Washburn XB-102Q

P and J style pickups
lightweight body
quilt top (don't know if its a picture or real and don't really care, everyone that has seen it compliments how good it looks)
active electronics (generic pots and wiring))
20 fret rosewood neck

I'm giving it a 7 because it is a low budget bass, it could be built with better tone woods and parts, but then you would be paying 2 grand for it

love the P and J style active pickups, I play through an old Ampeg and can get alot of variation. Turning on the active pickups makes it sound like a monster, like a whole different bass... awesome (especially for 120 bucks)

didn't really like the lightweight body, but its easy on the back

I bought it used and though it did sound great stock I did do some mods on it, leveled and polished the frets, put a Badass bridge

body and neck are nice and sturdy, neck straight and action easily adjustable, pickups sound fine

I gotta say, the battery should have a on off switch it does tend to run out fast if you forget to pull the vol knob to the up position

I have had it since about 2001 and its still holding up just fine. other then personal preference part replacement (bridge, etc.) this guitar is built just fine.

Washburn builds some great stuff, now don't get me wrong this is a 100-200 dollar production guitar. you could wind up getting a bad, good or great one. But then, thats why you don't buy guitars without trying them first ; )

bought it used so wouldn't know

love this bass, an awesome deal for a $125!!! Now, I believe its not in production anymore but if you could get one used, do it. I would suggest it for anyone looking to buy an inexpensive bass. There are a lot of musicians doing home studio stuff these days and if your looking to record some bass without having to buy an expensive one this would be the bass to buy. The variation you can get with the P & J and active electronics is endless.

Let me start by saying I have been a Washbur customer for over 20 years and own 8. That said I am saddeded that this is the last Washburn I will ever buy. To be honest I don't remember much about this bass because it only lasted 10 min before it crapped out. This was a pretty lightweight bass with a bot on neck. I hear it was a mahogony body but I doubt that due to its weight. It has p and j style pickups. I am pretty sure the quilted top was a picture and not carved. The electronics were active howver the battery cavity was a pain in the but to try and get the battery secured properly. I think they decided to use some new or cheap electronics to connect the battery because it did not look like the traditional one you would see. This bass was labled as a starter bass and would have been nice to have come with some instructions that explained the electronics a little. It came with nothing in regards to that/.

It was a little thin perhaps if it lasted beyond the first 10 min out of the box I could be a little more impartial.

It played nice as par as the action and fit I liked it a lot and would have liked to keep it if not for what is coming up in the next two sections. Like I said before I am pretty sire the quilted top was a oicture it look nice though. I don't know how well the pickups were adjusted because I was only able to get sound out of it for the 1st ten minutes.

I plugged in the bass and got no sound I decided I better check the active electronics battery. It was nice of them to not connect it completly so I had a fresh battery from them cool. After spending several min fishing the battery out and connecting it properly (what a joy that would be at a live show)I was playing I messed around with the pickup knobs and just noodled (I'm a guitar player and basically got this for making demos) at about 10 min the cord pulled out of the jack I plugged it back in and noticed it was not even close to a snug fit. There was no way it would stay in. I unscrewed the jack and it all seemed in tact except I got no sound when I palyed with the jack a little I noticed I got sound. I guess it was a bad jack. in Mu opinion there is really no excuse for this in a new bass that was suposed to be tested before it hit the market but I guess quality has slipped since I bought my last Washburn. I also checked and rechecked the active eq battery and even changed it. but I got nothing.

I called Musicians friend where I bought it and they were very apologetic and sent me a return auth via email right away. I notice they were no longer on their site so I asked about them. sure enough they were out of stock and not going to get any more in ever. I told them I would contact Washburn to see if they could help me after all I have been a loyal customer of theirs for 20+ years and even toured the factory when I live in Chicago.

Monday came I called Washbur and talked to an ASSHOLE named jay. His first comment was if I bought a car and the wheels fell off would I call the dealer or manufacturer. Nice and helpful. He basically gave em an I don't give a shit attitude and said I could send it to a service center. The closest one is about 130 miles away. I decided I would call later and see if I got someone that coyld actually help rather than be a smartass. The second person was nice but basically gave no help he gave me the numbers of 3 local places that should be able to help since it was only a jack but I had to call. Guess what all three had no clue and never worked on a guitar ever. The Washburn lifetime warranty is WORTH NOTHINH nothing unless I want to spend the same amount the repair would cost to ship it 130 miles away. I realize Louisville KY is not a major city but it is not a hick town. It is the biggest city in the state and much bigger than the Mt vernon or Bowling green where the service centers are located. Great job on Washburns part to be sure they have good coverage for their service centers. Even better job by having customer service people who don't give a shit. I called a third time and got the second guy again and explaind how useless the the info he gave me was all 3 centers say they never worked on guitars he said I just have to send it back. I explained I would like to keep the bass and rather than spend someones money shipping it back to musicians friend and then MF shipping it back to Washburn could they just spend 3.00 and send me a jack and I can replace it myself. After telling him I would never buy a Washburn again he agreed to send the jack. I got it a few days ago and it looks nothing like the one that was in the bass so either parts screwed up or the bass is really that much a piece of shit. when i am done here I will be printing my retur label.

I have been playing for about 25 years I own 14 Guitars 8 of them Washburns. If this were stolen I would pitty the person who stole it. I am really sad that Washburn let such a piece of crap leave the plant and then when I tried to do the right thing their customer service person bacally told me he could care less. This is a perfect example of how companies lose long time customers.

Made in asia, not sure where, when, probably 2002. 21 Fret, 4 string, laminated top. Has tone, volume and three way pickup switch. P/J pickups, passive. Probably Agathis body. Quilted red finish, gloss. looks very nice. Precision body style. No name tuners, non locking. Medium width neck, rosewood. Cable included- pretty meager cable.

My son is new to playing. but the sounds are very round, and resonant, using a frontman 60 amp.sound is warm to bright.

very well set up. Everything was tight, fret wires were not sharp, although I saw a different Washburn xb at a store with rough fret wires.

It has a very sturdy feel. The controls are simple, so as Henry Ford once said, if it isn't on the car it can't break. the finish seems a little showy and bright, so it might take a beating with use. the strap buttons are not quite straight, but look adequate.

too new to know

I am the Dad, and I don't play, and my son is just learning. I looked at a lot of basses in local stores and this appears to have comparable fit and finish to the competition below $400. I wish it had a dual set of volume and tone knobs instead of the three way switch. I would probably buy something comparable if I bought again. I was favorably impressed with the Yamaha P/J bass which retails for around 170 and the Ibanez gsr 200. This was a better bass than the squiers in the bass paks. If I weren't getting a closeout, I might have moved up the line a bit. I also think as my son gets better his tastes will improve. Right now he wants to play heavy metal and wants a BC Rich Warlock, but I want him to know the instrument better. I think the dual P/J makes sense for a beginner who needs to hear both kinds of pickups. When he knows better what he will play I will likely get him something a little more tailored to one style or another.