Home Forums Guitar Discussion Bass Guitar Washburn. Good? or Bad?

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  • #23797
    mackflynn
    Participant

    This Discussion board is starting to disapoint me. Not many or any replies anymore.
    But here’s a shot at another quick topic i’d like some help with, if possible.

    I would like to know any pros or cons about Washburn. Are they good? Are they shit?

    I’m interested in the washburn T24 or T25. Unsure about the JJ pickups.

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    • #66312
      Tim
      Participant

      Hey, thanks for the review, hopefully it’ll help other’s searching for this topic. Always good to read informed, objective opinions.

    • #66322
      zunz1
      Participant

      About the Washburn T24 Taurus 4 string bass. First I have played bass guitar for over 30 years and have played in several blues rock soul bands and have owned many bass guitars. My reference bass amp is a vintage Kustom 200 w/ 2 EVM 15B drivers used for this review. Even though I have owned many classic bass guitars the Taurus is my first “neck thru body” design. Having the opportunity to jam on a Gibson “neck thru body” Firebird I noticed the that the sustain was fantastic. After doing some research I learned that neck thru body design and great sustain are synonymous. The Taurus also benefits with great sustain as well great tone in spades. W/ the dual pickup setup I was able to dial my preferred tone and noticed that I could go most anywhere I wanted when combined w/ the amp tone controls. With 24 frets you enter into more high note possibilities. The problem w/ some of these extended range basses is they are not balanced and are uncomfortable when standing. I was happy to find the T24 long horn pretty much makes up for this problem. After adjustment I found the neck to be very comfortable and fast. The high notes are also very playable. The T24 is made from great materials and parts. I suspect that all the ingredients and NTB design work well together to produce not only great tone and sustain but also an even volume up and down the fret board along with low distortion. I bought this mint used bass for $225 w/o a case. At the under new $450 street price I think it is an outstanding value and should be on your checkout radar. I am not a dealer or shill for Washburn. Some of my comparison basses are Fender P, MusicMan SR, OLP SR, Squire Jazz, Guild Starfire, BC Rich P Eagle, and Steinberger.

    • #66319
      Tim
      Participant

      We did you to post a lot more but it was mainly the two of us, stuff like the effects thread was certainly useful for me…yeah I know, I started it. And I really could question a couple of the members for days on pickups and other internals.

      I still think we should see your design-a-bass ideas (although not any top secret bits of course!) May inspire some of us (me!) who only know the basics of the differences wood choice etc make…

      I think what I’m saying is we should go full-on anorak style 😆

    • #66299
      glw
      Participant

      [quote=”1bassleft”]Guitar picture… posted on bass cat… must find mod’s button… must delete image… 😆 [/quote]

      Sorry about that! I came to this thread via the weekly email and hadn’t realised I was in the dreaded BASS section!

    • #66296
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Guitar picture… posted on bass cat… must find mod’s button… must delete image… 😆

      Joking aside, a recommendation for the build quality and playability of the Washburn guitar bodes well for their bass products. Also, I’ve been meaning to address your perfectly valid point, Mack. It can get a bit quiet here in the bass cat, and I appreciate how you’ve hung around to pose some interesting Qs for discussion.

      I’m in a bit of a quandary because, although I try to answer any Qs and contribute an op, I also feel that a “mods Tim and 1BL swap posts” section would be a turn off for passers-by. The soft option is to put up “favourite bass line”, “favourite bass player” etc threads which often move people to write. However, this can and has been done by specialist bass fora such as The Bottom Line and I don’t think this section can, or wants to, overtake those sites.

      I have ideas for this cat, but I would prefer to maintain it rather than dictate. So (and knowing this sounds like a cop-out, but it isn’t meant to be) I am mightily interested to see what bass players want to find here that’s not well catered for elsewhere. I’ll do a bit of research and thunking in the meantime but I’d welcome any “I’d like to see…” posts.

      Again, I appreciate your point and I’ll do what I can to help improve this section.

    • #66313
      Michael
      Participant

      Sorry GLW, heck knows where I dreamed that one up 🙂

    • #66309
      glw
      Participant

      [quote=”Michael”]I recall GLW or someone saying they didn’t like Washburn ages back, but yeah, that was ages back so I can’t remember clearly.[/quote]

      It wasn’t me.

      I own one and I think it’s a fine guitar!

      #http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/turquoisemoleeater/guitars/washburn_wi165dl.jpg

      (Please forgive me posting a guitar pic on a bass thread!)

      I’ve also played Washburn acoustics in the past and was really impressed with their tone and playability.

    • #66291
      mackflynn
      Participant

      Very true indeed.

      Even finding a reliable source of information on this topic has been a bit of a nightmare. I’m glad I’ve found this site, tho i get the impression there arn’t a lot of people involved in this one? Either way, I’ve gotten a start on this mission at least. The right information is coming gradually.

      Thanks for all your help so far.

      The last review i read about washburns, were that they did not make great rock, progressive rock, metal, etc… music, but more in the jazz and blues region.
      Of course everyone has their own opinions about what sounds good for rock music. But if he was right, then it doesn’t sound like the bass for me. (Not that i have anything against jazz, of course)
      Could just be the pickups though.

      What’s the verdict on dimarzio? if you’re familiar.
      They have a great system on their website, to choose appropriate pickups based on the style sound you’re looking for.

    • #66303
      1bassleft
      Participant

      And my problem is being a lefty bass player. I just don’t get to see many turned my way that I can try out. I made a start at building one; ironically using a Washburn neck. I don’t think I can comment on them on the basis of owning a neck, though. Another place to have a look is The Bottom Line for comments. It’s been more than four years I suppose since I used to look in and occasionally post there, but it had a very nice mix of pros, coaches, sessions, weekenders and beginners. All posts treated respectfully even if (as was often in my case) I’d posted some half-baked bollox.

      PS – there is a knack to reading reviews on HC. I’m not knocking HC nor many of its reviewers – I’ve put up a few myself. It’s just that many don’t objectively discuss something they’ve paid money for. Either it’s “awesome” or it’s a POS – the middle ground is a lot thinner. TBF, amp and bass reviews suffer this less than guitar reviews on there.

    • #66315
      Tim
      Participant

      Sorry, not intentionally ignoring you but I have no experience of Washburns at all. There is a fairly comprehensive review of the T25 on TalkBass:

      http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/770/cat/13

      but only the one, there is a few reviews of other Washburn basses which may be of some use?

      Anyway, hope you find the info you need,

      Tim.

      EDIT: Loads more user reviews at Harmony Central:
      http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/all/27

    • #66288
      mackflynn
      Participant

      Well, in that case that’s even better.
      I feared you were being discrete, in attempt to not mess around with the sponsors (which is probably somewhat true anyway).

      Could you maybe give me an idea of their tone, sound, playability? Specifically the Taurus T24.
      I’ve been looking for Ash, Maple, Walnut, or Mahogony body, the same scale, and look that this bass has.

      I’ve never played one, so I dont know how it sounds. I’m looking for a punchy (but not twangy) low end, progressive rock thump. Low and sustained, but not ringing and droany. Definition in plucks, but not with too much treble, or “tone”.
      Something a Wal or Alembic would create. And, yes I know you can’t really get an alembic sound or wal sound with anything accept and alembic or wal, but I want somehting that fits into that category of sound. I also need fast action.

      Sounds I dont want: Fender Jazz, Music Man Stingray…

      Sounds I like: Gibson RD Artist, Alembic, Wal…

      This is for anyone who reads this, who can give me some insight.

      Thanks!!!

    • #66294
      Michael
      Participant

      hehe sorry didn’t mean to be cryptic… I just didn’t want to be seen as coming off as a spokesperson for Washburn, when I honestly do like their guitars.

    • #66321
      mackflynn
      Participant

      haha. that’s funny. I didn’t notice it was a sponsor.

      Thanks for the input tho, although cryptically structured, it still helped some.

      I hope some outsiders can give me some ideas.

    • #66293
      Michael
      Participant

      Obviously Washburn are a sponsor of GuitarSite, so take what you will from my comments.

      The best answer I can give you is I’ve found a lot of happy Washburn owners. There’s always going to be complaints about guitar companies and Washburn is no exception. Yet compared to the likes of Fender these days, Washburn produce some fine instruments.

      I was doing a lot of research a few months back, and the Washburn X50PRO was a serious contender for the price. I found issues with the EMG pickups on the lesser X50 model, but the pro model had SD’s.

      I recall GLW or someone saying they didn’t like Washburn ages back, but yeah, that was ages back so I can’t remember clearly.

      Maybe 1B, Tim and co can shed some light on the bass side of the spectrum.

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