Fixing an Ashton AB2 Bass and Ashton HSS Electric Guitar

Preamble

There are times when clients are totally adamant about what they think needs to be fixed, and completely ignore my recommendations. Well, this was one of those occasions. Two Ashton instruments were in the shop, a four-string P-style bass and an HSS S-style. The bass was identified as an AB2, thanks to the truss rod cover. As for the guitar, I managed to locate a similar model at Southside Guitars, listed simply as "Ashton HSS Electric Guitar - Transparent Blue." Not even a model number, so there you go.

Ashton AB2 Headstock

 

Ashton HSS Electric Guitar Headstock

Although there was lots that needed to be done on both instruments, the client's only complaint was that they "made no sound." As such, my instructions were to limit myself to fixing the electronics, nothing more; and nothing less. Aye, aye, sir!

Ashton AB2 Bass

We'll begin with the AB2, then. Flipping the pickguard over revealed disconnected wires and only one intact solder joint. Any good news, then? Yes, there was. First, the pickup was in working order, and second; there was continuity between the bridge ground wire and bridge plate.

Someone Disconnected These Wires

Black and White Pickup Leads

The volume and tone pots were another story, though. I had to use brute force and two pairs of pliers to pry them off the pickguard. Both pots were frozen, and the sheer amount of corrosion told me they were goners. The mono output jack and oval jack plate were in much better shape, thankfully. I reckoned they'd be usable after a generous dose of TLC.

Stock Volume and Tone Pots

Output Jack and Jack Plate

The solution, as agreed to by the client, was a complete rewire with two Alpha A250K pots and a 0.022uF polyester film capacitor. Oh, and by the way, I've found the exact same capacitors packaged with genuine Fender replacement tone pots. If they're good enough for Fender, 'nuff said.

Alpha A250K Pots and 0.022uf Capacitor

Rewiring Completed

Ashton HSS Electric Guitar

Rusty screws and strings, grimy fretboard and body, tarnished frets, you get the idea. But wait, I'm not supposed to be worried about any of that, right? Moving on, unscrewing the control cavity cover was relatively easy, but what greeted me inside left me speechless. Yes, folks, rust, corrosion, grime, more rust and corrosion; ad nauseum. Detaching the pots had me once again using two pairs of pliers, with my hands protected by surgical gloves this time around. Sadly, the only usable component was the output jack plate. On the bright side, though, all three pickups were working. 

Control Cavity Electronics

Volume and Neck Pickup Tone Pots

Middle Pickup Tone Pot

Five-Way Switch

Output Jack and Jack Plate

Pickup Leads Disconnected and Labeled

Replacement parts included three Alpha A500K pots, a 0.022uF polyester film capacitor, and generic mono output jack. Cleaning out the control cavity was a chore in itself, what with all those tiny rust particles stubbornly clinging to the floor and sidewalls. Besides widening the shaft holes with a reamer, wood also had to be removed from the sidewalls and floor to accommodate the larger replacement pots.

Originally, this guitar featured old-school Strat-style wiring with tone controls assigned only to the neck and middle pickups, and no tone control for the bridge humbucker. For the rewire, I chose to go the more modern route and assign Tone 1 to both the neck and middle pickups, and Tone 2 exclusively to the bridge humbucker. 

Replacement Pots, Capacitor, Jack and Switch

Replacement Output Jack Wired In

Rewiring Completed

 

In Retrospect

Looking back on these two Ashtons, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of disappointment. They could have been restored to the fine-playing instruments they used to be, but for the heartbreaking constraints placed upon these hands. Had the client been a stranger, I might have simply refused the job outright. However, he was an old bandmate from the '80s; and I just didn't have the heart to turn him down.