OK, heres a partial history I have not put up previously---pretty exciting and not the end of the story yet. The missing links are many advertisements, catalogs and brochures from 1979-1982 which would finally solve everything. They are really missing. From 1983 onward they are mostly findable. The next lines should make clear an evolutionary path.
OK, the SB-40 and B-40 appear in history at about the same time in 1979 with a questionable appearance of the B-40 MAYBE in 1978. These two basses ended the "classic hollow body" shape used by the Scavengers and Vultures I and II. They brought in the "modern" or "catch-up" body phase for Washburn. They did keep the 2x2 tuners to remain in the WING series.
1.
The B-40 (known in Europe as LB-40 for some {I am sure} stupid reason) with
4 knobs and 1 toggle switch appears to be a dead end branch of evolution, altho I cannot find an end date for them. The latest I can find is a 1982 Rudy Sarzo ad with a B-40. So the lifespan parallels the SB-40. So any other Washie with 4 knobs and 1 switch
could claim SOME kind of kinship with the grandaddy B-40. It may even be that the B-40 INSPIRED
2.
the SB-40 which comes out with
3 knobs and 2 switches(toggle and mini) as perhaps a bit more sophisticated for 1980-1982 (the SB-40EQ appears to be introduced 1981): to be followed by SB-40,
(not B-40), l
ook-alikes and with same electronics of 3/1 except that the headstock was changed to 4 in-line and thus closed the Wing Series era and entered the Force series.
So the SB-40 of 3 pups/2 switches elec pkg (the B-40's 4/1 elec pkg is dropped) then continues success by morphing into
a.
FORCE-40EQ + EQW in 1982 along with the final SB-40s
NOTE: I JUST FOUND OUT VIA EBAY SB-40EQ WAS ALSO MADE AND SOLD IN 1982--WOW PICS POSTED WAY DOWN THE THREAD--and then
b.
B-40EQ +40EQW in 1983 I have ads for them.
c.
drop the EQ/EQW to be a regular FORCE-40 in 1984 which had a long run of success and was joined for a while with the Force series
B-40EQ TS model which did not last long IIRC.
So, to recapitulate, The Scavengers and Vultures along with their body shape are like the old cars on the road because they were still produced until, at least, 1981-1982.
The B-40 and (notice they just added on an "S" to show cousinry in this "new-to-Washburn" shape)
SB-40 ushered in the "modern" body style together for Washburn if you want to call it that, since Fender
pretty well knew it was cool since 1951 and it took Washburn all that time to get on board!
Next step is I must get into the Library of Congress Patent Office and drag out some info to further NAIL THIS STUFF DOWN!
In the first picture (some of my basses except for the B-20 I sold to a TB'er), the blue bass is Force 40 (1984) followed by two SB-40s (a 1980 and a 1981)
2nd Picture is the SB-40 headstock on the second SB.
I bought a Washburn "Force" 40 in late 82. It was beautiful, cherry-colored wood. I was so proud that Rudy Sarzo endorsed those. That bass was one of many things I sacrificed for my addictions. Now, I am clean again, playing a cheap bass and trying desperately to get a bass amp sufficient for rehearsing. Not sure why I shared that. Don't be a junkie my friends...kicking self
