Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Normally, I pick up any Korean guitar, then immediately pick up the guitar it copied and realize that the quality, wood, and feel is much better. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case with the HB35 335 copy I picked up. The neck felt as substantial as a Gibson, and the tone sounded like I'd just picked up a different Gibson. I picked up a 335 Dotneck right after I put the Washburn down, and actually preferred the Washburn. I thought I'd never hear myself say something like that, but it's true. The Washburn sounded more resonant, was a tad lighter, and it's pickups sounded better than whatever they're putting in 335's these days.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

i fell in love with a Washburn a few months ago at a local shop...it was a les paul type with more of a pointed horn...looked like walnut/natural finish, rosewood fretboard...loaded with duncans jazz-n/custom custom-b...nice neck...felt and played real solid...it was a USA Custom Shop CT-3 like this one...

evidently they don't make them anymore...i really liked it though..

 

[VicToR]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

i received one wahsburn n2 (nuno bettencourt signature) old model...now discontinued...of a friend of mine, that told me that he had paid 180 € for it, and i am impressed of the sound i can get of this axe...it sounds like a 600 € (or more) guitar...pretty good one

btw...IMO the best "price/quality" brand is ibanez (check out that rg and s prestige models)

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Normally, I pick up any Korean guitar, then immediately pick up the guitar it copied and realize that the quality, wood, and feel is much better. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case with the HB35 335 copy I picked up. The neck felt as substantial as a Gibson, and the tone sounded like I'd just picked up a different Gibson. I picked up a 335 Dotneck right after I put the Washburn down, and actually preferred the Washburn. I thought I'd never hear myself say something like that, but it's true. The Washburn sounded more resonant, was a tad lighter, and it's pickups sounded better than whatever they're putting in 335's these days.

You've totally got me wanting one of those right now. I've been wanting a 335 for a long time now. I'm gonna have to go check those HB35's out. were they flamed out pretty good? I want one exactly like this one:

 

[dudeman08]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Yo!
I have a Washburn, and let me tell you, it is awesome for what I paid for it. I couldn't have bought a better guitar for the money. I paid $250 for an axe that has all the bells and whistles. But alas, my neck is bent in a weird way and I fear it might be corkscrewed.... If that's the case, then I'm screwed.... haha!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Another good manufacturer making stellar korean models is Dean. I have a Dean Evo Special (Korean made) that is great and after I replaced the pickups, tuners, and bridge.....I put it up against most of my guitars.

 

[BluesJunkie]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Here are the specks. As far as the neck it it very similar to my Hamer monaco maybe just a touch wider at the nut, but not thicker

http://www.washburn.com/electrics/hollow_bodies/hb30.htm

Thanks, but I've never played a Monaco, and neither the Washburn or Hamer sites have neck specs.

 

[brisk]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I am Korean and this is very good news to me. Samick is a well known company in Korea.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

You've totally got me wanting one of those right now. I've been wanting a 335 for a long time now. I'm gonna have to go check those HB35's out. were they flamed out pretty good? I want one exactly like this one:

ooohhhh
meeee
toooooo!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I played a red one that looks identical to the one above. Throw some Seths or Antiquities in that, and you'll have a heck of a guitar for the same amount as a Jap strat.

 

[BluesJunkie]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Yeah, all the hollow bodies look cool! I love the look of the J9 with the Bigsby. Also, for just $239 retail, I'm considering this:

Gearjoneser - You have since you have a few Les Pauls, how do the necks on the Washburn 335 copies compare in feel to Gibson necks? (I asked about the necks on the last page, and sweet_lou compared them to Hamer Monacos. But, since I've never played a Hamer (besides a Slammer a long time ago), I have no point of reference.)

 

[Skullkrusher]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I've got my eye on a Washburn WI68. Looks like it could be a real nice guitar.

 

[VicToR]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I am Korean and this is very good news to me. Samick is a well known company in Korea.

samick....my first amp, my first :argue: (inspiring cries of turn-that-damn-thing-down) :laugh2: ...and my father first :smash: :blackeye: (god bless smilies)

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Gearjoneser - You have since you have a few Les Pauls, how do the necks on the Washburn 335 copies compare in feel to Gibson necks? (I asked about the necks on the last page, and sweet_lou compared them to Hamer Monacos. But, since I've never played a Hamer (besides a Slammer a long time ago), I have no point of reference.)

I'd say that the necks on those HB-35 335 copies is similar to my
57 Black Beauty, which is just a touch smaller than the Std 59 profile.
It's actually quite comfortable! It's definitely not a cheap, skinny neck
normally associated with imports.

Also, those jazz boxes like the J-9 are a tremendous deal! They play and intonate better than the Epi's, and are the same price as a Carlo Robelli.
Ibanez has some killer one's as well in the same price range.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I'd say that the necks on those HB-35 335 copies is similar to my
57 Black Beauty, which is just a touch smaller than the Std 59 profile.
It's actually quite comfortable! It's definitely not a cheap, skinny neck
normally associated with imports.

Thanks GJ....that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I read they had a "soft v" neck on them and that was kind of turning me away a bit. I was hoping they'd have a somewhat beefy Les Paul neck on them. Thanks again for giving me G.A.S.:34: I called the nearest Sam Ash dealer today and they didn't have any in and the nearest Guitar Center doesn't even carry Washburns. I'm not sure if that's a blessing in disguise or not....lol.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

My Washburn P2 is a fantastic axe for the $$$. Plays well and sounds like a million bucks with the SDs. I remember an ebay retailer blowing out custom shop axes for under $400, which was amazing cause they all had great tops, hardcases and the Buzz system.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Thanks GJ....that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I read they had a "soft v" neck on them and that was kind of turning me away a bit. I was hoping they'd have a somewhat beefy Les Paul neck on them. Thanks again for giving me G.A.S.:34: I called the nearest Sam Ash dealer today and they didn't have any in and the nearest Guitar Center doesn't even carry Washburns. I'm not sure if that's a blessing in disguise or not....lol.

we've got a local washburn dealer in town here...i'm almost positive they had one when i was in there a couple of months ago...i didn't play it then...that's when i played that les paul type guitar...

i'll give it a go sometime this week and give ya a full report...!!!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

we've got a local washburn dealer in town here...i'm almost positive they had one when i was in there a couple of months ago...i didn't play it then...that's when i played that les paul type guitar...

i'll give it a go sometime this week and give ya a full report...!!!

Thanks Hoss....I appreciate that!!

 

[sweet_lou]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

Thanks GJ....that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I read they had a "soft v" neck on them and that was kind of turning me away a bit. I was hoping they'd have a somewhat beefy Les Paul neck on them. Thanks again for giving me G.A.S.:34: I called the nearest Sam Ash dealer today and they didn't have any in and the nearest Guitar Center doesn't even carry Washburns. I'm not sure if that's a blessing in disguise or not....lol.

I got mine at Music123 give them a try.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Washburn. The Best Quality for Lowest $.

I got mine at Music123 give them a try.

Thanks Lou