Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Philly Q on February 25, 2012, 05:13:39 PM
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This wasn't something I was looking for, just stumbled on it on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It didn't get any bids first time, so I emailed the guy and tried to make a deal outside eBay, but his "buy it now" price was a bit too high so I just waited for the re-listed auction to end and bought it anyway! Picked it up this morning. :)
It's a 1998(?) Washburn WM200, from the USA Custom Shop. It cost the original owner £1,399 and I've got it for £490, so on the face of it it's a bargain, but I know from a bit of Googling that the model was a flop and Guitar Center ended up selling them super-super-cheap in the USA. :lol: So resale value might not be too great, but I reckon in terms of quality I've got myself a pretty good deal.
Construction is unusual - it looks a bit like an HSS Strat and it's made of Fender-style timbers, but it has a tune-o-matic, a glued-in neck and a 24.75" scale. The body is Ash (one-piece), neck is Maple (two-piece, joined down the centre, which I haven't seen before), fretboard is "Orange Coral Rosewood" (whatever that may be!). Pickups are Seymour Duncans (Custom Custom bridge, Custom Staggered middle and Custom Flat neck.... I think) and it has the Buzz Feiten tuning system.
On first impressions I am rather impressed! It's not overly heavy, the neck is fairly substantial (wide and deeper than a Gibson '60s but not as chunky as a '50s), upper fret access is really good. The construction seems to affect the tone more than the timbers - it sounds like a set-neck, with a fair amount of bass, but the ash and/or maple does seem to give a bit of snap. I want to take it apart and see how deep the neck joint goes!
Badly needs a new set of strings and I think I'll add some TonePros bits and an aluminium tailpiece. The controls are a bit oddly placed, whichever position the five-way's in it's a bit awkward to use either the volume or the middle tone..... I feel a custom scratchplate coming on....
Anyway, some pics:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/KGrHqJHJDgE7zIJHRzQBPEE6uWI160_3.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/KGrHqVHJBME74l-ZrzBPEE80RfQ60_3.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/KGrHqRHJ4E7tv7I4zBPEE84i060_3.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/KGrHqFHJBkE7r7vQ1JBPEE78W-pg60_3.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/DSC_0087.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/DSC_0086.jpg)
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Really digging that fretboard dude! Nice purchase! :D
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That's pretty cool Phil, and just your thing! Tasty!
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Very nice Phil - can't ever remember them being produced!
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Thanks guys. :D
I've just realised, the fretboard looks a bit like...... Baked Maple! :o It couldn't be, could it? :lol:
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Very nice Phil - can't ever remember them being produced!
It's from one of those periods when Washburn completely overhauled their line and introduced loads of new models based on a particular shape. They've never had any consistency, which I reckon has stopped them being as big as some other brands. They had the Wing series in the late '70s/early '80s (which I think was a strong look), then they had more traditional looking superstrats and vintage-style models like the Chicago series, then they actually had some success off the back of the Nuno Bettencourt models, now they have the Idol series.....
This one is from the period when they had a load of models with a shape called either the Maverick or "Billy T" (why? :? ). The only well known guitarist who ever used them - and still does - is Jennifer Batten:
(http://www.soundtech.co.uk/images/soundtech/manufacturer/washburn/BATTEN_LPaul_550.jpg)
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I like it- lovely wood on the body and the workmanship looks to be of a high standard.
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That's a really solid and good looking guitar. Good purchase, many congrats.
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Plugging in, sounds good - I'm not quite sure, but it seems to be wired like a vintage Strat with tones for the neck and middle but not the bridge. I don't think there's anything sophisticated like coil splitting.
There's something amiss electronically though, the sound keeps fading or cutting out... I'm not sure if it's the switch, the volume control or maybe just the jack. Still, no worries, easily sorted.
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That looks in great condition. The rosewood fretboard is nice.
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that looks really nice :D
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congrats, i like the components but struggle with them combined :roll:
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:lol: That's OK.
It is a bit "different", but I like that.
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nice block of ash.
the rosewood looks vaguely like santos to me, but more yellow/brown than brick red/brown. certainly not baked maple ;)
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Very nice. Nice looking guitar and case. Hope you enjoy it.
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the rosewood looks vaguely like santos to me, but more yellow/brown than brick red/brown. certainly not baked maple ;)
Yeah, you're right, it is a yellow/brown colour. I wonder if anyone had even thought of baked maple in 1998? :lol:
Incidentally, the bottom two pictures show the body colour better, it is more of a rose/pink colour than bright red.
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Im liking that Philly
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I like this guitar a lot. The grain, the fretboard, the HSS. Seems you got yourself a lot of guitar for the money.
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Nice guitar dude, refreshing to see something different.
I have fond memories of the Ibanez/Starfield guitars that Sound Control stocked, would love to acquire one some day, the necks were really nice.
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I'm still looking for a Starfield Cabriolet, if the price is right.
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I remember having a budget version of one of those as a kid and used to love it!
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Very nice structure on the fretboard, tad of a rustic and vintage feel to it, HSS and what I really like is a that tad of fireman in there, in the sense of that thing oposite the cutaway that, as Gilbert tells about his FM, bring the vibration right to the heart.
Do you notice that effect when playing it sitting down with this shape already?
All in all, looks like a solid axe, not just in the ok sense, but in "this axe can get things done" caus it is made well, way.
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Fantastic grain on that one mate! Looks like a real quality guitar, that neck joint looks superb too. seems you bagged something special... especially for the money. 8)
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It looks great and a bit odd at the same time. How does it sound, Philly? Is it close to a strat?
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Like that black grain.
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pretty...me wants
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A couple of gut shots..... we've all heard of a "swimming pool route", I guess this is an Olympic size swimming pool route! :? :lol:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP4442.jpg)(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP4443.jpg)
The good news: The neck tenon is full-width and extends about an inch beyond the end of the fretboard, under the neck pickup. And they've left a bit more thickness of wood in that part of the cavity to help support it, so I guess it should be pretty sturdy.
The bad news: Not happy about those mini pots! Can't tell what brand they are but all three are 500k. And they're crackly and too stiff. They'll have to go....
Anyway, the bridge pickup is definitely a Duncan, I guess "CCL" suggests Custom Custom? No idea about the single-coils.
Since taking the pics I've oiled the fretboard, it looks really good - the grain is amazingly tight for a rosewood, and the stripes look almost like "flame" in places. Very unusual. :)
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What a big route :o
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Today I swapped the tailpiece for an aluminium one, with a set of TonePros studs, and also swapped the Grovers for a set of locking Gotohs.
Suddenly it sounds a lot more lively, I don't know if it has that "Fireman" quality in the upper horn but there is plenty of resonance in the neck and body. That said, I don't know if it's the replacement parts or just the new set of strings! :lol:
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the finish is amazing. very unusual construction too, cool 8)
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I actually really, really like this.
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Nice guitar. I like the way they did the heel - should allow easy access to the upper range of the fretboard.
Cheers Stephan
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Nice guitar. I like the way they did the heel - should allow easy access to the upper range of the fretboard.
It does! And the long upper horn makes it hang in such a way that it feels quite "compact", rather like a Music Man (although it feels completely different in every other way).
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Missed this...
That is an interesting beastie. I'm not too keen on the headstock (shape, mainly), but otherwise I'm really quite liking it. Like others, I love the colour and the grain.
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Thanks Andy. Yeah, I think it's a good 'un. And quite a fun platform for mods/upgrades.