Rash Guitars was an Italian company located in Merate (Lecco) founded by Ruggero Ascione. Their handmade electric guitars and basses featured Italian woods, special finish colors and handmade pickups and were endorsed by a number of Italian guitarists. Their website was active from 2002 until 2015. Paolo Lardera worked with Ascione before taking over the workshop at 48 Via Statale and launching his own Blackbeard Guitars brand.