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The Washburn Taurus -- a hidden treasure?

A

Aaron Saunders

Apr 27, 2002
7,384
21
Ontario
#1
I played this bass last November but I was playing through an ampeg rig and didn't know the controls...hence, the bass was muddy as all hell and sounded awful. Didn't give it a second glance.

Fast forward today, a guy in my program at school and I were jamming during a break. I ask to play his bass, so we switch, him taking my fretless. Ho-lee-mo-fo'ing-crap. It was a slap machine! I was getting the best, punchiest, oh-my-god-where-did-my-bowels-just-go slap tone I've ever heard in my life, easily beating ANY Les tone, the RHCP - Aeroplane tone, a Ray fiver, Vic's Foderas, Pedulla, Zon, etc. etc. out of an instrument that cost $645 CAD (about $511.50USD for a $0.75CAD->$1.00USD exchange rate).

MIND-BLOWING. It's neck-thru, very great looking woods, exceedingly well constructed (solid hardware, very well dressed frets, no blimey looking laminates), un-imaginable upperfret access, beautiful finish, and a chunky-but-not-impeding neck -- it just fills up your hand. Has anyone else played this hidden gem of the bass world?
 
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#4
I played a T25 here briefly a while abck and it was quite a nice sounding instrument, very similar to my Ashton 5 in feel and construction. I beleive they're made in the same place.

As for passive vs active, go with the instrument that delivers what you want in terms of sound, and don't worry about which type it is. (and this is from someone who beleives when active is done right, ie almost never, it is soooooo superior to passive). These are quite warm sounding instuments because of the wood choices, so maybe some of the EMG 40/45TW's would be a good choice if you decided to change them.
 
#6
Bradweiser said:
That wouldn't be an Ashton AB1105 would it?
Click to expand...
Mine's an AB1505, but the 1105 in better in some ways, ie no gloss finish on the body.
Since I'm in Australia, that's another bass that I'm interested in.
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For what they cost they're good value. Allans have the AB1105 in stock. When I can find an 1105 and 1100 secondhand, ie cheap, I'll grab them as spares.
Just a side note - The Washburns and Ashtons are both made in the same factory right (or at least both are made in Vietnam)?
Click to expand...
That was what I was told, same factory, but my source is not unimpeachable.
 
#8
the t24's look real enticing..i wouldnt mind trying one..even the xb920...that ashton you have, is that the orange neck through with 2 emg's (from memory)..i saw that ages ago and it looked real nice, pity it was fretless cos it was when i started playing and had no interest in fretless...but there is one washburn im extremly excited about which muso's corner here are trying to get one in stock and..it doesnt need an introduction[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#11
Hi there, i've been interested in the Taurus T24 for a while now, so much that i think it's the next bass i want to get. I happy with passive basses, as i don't want to have to worry about batteries. I currently have a Mexican Fender Jazz, but i love the body shaping of the Taurus, it's a little bit "Claypool" looking :bassist: I think i like the price too, albeit more in the UK than in the US.
 
#16
Lonnybass said:
The Taurus design was stolen from Jerzy Drozd.

According to a certain famous bearded luthier who shall remain nameless, it allegedly caused quite the stir at NAMM...check it out...

http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/
Click to expand...

Jerzy's probably never going to sell a lower quality, factory-built instrument for $400. Also, his body shape probably hasn't been trademarked.

I wouldn't call it theft so much as occupying a need in the market that would otherwise have gone unmet.

Message to low-volume custom luthiers: trademark or patent your designs if you think someone with deep pockets is likely to copy them.
 
#20
I played one yesterday afternoon. I am a dyed-in-the-wool bolt-on guy and I won't be buying one of these neck through models but I was impressed with the bass, very impressed considering the price (~$400). It was very good looking (in a "hippie sandwich" kind of way), very nice oil finish, beefy neck with very good fretwork...no jagged ends, nicely crowned and lightly polished. It has 2 passive J-style pickups and delivers a good Jazz Bass-like sound...nothing to write home about, but okay. The hardware is also decent for this price point. The only really negative feature is the weight...it is really, REALLY heavy!
 

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