Washburn BT2

Not sure what year it was made. It has 22 frets (All this info is avaliable on their website). I _think_ it has a solid top, but I got a solid black finish, so I can't see it, and the glue joints are too good to tell if it's laminated. It has master tone and master volume pots and a three-way selector switch on the other end of the top (more on that later). H/H pickups, WB200 model (second-to-bottom of the line, i think), passive electronics, maple neck/rosewood fretboard, solid mahogany body, solid black finish. The body style is not a copy off anything I know of, but I may be wrong. It has a tune-o-matic bridge with a stop tailpiece, _nice_ grover tuners, 22 (jumbo?) frets, and it included a gig bag, crappy cable, and hex key for the truss rod (the Musician's friend included _another_ gig bag). I give this a 7 (instead of a 5) for features because it has nice tuners, and it was the only brand-name guitar in this (about $200) range with 2 humbuckers.

I don't really like to define my style, but I play distorted rhythm most of the time (hard rock/metal, no bands mentioned). This also sounds okay clean, as long as the tome is set to at least 5. I am using it with a suprisingly-good-for-$80 20-watt amp for Rogue(the sometimes-OEM brand of Musician's friend, the amp manual has a not-so-opaque white sticker over the "career" logo, and the manual always refers to it as "your CAREER amplifier"), and it sounds fairly okay (as long as you don't play it through headphones). It is _really_ noisy if you run it through too many effects modules (i.e., boss distortion and super overdrive), and somwhat quiet with less. It has a fairly rich sound when distorted, but when playing it clean, the tone control lops off _all_ high frequencies if not set above 5 or so. This guitar makes great distortion at no tone/any pickup setting, and if you have good distortion, you can put it through a lot of sounds. The e-string goes sharp for a few moments if you play it really hard, but not if it's fretted or distorted (or at least you don't hear it to much in a power chord when it's distorted. As you may be able to tell, this is my first electric, but it seems damn good to me for about 200 bucks.

First off, the low E alwayss buzzes itself when played open. I think if i file the first fret a little, that might help, but I think the nut is too low. Ah, well... The action is a little high around the middle of the fretboard and higher, and I can't get it lower than about 2.5 mm. I tried abjusting the truss rod, but the allen wrench they gave me was a piece of crap, and sheared itself off right after I got it back to where it was before. When I curved the neck up toward the strings, it just deadened the e-string. Also, the bridge cuts my strings off. I need to find a way to fix that. I don't care about voiding my warranty, it's voided already. :) The finish is nice, but i scratched it with a screwdriver a little too easily. All the controls are quiet, but the pickup selector is mounted at the beginning of the top horn of the guitar, and it's right in the sweep path of my pick when I play quickly, so I kep flipping it up to the bridge pickup when I don't want it there. I give this a five because even though the action/bridge/etc. is crappy, it has a nice finish and the controls are good.

This guitar itself seems fairly durable, but it chops strings at the bridge after about five hours of playing. The hardware looks like it will last, but I'm going to get some nice EMG's (60 neck and 85 bridge) as soon as I have the money.I don't know how durable the starp buttons were, because I got a "Strap-lok" thing when I got the strap, because I heard they were good. They seem fairly sturdy, but they tended to unscrew themselves before I screwed them in really tight. I can depend on it fairly well. The guitar itself would last, but I would take a pre-strung backup to a gig (if we ever get a drummer for our band, that is).

Never done customer support (my warranty is dead anyway, after I decied to take a look at the pickups).

I have been playing for about a year and a half. I like this guitar, but the only other guitar I ever play is a classical guitar, so there's no comparison (not because the classical is bad, but they're entirely different). I use a Boss DS-1 and SD-1 (letter reversal, neat!) and a Rogue/Career CG-20 amp with a moderately good distortion channel. If lost or stolen, given the money, I would probably buy an ESP. But if I were really strapped for cash, I would but this one. I really hate the action on this, and the bridge, but there's not much I can do about that. I love how well it distorts (that's why I got humbuckers). I did not compare this to other guitars except Rogue (oh my god, a _plywood_ body?). I chose this one because the rogue guitars were suspiciously cheap, and only one ($150) model had dual humbuckers. I chose this mainly for price and pickups. I wish it had better action (and of course, EMG's). This is an 8 for a $200 - $300 guitar only.

Made in Indonesia to keep price down. 22 fret solid Mahogany Body, thin bolt on Maple neck Rose wood fingerboard with a Gibson 24 3/4" scale, Two humbuckers one each tone and volume, tunamatic to stop tail, Awesome Transparent green finish, grover tuners. I gave it a nine because it doesn't hae half the features I want but nothing on the market does.

I was kind'o wondering about the hums because I'm used to single coils but I'm a changed guitarist. Nice crunch, smooth sustain, Mello clean sound, not as good as some of the $1000+ guitars but it does me fine. I'm still trying to work out my signature sound and am still getting used to the humbuckers.

This was the best looking guitar in the store, flat out. Forest Green with rich, black, strieght grain. As another guy had said ther is faults around the neck attachment, I just hope it doesn't spread. The fit is pretty bad, It would deffinitly failled an American inspection but Inew that before I got it. the frets stick up and out to a point where I've developed some nice calouseson the inside of the lower joint on my first finger. I'm set on returning it for Wrrenty work but it's free so I'm not complaining. The bridge almost seems to cut strings I just wish I could put on string savers and not void my warrenty. This one actually replaced the Yamaha Pacifica that was under the tree, the Yam was better quallity but no personallity so I got this. A 7 because it could be made much better but I love the color.

Less than a week after getting it I played a four day youth retreat. It was a wonderfull way to work it in. I can't say to much about durabilty because it's only been a month. Strap buttons are rock solid and awesome, maybe it's beause I'm used to crap. I depend on it as my main weapon but I should probaly fix up my old one just in case...murphy's law and all.

Lifetime warrenty as long as I don't modify it (darn). we'll have to see about the service as I'm going to get the Frets fixed. I felt cheated by the staff at music stop, I know it was the day before Christmas but it wasn't busy and the exchange took forever (After all the time I've spent there)

I'm almost a three year vetrean but I've presued guitar with such a pasion I've surrpassed the abbilities of those much older (Dad). The only other stuff is old sears junk, a 96 synsonics and a 60's Old Kraftsman. I also have a bunch of scrap guitar parts of a trash bass and a $1.50 frenchies guitar. If stolen I'd cry, hit trees, Pray, write songs, and anything to get it back. i'd buy the same model but I'd make sure they make it nice and fit for playing. The finish, so beautiful, the only thing I hate is I can't put on string savers or replace the pick ups or the warrentie's gone. I was looking at a PRS copy which was the only other good looking guitar but it didn't have a toggle switch and was a little more expensive. a guy at the store had me try a PRS, it played better but way out of my range and didn't look as good. Any thing else? LIVING SACRIVICE ROCKS!!!! I'm done

First let me start by saying the numbers given here are based on a TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR GUITAR. I needed a cheap, yet decent axe for rehearsals cause the guitar will sit in my car all day in the extreme summer/winter climate here- because I go straight from work. I was previously using a mexi tele for this purpose which is a tonal nightmare. So the features as described below are accurate, Les Paul style PU configuration, execpt with master vol and tone. Rather than the cumbersome 4 knobs; perfect for rehearsal. The body is multi pieced mahogany with a cheap veneer (or laminate) on top. More on this later. The neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard. Tiny offset 3/3 head stock with VERY nice grover tuners for a cheap guitar. I'd call the shape/config more reminicent of PRS guitars, but not in the same league of course. It also has an upper body contour as strats do for comfort. Also, and I'm not sure of this but I believe the neck has a shorter scale length, much shorter than a strat. Maybe like certain SGs?

It sounds great all things considered. It resonates fairly well when unplugged. The pickups are decent enough to keep in there, quiet with a decent tone. Just as good as any under $1000 gibson, (e.g. the basic "SG").

Actually, I do have an opinion. But I don't agree with how this form is set up. Action and Fit are one thing, and finish is a totally different sometimes, so I rate them separate.
ACTION/FIT: 9 Based on some other overseas mongrels I've played, the fret edges were fairly smooth (did not draw and blood from the under side of my fingers as one does with samick/epi/squire/overseas fenders- OK I'm exaggerating a bit). There were a couple rough fret edges but not bad. Before plugging in an amp, I took the .009's off and put my standard 10 strings on. I lowered the action and only had to adjust the intonation of the G. (Quick 12 fret harmonic adjustment, then 19th fret fine tune). Neck is thin in depth, and not too wide with a fair amount of radius maybe 12"? It feels pretty good to someone who doesn't like the wide/flat/thin shred'er axes (e.g. ibanez or jackson 80's stuff).
FINISH: 3 Although, there were no flaws dings, I don't care for what they did with this finish. Though the workmanship was decent for a $200 quickie. They put a cheap veneer overtop of the mahogany body. It looks like the grain on the back of cheap wall paneling, or one of those balsa wood toy airplanes. The real kicker is you can see the mahogany on the side where they cut the ergonomic (fender invented) body contour. I can also see a join so it's at least two pieces. My guess is that the mahogany body has multiple pieces and/or flaws that were rejects from better guitars. No problem with this for $200 folks, but that veneer is a tone sucker. It would have been better to leave the mahogany and give the uglier/unmatched ones solid finishes. If I do end up really liking this guitar, I may strip it and try to belt sand off the veneer. Then give it a natural stain and a little nitrocellulose lacquer.
The maple neck has a light satin finsh, and is very nice. The rosewood fretboard still has a bit of saw dust in the crevices but is decent. The medium sized frets are well dressed, no dead notes. A little buzz because I like low action, but my #1 even does that. It doesn't buzz thru the amp too much. One nit, edge of the head stock on the very top was roughed up. Either they forgot to sand it, or the guitar was stored on it's head :-) Also the face of the headstock is laminated black. I would have preferred natural, much prettier.

It's tough enough. I hope the finish does chip, it will motivate me to strip this guitar to natural as it should be. Strap buttons seem solid to me. This guitar may also serve *as* the backup. But I will use it at a laid back gig coming up for kicks.

Sent washburn email (they have a link on their web page) to inquire about the veneer. No reply after one week.

I have to say to the guy who was playing for two months and wrote the first review on the BT-2: BOY I WISH THIS WAS MY FIRST GUITAR. I've been playing over 20 years, and back in the 70's it was feast or famine as far as guitars go. Top of the line Les Paul for more money than my dad made in two months.... Or a "Crestline" telecaster with strings 1.3 miles above the warped finger board. Guess which one I learned on! I mean today a beginner has many, many low cost options. We always joked cause my childhood friend in our garage band had a "Crestline" barbaque grill with the same logo as that tele copy. I'm not picking on that guy, as he's starting playing as an adult and can get whatever he wants. But this is a fine guitar for the money, and I may consider a pro washburn USA axe with the "Buzz Feiten" tuning system. I just haven't seen a shape I like yet! I originally tried the BT-2's sister guitar, the "Lyon by Washburn" at a music store selling it for $169. That one also felt decent, I don't think it had the veneer, but was probably a cheaper tone wood like poplar or basswood. I'm glad I ended up with the washburn version, even though they were made in the same shop.

This guitar was made in 1996,I think.It has 22 frets,two humbuckers,one which is stock and one which is a seymore duncan invader.Made out of Mahogany.Tune-o-matic bridge.Grover tuners stock which is nice.Vol knob,tone knob,and a three way selecter.No accessories.Few features,but they are good enough.

My guitar has a nice "grunge" tone on the neck pickup which is stock,good mids,chords come through very clear.On the bridge pickip whic is the duncan Invader,I can easily get a great metal tone (machine head,slayer,sepultura,Death) it gets massive crunch.I'm using with a 120 watt Aims tube combo,it's a great fender twin copy,plus it's louder.Both pickups are as clean as they can.I use a Boss DS-1 for the "grunge" sound,a Boss HM-2 for the metal tones,and a Boss flanger to get some werid sounds.The guitar is very quite when not being played.Very thick sounding,this guitar does do bright sounds,it has a very heavy sounds.I really like the sounds I can get with this guitar,I can do slayer sounds without the EMG's.But I'm sure there is something better (like the BC rich warlock I'm getting soon) so I'm only giving it an 8.

This guitar came well set up,no fret buzz,finsh was great,but I can see it was re-finshed because you can't buy the guitar in the color that mine is.No flaws.

This guitar can handle live playing,the hardware is solid,no problems that I can see.Except for the strap buttons,they suck,I just rammed some wall anchors in there,no more problems.The neck is getting a tad loose too,but that's mine fault,I jerk on the neck really really hard when I play.The guiat has many dents,and it has tape covering a lot of things,this is all my fault,but it shows that the guitar can handle abuse because it works just fine.I would never gig without a backup,that's just silly.

Umm,no.

I am really happy with this guitar,it fits my stlye of music great.I wish the strap buttons weren't so damn crappy.I really like the way the pickups sound.I compared this guitar to a epi LP special,and a epi sg junior,and a bunch a crappy guitars.I picked this on because of the sound, the feel,and the look.It is a nice guitar,and I will still use it a lot when my I get my Bc rich warlock.

This guitar was made in Indonesia in 1997. Laminated body (color:Cherry Sunburst) with rosewood fingerboard. Two Washburn Eliminator humbucking pickups, one volume control, one tone control, a three way toggle switch in same location as a Les Paul switch, Grover tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge with a stop tailpiece. When compared quickly (the shape of the body, head, pickup placement and controls) this guitar is almost a dead ringer for the Peavey Eddie Van Halen Wolfgang. No accessories were included.

It suited my music style fine. The humbuckers produced a decent sound through my Marshall VS65R, both clean and distorted channels. No noticeable unwanted distortion. The Grover tuners were nice. The guitar rarely ever went out of tune. I did not keep it long enough to really play around with different settings.

This was my first new guitar so I really didn't know what to look for. I didn't want to spend too much money but I suppose as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Looked great but here's what I found. I brought it home and in two days I found a chip in the finish where the neck met the body. It was right down to bare wood. I took it back to the store I bought it from. They let me take another one off of the rack with no problem. I played this one for about a month. I had noticed some fret buzz but I thought it was my playing since I had only been playing for a month. But as I slowly (I stress on slowly) progressed in ability, the buzz continued. I tried other guitars in various stores and did not hear this buzz. I took the Washburn to another guitar shop and they set the action on the bridge down a little bit. I also had new strings put on because I didn't like the slicks the guitar came with. The buzz had gotten worse. I know all guitars buzz a little but this was very noticeable. With my headphones on, I could hear the buzz being picked up by my amp. I took the guitar to another, more reputable guitar store and their tech took a look at it. The 12th and 13th frets were higher than the rest. He told me that there was probably a knot in the neck and they would have to be filed down or replaced. I was so irritated, I took it back to where I bought it from. They (salesman, not tech) looked at it and told me the same thing. They said either their tech would look at it in a few days or it could be sent to Washburn in California to have warranty work done on it (I would lose the guitar for at least two weeks). Needless to say I was getting disgusted. I asked them since I had it for less than a month, could I take another one since this one obviously had not been examined closely by the store prior to sale. I even offered to spend more money to upgrade to something of higher quality. They said no, now it was "used". I took my guitar, went to yet another guitar store that gave me decent money for it and TRADED IT IN for something worth my hard earned cash.

It appeared that the guitar would last quite awhile hardware-wise. I'm not so sure that the finish would have though.

Did not keep long enough to find out how Washburn was to deal with. Refer to "Action, Fit, Finish" section on repair.

Judging by my ranting and raving in the "Action, Fit, Finish" category, I need not spend paragraphs complaining about this guitar. In retrospect, I should have spent more time researching guitars prior to purchase and put my shyness away about playing it myself in the store because of my lack of ability. I wouldn't have taken a loss on the Washburn and probably would've ended up with what I have now (an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with Vibrotone). This Washburn isn't completely evil, it could've been worse. You should've seen what I was playing prior to it! I would not buy another Washburn electric guitar.