Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review, this got 9.9 out of 10 from us. Impressive.

On first look, the Ashthorpe full-size cutaway Thinline acoustic-electric guitar has just about everything. It has premium tonewoods and outstanding clarity, and you can use it for both acoustic and electric playing; it’s a Thinline model to help those of us who struggle with big fat dreadnoughts. Really, what’s not to like? I’ll try not to let my preference show, but, really, I’m not sure how good I can be at hiding my liking for this guitar. Sorry…

Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review (At A Glance)

History And Origin

This model was first available in 2018. The Ashthorpe brand is made in China and distributed out of Florida. This beautiful 41-inch beastie is a jack of all trades – one reviewer said he was playing his at a gig within a couple of hours of receiving it. 

Body And Neck

The top is spruce laminate, the back is basswood, similar to alder. The body materials are composite with an Okoume neck. Whichever color you choose, the guitar is very glossy. It looks similar to a jumbo but is only 3 inches thick. Inside, the x-braces keep it in shape.

Fretboard And Bridge

The fretboard is basswood and the bridge is adjustable, augmented, and position-tuned. I’m not certain, but I think the saddle and nut could even be bone. The fingerboard radius is 9.5 inches. 

View On Amazon

Electronics And Hardware

The Ashthorpe comes with loads of quality upgrades which you wouldn’t expect on a guitar at this price. There are an onboard 4-band pickup/EQ (bass, midrange, treble, and presence), phosphor bronze strings, and chrome tuning pegs.

The hardware, frets, bridge, and pegs appear to be much better quality than you would expect in a guitar of this price, so it sounds and looks good. The strings may not be to everyone’s taste, but they can easily be changed for your preferred brand and gauge. 

Finish

The finish is ultra-glossy, just about stopping short of requiring you to wear shades. The Ashthorpe looks the part and sounds it too.

Sound Quality

The Ashthorpe full-size cutaway Thinline has excellent sound quality. It sounds much bigger than it actually is, with a smooth tone and amazingly good playability. Many reviewers believe it is the best all-around guitar for the price. It routinely scores 9 out of 10 or better in reviews (yes, really) and I can hear why. It also has decent action and is easy to tune.

It has strong bass tones and sounds good through an amp as well. It sounds like it should cost a lot more than it actually does, in fact. 

Sound Demo

Build Quality

The Ashthorpe is built quite well, with similar specs to the Jameson acoustic-electric, but many people think it has even better specs. I’m inclined to agree. It also looks good too, with a typical Thinline width of 3 inches.

There are some surprising touches, with premium tonewoods and scalloped bracing just to make it that little bit extra special. Overall, there are very few complaints about the build quality. You might possibly need to dress the edges of the frets as the fretboard settles and tighten the nut by the plug-in base, but otherwise, it’s quality workmanship for a very reasonable price. These thoughts are not just from novice guitarists, some of these words have come from professional musicians who have been playing guitars for decades. 

Even the strap and gig bag comes in for some praise, which is rare, as gig bags tend to be the weak point of any bundle offer, along with the way the instrument is packed for shipping. 

Playability

Acoustic-electric guitars can sometimes suffer from being all things to all players, but not in this case. The Thinline design makes the Ashthorpe super easy to play. It has a cutaway as well, and all that gloss means it’s quick to fret and make chords.

The only criticism that I have is that you can’t play it with headphones. The audio output has been designed for use in a sound system or amp, not personal cans.

If you need an emergency guitar to cover for breakage or loss, the Ashthorpe is a great option. There’s nothing worse for a musician than finding out your only instrument has been damaged or needs an urgent repair when you have a gig coming up, but the Ashthorpe can fill the need more than adequately. Plus, delivery from most stockists in the next day or within a couple of days, so you don’t even have to wait too long to be playing again.

The Ashthorpe Thinline acoustic-electric is also supremely playable straight out of the box. It will need tuning, but then all guitars need tuning before you play. It sounds as good as a guitar worth many times the price when plugged in, and no one but you needs to know that you paid a bargain-basement price for it, either.

It also stands up to lengthy playing sessions as well, which is another plus point and is easy for players to use. 

View On Amazon

Versatility

As the Ashthorpe is a full-size cutaway acoustic-electric, it is very versatile. It will handle noodling around at home just as well as being plugged into an amp on stage.

It is also slim enough for children to be able to play, even though it is full size.

Design And Looks

This doesn’t happen often, but this guitar has achieved near-perfect ratings in every area on most reviews. It averages 9.5 out of 10 in important areas such as value for money, built quality, and design. It’s almost impossible to find a bad word to say about this guitar. On Amazon, around 75% of the reviews are 5-star.

It has a striking color range, being originally available in blue and red as well as the more standard shades of natural, black, and brown. 

Available Colors

Many buyers have opted for several in various colors, and why not when it’s so affordable, so highly rated, and of such good quality?

The comprehensive bundle includes the guitar, a soft nylon “gig bag” guitar case, three different weights of celluloid picks, the onboard 4-band pickup EQ, guitar cable, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, and an owner’s manual. 

Customization Tips

Many reviewers have said they will be swapping out the bronze strings for something more to their liking. Seems like bronze strings look good but some musicians don’t seem to be fans of their playability. One or two reviewers have had problems with premature breakage of the stock strings which the guitar came fitted with. But then, you know it’s always a good idea to have a spare set of strings on hand anyway, don’t you? 

It would also be possible to change the pegs for bone examples, especially if you believe the nut and saddle are bone.

Value For Money

I think you already know the answer to this, don’t you? The Ashthorpe full-size cutaway Thinline acoustic-electric is of incredible value for money given how well it is built and its versatility.

Choose Ashthorpe Thinline If

• You want to have a budget that hides a lot of neat little touches. 
• You want great versatility.
• You want good sound quality.
• You are seeking overall good build quality.
• You want something that looks good.
• You want an electro-acoustic that works with Rocksmith.

View On Amazon

Don’t Ashthorpe Thinline If

• You are a complete beginner.
• You want something that is very durable as this guitar’s strings can be snapped after relatively little use. 
• You want a durable headstock as the headstock seems to be a weak area and can be snapped on several models.
• You will be unable to do proper maintenance as the plugin base can be loose and the nut will require tightening. 

Alternatives

FAQ

Final Verdict

It is difficult to find anything bad to say about the Ashthorpe full-size cutaway Thinline acoustic-electric guitar. It appears to outperform every other comparable model and even a few more expensive instruments by reputable brands. If you can find one, buy it, try it. We think you will love it.