Note: This guide has all the answers you’ll need for the question – Are Washburn guitars good? If you’re thinking of choosing Washburn as your next guitar brand then I’ve compiled detailed (and honest) information about Washburn guitar types, models, their significance & alternate brands to help you make the right decision.
Guitars have been made by Washburn for about 140 years. They have developed a reputation for excellent craftsmanship and tone. With origins in the 1880s, Washburn is a well-known American guitar brand. Their inventive designs continue to draw new players even today, and their guitars have graced our stages and screens for decades.
If you’re looking to buy a new acoustic or electric guitar, you should think about Washburn as your go-to brand. Their large selection of attractive instruments is made to perform well and is suitable for any level of player, from amateur to professional, and for music genres ranging from hard rock to classical.
Washburn offers a wide variety of guitars, many of which are constructed from high-quality tonewoods, making them competitive with other instruments in the same price range. Their mid-range to premium models include high-quality hardware and electronics that are well-liked by players.
These guitars will last for a very long time, the multiple Washburn guitars reviews on the internet are a testimony to that. The expensive models have even been known to work well for decades when properly maintained.
The history of Washburn guitars, the greatest applications for them, potential hazards, and significant factors you should take into account when deciding which brand of an instrument to purchase are all covered in this article.
Types of guitars by Washburn and their significance
I’ve had my fair share of experience with Washburn guitars. I’ve put down reviews of Washburn guitars and my take on them
- Washburn Electric Guitar review:
With its distinctive rounded shape and striking spalted maple veneer top, the reasonably priced six-string, Washburn electric guitar defies the trend of conventional electric guitar design. Long jam sessions are also made more comfortable by the guitar’s back’s belly cut. The Original Idol is a must-have for musicians looking for a guitar that looks as amazing as it sounds thanks to its striking single cutaway shape and twin humbucker set-up. Some of the most well-known and important musicians have endorsed them, including Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme and Warren Hayes of the Allman Brothers.
- Washburn Acoustic Guitar review:
Many acoustic guitar players are aware of the significance of purchasing a guitar with a solid top when shopping for an acoustic guitar. However, it might be challenging to locate a good instrument at a fair price if you’re on a tight budget. This stunning guitar features laminated mahogany back and sides and a solid mahogany top, giving it a warm, mellow sound that is ideal for folk or singer-songwriter genres.
- Washburn Acoustic electric guitar review:
It might be challenging to acquire an affordable acoustic-electric guitar, even though many players make it a point to own at least one. However, many musicians favour Washburn’s Festival Series acoustic-electric guitars, and MTV has used them in its Unplugged series. With a smaller, more manageable size, this tiny jumbo guitar has the same appealing shapes as a jumbo acoustic.
Other Washburn guitars are featured here:
- Washburn WD20SCE– The Best Guitars With Low Action
- Washburn Apprentice G-Mini 5 – The Best 7/8 Guitars
Does Washburn make good-quality guitars?
Hardware:
From affordable entry-level guitars to expensive professional models, Washburn offers a wide selection of guitars. The quality does get better with the more expensive versions, but that doesn’t mean the less expensive ones aren’t good.
The majority of Washburn guitars receive 4-5 star evaluations on music store websites, indicating that owners are generally satisfied with the quality of their instruments.
Some claim that Washburn’s entry-level guitars are of low quality and cannot compete with more expensive models. You may be confident that no matter how much you spend, you will obtain a superb instrument if you play it before you buy it.
The hardware on Washburn guitars is generally of high quality. Some details are as follows:
The Bridges:
When it comes to Washburns electric guitars, there are many alternatives. Choose from Tune-O-Matic, Floyd-Rose, hardtail, and conventional tremolo.
The bridges on Washburn’s electric guitars are all excellent.
The acoustic guitar bridges made by Washburn are made of a variety of woods, including rosewood, ebony, and ovangkol.
Several less expensive models use engineered wood bridges (similar to high-quality plywood).
Diecast tuners are frequently included with Washburn guitars. High-end versions almost always have better tuning pegs, and some even include Grover tuners that are of the highest calibre.
The Nuts:
Plastic nuts are almost universally used by guitar manufacturers, including Washburn. The high-quality bone nuts utilised by Washburn on some of their more pricey models, however, are impressive.
The sides and backs of Washburn guitars are made from a variety of stunning wood species. Beautiful mahogany sides, backs, and necks can be found on even some of their more affordable guitars.
Some of their more affordable guitars have basswood tops, which, while not particularly attractive, are light and have adequate tonal qualities for beginners.
Are Washburn Guitars Good for Beginners?
Mahogany sides and a solid Sitka spruce top are standard components of Washburn guitars. Thinly cut spruce gradually increases the instrument’s volume and tonal quality. It responds well to really complex plays as well. This essentially means that anyone who plays it can keep improving with it. When all is said and done, the Washburn guitar is a fantastic purchase. Nevertheless, a beginner may find it challenging to regulate the huge tone and talents. The body features a satin finish and a dreadnought form. In line with other bridges in this price category, the bridge is made of rosewood. According to reviews, this guitar is excellent for strumming and playing blues and bluegrass music.
So yes, Washburn guitars are suitable for beginners because they currently largely serve the beginner/intermediate market.
Many people assert that the inexpensive Washburn models surpass their incredibly pricey counterparts since they are so reasonably priced.
Where are Washburn guitars made
Only a small portion of contemporary Washburn instruments have been produced by the business. In order to realise its designs and satisfy consumer demand, it has relied on external factories and luthiers which makes musicians naturally curious about where are Washburn guitars made?
Full-size acoustic guitars were the first contemporary Washburn instruments, and Beckmen Music imported them from Japan. The Wing Series models from 1978 to 1984 were the first Washburn electric guitars. These guitars were constructed neck-through and featured cutting-edge push-pull split humbuckers, brass hardware, and inlays. One Japanese producer of Washburn acoustic guitars, Yamaki, produced some of the early Wing Series guitars.
By 1991, Samick’s production of Washburn instruments had almost entirely moved to Korea. Ten acoustic guitar models were produced for Washburn in the United States between 1994 and 2001, five by Tacoma Guitars in Tacoma, Washington, and five by Bourgeois Guitars (Lewiston, Maine).
The Washburn luthiery shut down in 2012 because JAM Industries decided not to extend the lease on the Mundelein building. The Washburn factory was the third-largest enterprise and the ninth-largest employer in the hamlet at the time, supporting 180 people. The planned reopening at a more compact Buffalo Grove structure (1000 Corporate Grove Drive) never happened. Some Washburn models are made in Cincinnati, particularly the N4.
Primary production has mostly moved from facilities in Korea to those in Indonesia and China as of 2017.
Should you buy a Washburn guitar?
When a luthier’s history dates back to the 19th century, you can be sure they’ve been doing something well. That undoubtedly applies to Washburn, which was established in Chicago in 1883. Their discography is littered with historical events and anecdotes, such as the 1912 invention of the dreadnought guitar and widespread media coverage from MTV’s Unplugged series in the 1990s. Recently, Washburn acoustic guitars have even been created in collaboration with incredibly successful musicians like Warren Hayes and Nuno Bettencourt.
The fact that Washburn is so well-known is due to the quality of their guitars, which have earned them this reputation. More than a century after the debut of their first dreadnought, dreadnoughts continue to be the highlight of the Washburn lineup today. Examples of such instruments include the WD 10S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar and the WD 100DL Dreadnought Mahogany Acoustic Guitar. These instruments are not only well-built and well-designed, but they also provide you with those advantages at a price that is affordable for even the most limited of budgets.
So with Washburn, you’re good to go if you’re just starting out and trying to stretch every dollar as far as it can go. If you’re a pro or an experienced player looking for a high-end instrument, you should definitely check out one of Washburn’s models.
The collection of Washburn guitars has something for everyone, whether they prefer traditional, contemporary, or a mix of the two. Look closely to verify the advantages of such extensive experience. Bang for your buck is the essential concept here, and Washburn gives you a tonne of it, so any instrument you choose, you can be sure that it can compete with any rival.
Best alternatives for Washburn guitars
- Ibanez – Ibanez is a major player in the guitar industry and makes a wide range of guitars, effects pedals, and amplifiers.
Although they are perhaps best known for the solid body guitars played by players like Steve Vai and Paul Gilbert, they also produce a wide selection of semi-hollow and hollow body guitars that are very well-liked by jazz performers and come in a variety of styles and price ranges. - Fender – This hard-bodied beast of an electric guitar is just wonderful whether you’re performing jazz, blues, country, or rock.
This Fender model is distinctive due to its recognised “twang” and glitter as well as its extreme versatility in offering a broad spectrum of sound options.
Fender guitars have a certain mystique about them. These guitars are a true classic and are among the most well-known brands ever.
- Gibson – Today, jazz guitarists of all skill levels and educational backgrounds still favour them when searching for the timeless jazz tone that has long been associated with the Gibson brand.
The greatest jazz guitarists of all time, including Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel, and Johnny Smith, have all played these instruments.
- Epiphone – The De Luxe, the Broadway, and the Triumph are just a few of the large acoustic archtop guitars that Epiphone produced during the big band swing era. Today, Epiphone is recognised as the sister company of Gibson, which acquired the business in the 1950s.
We suggest an Epiphone for people looking for a reliable, entry-level jazz guitar with a classic appearance and historical heritage because they provide more cheap versions of numerous Gibson guitars in addition to their own line of archtops and semi-hollow instruments.
In Conclusion
Washburn produces high-quality guitars for every player, every price range, and every musical genre.
Their extensive selection of electric and acoustic guitars are well-made and have fantastic tones. So, if you’re looking for a new guitar, think about any of their expertly built models—I’m sure you’ll adore it!
Tania B.
Ola! I am Tania and I have studied music at Trinity College, London. My love for music started early when I was about 12 years old and I've been around the block when it comes to problems while buying a guitar that suits all your needs. I hope you find my tips useful!
