The ash body gives a very clear crisp sound and it sustains very nicely. Previous to this I has a '62 re-issue, and that guitar was just not in the same class. They sound just like they are supposed to - very Fender and very clear, but rich and full. I dont use the tone controls, and keep volume on full. I do find that the tone suffers if the volume is cranked back on the guitar.
Tone controls about middle.
So the sound is pure guitar, very clean, very nice, very, well I have to say it, very Fender. The guitar was not that well set up when I bought it, seems to be quite common for some Fenders. Construction is excellent, as it should be for the price, but the heavy coating on the fret board put me off at first. Two of the bridge screws already had a bit of rust, and the plastic shipping cover was still over the pick-guard. The neck has not shifted and has needed to be adjusted only once, and that was due to a long hot summer.