The UPS Stork delivered a Washburn today

[Tig***]

After mulling over the many excellent choices for a mahogany 24.5" scale double humbucker Les Paul-ish guitar, this Washburn WI-66PROF won me over. It is an almost new show room guitar in great condition from a little shop in Statesboro, GA called Pladd Dot Music. They had it and a sister up on eBay, and GAS overtook me in the worst/best way.

I've been considering this guitar for a while now, and with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System, the Seymour Duncan 59 neck, Custom-Custom bridge pickups, Tune-o-matic bridge, Grover 18:1 tuners, and the gorgeous carved flamed maple top, easy upper fret/neck access, plus the unique body shape, this was a no-brainer choice. The Agile AL-3x00's were very tempting, but to get this level of components and features would run well over $600.

I played the Washburn for about 2 hours today instead of sleeping (working nights), and I'm very pleased with the sound and playability. The neck is thinner than I'm used to, but it fits me better than any other guitar I've owned or demo'ed. The nut is 1 mm wider than the Reverend's, which is perfect. The action is low enough to be very quick, but not buzzy. The neck is glossy, but it sure didn't slow down chord progressions.

The hardware is all high quality and the electronics feel and sound clean. It is too early to judge the VCC (Voice Contour Control) yet, but it didn't pose any problems. The SD pickups sound exactly like I've been wanting. The neck pickup isn't too muddy for me, dishing out sweet, woody blues tones. The bridge pickup rips some gutsy, rich rock tones. It sounds great directly plugged into the amp, but takes pedals well.

I could go on, but most of you know what it means to play a nice quality guitar. In this case, it didn't cost me much. There are just a few very minor pick marks and micro-scratches, but otherwise in new condition. The shop put on new .10 strings, de-tensioned them, and double-boxed it around the soft case for shipping. Even UPS couldn't damage it! I'd buy from them again.

And now the money shots...

[Jx2]

very very nice

[kidsmoke*]

welcome aboard Tig.

congrats!

[Ch0jin]

Thats one sexy guitar! And as a fellow LP Style guitar owner with a '59 in the neck, I know what you mean about those sweet blues tones.

Congrats~!

[FrankenFretter***]

Really beautiful, Doug! Happy NGD! What's the weight on that one, btw?

[Tig***]

Really beautiful, Doug! Happy NGD! What's the weight on that one, btw?

I haven't weighed it yet, but it feels a good bit less than a Les Paul. That was another factor in my choice since I'm having some disc issues in my back.

[Katastrophe]

Congrats, Tig!

She sure is a beauty!

[oldguy]

That's a mighty pretty axe, Tig. I love that top, and the back's a beaut, too.
Congrats on a fine looking instrument, and a bargain to boot, the way it sounds.

[otaypanky***]

Nice one Doug.
Or as my friend Ron would say, "purdy as a hot tub fulla' Hooter Girls"
Enjoy

Now for a horticultural question ~
What's the tall green plant in the background?

[Spudman***]

Wow! That's a pretty sweet guitar.
Derek Trucks let me play 2 of his Washburns a long time ago and I really liked them. I just never figured out which models were the really good ones so I never tried to acquire one. Congratulations.

[duhvoodooman***]

Sweet lookin' git there, Tig!

[kidsmoke*]

Wow! That's a pretty sweet guitar.
Derek Trucks let me play 2 of his Washburns a long time ago and I really liked them. I just never figured out which models were the really good ones so I never tried to acquire one. Congratulations.

Look Familiar? E300



Or this, WI-68, the custom shop version of Tig's new toy. Trucks recorded "Joyful Noise" on this guitar.

[Mr Pants]

What a beauty - well done mate!

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! Congrats!

[Tig***]

Now for a horticultural question ~
What's the tall green plant in the background?

Those are cannas. They stop flowering this time of year, but the 12' tall ones had red flowers, and the shorter ones had white, which I'm told are as rare as an honest politician!

[MAXIFUNK]

That Is Sexy For Sure!!!! Congrats! Enjoy!!!

[kidsmoke*]

so Tig, it's been a few weeks....the luster wearing off? Or is it still keeping you awake, er.....days?

[Kazz]

That is a beautiful Washie.....Love the one Derek has in that picture too. Course I am a bit biased.

[Tig***]

so Tig, it's been a few weeks....the luster wearing off? Or is it still keeping you awake, er.....days?

You know how it is. Your other guitars keep looking at you, pleading to be played again and bad-mouthing the new kid.

I'm loving it! I've glad I went with the Washburn, no doubt. I've had LP copies and other double humbucker guitars before, but this one sounds so nice and plays easier than every other guitar I've ever owned. The Seymour Duncan pickups are delivering all the various tones I'm looking for.

While I have no problem with the VCC system, I don't use it much. I keep them at full humbucker settings most of the time. I can see setting it up with tone pots in the future. I wish they did it the same as Reverend, where you have a similar knob but also have standard tone pots.