What's special about Washburns?

[Steve206]

My first guitar, that I actually bought, was a 61 Martin 016-NY. $100 from a friend in 1966. Went to Germany in 1970 and got a used Framus 12 string, $35. Came back to the states and the Army overpaid me and I went down to a music store in Ft. Lauderdale and paid $400 for a Martin D-35.

I was set. I was complete. Gave the 12 string to a friend. Ended up selling the D-35 during lean times. Still have the 016-NY.

Decided I needed a 12 string again. I really do not know why. Went to Sam Ash and grabbed an 87 D28-12N. Spruce top and rosewood back and sides, By Washburn. Better price than Yamaha.

I was set. I was complete. Some years later, decided to find out what the Wash was worth, as I was not playing it. Discovered a forum full of fantastic folks and loads of information.

Discovered GAS and what it meant to me, personally.

In one year, I went from a 3 guitar guy, with no real problems, to a 9 guitar guy, glued to the forum pages, thinking I had found a long lost home, a special place, that I did not realize that I was searching for, or needed, but found out, later, that I really did.

I will put the Wash J28 up against all of the jumbos in the price range. I will do the same with the J6 Montgomery. For no reason at all, I just like having a hollow body, jazz, guitar. Could be like wearing a favorite shirt that no one else notices, but I feel better just having it on.

I am not truly pleased with my HB32-DM, from BSG. Just a normal HB-32 that it would seem that they slapped some SD pups into and did not change anything else. Like the pots. The volume knobs only work in the first couple of moves. 0 is off,,,,and 3 is full tilt. From what I have heard here, I should be looking at getting new pots. The frets are clumbsily dressed and catching the E string at the third and sometimes higher.

All in all, knowing that a handful of factories are producing very similar guitars, what is really in the name, anyway?

Steve

[TS808]

I just bought a Washburn D-10S last week and pretty much stumbled upon it by accident. I dropped in to a local music store, and the owner suggested I take a look at it after I told him I was looking for an acoustic. Plus, he was selling it for $250...about $50 less than what MF or GC sells it for.

I was skeptical about the guitar due to the price tag and started playing it in the store. I was pretty impressed to be honest. Granted, it's not a Taylor or a Martin, but it IS on par with a Takamine that I payed $450 for 10 years ago that eventually warped in the neck and on the top. It was also on par with a Yamaha that I played at GC that sold for $450.

Washburn has been around a long time and has a reputation for putting out quality instruments. Time will tell how this guitar holds up, but it is a pretty good guitar that can be caught at an excellent value.

[Rockette]

Washburn has been around a long time and has a reputation for putting out quality instruments.

Washburn HAS been around a long time but their reputation is not all virginal.
In 2000, after a 5-year investigation, Washburn pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, sentenced to five years probation, and ordered to pay a $1,000,000 fine. They were caught in the act of directing their employees to systematically remove the "Made in Korea" labels from instruments, which were then repackaged and relabeled to indicate that they were made in the United States.
http://www.cbp.gov/custoday/nov2000/tye2.htm
Just because a company has been around a long time doesn't mean they automatically deserve your implicit trust.

[just strum]

I've owned two acoustics and one acoustic/electric.

I would say in the $650 and lower category Washburn offers a very competitive guitar when comparing it against a lot of guitars in the same price range and comparing some that might sell for as much as $1,200.

I purchased my EA20SDL used and liked it, but not enough to keep it and used the money to buy an electric guitar. It is now in the hands of CB and was purchased as a gift from Shiner. Both have commented on a number of occasions that they really like it. The guitar model has always received good reviews.

My WD32SW was a solid wood dreadnought and new it was $325 (W/O case) and I think it was one of the best deals for a solid wood guitar out there.

The last one I had was a J28SDL (solid top) Jumbo. A real booming sound and a great guitar to play. It was selling for $685 w/case, I got it new for $325 w/case on E-bay. It was one of those that managed to get under the radar. I probably would not have paid full price for it, but it was a good guitar.

If I recall, the EA20SDL was made in Indonesia and the other two in China. All were well built and had no flaws, except none of them arrived with anything close to a decent set up.

On the high end, I cannot speak first hand, but I've heard some very good reviews.

I have heard people comment that their Washburn's in the price range of my old ones would give a $3,000 to $4,000 Martin, Gibson, or Taylor a run for their money - I don't buy it. Although I've never owned any of those, I played them at stores and IMHO, there is no comparison. The Martin, Gibson, or Taylor blow the lower end Washburn's away.

I played a $180 Fender acoustic (all laminated) and I was surprised how good it played and it certainly would give Washburn's D10 a run for its money.

Based solely on the past models I've owned, I would say Washburn is a safe guitar to purchase, but they are not the BEST.

As for electrics, I almost bought one of the Idol series - great look and good reviews.

[street music]

I will say that some of the Washburn Electric are a nice feeling guitar to play , some of the cheaper ones as with any need pickup replacements. I just wonder if a high dollar Washburn acoustic is really as good as say a similar priced Martin, or Gibson.