Description
Review of the Ashthorpe Full-Size Left-Handed Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle, Premium Tonewoods, Brown
This Ashthorpe is a full-size 41 inch left-handed dreadnought with a cutaway and onboard electronics, sold as a bundle with a gig bag, picks, strap, cable and a spare string set. It uses an X-braced spruce top with basswood for the back, and carries a 4-band pickup and equaliser. Left-handed instruments at this size and price are uncommon, which is much of the appeal.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- It is genuinely built left-handed. This is not a right-handed guitar restrung backwards. The bracing, nut slots and saddle compensation are cut for left-handed string order, which is what makes the intonation work correctly rather than approximately.
- The 4-band EQ gives real control when amplified. Separate bass, midrange, treble and presence controls let a player cut the boomy low end that dreadnoughts produce through a PA, which a simple volume-only preamp cannot do.
- X-bracing under a spruce top is the standard steel-string construction. It supports the string tension while leaving the top free to vibrate, which is why almost every steel-string acoustic uses it. Spruce is stiff for its weight and responds well to both light fingerpicking and hard strumming.
- The cutaway opens up the upper frets. On a deep dreadnought body the shoulder normally blocks the fretting hand above the twelfth fret, so cutting it away makes the top of the neck usable.
Cons
- The spec table says the body is metal. That is plainly wrong for a wooden acoustic guitar whose own description specifies spruce and basswood. It is worth flagging because it shows the specification table on this page cannot be trusted field by field.
- The fretboard is listed as basswood. Basswood is a soft, low-density wood that is a poor choice for a fingerboard, where frets need to seat firmly and the surface has to resist wear. Either the field is wrong or the board will wear quickly.
- No scale length is stated. That figure determines string tension and fret spacing, and it is missing from the listing entirely, so a buyer cannot tell how the neck will feel before it arrives.
- The top is not described as solid. The listing says A-grade spruce but never says solid, and laminated tops are the norm at this price. A laminate top will not open up tonally with age the way a solid top does.
- The dimensions and weight are inconsistent. A stated 4.5 pounds against dimensions of 4.5 by 4.5 by 41 inches describes a long thin box rather than a guitar in a carton, so neither figure is dependable.
Detailed Product Description
The body is a full-size 41 inch dreadnought, 4.5 inches deep at the listed measurement, with a cutaway. Dreadnought is the large square-shouldered shape most people picture when they think of an acoustic guitar, and its depth is what produces the strong low end and volume it is known for. The tradeoff is bulk: it is a wide, deep body to reach around, which suits adults rather than smaller players.
The top is spruce over X-bracing, with basswood for the back and sides. Basswood is light and soft, adding warmth but less projection than mahogany or sapele would. The finish is a high gloss with chrome tuning pegs. Strings are phosphor bronze, the standard acoustic winding, which is brighter than 80/20 bronze when new and holds its tone slightly longer.
Electronics are a 4-band pickup and equaliser system, powered by a 9V battery which the listing confirms is included. Bass, midrange, treble and presence controls sit on the upper bout. This is an under-saddle style system, so it responds to string vibration rather than air movement inside the body, which is why amplified acoustics can sound thinner than they do unplugged. The output is a standard jack, so any acoustic amplifier or PA channel will work.
What Comes with the Product
The bundle includes the left-handed guitar, a soft nylon gig bag, three celluloid picks in thin, medium and heavy, an instrument cable, a shoulder strap, a spare set of phosphor bronze strings, an instructional sheet and the 9V battery for the preamp.
Not included are an amplifier, a clip-on tuner, a capo, a stand and a hard case. The gig bag protects against dust and scratches but not against impact. An amplifier is only necessary if the guitar will be played through one, since it works acoustically on its own. The guide to whether an acoustic-electric needs an amp covers when this matters.
Who It Suits
This suits a left-handed adult beginner or intermediate player who wants a full-size acoustic that can also be plugged in, and who would rather not pay the premium that left-handed instruments usually carry. The bundle covers most first-year needs beyond a tuner.
It does not suit a smaller player or a child, since a full 41 inch dreadnought is a large body to reach around. Anyone who wants a confirmed solid top for long-term tonal development should read the solid top versus laminate comparison and look further up the range. Alternative left-handed options include the Vangoa left-handed acoustic kit and the Fender CD-60S left-handed bundle. General advice sits in the left-handed guitars for beginners guide.
How to Maintain
Acoustic guitars are far more sensitive to humidity than solid-body electrics, because a thin top under tension will crack if the air dries out. Keep the guitar away from radiators and out of direct sun, and consider a case humidifier if the home runs dry in winter.
Wipe the strings after every session, since phosphor bronze dulls quickly from skin oils. Take the 9V battery out if the guitar will not be plugged in for months, because a leaking cell inside the body cavity is an awkward repair. Loosen the strings slightly before long storage to reduce constant pull on the top.
Tips and Recommendations
Set the EQ flat first and adjust from there. The most common mistake with a 4-band preamp is boosting everything, which produces feedback and a muddy tone. Cutting the bass control slightly usually does more good than any boost, especially with a dreadnought body through a PA.
Buy a clip-on tuner rather than relying on the preamp, since no tuner is described as built in. If the guitar arrives with high action, a saddle adjustment at a local shop is inexpensive and transforms playability. More instruments sit under acoustic-electric guitars and left handed guitars.
Product FAQ
Is this a true left-handed guitar?
Yes. The listing describes a purpose-built left-handed instrument, not a right-handed guitar with the strings reversed.
Is the body really made of metal?
No. The specification table says metal, but the written description specifies a spruce top with basswood, which is a wooden acoustic guitar.
Is a battery included for the electronics?
Yes. The listing states one 9V alkaline battery is required and included for the onboard 4-band preamp.
Does it come with an amplifier?
No. The bundle includes a cable but no amplifier. The guitar works acoustically without one.
