What Washburn Bass Do You Own (Database)?

[MEKer]

this is awesome, @MEKer! thanks. Except now i want ALL those basses!

Heya EpicSoundtracks........No problem, ESt.....glad to help. SP_EB4L probably would have beaten me to getting the catalog page up if he were here at the moment because he has a bunch of these ads also. But it certainly reinforces what you have if someone says you have a Force 8. Paste and copy or print it out and keep it with/for your bass!

Yeah, me too---especially the B-42 and a B-70RS and a B-40EQ and a B-8!

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

what Washburn have we got here?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

looks like a Force 40 but with a Vulture headstock? (i'm saying Force 40 based on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]). And my brief research shows evidence of Rudy Sarzo playing a differently outfitted Force 40 with the Vulture 2-a-side headstock.

serial number suggests maybe '81? would that still have been Yamaki-made?

 

[SP_EB4L]

Heya EpicSoundtracks........No problem, ESt.....glad to help. SP_EB4L probably would have beaten me to getting the catalog page up if he were here at the moment because he has a bunch of these ads also. But it certainly reinforces what you have if someone says you have a Force 8. Paste and copy or print it out and keep it with/for your bass!

Yeah, me too---especially the B-42 and a B-70RS and a B-40EQ and a B-8!

Heya MEKer!

No problems at all, one of these days I'll scan all my Washburn catalogues pages to our threads. My preferred is the B-42 as I like very much to try one, I got the B-8 and I like to get the 1985 B-40 EQ BBR but they are easier to find than the B-42.

 

[MEKer]

what Washburn have we got here?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

looks like a Force 40 but with a Vulture headstock? (i'm saying Force 40 based on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]). And my brief research shows evidence of Rudy Sarzo playing a differently outfitted Force 40 with the Vulture 2-a-side headstock.

serial number suggests maybe '81? would that still have been Yamaki-made?

At GC there they are showing us a 1981 Vulture II B-40 (what the H was I thinking!! Jeezz...). At least the fuzzy serial number looks like 810746. I have immediately notified Fendaholic as he's been looking for a decent one for 2 years! THANKS FOR THE OBSERVATION OF THIS! If he gets to it in time, I'll tell him to send you a box of chocolates and a card! . No Yamaki--it is Matsumoku made. You will notice the pots and switch are not like the Force 40. The B-40 went with the Vulture II elec configuration and the Force 40's were fathered by the 1981 SB-40 elec config of 3 pots, toggle+mini-switch.

As to Sarzo...are you looking at this 1983 ad? It is an error as he is playing a modded SB-40, not a Force 40. Every Sarzo ad for Washburn has an error and even the B-70 he is playing in the ad I posted for your B-8 is NOT the B-70 you'd get. He plays one modded with different pups. But, back to him with his Force 40 ads--there are two--it is actually an SB! The second ad for you is 1982 and Sarzo is playing--supposedly--a B-40...but no, it also is an 1981 SB-40 or 1982 SB-40EQ and again modded for him including it looks like he had the nut moved--is trying to get a zero fret thing going or what? There is another of him again playing an SB in a tiny side ad for B-40EQ I have in my collection. Don't know why Washburn could not get it right.

 

[MEKer]

Heya MEKer!

No problems at all, one of these days I'll scan all my Washburn catalogues pages to our threads. My preferred is the B-42 as I like very much to try one, I got the B-8 and I like to get the 1985 B-40 EQ BBR but they are easier to find than the B-42.

Heya SP_EB4L....Me too! The B-42 is the classy one of the Washburn headless basses IMO! Hey---Randy has many of his basses for sale on eBay. Including his B-62 dbl-neck. He is definntely trying to get the best $ for them all. Good luck for him and hoping all is OK.

 

[MEKer]

Here is the third error with Sarzo on the SB again, not a B40EQ. Looks at the Wing headstock!--SB40/40EQ
These three ads are the only ones showing an SB bass................. but saying something else!

 

[SP_EB4L]

Heya SP_EB4L....Me too! The B-42 is the classy one of the Washburn headless basses IMO! Hey---Randy has many of his basses for sale on eBay. Including his B-62 dbl-neck. He is definntely trying to get the best $ for them all. Good luck for him and hoping all is OK.

Yes I follow his listing on eBay since last fall and didn't succeed to sell one since then. I look a lot his BBR but it's real expensive in Canadian money (shipping plus custom fees). Yes, I hope his shoulder is better now.

 

[MEKer]

Yes I follow his listing on eBay since last fall and didn't succeed to sell one since then. I look a lot his BBR but it's real expensive in Canadian money (shipping plus custom fees). Yes, I hope his shoulder is better now.

I agree. Have a great night---off to do some work in the garage.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

At GC there they are showing us a 1981 Vulture II. At least the fuzzy serial number looks like 810746. I have immediately notified Fendaholic as he's been looking for a decent one for 2 years! THANKS FOR THE OBSERVATION OF THIS! If he gets to it in time, I'll tell him to send you a box of chocolates and a card! . No Yamaki--it is Matsumoku made. You will notice the pots and switch are not like the Force 40. The B-40 went with the Vulture II elec configuration and the Force 40's were fathered by the 1981 SB-40 elec config of 3 pots, toggle+mini-switch.

As to Sarzo...are you looking at this 1983 ad? It is an error as he is playing a modded SB-40, not a Force 40. Every Sarzo ad for Washburn has an error and even the B-70 he is playing in the ad I posted for your B-8 is NOT the B-70 you'd get. He plays one modded with different pups. But, back to him with his Force 40 ads--there are two--it is actually an SB! The second ad for you is 1982 and Sarzo is playing--supposedly--a B-40...but no, it also is an 1981 SB-40 or 1982 SB-40EQ and again modded for him including it looks like he had the nut moved--is trying to get a zero fret thing going or what? There is another of him again playing an SB in a tiny side ad for Force 40 I have in my collection. Don't know why Washburn could not get it right.
View attachment 2906895 View attachment 2906896

awesome info, thanks @MEKer! i am always on the prowl for additional YAMAKI-made Vultures to accompany the 2 i already have. I'd forgotten this shape was also branded as Vulture. cheers for the illuminating post!

 

[Heisenbass]

At GC there they are showing us a 1981 Vulture II. At least the fuzzy serial number looks like 810746. I have immediately notified Fendaholic as he's been looking for a decent one for 2 years! THANKS FOR THE OBSERVATION OF THIS! If he gets to it in time, I'll tell him to send you a box of chocolates and a card! . No Yamaki--it is Matsumoku made. You will notice the pots and switch are not like the Force 40. The B-40 went with the Vulture II elec configuration and the Force 40's were fathered by the 1981 SB-40 elec config of 3 pots, toggle+mini-switch.

As to Sarzo...are you looking at this 1983 ad? It is an error as he is playing a modded SB-40, not a Force 40. Every Sarzo ad for Washburn has an error and even the B-70 he is playing in the ad I posted for your B-8 is NOT the B-70 you'd get. He plays one modded with different pups. But, back to him with his Force 40 ads--there are two--it is actually an SB! The second ad for you is 1982 and Sarzo is playing--supposedly--a B-40...but no, it also is an 1981 SB-40 or 1982 SB-40EQ and again modded for him including it looks like he had the nut moved--is trying to get a zero fret thing going or what? There is another of him again playing an SB in a tiny side ad for B-40EQ I have in my collection. Don't know why Washburn could not get it right.
View attachment 2906895 View attachment 2906896

So, a Vulture II is a B-40 (passive) with a 2+2 headstock. Didn’t realize that. Would have taken it for a B-40. And the B-40EQW is the same as a Force-40EQ but from an earlier production year? Argh!

No wonder this company had to go south with that sort of sloppy branding

 

[MEKer]

So, a Vulture II is a B-40 (passive) with a 2+2 headstock. Didn’t realize that. Would have taken it for a B-40. And the B-40EQW is the same as a Force-40EQ but from an earlier production year? Argh!

No wonder this company had to go south with that sort of sloppy branding

No---my bad+and you are right and I am glad you woke me up! Thank you!!!

IT IS A Wing Series B-40 at Guitar Center! Just corrected it in my post up there. Damn, my head is in my a$$. What would I do if you guys did not keep me on my toes! I better alert EpicSoundtrack AND fendaholic!

And yes, as far as I think, the B-40EQW was just a continuation of the Force 40. Its the same damn thing. The only difference is when the B-40EQ came with two soapbars. But then...the Force 40 BBR came with them also.

 

[MEKer]

awesome info, thanks @MEKer! i am always on the prowl for additional YAMAKI-made Vultures to accompany the 2 i already have. I'd forgotten this shape was also branded as Vulture. cheers for the illuminating post!

Heya ESt-----please look at what I just posted above. I just corrected the post 544 I initially made. Thank Heisenbass for spotting my error---duhhh on me! BIIGG time duh!

 

[AGH]

I just joined (pending approval) the Facebook group to see how @MEKer was right on the BBR discussion.

He is dead-bang wrong. Have him tell you when Fujigen ever built Washburn basses and substantiate it. If he can show me one bass like that and proves it is Fujigen, then I will applaud him, give him kudos, light a candle for him in a cathedral and add it to our history recovery and be happy about it. But...I sure won't hold my breath waiting for it.

I have found so many times that people with wrong Washburn data simply refuse to acknowledge anything other than their unsubstantiated belief. Washburn has a well known manufacturer record that I posted a couple times within this long thread of ours.

The only real historical unknowns currently bothering me are: when exactly did Yamaki drop out of Washburn bass work they started in 1978 (first year of production for Washburn electric instruments)and Matsumoku took over all bass production for them? Matsumoku coming in during mid-1979+Yamaki starting in 1978, well, both did manufacture Washie basses during a piece of 1979. It was --at least for basses--sometime in late 1979( I think) that Yamaki dropped the Washburn contract for any basses, but Yamaki did continue with some of the guitars for a while (again--exactly when did they stop is an unknown altho they they were probably totally out by 1981..??). So there are 2-3 questions right there that I may never find an answer for... Yamaki questions.

Anyway, for this Facebook guy...For starters, I suggest he read "Kasuga apparently made some Washburn models around 1988 or so with a serial number starting with a K and they might have also made some Jackson and BC Rich guitars." which is at Invalid Link Removed Of course the date is wrong because we find the "K" starting with Washburns in 1985 when they were eased in as Matsumoku factory was ending Washburn production contract (going out of business).

Lots of bad info out there about Washburns (don't ever bother with g3 or BlueBook or even VintageWashburn (altho VW does have some good/correct info). Some even say Matsumoku only made Washburns 1979-1980. Some don't mention Matsumoku OR even Yamaki with Washburn at all. And you never even find the iconic Washburn 1981+1982 SB-40 and SB-4040EQ mentioned at all---by anyone---even though I have 3 of them and a couple other members have one too.

For all the badged and contracted instruments Fujigen made (there were a whole bunch), Washburn was simply not on their plate of production.

PS: 1. I have never been a Facebooker so cannot see the discussion you linked for us.
2. Remember you have a Kasuga-made 1985 B-8, not a Matsumoku-made 1984 Force 8

?. You were right!!

 

[Heisenbass]

No---my bad+and you are right and I am glad you woke me up! Thank you!!!

IT IS A Wing Series B-40 at Guitar Center! Just corrected it in my post up there. Damn, my head is in my a$$. What would I do if you guys did not keep me on my toes! I better alert EpicSoundtrack AND fendaholic!

And yes, as far as I think, the B-40EQW was just a continuation of the Force 40. Its the same damn thing. The only difference is when the B-40EQ came with two soapbars. But then...the Force 40 BBR came with them also.

Hi MEK, don’t want to outsmartass anyone here, but something about the ad is odd (or vice versa). The round string tees and truss rod screws at the neck heel (Force 4/Force 8) should refer to earlier than 83, cause otherwise they should have the better, straight string tee and the bullet truss rod screw at the headstock.

 

[MEKer]

Hi MEK, don’t want to outsmartass anyone here, but something about the ad is odd (or vice versa). The round string tees and truss rod screws at the neck heel (Force 4/Force 8) should refer to earlier than 83, cause otherwise they should have the better, straight string tee and the bullet truss rod screw at the headstock.

Which ad are we talking about?

1983 is another "mix+match your parts" year for the Force 4 and Force 8

Here are two 1983 Force 4 basses: one with round string tree, one with bar string tree.
Also two Force 8 basses: one with round string tree, one with bar string tree.

1982's...all round string trees. 1984 all bar string trees.
*******************************************************************
SN 830977

SN 834441

SN 83032

SN 834944

 

[Heisenbass]

Which ad are we talking about?

1983 is another "mix+match your parts" year for the Force 4 and Force 8

Here are two 1983 Force 4 basses: one with round string tree, one with bar string tree.
Also two Force 8 basses: one with round string tree, one with bar string tree.

1982's...all round string trees. 1984 all bar string trees.
*******************************************************************
SN 830977
View attachment 2907931
SN 834441View attachment 2907932

SN 83032View attachment 2907934
SN 834944
View attachment 2907940

MEK, I was referring to post 551 and 546. IMO the B40 EQW can’t be a continuation of the F40EQ but must be located between SB40 and F40. String tees and so on... but maybe I’ve gotten something wrong here

 

[MEKer]

MEK, I was referring to post 551 and 546. IMO the B40 EQW can’t be a continuation of the F40EQ but must be located between SB40 and F40. String tees and so on... but maybe I’ve gotten something wrong here

Oh, I see-yeah, that ad. Funny thing is that same ad was used in 1982 and 1983 with no change. I have originals of them from both years. By continuation of F40 I refer to that they both started in 1982, but the Force-headstocked B-40EQ carried on thru 1985 (which had the "000" serial number series along with the Kasuga-made ones as you pointed out and even own!) while the F40 quit in 1984. And really, I just can't see much difference between them except the 82+83 B40EQW were passive and, IIRC, set-neck instead of neck-thru like the F40, but the electronic were still the SB elecs.

1982 was a banner year because from the 1981 SB-40...1982 saw the Wing series SB-40EQ, the Force headed B-40EQW and the Force 40...all 3 with SB40 elec packages (except for the ill-fated strange Force 40EQ reviewed in the U.K. and that Albert there in Germany has).

You know, I have all the catalogs, price lists and ads from then, I should line them all up, include the anomalies+sample pictures+ figure out all the year-to-year changes (if any), and post it all as a reference chart for us. Maybe I'll tackle that in the next couple days.

 

[MEKer]

?. You were right!!

Why? What happened on Facebook??

 

[AGH]

Why? What happened on Facebook??

Damn it! The post won't come up now!

 

[kodiakblair]

@MEKer

As of Monday I no longer own any Washburns. The ABT B-20 in the red Magma finish went to a fella stockpiling lycra pants.headbands and pointy basses.

You folks take care.