What has happened to Washburn?

[Jusatele]

I remember the day when Washburn guitars were some really nice guitars
I own 2 from the 80s that rock, and are of great quality but lately every one I pick up in the music store is either a cheap korean knock off or some beginners model
Does Washburn still make any American made stuff of quality?
I would really like another acoustic like my other Washburn.

 

[jay4321]

I don't know what's going on with them right right but they had some great singlecut guitars in the upper end of their line not long ago. They definitely had a price problem and I don't know which of them were USA-built.

The lower end WI-45 Idols were Chinese imports but a steal for what they went for. Noticeably better than the Epiphones in the $700 & down range off the shelf, but could be found for a 3rd of that.

 

[iamdavidmorris]

Just looking through their website, they seem to have some electric guitars that are made in the USA.  They're upward of $3,000.  I remember those old Washburns.  Personally, I mourn the passing of the old Guild guitars.

 

[tomroffey666]

I'm pretty sure Washburn went broke actually, but don't take my word for that. They were selling a shit load of the hardware for really cheap. My guitar teacher bought a few floyds for $100 each. The same ones on Nuno's sigs which are badass!

 

[NLD09]

Just looking through their website, they seem to have some electric guitars that are made in the USA.  They're upward of $3,000.  I remember those old Washburns.  Personally, I mourn the passing of the old Guild guitars.

I was thinking the same thing. I've never gotten to play one personally, but all the guilds i've heard other play have sounded beautiful.

 

[Jusatele]

Guild, yes they were once a great maker of guitars also
oh well that Taylor is looking better all the time. Or maybe a Martin

but damn I have always loved Washburn acoustic guitars. I just wanted a new one.

I had a CT model carved top LP clone once that was American made, I regret selling that also, OH well you can never go home.

 

[iamdavidmorris]

Guild, yes they were once a great maker of guitars also
oh well that Taylor is looking better all the time. Or maybe a Martin

but damn I have always loved Washburn acoustic guitars. I just wanted a new one.

I had a CT model carved top LP clone once that was American made, I regret selling that also, OH well you can never go home.

Or drop some cash and have a luthier build one for you.  My Taylor keeps me pretty satisfied, but if I ever buy another acoustic guitar, that's what I'm gonna do.

 

[Jusatele]

Guild, yes they were once a great maker of guitars also
oh well that Taylor is looking better all the time. Or maybe a Martin

but damn I have always loved Washburn acoustic guitars. I just wanted a new one.

I had a CT model carved top LP clone once that was American made, I regret selling that also, OH well you can never go home.

Or drop some cash and have a luthier build one for you.  My Taylor keeps me pretty satisfied, but if I ever buy another acoustic guitar, that's what I'm gonna do.

tell you what, after assembling Barn Door, and then having played it for a few months, I am hooked on custom and getting what you want the first time around
yea, hand built may be the way to go

 

[jay4321]

Funny I'm just the opposite. I bought this $250 Yamaha FG730s few years back and I can't put it down. I had the nut & saddle replaced and set up very well, and it plays/sounds great.

Spent a fair amount of time in the acoustic room at the local GC on a couple trips since. I never really intended the Yamaha to be my main acoustic indefinitely, but nothing really blew me away in comparison until I went well over the $1,200 range. Maybe I'm just used to the way mine plays/sounds or something, or that GC room just sucks. I'm not sure but there isn't a piece of equipment I own that's been a better pure value. All told it cost me about $350 with upgrades and just works for everything. Meanwhile with electrics I'm into 5 Warmoths and several non-Warmoths and customizing/re-customizing everything, trying to work out the perfect guitar. Go figure.

 

[m4rk0]

I have a USA Made 5 string Washburn Bass, which I really like, but I just had to put it on ebay, since I need more Warmoths!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I had an N2 back in the early 90's.  It was a great player.

 

[llmtelecaster]

Well I, for instance, don't know a damn thing about Washburn guitars. And I'm not "out of the loop" when it comes to what's going on in the guitar world. I think that shows you that Washburn does not, and has never, really pushed their product very aggressively. It seems like after the nu-metal era came and went and brands like Ibanez, ESP, and Schecter shot to the forefront with Fender and Gibson, Washburn was just kinda left in the dust without a clear identity. Now, I don't think it's so much that people don't like Washburn. I think it's more that people just don't know anything Washburn.

 

[taez555]

I actually own one of Nuno's N4 that he sold a few years ago and don't really know anything about Washburn beyond the N4 to be honest.   They never really seemed to have any strong ad campaign's beyond the N4's and Nuno which seemed like the flagship of the company, with the rest being throw away instruments for beginners.     Or at least that was sort of the impression I got from the ads and guitars I played over the years.  I mean, Mike Myer's "beater" in Wayne's World was a Washburn.  I'm sure they make(or made) great guitars, just never really saw it with their marketing.

Here's my N4.  It's an amazing guitar and I contemplated for a long time putting a Bill Lawrence in my Warmoth because of it.

More about my, non warmoth ;-), guitar if you're interested.
http://www.erikzmusic.com/washburnn4.html