Washburn XB-102

Purchased in 2003, 4 string, P/J pickups. Painted sunburst faux
wood finish, pickup switch, vol and tone controls, sealed tuners.

I use it with a 1972 50 watt tube Fender Bassman. I used to have a 64 Fender Precision bass which I didn't like because it was so wide on the neck. Soundwise the Washburn has the deep P bass sound and can get guitar bright when needed. It's more fun to play.

It came out of the box perfectly setup, even the intonation was spot on. I haven't had to do anything to it except add a Fender thumb rest above the neck pickup. The finish has some paint flaws, and it just makes me chuckle, as I hear others have the same problem.
It's lightweight, plays super and is a great gig bass because of that. I haven't taken it apart to see inside, but there are little lines like plywood all around the outer edge of the body, so I thinks it's plywood. Eventually the wood ply "rings" will show more and more, then I'll be sure. As long as it stays together I don't mind. By then I'll want something else.

It feels solid, plays fine, no rattles. I don't go out of my way to wreck equipment. It and the Fender guitars I have are the most stable of anything I have owned. The neck stays true and doesn't change with the temp and humidity like some instruments do. I have had this Washburn for 22 months, so I know.

Don't know

I like it, it plays great, sounds good, and I don't have to treat it like it's going to be a collector one day. I can modify the heck out of it, fix it, change it, whatever!! If it was lost, broken or stolen,
(Washburn doesn't make this one anymore?) I will look at Washburn again.

The previous reviewers have detailed the specs of this model. So i'll add some finer points...

1). 3 way selector = very handy, but only if you desire to play the P, the j, or both. You can't mix the pickups, like on a fender P Bass special.

2). Finish seems durable. but is by no means beautiful.

It has a very generic sound. Which isn't a bad thing, because you can emulate the sounds of more expensive basses...

I run it through an Ampeg GT-10, it sounds decent.

There's a mean hum from the Jazz pickup...

Factory set-up was horrible. The neck was true, but the action was ridiculously high.

The hardware was/is solid.

There's a little fret buzz...

I'm not sure if this is a gigging bass, it's kinda light.

Hardware is decent at best.

Although the strap buttons are fairly soild...

The neck is slim and wide, the truss rod needs attention.

N/A

I'm 16, This is my first bass. I've had it for nearly two years now. It's decent, but it's no Spector or Lakland. It's very suitable for a beginner.

I swapped the Pickups for some dimarzios. The sound is much better, and the output is far greater.

I also swapped the bridge for a badass II. It's now has serious sustain.

20 frets, 4 strings. Sparkle black. 1 volume, 1 tone, and 1 pickup switch. The pickups are P/J. They are passive. The neck is very thin and fast. It comes with gig bag, straps and cable.

I play pop/jazz and this bass suits my style. The pickups are noisy but if you touch the string, the noise is gone. The sound is full, It can sound from deep end to high treble. I can get Fieldy's tone from this bass!!!

A little fret buzz on 21st fret, if the bridge is set higher, the fret buzz disappears.

This bass kicks ass. Sure i will use it without backup. I only gig once and this bass is so comfortable.

I LOVE THIS BASS... sounds better than Fender Precision bass. I also can get fieldy sound from this bass... It's a bang for your buck!

Brand new (2003), made in China. Previous post listed all the specs, so no need to go into all that, so I'll just hit some of the things that stuck out for me. P/J pickup config. (good), 20 frets (meh), enclosed mini-type tuners, 1 volume, 1 tone, plastic nut, stoptail bridge. The neck is somewhat wider than what I'm used to, but in a good way. Overall you get what you paid for as far as materials go, but it's really well-made. I am continually amazed at the quality of budget instruments over the past 10 years or so, and this bass just adds to the amazement. My rating reflects the fact that it's just a meat-and-potatoes instrument, but shows great bang for your buck.

I'm primarily a guitar player, but I started playing bass with a band last year (on borrowed equipment), and I needed something to practice with, so I went cheap. I finally took it to a rehearsal and ran it through the rig I'm using (Carvin Red Line head/Carvin 4-10 and Trace Elliot 4-10) just to see how it sounded, and was blown away. It sounds GREAT- in my opinion, it's better than the Ibanez SR800 I had been using. Very punchy and full, and even response across all four strings, and quiet. It matches up with much more expenses guitars on all settings. I couldn't be happier- I expected it to sound like a cheap knockoff, but I'll probably use it as a main bass after fitting some more durable hardware on it.

This is where my praise drops off a little, but again, you get what you pay for. There was a terrible fret buzz when I got it, and two of the tuners were loose, but after introducing a little relief into the neck (it was on the verge of "back-bow") I got the buzz to a manageable level (still there, but it doesn't come out in the amplified sound, and I'll put up with it for playability), and had to re-set the intonation (with a fresh set of strings, of course), but all is well now. I've done all my own "tech work" for years, but beginners might want to get a pro to adjust neck relief if needed. A lighter gauge of strings would likely help as well. For $100, I have zero complaints.

I can't really testify on this score; I've only had it for a short while- I do plan to replace the hardware, but what's on there would probably last a good long time.

Haven't needed any support; I think it carries a 1-year warranty.

I've been playing both guitar and bass for 20 years, and own several guitars, but just this bass. I've owned others over the years, all in the "budget" category, and this one blows them all away, and cost less, too. If lost, I would probably pick up another one. The playability is great, and the sound was a real surprise.

This my first review, but not my last! This bass guitar is my first base ever, and it may be my best bass ever! It was on sale at Musician's Friend for 99.99. I guess it was an old model, but it is a good one too.
It is a p/j bass, with 2 volume control knobbies. It came with 2 Alan wrenches, and also a gig bag. A perfict beginner's bass.

I love the sound of the bass. It has a 3-way pickup switch, and i play the Jazz the most often. The sound is full, but not too full. It is good for both the stage and the studio. I have been using it with a Peavey KB/A-50 keyboard amp, and it sounds really good. If you turn it up to peak volume, it has a sort of automatic overdrive, so it isn't good for solo's, but it is good anyway

I think that this bass was well set up at the factory, but the strings were crap! I tried to tune the E-string, but it broke off right away! I got Ernie Ball slinky's soon afterwards. other than that everything else was ok!

I really think this thing could survive a war! It's gotten hit alot so far, and not a dent in sight! I think it will last me along time. I would use at a gig without a backup, but there's usually another one there.

I have been playing for about 5 months,but i sound like I have been playing for many years. I love this bass with all my heart,and if this bass ever got hurt or stolen, I would DEFINITLY get another. The only thing I wish it had was a commercial! Thanks for listining to my review.

Body Material China ALDER Tobacco Sunbusrt Gloss
Top Overlay Yes (photflame quilt)

Scale 864mm
Number of frets 20F
Nut width 40mm
Joining style Bolt on
Joined at 16F
Neck material Maple Natural Mat
Neck Depth-1st fret 15.2mm
Neck Depth-9th fret 17mm
Headstock Shape Washburn XB Headstock BLK Gloss
Headstock Binding None
Headstock Graphic Same XB100
Logo Style Print WH Logo"Washburn Bantam Series"
Radius R400mm
Fingerboard Sonokelin Oil stain
9pcs Inlay Pattern 6.3mm
Inlay Material Pearl White Acryle

1set Fretwire SBB-23

1pc Bridge Common 4 string bass bridge, Chrome WSC

1pc Nut ABS Ivory WSC

Control Layout 1V, 1T, 3-Way Toggle Switch

1pc Neck pickup Standard open ceramic style, Black WSC

1pc Bridge pickup Ceramic magnets style, Black WSC
1pc Capacitors 0.047uF WSC
1pc Jack plate Football style, Chrome WSC
1pc Switch 3-Way Toggle Switch WSC
2pcs Potentiometers B250K 1V & A250K 1T WSC
2pcs Potentiometer knob Dome Style Chrome Metal WSC
1set Tuning machine Diecast Chrome
1pc Truss rod cover B/W/B Gloss W/WH Logo"XB102" WSC
1pc Neck plate CR W/ "Washburn Pro" Logo WSC

Has a decent sound. The P-J pickups are low output but are clear and ok. I will probably replace them with Select by EMG's.

Fit and finish was good for a Chinese bass. Neck and fingerboard are real nice.

Should be ok for beginning giggers

Asked for specs, got them within 2 days.

Good starter bass.

same as below, except mine's a red quilted top.

I play (british) Maximum R&B and late 60's-70's hard rock, mainly The Who. This bass can nail down that John Entwistle sound to a tee, if you ask it nicely. It really only gets that Who sound in the P-bass pickup position, and the Jazz pickup has more of a trebly sound that can be used for bass solos. And the combined sound of both pups is absolutely heavenly. Full bodied, warm, arousing, and orgasmic. It's that type of sound that gives you the "hots for the sluts in the well thumbed pages of the magazines." (you who fans know what i mean.) I just which it was a little punchier like a P-bass, but a badass bridge will probably solve that problem!

Ok, this is where the bass needed some work. The pickups were adjusted fine, the action was perfect, but there are some scratches here and there. The finish is beautiful, save for it shows fingerprints and scratches easily. The intonation was also way off, and needed alot of adjusting. Other than that, it was great. The frets are also nicely dressed.

This bass would most definately withstand live playing. The hardware is of good quality. The finish will definately last. The strap buttons are solid, way better than gibson strap buttons (which isn't saying much.) I could definately depend on it. I wouldn't use it on a gig without a backup simply because that's what my Rogue is for (which gets smashed through my stack at the end of Magic Bus, and it really is a good bass for playing A throughout a song :-p).

I have heard that Washburn customer support is supurb. But since i haven't dealt with them, I will not rate it.

I have been playing for 2 years, practicing 5 hours a day. I also own a Pignose B-100V all tube amp thru an Avatar 410 & 212 stack along with the piggy's built in 15. Really orgasmic sound. If it were stolen or lost, I would definately get another one, or maybe the XB-125. I love the pup selector switch (which is rare on a bass), and the overall quietness of the pups, esp from the jazz. I wish it had volume and tone controls for each pup, but that's no biggie. I would also maybe like a BadAss bridge, to give it more punch. This bass is an ultimate beginner bass, because it allows you to explore tones that you can't find with other basses (esp. one pup squiers). I'd also like to share that this bass is a sexy as it sounds. Washburn really did right. It's the type of bass you have to have strapped on rather high because your boner gets in the way. :-) GREAT JOB WASHBURN!!! Best value for the money. Way better than Squier. Better even than some of the MIM fenders. An absolute killer value, I might get another one as a backup (I'm eventually gonna run outta rogues to smash hehehe).

It's a 2002 or 2001 and it was made in China, but available only from Mars Music. It's got 20 frets and 4 strings. The body is painted orange while the top is a transparent orange on quilted maple. It's a real eye-catcher and it looks sweet. It only has 1 volume and 1 tone control, but it also has a 3 way switch to change between the pickups, so it has a pretty good tonal range. The pickups, by the way, are a p-style split pickup in the middle position and a j-style at the bridge. They aren't active, but they have a great sound that works well for many different styles. I'm pretty sure the body is alder, except for the maple top, but the neck is maple and the fretboard is rosewood. The body style is kind of like a jazz bass, but the horns are bigger. The bridge is top load, with 4 saddles, and it is completly adjustable. The tuners look like gotohs, and they keep it in tune really well.

I play mostly like rock and ska, but I also play in a church band. I've been able to get any sound I want out of it. It sounds great for slapping and popping. I usually just run it straight into the mixer, and it has a really good sound without the help of an amp. When popping the strings, the sound isn't much louder than when playing normally, unlike with other basses where popping seems to be dramitically louder. This is good for me, because I don't have to use a limiter. When I run it through effects I use a Morley Bass wah and a Rogue distortion pedal. It sounds great with both, but the distortion pedal gets a lot of noise when the bridge pickup is selected. This is remedied by selecting just the middle pickup. I love the sound of this bass and it compares with ones I tried in the $500-$600 range.

Straight out of the box, this bass played great! I haven't adjusted the action on it at all, because it is perfect. It's just low enough, up and down the fretboard, that you can fly without worrying about fret buzz. The finish is beautiful and I get a lot of compliments on it. I would recommend changing the factory strings, though. They gave me a lot of fret buzz, which went away when I changed them.

This bass is very solidly built, I've never worried about it getting broken, and the truss rod is in good shape. The finsih seems like it will last. I never worry about bringing a backup, because this thing is all I need.

I've been playing for about 4 years, and I was in the market for a Fender. This bass grabbed my attention, and I was impressed by everything it seemed to offer at its low price. I love this bass, and some of my bass playing friends have played it. They liked it as much as I do. I would recommend this bass to anyone on a budget. If it were lost or stolen, I would cry like a little girl and kill the guy that took it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. If you wanna check it out, go to marsmusic.com