Samick Ash Strat Copy

From the little I can gather, this was made about 1992, in the Korean plant. 3 Piece ash body with binding, with a one piece ash veneer on a flat top body. No pickguard, but it doesn't need one, it's that pretty with a nice black to tobacco burst. The back of the guitar is done in a black gloss finish.

A one piece bolt on maple neck, more of a modern "C" shape, with a 21 fret rosewood fretboard. The headstock is a 2 piece design, which allows for a 14 degree tilt which elimnates the need for string trees. Decent no name tuners with a black plastic nut. The truss rod is adjustable at the top of the neck, and is covered with a plastic cover.

3 single coil pickups, with the traditional 1 volume 2 tone, and a 5 way switch. The vintage styled 6 screw tremelo bridge, with the cast metal saddles, offer the same adjustment as tradional bridges, and stays in tune when used. Kinda, somewhat. (As with most trems, how hard you use it determines how far out of tune it goes. A 5 for being a strat copy, a 9 for being so beautiful.

This sounds better than most of the American Standards, and so damn close to a Deluxe, it's not funny! The ash body just has such a vintage vib and tone, that it sounds so close to a real 55 strat, that it's hard to tell the difference between to two. just playing it without an amp, you can here the nuances of the guitar. you just know it's going to be good. You can feel the vibrations thru the neck, and to me at least, that proves that it's a winner.

Each pickup has it's own unique voice, and the 2 and 4 positions have that vintage "quack" tones that strat players long for. The neck really nails the Eric tone, the middle, that Stevie Ray groove, and the bridge, bright and biting, without too much of the brittle tone. It's there, but managable.

With a bit of gain, there's a little bit of hum, but nothing like that of a Squier's or a standard strat. Thru a clean tube amp, it chimes! A transitor amp, it sparkles, and a bit of gain, really cuts thru the mix. But with high gain, it tends to get a bit muddy. But what idiot uses a strat with single coils, with high gain, and expects cleanliness?

It's 17 years old, or there abouts, so how it was new, I have no clue. But today, it still has that new look. All of the hardware shined up nicely with a few minutes on a buffing wheel. The finish is still bright abd shiney, with just a bit loss on the back of the guitar. Which is fine, it allows the tone to come thru a bit more.

The only thing that needed to be replaced, was the output jack. A simple fix.

It already has survived the rigors of live playing, and still continues to draw eyes to it's presence onstage. it's a pretty beastie, with a good solid finish, and good hardware. The pickups have a great tone, and the wood only enhances it.

Only an idiot goes to a gig without a backup.

Is there anyway to give a minus number here? Samick, who has built some of the great guitars for Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, has completely forgotten about things not built by that Greg Bennett guy. Which is a shame, they build some great guitars.

It's a great guitar, short and simple. So much better that the supposedly "Real" Fenders, that Fender should take lessons from them. I was looking for that vintage tone, and I refused to spend $1600 for an American Deluxe. For a $120 for the Samick, It's so much better.

My loves: the tone, feel and looks.
Dislikes, none. It is a bit of the stiff feel with a set of 10's on it, but if you're used to a old Fender from the 50's or 60's, then you'll love it.

If I could find another one, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

I have 28 guitars and basses right now, ranging froma 65 non reverse firebird, to a 2007 Gary Kramer Simulator. and everything between. Samick builds some GREAT guitars, but has no respect. That needs to change