WASHBURN GUITARS

Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is known for many innovations in guitar building and marketing:[citation needed] for example, it was the first guitar manufacturer to use artist endorsements and build a large-bodied acoustic guitar.[citation needed] They are all hand built (some in Indonesia and China). The budget lines are marketed as Lyon by Washburn and Oscar Schmidt by Washburn. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.
The Washburn guitar company started making guitars in 1883 in Chicago. The factory would later be involved and located near a musical movement in Chicago in the 1920s. The movement was a “Delta Blues” movement, which came as a result of an influx of African Americans to the area. This type of blues would change the way blues music was played, and would also change rock and roll. This blues movement helped in the success of Washburn guitars. Washburn guitars were very popular during the 1920s. The musicians played the guitars as well as making them by hand. The Washburn guitar and the blues movement that it was involved with are associated with Maxwell Street. This street is only a few blocks from the factory, and where Washburn guitars were first embraced.
Washburn makes electric guitars, acoustic guitars, electric basses, acoustic basses, banjos, mandolins, travel guitars, and amplifiers. The company also makes accessories including guitar cases, clothing, and other parts like tuners, pick ups, and straps. Washburn is mostly known for its electric guitars and acoustic guitars. The company makes eight different styles or “Series” of both electric and acoustic guitars.
Most Washburn guitars equipped with humbuckers have a feature called VCC which is currently available only on Washburn. VCC stands for Voice Contour Control and it is unique coil tapping system that allows players to incrementally blend between a humbucking sound and a single coil sound without the hum normally associated with single coils. In other words, it gives you the option of switching the from the warm/thick humbucker sound, and turn it into a single coil sound at the twist of a knob. With VCC at 10 on the guitar knob, you get a more deep sound, as single coiled pickups normally do.


Washburn WI66 Pro Review:

Features : 8 Made in Korea. Dual seymour duncan p-90 pups. There are pull/push pots for coil splitting. Gold Carved Top with mahogany back (clear) Maple cap. Aged binding on body, headstock and neck. Grover 18:1 tuners. Pearl inlays on a rosewood fretboard. I'd guess medium jumbo frets. Neck is a good size for me and I do not have giant mitts. The shorter scale helps too. All in all high quality parts throughout. Case seems pretty standard.
Sound : 10 I bought this guitar to work on a bit of a new style (slide) but the action is so good and the p90s more aggressive than I had imagined...I'm thinking that this might make a great rock axe too. I play through a Marshall TSL 60 head and a Marshall 1936 2x12 cab. I use a Vox Tonelab for chorus/reverb and/or as a preamp.
The seymour duncan p90s are nice! The neck is quite a bit bassier than the bridge pup which is my favorite. The neck seems to sound better for non rock type cleans...The bridge is aggressive and sounds absolutely great distorted. They sound more like hums than singles.
I haven't fully put the Washburn through it's paces yet...but as I keep saying what suprised me right off the bat was how good this thing sounded with the classic Marshall distortion sound. The bridge in clean sounded very clear and hot. Great note definition. Guitar even sounds great unplugged.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 9 I had it shipped from Florida and the seller knew what he was doing. All the strings were detuned. Once tuned up? Great action, great fretwork, a few pinhead imperfections to the finish along the neck/body meet. (really pin head sized over spray of gold) Clear finish is poly and a tad thick but consistant throughout. Guitar was a showroom model...but no dents or dings and definately no rust.
Reliability/Durability : 9 The guitar seems pretty solid. The parts are quality. The finish is poly so the main positive attribute of poly is it's durability. I'd play out with it. I always bring a second guitar though...even if I do not use the 2nd...it's better to have it and not need it...then to need it and not have it.
Overall Rating : 10 Been playing for about 16 years. I own a Carvin DC127m, a warmoth parts-o-caster (think early VH days) a Marshall TSL 60 head with matching 2x12 cab, A Vox Tonelab and a beater acoustic.
I highly recommend this guitar. There isn't that much to a guitar...good build...good wood...good hardware...good pickups...good features. This is a guitar that has all of the above. Definately worth it if you are looking for a reliable p90 with some balls that won't cost you 2k. I got a great deal on a store closeout model but even at full retail there isn't too much to compete with it.