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Does anybody here play Washburn basses?
- Thread starter fourstringbliss
- Start date
I've always wanted to try one of the Taurus basses, since they look really cool, but I've never seen any around.
I've owned an RB2002 in the past. It was an pretty good playing bass, along the same quality as the Ibanez SRX300. I remember I wasn't very impressed with the bridge. The electronics were nothing special either. The good news is that you can get them for great deals. I bought it for $200 including hard case and shipping and got $300 trade-in-value at a local guitar shop. 
From what I understand the used USA models XB900, XB920, XB925 are good buys and all have good quality electronics. I think XB900's go for less than $400 on Ebay. There is an XB928 at the Guitar Center near me. (8 string) I was super impressed with the sound and craftsmanship.
From what I understand the used USA models XB900, XB920, XB925 are good buys and all have good quality electronics. I think XB900's go for less than $400 on Ebay. There is an XB928 at the Guitar Center near me. (8 string) I was super impressed with the sound and craftsmanship.
I have tried many Washburns. The only one I ever bought is an AB20 fretless, apparently from the '80's. This is a classic bass -- it was featured recently in a BP article on retro basses -- and it is often used in studios to mimic an upright sound. It does a fair job of that in the lower ranges. It's a nice LOOKING bass, too, in a very conservative way.
I'm not too keen on the solidbodies, though.
I'm not too keen on the solidbodies, though.
I'm not actually interested in owning a Washburn bass, I just found it interesting that I never see people talking about them here on TB. I've also noticed that they used to have a lot of good looking bass models, but that seems to have dwindled lately.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
I used to have an XB-925F (unlined fretless) made in their Chicago shop. It has a zebrawood top, active Barts, a decent preamp, and sounded great. The only thing I didn't like was that it was $1600 and the fret dots (side of neck only) were where they would be on a fretted bass (in the center of the fret spaces), not on the fret positions. It was a PITA if you had to look down (bad monitoring, etc). It had a great case, though. For the money (less, actually), I'd rather have a Korean-made MTD fretless and swap the pickups & pre.
I play them. I have a cheapo XB100, and the very nice Force 4. The Force 4 is my main bass, and is incredibly well built. It sounds great, although the preamp mine came with sucked (I switched it to passive).
I used to have an XB-925F (unlined fretless) made in their Chicago shop. It has a zebrawood top, active Barts, a decent preamp, and sounded great. The only thing I didn't like was that it was $1600 and the fret dots (side of neck only) were where they would be on a fretted bass (in the center of the fret spaces), not on the fret positions. It was a PITA if you had to look down (bad monitoring, etc). It had a great case, though. For the money (less, actually), I'd rather have a Korean-made MTD fretless and swap the pickups & pre.
That's a very nice looking bass! I know they made good basses at one point, it just seems like a decline. I wonder if the company is going through a restructuring or something like that.
Back in the day when they were made in the Matsumoko factory in Japan they were really great basses. Bakithi Kumalo used one on Paul Simon's "Graceland" album and it sounds amazing!
Not so great these days though. Their US made stuff is probably your best bet.
I have a defretted AB-20 and like it, although I'm not usually keen on piezos.
Edit: Traded it to TB mod Josh B. Thanks!
Edit: Traded it to TB mod Josh B. Thanks!
I am a huge Washburn bass fan for the 1977 - 1985 basses. I have two 1980 SB-40's (P/J) which are superb in all aspects (IMHO), a 1983 Force 40 (P/J) and a 1982 or '83 black Chicago Force 40 ( actual Washie humbuckers and red binding rimming the whole thing even the headstock)-very cool and rare bass. I have yet to play any basses that beat'em for how they play.
The workmanship, electronics and neck-thru on them all is fantastic and not a one has ever needed neck adjustments, fret replacement, etc.
I have the Chicago in right now for total paint re-polish and when done it will be showroom new. The others still look new anyhow regardless of heavy playing so they must have used a terrific coating and not the old nitro thing that wears so badly.
The basses past that era, while decent and sturdy, are, IMO, not special in any way, but are certainly good basses and decently priced. Even the lower priced Taurus is a great bass to have, about level with the Ibanez SR's IMO. So if you have a later-yeared Washie, play it with pride and don't sweat that its not a Fender P or J or Ritter.
The workmanship, electronics and neck-thru on them all is fantastic and not a one has ever needed neck adjustments, fret replacement, etc.
I have the Chicago in right now for total paint re-polish and when done it will be showroom new. The others still look new anyhow regardless of heavy playing so they must have used a terrific coating and not the old nitro thing that wears so badly.
The basses past that era, while decent and sturdy, are, IMO, not special in any way, but are certainly good basses and decently priced. Even the lower priced Taurus is a great bass to have, about level with the Ibanez SR's IMO. So if you have a later-yeared Washie, play it with pride and don't sweat that its not a Fender P or J or Ritter.
I had a Bantam V - don't know wich one, but it had 1 MM pickup. I had a Bartolini in it and was really disappointed with its sound - the low B was really flabby.
On selling it, I put the original pickup back in it - AND THE B WAS GREAT!!!!
(Sorry I shouted). If I hadn't already sold it, I'd have kept it with the original pup & sold the Bartolini.
On selling it, I put the original pickup back in it - AND THE B WAS GREAT!!!!
(Sorry I shouted). If I hadn't already sold it, I'd have kept it with the original pup & sold the Bartolini.
I don't like them. I gigged with a washburn one time. My bass got left out of the trailor so, i played a friends washburn (who also happened to be gigging that night) and hated it.
The tone wasn't there for me. Also, I've played a few since and they just feel akward to me.
I like Jazz basses though...so go figure!
The tone wasn't there for me. Also, I've played a few since and they just feel akward to me.
I like Jazz basses though...so go figure!
I have played many Washburns. I still have a B200 and AB20. The ones I played were great basses. At Church they love the AB20 strung with tapewounds.
These days, my Washburn XS-5 is the only bass I own and play regularly. The original electronics were just ok, but I did a lot of demos and a few records with it back in the 1990's. It was given to me at a reduced cost in 1991 by one of the guitarists in the band I was playing in at the time. The band leader needed a five string bass strung with a low B string for the record that we were recording for the label.
I had played some five string basses back in the 1980's on some recordings, but I didn't actually own one then. The original electronics on my Washburn lasted only a few years(but I played it a lot). I had the bass gutted and replaced the electronics with an EMG-J system while I was living in Europe back in 1999. Turned out to be a good investment for me, and the bass sounds great to this day. I have small hands, and as a five string instrument it fits my hands well. I don't think I'll ever sell it, and I know that Washburn dosen't make that model anymore.
I had played some five string basses back in the 1980's on some recordings, but I didn't actually own one then. The original electronics on my Washburn lasted only a few years(but I played it a lot). I had the bass gutted and replaced the electronics with an EMG-J system while I was living in Europe back in 1999. Turned out to be a good investment for me, and the bass sounds great to this day. I have small hands, and as a five string instrument it fits my hands well. I don't think I'll ever sell it, and I know that Washburn dosen't make that model anymore.
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