diff --git a/src/device_handle.rs b/src/device_handle.rs
index eb9c360..ff2602d 100644
--- a/src/device_handle.rs
+++ b/src/device_handle.rs
@@ -424,6 +424,33 @@ impl<'a> DeviceHandle<'a> {
         }).collect())
     }
 
+    /// Reads a ascii string descriptor from the device.
+    ///
+    pub fn read_string_descriptor_ascii(&self, index: u8) -> ::Result<String> {
+        let mut buf = Vec::<u8>::with_capacity(256);
+
+        let buf_slice = unsafe {
+            slice::from_raw_parts_mut((&mut buf[..]).as_mut_ptr(), buf.capacity())
+        };
+
+        let ptr = buf_slice.as_mut_ptr() as *mut c_uchar;
+        let len = buf_slice.len() as i32;
+
+        let res = unsafe {
+            libusb_get_string_descriptor_ascii(self.handle, index, ptr, len)
+        };
+
+        if res < 0 {
+            return Err(error::from_libusb(res))
+        }
+
+        unsafe {
+            buf.set_len(res as usize);
+        }
+
+        String::from_utf8(buf).map_err(|_| Error::Other)
+    }
+
     /// Reads a string descriptor from the device.
     ///
     /// `language` should be one of the languages returned from [`read_languages`](#method.read_languages).
@@ -452,6 +479,15 @@ impl<'a> DeviceHandle<'a> {
         String::from_utf16(&utf16[..]).map_err(|_| Error::Other)
     }
 
+
+    /// Reads the device's manufacturer string descriptor (ascii).
+    pub fn read_manufacturer_string_ascii(&self, device: &DeviceDescriptor) -> ::Result<String> {
+        match device.manufacturer_string_index() {
+            None => Err(Error::InvalidParam),
+            Some(n) => self.read_string_descriptor_ascii(n)
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Reads the device's manufacturer string descriptor.
     pub fn read_manufacturer_string(&self, language: Language, device: &DeviceDescriptor, timeout: Duration) -> ::Result<String> {
         match device.manufacturer_string_index() {
@@ -460,6 +496,14 @@ impl<'a> DeviceHandle<'a> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Reads the device's product string descriptor (ascii).
+    pub fn read_product_string_ascii(&self, device: &DeviceDescriptor) -> ::Result<String> {
+        match device.product_string_index() {
+            None => Err(Error::InvalidParam),
+            Some(n) => self.read_string_descriptor_ascii(n)
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Reads the device's product string descriptor.
     pub fn read_product_string(&self, language: Language, device: &DeviceDescriptor, timeout: Duration) -> ::Result<String> {
         match device.product_string_index() {
@@ -468,6 +512,14 @@ impl<'a> DeviceHandle<'a> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Reads the device's serial number string descriptor (ascii).
+    pub fn read_serial_number_string_ascii(&self, device: &DeviceDescriptor) -> ::Result<String> {
+        match device.serial_number_string_index() {
+            None => Err(Error::InvalidParam),
+            Some(n) => self.read_string_descriptor_ascii(n)
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Reads the device's serial number string descriptor.
     pub fn read_serial_number_string(&self, language: Language, device: &DeviceDescriptor, timeout: Duration) -> ::Result<String> {
         match device.serial_number_string_index() {