Washburn J52SW

This Jumbo guitar has a natural satin finish, which I found to be smooth compared to a few others on the market (Gibson Faded series, etc.) This model comes standard with Grover tuners, which seem to be very solid. The frets are well dressed and large. The neck is a nice C shape, slightly wider than my Gibson. It has an almost classical feel, which makes fingerpicking a breeze. It came with a very nice locking hardshell case that feels very solid. The buckles on the case line up perfectly, and closing them is effortless. The case is sent with 2 keys that aren't the typical generic type, so that adds a sense of security. It was made in 2007 in China. The top is solid spruce, the back and sides are solid mahogany. The back has a nice maple stringer, as does the end pin area. The neck, top, back, and sides are all bound with hardwood, probably maple. It adds a very nice touch. The rosette is really eye catching as well - there are several concentric circles of thin wood inlay, and a well made abalone inlay to top it off. I should mention that between the wood binding and side material, there is a very thin strip of lighter wood, which adds a really interesting layered look. The neck is inlayed with diamond shaped markers, which are made of some type of reflective material. The headstock has a logo inlayed with abalone.

As the guitar is new, it will take some time to open up, I'm sure. With new strings, the sound was very bright. I'm leaving it in the guitar room to catch some much needed humidity. Even dry, the sound is still very good. The bass notes have a nice clear piano like tone. The mids are very present in a Taylor-esque sort of way. I'm hoping that after the guitar is refreshed in some humid air that the treble notes will take on the more bell-like tones of other jumbos that I've played. They seem a little harsh at the moment. This guitar is LOUD. If you're looking for something to sing your kids a lullabye with, this guitar is probably not for you. However, If you like Townshend on Quadrophenia, I'd definitely recommend picking this up.

The guitar came out of the box needing a tuning and some hydration. The action was still very nice, however. Like 90% of the other guitars reviewed on this site, it came with a "sort of medium" action. There were a few spots of uneven finish, but nothing that detracted from the overall appearance or playability of the guitar. The woods were all aligned properly, and the binding and inlay work is absolutely flawless.

This guitar feels very solid. The tuners are sturdy, the neck is well set, and it's all solid wood, so you don't have to worry about typical problems that you encounter with laminate guitars, such as the thin veneer giving way and all the sawdust that's filling the plies spilling out and making a mess of the rug. I wouldn't gig without a backup as I use several guitars to give distinct tones to songs. However, unless I break a string, I know that this jumbo is going to be waiting for me when I need it.

I haven't dealt with the company yet.

I've been playing for about a decade now, a few of those years in a moderately successful band. I bought this guitar because I don't have a Jumbo, but I didn't think I'd use one enough to justify spending a couple grand on a Gibson. As far as other gear goes, I own a Gibson CL-20, a Taylor 214, and a Peavey Aberdeen. So far, this guitar doesn't hold a candle to the Gibson as far as tone goes, but it still needs to be broken in. I really like the attention to detail in the inlays and bindings on this guitar. The fact that it's all solid wood, and that it's well put together gives me the feeling that it's only going to get better with age.