Austin AU758TK

I am submitting this review on a 2005 Austin AU758 "Rock Pro", made in China.
Generally, its strat style...although more Ibanez-like than fender-like. The tilt back head stock eliminates the string trees, and is shaped somewhat like a Carvin. All strings run straight from the nut to the tuner (no angle). The archtop solid ash body has a bolt on maple neck, with a rosewood fretboard. The finish is a transparent black, with gold hardware. The tuners (3+3)are sealed die cast. It has a double locking licensed Floyd Rose tremolo. The tremolo arm has an integral screw on/off ferrule(?) for easy on/off...you don't have to spin the whole arm. The locking nut is gold finish, and the bridge is the second lock down, with micro adjustment for tune, and adjustment for intonation. The pickup configuration is s/s/h...single coil at the neck, rwrp single coil in the middle, and a two wire humbucker at the bridge. A five way selector switch with 1 volume and 1 tone complete the setup. The cable jack is in the side edge of the body.

I'll try to keep opinion 'til the last catagory, and stay objective here. Position 1 is the bridge humbucker. Puts out signal with the power of a Seymour Duncan JB model, but with more clarity and definition (not as dark)...rings on the highs, chunks on the lows, and smooth mellow mids. Great for lead or rythem, plenty of sustain, and you can really make 'er squeal when you bend notes. Position 2 is bridge humbucker with the middle. Not completely noise free, but still pretty good. It adds some more lows to the mix, rounds out the bridge pickup nicely. Really good for metal chording. Position 3 is the middle pickup alone, single coil snap and crispness. The middle pickup favors the highs and mids. Position 4 is middle and neck pickups...noise cancelling, and a deep, rich, mellow, full bodied sound. Great for cry in your beer blues, or where you want more feeling. Very rounded notes. favors the lower mids. Beautiful. Position 5 is the neck only...single coil sound, round and mellow, with a bit of punch. good clarity.
okay, opinion time. I play classic rock, metal, blues, and some jazzy kind of stuff. I play through a Roland gp-100 processor into a '71 Kustom 150W ss 2x12 combo, and a Crate V series 50W tube 2x12 combo, for stereo. Occasionally, through a crate gt-30 amp. I have shielded the body cavities, and isolated signal ground from chassis ground to eliminate noise and interference. (it works) This guitar is really very quiet with the single coils, and silent at idle in positions 1 and 4. I like position 1 for lead, position 2 for metal chording, position 3 for single coil lead sounds, position 4 for blues, and position 5 for sentimental and mellow parts. Sorry, but, I honestly don't have dislikes, these are some nice pickups. I think the humbucker is probably ceramic, but I wouldn't bet money on the single coils.

This guitar sounded okay on initial plug in. However, not knowing how long the strings had been on there since it was built, riding across the ocean in a container, and hanging on the shop wall, I changed strings, and set the intonation. I guess I'm picky like that. The humbucker sits squarely in position, but, the single coils do not sit perfectly perpendicular to the body. Its some kind of spring action keeping them from sitting "at attention", but, its not readily noticable or offensive. The pickups have been fine at the factory setting. I have gone over the guitar, and the hardware is nice. The finish on the body/neck/headstock is real nice. There is a small spot on the back of the neck, however, about the size of an M&M where the shine is gone. May or may not be a factory flaw, could have rubbed on something. The tuners are suprisingly nice...smooth with no slack. The selector switch moves easily and quietly, and the pots are smooth and quiet. The ends of the frets don't catch on your hands, but are not perfectly smooth. (I really wasn't expecting hand filed frets on this grade guitar, but I have seen a lot worse). The action is low, easy, and fast.

I don't play for my meals, thank God, I have a day job, so this will likely last forever. The tuners, no kidding, are really nice. The overall guitar is light to medium weight, and everything has a solid feel to it. Before you knock this model because its made in China, realize Fender and Gibson make economy/middle/high-end models. This is Austin's high end strat. When I pick it up, it feels like a solid quality item. This isn't a cheapy plywood guitar.

A local music store went out of business, and I bought this at the liquidation sale. I have been to other local music stores in the area, that carry Austin guitars, and they have been easy to deal with.

I've been playing since 1967, more intensely the last 10 years. I have a Fender American standard, an early 70's Electra LP copy, an Epiphone full size hollow body electric (Joe Pass Emporer II model), a 70's made in Japan Lotus strat copy, a Cort acoustic/electric, and a Yamaha 12 string. I have seen cheap, and I've seen good. I bought this Austin with the intent of immediately selling it. However, when I got it home and plugged it in, I knew I was going to keep it. It has all the quality parts, drop dead good looks, and feels good. I like the sound of it better than my Fender amer. strat. I believe they quit making this model (with the Floyd Rose tremolo) in 2006. The msrp was like $540, so you can pick them up for around 300 new. The Fender has a nicer feeling neck, but for double (or more?) the money? It is what it is, and that's a decent guitar. It holds its tune, has plenty of sustain, and a good variety of sounds. For the money and the components, its on target. I personally feel its a bargain. Price other guitars with an ash body, you'll see. I scoffed at it until I played it, now I'm keeping it.

Features
Made In China
22 Frets
Arch Top, Contoured Ash Body
Hard Maple Neck with Rosewood Fingerboard
Bolt On Neck
Single-Single-Humbucking Pickups for Maximum Tonal Variety and Wider Dynamic Range
5 Position Pickup Selector
Master Volume and Tone Control
Floyd Rose Licensed Tremolo Bridge
Locking Nut
Die-Cast Tuning Machines
Gold Plated Hardware
All Rock Pro models are fitted with Gold Plated Floyd Rose Licensed double locking Tremolo System. The bridge is fitted with the first locking screw, along with a fine tuning adjustment screw. The second locking point is at the top nut. The complete system eliminates string slippage that typically occurs with non-locking systems.

I did not like the sound of this guitar. Pickups were muddy and not sharp or strong. I have used it with various amps. I would not recommend it for it's sound

Guitar was set up okay. Action was a little high, and I like low or flat frets, not high rounded ones like this guitar had. The wood was georgeous and the finish (transparent black) was very impressive. Tuners were nice, but I didn't like the Floyd Rose vibrato tailpiece. Guitar was okay to play.

Live Playing? Not really. I kept it at home. Hardware was medium quality, so would last okay. Finish seemed very nice. Strap buttons were nice. I would think it was dependable. I didn't like the sound but gigging with it would be okay. Tried to sell it multiple times and was never offered over 1/3 of what I paid for it!

Didn't use. Warranty wasn't explained.

I've played for 40 years. I bought this to try an inexpensive brand to see if I liked it. I have a couple of les pauls, a 62 Gretsch Duojet, and 2 strats. I didn't like this and sold it for 1/3 of what I paid for it. Hated the sound & pickups. Picked it becuase it was georgeous.