Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

[doveman]

I just bought a WI62 Washburn Idol on eBay ... received yesterday. Shaped roughly like a Les Paul but thickness and controls set up much like an SG. Weighs about half pound more than my son's SG Standard. Only $329 delivered.

Great guitar ... set neck, wood work, frets, finish, hardware are all exceptional. Same color as most SGs ... transparent red but w/gold hardware. Beautiful mahogany neck/body with interesting maple top grain. A little weak in the electronics ... as expected. I'm going to replace the switch, pickups, pots, caps, resistors. Put in 500k pots ... right now the two volume pots are a bit lower (measuring around 400k in the guitar while tones are 500k)

I can't find any information on the WB630 pickups this guitar has in it. Anyone know some of the specs on this pickup or where I can get specs? Resistance, output, etc. I think it would help me a little to know what in there now ... to make a good replacement choice. Washburn site is pretty skimpy and customer service was even having trouble ansering a case question.

My son replaced hos 490R/498T SG Standard setup with Gibson '57/57 Plus ... so I might use those since the price is right. Pop off the nickel covers ... I think it would look good.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

What does the guitar sound like unplugged?

What qualities of the unplugged tone do you want to accentuate or diminish?

What kind of music are you playing and what kind of amp are you playing through?

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

In my wi-64 the wb630 in the bridge was around 9K I believe. Have heard they are ceramic mags. Siounds OK, but too weak for me. Replaced with a custom, and I am VERY happy now.
I am actually kind of happy abuot the neck pickup right now. Sounds kinda like I would expect a 59 to sound, and it works fine for what I use it for. Plus, pulled the cover and it was a Zebra. Kinda funky, in an all black guitar. I have not replaced the electronics, but I also did not wire the VCC on the replacement pickup. I added an allparts push / pull to coil split (the pot is not used right now)
I plan a 59 or PGn in the future, and also converting to a standard volume / tone setup (eliminate VCC completely)
If I were you, I would use the Gibson pickups,

 

[RW James]

Re: Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

You might try the Washburn Users Forum... it's a bit slow, but there are some people there that are really knowledgable about Idols - and sometimes the Washburn people get on and share.

I have a WI14. The stock pickups in that one weren't as good as yours. I replaced them with a JB/Jazz set and I'm very happy with it. I also converted one of the tone pots into a spin-a-split (comparable to Washburns VCC).

 

[doveman]

Re: Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

What does the guitar sound like unplugged?

What qualities of the unplugged tone do you want to accentuate or diminish?

What kind of music are you playing and what kind of amp are you playing through?

Guitar sounds good unplugged ... good sustain ... feels like an SG to me ... better than low end SGs ... about the same as the SG standard. Pleased actually ... electronics need work ... but guitar is solid. That's how I judge a guitar first ... by the unplugged sound.

I currently have most sounds covered with my current rig ... '80 Yamaha SA2000 (like ES335), '05 Schecter PT Vintage (Tele copy with SD vintage stacks) all played through an original '77 Mesa/Boogie. I'm a fan of SD pickups after the success I had getting the tele sound I was looking for ... and quiet too. Put in a coil splitter ... so I can do both (but I digress).

What what I want from this guitar is an "Derek Trucks SG like" tone for open tuning slide work. How's that for aiming high? I want the pickups to NOT be TOO HOT ... somewhat warm and balanced ... a little natural break form the pickups but not heavy distortion ... the boogie amp takes care of the distortion. I want something like 57/57+ Gibson or SD equivalent.

Now I may put my son's SG 490R/498T in the guitar first ... since they are free (he put the 57/57+ in his SG). If I like it ... OK. :banana: But the 57/57+ sound pretty good ... what would be the best SD version of the 57/57+?

 

[doveman]

Re: Washburn WA630 Pickup (WI64/WI62)

You might try the Washburn Users Forum... it's a bit slow, but there are some people there that are really knowledgable about Idols - and sometimes the Washburn people get on and share.

I have a WI14. The stock pickups in that one weren't as good as yours. I replaced them with a JB/Jazz set and I'm very happy with it. I also converted one of the tone pots into a spin-a-split (comparable to Washburns VCC).

Yeah, I've got some questions out on the Washburn site. Not many menbers though. I've seen some similar questions from others ... that really haven't been answered. Also, hard to get any decent info from Washburn customer support ... not sure they touch guitars on a regular basis at their customer support center.

 

[WDeeGee]

It's a good axe, and the WB630 bridge sounds cool split.

 

[ssamsamm]

It's a good axe, and the WB630 bridge sounds cool split.

You realize that you respond to the 15 years old thread?