Washburn XB-900 Bass

98 model,swamp ash body 4string
Dinky Jazz Bass body
finished in a mid night blue metallic.
p-bass and 1 MM style pickup
aguilar OPB-1 2 band EQ
BADASS BASS III bridge

I play rock,punk,metal.
The sound very good and wonderful.

bridge is no good.
MIJ is better than that of U.S.-made.

"NEW" 4-String Washburn U.S.A. Custom (Chicago,Il.) Model (N.O.S.)

One Double Coil Duncan Basslines MM-stle Humbecker,& Duncan Active Electronics,including Push/Pull Slap Switch.

Swamp-Ash Body,(SEVERAL Glued Pieces) Maple Neck,(single Vintage Truss rod) Roswood Fingerboard,with Offset Markers,& 24 Jumbo Frets.
In See Through Blue.

Of course with the Duncans,(pickup,& electronics) how could it possibly sound bad?

Well I'll tell you.

The "CHEAP" aproch to Gluing miltiple plies together (#4) really Cripples this Bass Sonically,even though the Body is Swamp-Ash,NORMALLY a Fantastic tonewood for Bass Guitar.

The Weak Neck,(honestly admitted by Washburn reps) adds further still to limiting what should have been a Class-A Instrument."DEAD SPOTS GALORE"!!! Beyond that I was told DIRECTLY by MORE THAN ONE WASHBURN rep in the U.S. Office not to even attempt playing .110's on this bass.

In fact they informed me that if I so much as strung it with the gauges I play,(.050/.070/.090/.110) I would AUTOMATICALLY VOID THE WARANTY!

SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HIGH DOLLAR U.S.A. CUSTOM BASS!!!

Already explanied a bit of the Neck problem,(with the multiple DEADspots) but beyond that I NEVER could get this Bass to play right.

Even after constant Truss Rod,& Bridge Adjustments By more than one Guitar Tech,& myself,I simply never could get it to play clean.Even after one Guitar tech "SHIMMED" it,(something most Luthiers will tell you should NEVER have to be done)!!!

RATTLE,RATTLE,BUZZ,BUZZ!

Between the neck,& the Bridge FORGET ABOUT IT!!!

You're kidding right?

A neck that the Manufacturer Warn's won't hold .110's,has to be shimmed,& STILL won't play right.

How dependable do you think it would be?

Not to mention Multiple Plys for the Body,hey I've seen more than one fall apart!!

I guess you could count on it as a MASSIVE pretty blue paper weight?!

Through tryin to get this Bass straightened out,I've gotten Savvy about Washburn.I've had Guitar tech's tell me that Washburn's are the HARDEST guitar out there to try to Set-UP.

"The Necks are JUNK" they say,& every once in a while you come across a decent one.

"For the most part stay away form Wasburn,even their U.S.A Custom models".

Is the advice I've gotten from more than one source,Luthiers,Guitar Techs,& other Muscians.

This is where Washburn LEAPS out of the Frying pan,& CANNONBALLS straight into the fire!!!

I've delt with these guys on more than one occasion,regarding more than one model of guitar over a FIVE year period!

I can honestly tell you if you're looking for customer service,(& you're anyone other than Paul Stanley,Nuno,or one of their other ENDORSING Artists) you had better look somewhere else!!!

Last guy I talked to "Stacy" in the U.S. office really takes the cake.

Basically told me he had "Wasted 32 minutes of his time so far on this conversation",(though a great deal of that time I was on hold)
& informed me that they "Have more Important things to do" than support a Guitar THEY built!

Told me outright,"Uless it's an order from one of our Artists,such as Paul Stanley we simply don't have time to mess with it"!

How's that for Customer Support?

I've been playing since I was a Pre-Teen,& I'm 38,goin on 39.Do the Math.I've either owned,or extensivly Demo'd practically every Bass you can Imagine.

I try never to look down on an Instrument because of it's Pricepoint,& never to look up at one because it say's U.S.A.

I demo ALL of them equally,& play EVERY last one of them Unplugged first! No matter how Squirrely a Salesman gets!!!

I've already sold this Bass so that should tell you how I feel about it.

NO WAY IN THE WORLD I'D BUY ANOTHER!

I'ts REALLY a shame,we're talking about a "U.S.A. Custom" Bass with originally $2,500.00 retail tag that can't even begin to compete with a $200.00 Korean Bass.

Not kidding,not being spiteful,not rubbing it in,just tell'n it straight up.

I bought an Ibanez Gax for my youngest daghter,(pre-schooler)and it absolutely KILLS the Washburn!

Paid about $175.00 for the GAX "NEW"!

Beyond that I've Played MORE than one XB-900!!

This is an american made XB-900. 24 jumbo frets which seem to be medium height. Its a 5 string bass which after contacting Washburn turns out to be a custom order and the likelihood of finding another 5 string is very unlikely. The bass doesnt have a laminated top like the other XB series basses but has a killer swamp ash body. The electronics are a Bassline seymour duncan preamp and MM style pickup with V/T/M/B and the Volume is push/pull for a slap type EQ contour.
The ash body looks like great and the neck is a 2 piece hard rock maple with Rosewood Fretboard. Clear finish over a trans blue stain really brings out the nice grain of the ash body. I would compare the body style to an offset jazz style but wider, thinner, and more comfortable. The bridge is a takuichi bridge which is used by other manufacturers like ibanez, cort , and spector. It is not string thru body which seems odd considering the string tension. Tuners are grover 20:1 ratio with the cooler looking knobs that look more like the Superman logo shape than the T shape on most. Its a 34 inch scale bass with a comfortable neck with what I believe to be a 14" radius. Not as thin as a ibanez but thinner than a fender. It came with the OHSC which is nice and a little smaller than my Carvin case.

The sound is amazing!!!! This is the best 5 I have ever played. I cant see this bass not being able to perform under any situation. I use a behringer combo and this bass sings. I also use a Zoom 708 II and the bass stays very quiet. I put new DR hibeams on when I got it a month ago and was bummed because the bass was so metallic sounding but after they broke in the tone just exploded. For a single pickup bass this bass amazes me. The pickup has a warm sound with clarity, like a bartolini and an emg mixed together. Its can go into Jazz bass territory and Musicman territory easily. But the bass can go beyond both with a killer sound all its own. The buzz feiten tuning system when used right( tuning to E on every string or using certain tuners with the BFTS presets) makes chords very sweet on this bass. I use it for studio work right now but stage work shouldnt be a problem. My only complaint is the layout of the electronics but I doubt this would cause trouble.

The setup wasnt bad but I have changed it after I put new strings on it. The construction is very top notch. I particularly noticed the wood grain in the neck was very tight and straight and the neck pocket is so tight the bass has certain qualities like a neck through bass. The 5 string washburns have a bigger pocket than the 4 strings they make which I imagine changes the characteristics. You might want to consider this if your interested in an american made Washburn bass. I would go with the 5. The stiffness of the neck is awesome. I cant see this thing warping unless I leave it in my car for a year but that would be insane. The fret job is the best I have ever seen period... which was a shock to me since I never heard anyone mention washburns as having great fret jobs. I have to say the coolest thing about this bass though is the low B. I have never played a B this nice on a 34 inch scale bass. Its tight and in tune and all this without string thru body on the bridge. How they did this is a mystery. Too bad the bass never saw production. I imagine the other 5 strings washburn makes with the Bartolini pickups would have a good B string. The only flaw I can find is the layout of the electronics. Why washburn skimped us on this point makes no sense to me. The preamp is great and the wiring is nice but the layout is cluttered and the battery and preamp kinda float there. I will look into getting a harness for the battery.

Very reliable and most owners of the US xb-900 series would agree. Truss rod seems very stable. Everything feels solid and in comparison to a musicman 5 I would go as far as to say this has a higher build quality and feels more substantial. Thats saying alot since the Musicman 5 seems to be the most consistant 5 string with a 34 inch scale made.

Seem nice but havent had to get any parts so its hard to say. Someone told me washburn is great with replacement parts but I wouldnt know from experience. The warranty is useless if you buy it from an unlicensed dealer. A transferable warranty would be great.

I have been playing for over 12 years and I own a carvin 4 string. If this bass were stolen I would be screwed since its the only 5 they made with a Seymour duncan MM pickup. I love the feel and the tone. The B is killer and the bass isnt heavy. The bass sits well on my leg and on a strap. I think the true test of a bass is if it becomes one with the player and this bass has done that. Its exactly what I was looking for in a 5 string. Washburn should really put these into production again and this time make them 5 stringers

Mine is a 98 model 4 string finished in a "Blue Swirl".
It actually is a very nice looking bass. Active electronics that really have alot of bite. Basslines MM style pickup sounds great.

I honestly was shocked at how wonderful this bass sounds. I paid next to nothing for it on Ebay. It came with a great Washburn hardcase and the action was dead on.

Again, I was pleasantly surprised at just how nice this bass is. The finish is of high quality, the neck joint is nice and tight and the neck, "although two piece" feels great. It has a massive bridge and the bass remains in tune very well.

Again, bass appears to be very well put together.
I'd have no problem using it for any venue.

N/A

I've been playing about ten years. I'm fortunate to own many very fine basses. This bass plays as well as most American Jazz basses I have played. If you can pick one up for below $450. in good condition, grab it! Don't go much higher then that as they have rather poor resale.

My Washburn is a USA model xb-900 with EMG 1 active p-bass and 1 Jazz pickup. The finish is a natural wood with a slightly stained look.
My bass is a 4 string.
This bass sounds and feels great!
I LOVE THIS BASS
I was buying a Sting Ray bass when they set this out on the floor. I liked the look. I picked it up and really loved the feel and the lack of weight, A big plus!
This bass is 24 frets.

Unfortunatly, the lower quality japan/korean Washburns share the body shape and people might think you are playing a inferior bass. Dont let that be the case, This bass is fantastic.

I play mostly rock ,but I do moonlight with country at times this bass is great!

The only problem was the bridge buzzed slightly, it was fixed with 1 turn of an allen wrench.

Has not ever let me down, but with active pickups always keep an extra 9volt in the case.

never delt with them

great bass! you can buy these for only $400 on ebay used or even new at times. I wish I would have known about ebay before, I will never go back to playing Fender Basses again. I love Washburn Basses, Lightweight , sound great and you can get a nice one for the cost of a cheapo on EBAY.
Alway go for the USA models the Imports SUCK!!!

1996 Model, swamp ash body, , transparent red finish, maple neck, 24 frets, pau ferro fretboard,Bartolini soapbar pickups and Bartolini NTBT active electronics, 2 + 2 enclosed tuners. Made in the USA.

I tend to play mostly fingerstle and favor R&B and classic rock. This is a very versatile bass, though, that'll handle jazz, gospel, reggae, funk, etc. The bass and treble boost/cut and sweepable mid controls offer a wide range of tones, from a good old P-bass (deep and round) to a nice Jazz bass growl. Haven't had any problems with hum. I've only played in small venues, but think it would do well in any stage or studio setting.

Not much to complain about here. Setup was excellent with nice low action. There are two small blips in the finish which will probably chip away at some future date. Neck has been very stabe so far and the neck pocket is tight and secure. Controls are smooth.

Overall a very solid bass. The bridge is heavy duty, but I'm not crazy about the tuners (although they are adequate, I'd prefer Shaller or Gotohs). Shouldn't need to buy straplocks, as the strap buttons are solid and reasonably large. The neck seems to be very stable, I've only adjusted the truss rod twice in about eight months (mainly cause I was trying different gauge strings. I'd certainly use it without a backup.

Haven't dealt with Washburn directly, but they offer a lifetime limited warranty, and their dealer service has been good.

I've been playing about 12 years. Currently, I also own a 1997 Godin Acoustibass fretless and use a Carvin Pro bass 200 combo amp. I've also owned a Rickenbacker 4003, a Fender A/E Precision fretless, a Kramer Duke and a couple of Korean starter basses. The Washburn, to me, is a player's bass. It is very comfortable to play, with nice low action, a smooth satin finish on the back of the neck, and excellent balance on a strap. The neck has a P-bass width, but a flatter radius, which is comfortable to my relatively small hands. And I love the versatility of the electronics. If it was stolen or lost, I'm not sure I'd buy a new one, as the new ones sport a single Seymour Duncan Bassines humbucker and I haven't tried them. I wouldn't pay the $1499 retail price.

The XB900 is a U.S. made 4-string bass with a 24-fret, 2-piece bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and lightweight swamp-ash body. Comes equipped with the Basslines Musicman pickup and its matching 9V 3-band preamp. Pretty basic, but with two nice touches: the Buzz Feiten tuning system and quick-release bridge.

Compared to what I was used to (passive JJ and active/passive PJ setups) the Duncan pickup is very "live sounding" and extremely sensitive to playing nuances. (This holds true regardless of one's amp settings.) Slap, pick and aggressive fingerstyle come across extremely well; those searching for walking a mellower R&B or blues tone should look elsewhere. The preamp veers towards the bright side; the treble control adds a tremendous amount of bite with surprisingly little noise, and the bass beefs up the bottom end without getting muddy. The midgrange control provides plenty of "bark", but can get at extreme settings. Pulling up on the volume scoops the e.q. for a modern slap sound. Overall, an excellent Musicman alternative; minus one point for an inability to replicate classic P and J tones.

Those otherwise put off by the Wasbhurn name might want to give this one a go. At the price I paid (a blowout price), the instrument is a steal.
The instrument is extremely light (I'm guessing eight pounds or less) and was well set-up out of the box. The nut is nicely cut and action was low with no buzzes anywhere. All frets ends were nicely filed with no marks, and all kerfs were filled. The crowns seemed a little flat, though this looks to me like a characteristic of the fretwire rather than a reflection of the workmanship. The satin-finished neck feels substantial without being too chunky, and is securely attached to the body with four bolts. No neck pocket gaps. String spacing is comfortable for slapping.
The finish, which Washburn calls "stonewash blue" is definately an acquired taste and is certainly like nothing I've seen on any other instrument, be it custom or production. It looks like Washburn dyed the grain patterns in the ash *white*, and varied the application of the color coat before applying the final finish. The result is a swirly, graffitti-like mix of blues, light greens and whites. Personally, I can't get enough of it; YMMV.
Minor gripes: The truss rod cover attaches with only one screw, which has a tendency to loosen. The electronics cavity is "creatively" arranged--the preamp circuit board is velcroed(!) to the cavity cover, which increases the likelihood of a pulled wire. No separate battery compartment.
Caveats: this is a single-pickup instrument with no thumbrest and no pickguard. While this is no problem for my right hand, I realise it might be for others.

Excepting those who sweat like Jason Newstead, the XB900 is gigworthy. The body finish is thick, the hardware is anodized in black, and the two-piece neck is solid. Overall, the instrument is light, well-balanced and a pleasure to play. Given that the XB900 has no passive bypass and no separate battery compartment, I'd recommend checking the 9V before heading off to a gig.
Since Washburn basses have zero collectors cachet, I would no qualms gigging with this instrument (as opposed to, say, a bona fide Musicman).

Haven't dealt with the company in any respect, and the website is less than impressive. My guess is that, as with any large-scale instrument company, getting service from them would be like pulling teeth. However, the instrument does come with a lifetime warranty.

I've been playing bass in all styles for 14 years. I tend to choose equipment based on quality, playability and sound rather than collectibility, brand-loyalty, or flashiness (though, given the finish, the XB900 has plenty of that). The XB900 fully met my needs for a Musicman style 4-string, and is an excellent value for the price I paid. I may be wrong, but Washburn appears to have difficulty moving its higher-end instruments. While the $1499 list is outrageous (as are all list prices) you will likely see another one of these at a blowout price.
One point off the overall rating for my previously-stated concerns about the electronics arrangement.