure a Pearly Gates upgrade wouldn't hurt either.
Enjoy,
Ian |
Thanks Ian 
_________________
check out my recordings at https://www.soundclick.com/homoerectusaus |
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Dennis Waltman
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 7:03 pm
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| I traded for a Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior a little over a year ago and love it. The stock pickups were too hot for my taste so I replaced them with Seymour Duncan Phat Cats which are P90s. Great sustain and I like the bridge which allows for palm muting. |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 8 Jan 2024 11:31 am
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| Dennis Waltman wrote: |
| I traded for a Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior a little over a year ago and love it. The stock pickups were too hot for my taste so I replaced them with Seymour Duncan Phat Cats which are P90s. Great sustain and I like the bridge which allows for palm muting. |
Thanks for info Dennis
_________________
check out my recordings at https://www.soundclick.com/homoerectusaus |
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Peter Hughes
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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