Washburn C-134SCE Classical Acoustic

Built in 1996; Purchased in 1997; 19 frets - joins body at 12th fret; Solid cedar (satin)top with abalone inlays around sound-hole and edge of soundboard; Equis gold on-board pre-amp Solid rosewood back and sides; mahogany neck; ebony fingerboard Classical style with "soft" cutaway; ebony bridge Case not included

Guitar sounds really good acoustically (smooth, full and mellow but with lots of attack when pushed) and even better plugged-in when it sounds much "bigger" and treble comes more alive. However, like my Takamine, it has clearly been constructed with the intention of minimising feedback when amplified and I believe that a less substantial soundboard (or less varnish/lacquering) would have made the un-amplified sound even better.

Action, fit and finish all excellent - guitar plays very easily with no rattles or buzzes. The only difficulty I have is that new strings take an age to settle down and keeping the guitar in tune is very difficult for the first week or so.

Guitar appears to be solidly constructed with top-quality materials. I will only use it at home and with "kid gloves" but I am sure that it would stand up to a professional working environment very well.

No experience on which to base an opinion.

I've been playing as an amateur for 29 years. I also have an Ovation and a Takamine. I chose this guitar because it gave a wonderful combination of sound, playability and looks at a very good price. I liked the sound of Takamine classical guitars but the Washburn ,for me, was much more comfortable to play. If it was lost or stolen I would buy another.

Made in 1997. Solid cedar top, rosewood back & sides, ebony fingerboard, mahogany neck, abalone purling, gold hardware. Fishman Equis Gold pickup. This discontinued model used to be Washburn's top of the line classical guitar.

The sound and feel is perfect for my playing style these days. I do lots of small restaurant gigs. Teamed with my Prime acoustic amp, I get the rich, natural sound that I want to hear. The Equis Gold pickup is great. On loud stage gigs, I can easily dial out any feedback. This is a huge improvement over previous electric classical guitars that I have played. Volume, three-band graphic equalizer, contour switch, notch filter for controlling feedback, and a subtle faze shift make this a very versatile guitar. Although, it can be played unplugged, I like it better amplified.

Since it's a classical guitar, it has a wide neck, but that suits me fine. It's a not a deep neck however, which makes for faster action. Beautiful finish on the cedar top, more brown and grainy than the usual red-orange finish that I see on other cedar-topped guitars. The gold hardware and abalone purling makes this a rich-looking guitar.

This guitar has served me well on a variety of gigs. It's not a guitar that I feel comfortable playing while standing. It has no strap buttons, but I can stand with it using a Mexican guitar strap that loops around the next and hooks into the sound hole. I like it better when I sit on a stool on gigs. This is my main electric guitar on gigs, playing either lead or accompanying other lead players. I haven't had this guitar long enough to test its durability, but it seems well made.

I feel I have an excellent guitar, but I am very disappointed with the lack of communication and support from the Washburn Guitar Company. It took me several tries to get any information from them about this now-discontinued guitar, which I bought at a local music store. I finally had to write to the Office of the President to get a response, and even that was minimal. If I ever have problems with the guitar, I'll go to a local guitar repair shop rather than bothering with the Washburn people. Unfortunately, they seem more interested in selling guitars and getting new customers than taking care of the customers they have.

I've been playing guitar for about 35 years, and I've gone through many guitars, including Gretsch, Fender, Gibson, and Epiphone. This guitar feels the best to me now, and it brings out my best playing. I play ethnic "world" music, and do a lot of restaurant gigs. This guitar is also excellent for solo gigs, amplified lightly. The Washburn name may not be the most widely respected, especially for classical guitars, but it suits me just fine. I've gotten many compliments on the guitar from other guitarists as well.