New Asher Deep Body Weissenborn-style guitar

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Bill Asher asked me to pass along this info about his latest steel guitars .....

Here are two Asher Acoustic Hawaiian style-1's we just finished. The one
lying down, as you may notice, is a deep body. This is the first deep body
Weissenborn style guitar we have made and I am adding it to my line. It is a
great compliment to this style instrument with a fuller tone and bigger
volume. Similar to a dreadnought verses an OM. The deep body’s also come
with a fine high end case I have made at Cedar Creek. They take 3-4 months
with a satin nitro lacquer and 6-8 months in gloss lacquer. They start at $2800.

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

I have two deep body hollownecks. Contrary to what most say, which is they need a shallow body to sound good, they really don't. I have a 4 inch deep and a 4 1/8 inch deep and they are real mellow sounding. I see more deep bodies as time passes.

Chris Drew · From: Bristol, UK

D R O O L

I agree with what you say about the body-depth, Gary.

Perhaps when people say they need to be shallow to sound good, what they actually mean is that they need to be shallow to sound closer to an original 1920s Weissenborn, which were generally quite shallow-bodied.
( I've seen a photo somewhere of a really shallow one, looked like an electric! )

The deeper hollownecks have a sound of their own, which I actually like to hear, but I guess some people want or expect all acoustic hollownecks to sound like the original Weissenborns... not me!
Thankfully there are luthiers out there who are willing to experiment with hollownecks that have their own beautiful sound, rather than trying to produce replicas of the old Weissenborns.

[edit:] - I don't intend the above comment to belittle the undoubted skill & honourable intent of those Luthiers who choose to faithfully follow Mr.Weissenborns original designs at all!
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Bob Reani · From: Como - Italy

This Asher is very interesting...
I'm building a koa Weissenborn with 2 inch body thickness.
I will tell you how it sounds Very Happy

Ben Elder · From: La Crescenta, California, USA

Bob Brozman once told me his favorite Weissenborn was an early Style 2 (branded with a Mello-tone[?] label otherwise not seen before or since) he likes above all other old ones. This one is about 2-1/4" deep and in this era, we see them as thin as 1"+ on up to the 4" Konas he exclusively made for C S DeLano. 3" is regarded as standard Weissenborn depth, which was likely standardized with a change in the company, broader distribution and a move to a new factory circa 1923 or 1924.

There also exist--two, to my knowledge--some full hollowneck Weissenborns (with later features and lacquer finish) that are Kona depth like these of Bill's. Perhaps DeLano held some kind of exclusivity to the short solid-neck Kona design? I've never seen a Kona-shaped Hawaiian branded as Weissenborn or anything else, although I did see a W. Style C Spanish with a Kona label in it.)

Konas seem to intimidate potential buyers (their wallets, anyway) because they're less well-known than Weissenborn, which is now a generic term. I think the deep body adds a lot of nice resonance and the narrower and shorter body doesn't forfeit much in the upper registers. Konas tend not to bring as strong prices as Weissenborns, although they should.

That said, Bill has come up with something we'd all be hard-pressed to experience elsewhere or otherwise: a 4" hollowneck Weissenborn.
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"Gopher, Everett?"

Mitch Druckman · From: Arizona, USA

I suspect that new deep body Asher is a fine sounding guitar.

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

My baritone Weissenborn made by Paddy Burgin is VERY deep and sounds fantastic! Very deep and warm sound. This pic is a bit dark but you get an idea of the depth of this guitar:

I will measure it when I get home to see exactly how deep it is. Here is a sample of how it sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2eJm5Xxbkc

I think Paddy builds all his Weissenborns deep.

It would be great to hear a demo of the Asher deep model (compared to the standard one especially).

Fred
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www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

I've played at least four Ashers - a style-4, Teardrop, Electro-Hawaiian Jr. and I own a beautiful top-of-the-line Electro-Hawaiian. The craftsmanship on Bill's instruments is faultless and the tone of these guitars I've personally played was uniformly goosebump-inducing. I'm not sure if audio clips tell the whole story as the mic and the sound of the room are factors in any recording.

My impression of the two Acoustic Asher's I've played was that the Teardrop sounded flat out amazing right off the wall but the hollow neck was going to need playing time to truly open up - which is exactly what I found with my Bear Creek. It was a different instrument after 2 years of solid playing.

Todd Clinesmith · From: Lone Rock Free State Oregon

I have heard nothing but good reviews about the Asher Weissenborn style guitars.
I think a deep body would sound very nice.
I have a friend with many Weissenborns and Knutsens, He says his best sounding Weissenborn is made of maple and just 1 1/2 inches deep. He stated it is an early prototype. I am sure all the different style and depths sound great for different situations, and playing styles.

My favorite vintage acoustic I ever owned was a style 4 Kona.... crisp and clean. Tho I played an Oahu that was just amazing sounding, yes it had a deep body.
Todd

Jerry Desmet · From: France

Belgian luthier (Emmanuel Romont) built weissenborn deepest for 4 years.
A little sample to find in Youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=FR&hl=fr&v=56gUfuuJjGc

Mike D · From: Phx, Az

Rich Mermer has been building deep bodied Weiss-style guitars for years also.

Chris Drew · From: Bristol, UK

Bill Asher · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

A Great variety has been enjoyed by fretted guitar players over the years which has helped players distinguish there style and musical vibe. When I began designing lap steels in 1998 it seemed that the lap steel had been over looked for too long. So I got busy and I now have 4 electric models, quite a few custom ones, and 3 Weissenborn inspired acoustics. It is great to see more luthiers out there building nice lap style guitars and way more players getting into lap steel for all styles of music. Most of my models have been inspired by players so any suggestions I would love to hear. To date there are over 400 Asher laps steels around the world making music, thank you, and I will keep them coming. Lets insure the lap steel guitar stays alive and growing, its voice is inspiring.
All the best,
Bill Asher

James Williamson · From: California & Hawaii

I'd just like to add that IMHO what Bill has done is to create the "missing link" between the Weissenborn Acoustics and the Fry Pan with his Electro Hawaiian.

When I play his Electro Hawaiian it almost just like playing a Weissenborn Acoustic. That is just not the case for other electric lap steels that I've played. There are many, many wonderful ones and I love them all, but they do not play or sound reminescant of the acoustics.

Bill seems to have had that as his target (building originally for Ben Harper) and he nailed it like nobody else in that department.

Of course, knowing Bill's talent as a luthier, his deep body acoustics are going to be first rate...no doubt about it.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Bill,

Thanks for taking up the steel guitar challenge! It's obviously working very well for you, based on the feedback you've been getting. I think that Asher, along with George Boards, Cruz Tone, and quite a few others are contributing to the renaissance of lap steel guitar in today's music.

I expect that your Weissenborn-style guitars will be as successful as your electric lap steels. They will certainly be of the same high quality. Good luck!
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Mitch Crane · From: 1000 Oaks, CA

Was lucky to aquire one of Bill's Deep Body Koa "style 3" as he calls it, acoustic lap steel. It's absolutely stunning ! I bit more volume and a tad a "growl" when you dig into it. Bill's work is the best in my book !

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ccrane/ASHER%20STYLE%203%20DEEP%20BODY/

Jerry Desmet · From: France

Very nice. Do you have sample ?

Phillip Dokes · From: Ohio, USA

I would really love to test drive a weissenborn before i take the $ plunge into it. Does anyone know a place in Eastern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania that sells them???

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