Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: USD 150
Submitted 09/02/2009
at 01:32am
by adam1367
Features
:No Opinion
No cutaway no electronics dreadnought.
Mhogany neck, back, sides, spurce top
Just a simple yet good looking guitar.
Sound
:9
Now, trust me, i tried nearly ALL accoustics in a local music shop. Cheap *** ones, expensive ones (Martins) and for the money i payd ($150) this thing is just unbelieveable.
Very good balanced, rich, deep sound. Just love it.
Sadly, it doesn't have any electronics to amp that beautiful sound.
I mark it 9 just because there were other guitars that sound better, but they cost like 10 times more
Action, Fit, & Finish
:5
Action is a bit higher than I prefer, but nothing you can't fix.
Now, what comes to finish... IDK if it came like that from factory or is it just store didn't take a good care, but finish has numerous flaws, cracks etc.
But, I just didn't care 'cause it sounds awesome
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Overall Rating
:10
For the price you just can't beat it. I'm not sure of washburn's consistensy, so I doubt all the guitars of this model will sound that good, but at least if you have one in a local store, give it a shot
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $240
Submitted 07/08/2005
at 09:52am
by Steve
Features
:8
If you're more of a gearhead please consult the other reviews or go to the Washburn website for those details.
It's just a good old basic acoustic guitar with steel strings. Everything the average guitarist needs right out of the box.
One nice feature is that it came with an extra bridge and one extra peg. That's like finding another condom in your wallet or purse when you thought you were out and now would be a good time to have one handy.
Sound
:9
I play blues, rock, pop, folk, classical, jazz, gospel, just about any style. I am not a professional and I don't play for anyone except friends and family. Thus, my demand for sound quality is not that exacting. The D-10 sounds great to my ears. It's a nice round tone. It is not as sweet, clear, or booming as my 2000 Martin DM, but it's in that ballpark. I'm looking forward to trying different string types to see what impact it has on the sound with this one. For around $200 US (2005) the sound quality is amazing.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
I lifted it out of the box, tuned it, and immediately got great tone and play out of it. I'm getting some fret buzz when I really bang on it hard and I'm playing a barre cord or fingering on a higher fret. The factory action seems right to me. There might be a little intonation problem about fret 12, but on a standard dreadnought without a cutaway I'm not too good above the twelfth fret on my Martin.
The quality control at the factory has to be pretty good. Everything was what it should be.
Reliability/Durability
:10
I'm amazed at how well built this thing is. It is rather light (especially compared to my 1975 Yamaha FG-100, and almost as light as my 2000 Martin DM), but tight and strong. The tuners look and feel rock solid. I've got to believe this thing will last 30 years with a lot of regular use.
Customer Support
:9
I haven't and probably won't use customer support at Washburn. Assuming I don't use the guitar for self defense, I can't imagine anything this well built will require anything more than normal maintenance.
I ordered this online from zZounds.com in June 2005 and got free shipping. It arrived within 10 days. This was my first buying experience with zZounds.com and it was excellent.
Overall Rating
:10
I've been playing guitar for over 30 years and the D-10 has to be the best value I've seen, heard, and played. I would immediately purchase another one if I needed to. If you've ever played older low cost guitars you know how heavy and unreliable they could be. The D-10 is light, well put together, and clean. The tone is pure, it has all the basic features (good tuners, extra saddle, extra peg, tuning bar), and it just feels right in your hands. I also have a Martin DM and the Washburn compares very favorably to it (although I can still feel and hear a significant difference from the Martin that makes the extra cost worth it).
If you are seriously interested in playing the guitar, the D-10 should be the first guitar you get.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $370
Submitted 11/23/2004
at 12:00pm
by Jason Hayes
Features
:7
Strings/Wood/Plastic/Metal
Grover Tuners
Sound
:9
I play all kinds of types of musical styles...(rock/alt/blues/reggae/jazz/folk/bluegrass).
This thing has never let me down and always pulls through almost any song attempted.
In terms of the sound, I really grew into this one and after about 4 years this thing found itself.
My Washburn has the solid spruce top. Chords come out even, full and balanced. Fingerpicking's cool too on it!
I think I got really lucky because no matter what fancy/high grade guitar I want or have...I cannot forget about this thing's playability and unmistakeable tone! I contemplate buying $4,000 to $8,000 guitars all the time but until I can afford one, this Washburn has been a real pleasure to play. I write music all the time with this guitar.
No electronics. I use an insertable Dean Markley sound hole pickup which is ok but I plan on getting a nice internal pickup for it someday soon...it's worth it for this guitar!
I frequently go to guitar stores all over searching for something better and it's had to do (tone wise).
If you want a better tone than the Washburn then get an Olson! Olson definitely has a much better guitar with better tone, but it's about 10 to 15 times the price of the Washburn!!!
I wish it was a cutaway. :(
I play this in my friend's studio up agaist Neumann mics and this thing sounds like a million bucks!
If you're going to play live, get a good internal pick-up. (fishman)
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
Beautiful action after a few visits to different guitar stores.
Fit and finish is good quality.
No Flaws. Get bone/mamoth/ivory nuts/bridges/pins!
Reliability/Durability
:10
I've been playing live for 4 years and never any problems.
Use without a backup no problem.
For over 10 years - I've taken this thing all over the states throughout Europe too!
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never needed it.
Overall Rating
:9
It's a simple no frills guitar and does not have the nicest of woods however the one I picked will stay with me for life no matter how much I upgrade! Take your time and find 'that one'.
I love the Tone - can't be beat.
I love the quality craftmanship.
I want an expensive Martin or the like but I can't help myself from loving this guitar! It's so simple. It's so cheap. Yet it's so good.
Don't let any sales man talk you into anything! (However when I got this guitar I didn't know squat about them or what made them good or bad...I just got really lucky) I've played other washburns since and I have not been impressed.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 03/23/2004
at 06:01pm
by Anonymous
Features
:No Opinion
I love this guitar, for a long time I thought that other guitars would sound much better. Since I am really ready to record my first instrumental album, I hesitated with choosing this guitar. Then I began a search for more expensive guitar so I tried Martin D-28, D-18, D16, Gibson SongbirdDeluxe. I thought these guitars had it all, the sound, the brand and the price. Well 2 years later and I am still without a purchase and I decided to go with my Washburn D-10. 2 years ago I wouldn't think it would come to this but I made up my mind. THe guitar is well balanced in my opinion, not too loud, sometimes too dry but bass and treble are not fighting with each other when I fingerpick. I came up with a lot of fine tunes on this guitar. I think I got a little lucky with this particular model, the setup is great, now I learned not to make a lot of noises. Recently I tried another Washburn D-10 in a store and it sounded nothing like mine. It had to be a good pick. I am happy with it. After all, for me it was not about money because I was ready to buy Martin D-28, what I was looking was the right sound for my CD and I am going with Washburn D-10.
Sound
:No Opinion
Action, Fit, & Finish
:No Opinion
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Overall Rating
:No Opinion
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 01/03/2003
at 01:11pm
by Andrew
Features
:5
I bought this guitar in 1991, when I was first learning to play the guitar. It features a laminated top with a very glossy finish. It came with a carboard case, strap, and a handful of picks. Very basic no-frills guitar, which is expected since this is a lower-end model.
I sold this guitar in 1996, after picking up a new Simon&Patrick.
Rating of 5. There are not any special features, but it serves it's purpose well: a student/beginner guitar that has room to grow on until you are ready to move onto something more suited to your development.
Sound
:6
My style (at the time I owned this guitar) was mostly rhythm (gotta learn those chords) and getting into fingerstyle later on. The sound was very deep and surprisingly rich. The construction of the guitar (i'm guessing) lent itself to being somewhat muted as well, so the sound isn't particularly crisp or clean.
This is also not the best guitar to amplify, especially on a good sound system. Since you're starting with only decent sound, amp'ing it only enhances the "flaws", although fiddling with the levels does help.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
The action was high. I didn't know at the time that this could (and should) be adjusted, so my fingers got strong and calloused in a hurry! The medium gauge strings didn't help my cause ;)
The finish was clean. There were no flaws that I can recall, although it's been a while since I've had it. There were no imperfections in the lacquer finish and the top/back were put together evenly. The tuners were solid and never gave me any problems tuning, or staying in tune.
All in all, better than many budget-priced guitars i've seen (low-end Takamines come to mind).
Reliability/Durability
:9
This guitar is built VERY solidly, as another reviewer put it, a tank. Over the 5 years I owned this guitar, it stood up to a beating. A few drops, dings, and lots of hacking and it just kept on playing. If the sound wasn't the greatest, the durability of it surely is.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
I have never had to deal with customer support.
Overall Rating
:8
For what it is, it is great. If you're a beginner looking for a guitar without breaking the bank, this is a good choice. The price is right and it will grow with you, at least until you either are ready for a better instrument or decide that you're not serious enough to warrant a better, pricier instrument.
If you are intermediate level or better, I would encourage you to look elsewhere, even for a backup "beater" guitar. Assuming you already have a decent instrument, this probably won't satisfy your ear. Spend the extra $100-200 bucks for something nicer.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $170
Submitted 01/06/2002
at 07:03pm
by Mike
Features
:3
hrrrmmmmm.........6 strings?
Sound
:8
hrrrmm...........sound quaity isnt bad.......tho it tends to slip out of tune when u least expect it........is has a nice sound tho with new strings..........
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
action is good.........for the proce range that is........compared to some other beginer guitars iv played this is very nice, howoever...... for the price u could go to mandalay.com and get a nice johnson electric accousic that is worth much more than the price suggests............finish is good........havent seen anything wrong with it, and it doesnt look like its made of cardboars, which is good
Reliability/Durability
:8
very durable for a beginer guiar..........iv dropped it many times and the sound quality hasnt changed (tho nasty dings apear)...............o, and watch the strap nut thingy, it doesnt stay in, which is why i dropped it........the one thing is that the tuner heads are very weird, they stay in tune pretty well for the price range but tuning it is weird......once again, buy a johnson
Customer Support
:No Opinion
??
Overall Rating
:7
been playing for a year and a half and this is the only guitar iv had, pity me, i am getting a new johnson, they really are great guitars, 150 for an electric accousic and a case........so yeah, its good compared to my friends beginer guitars, but..........johnson...........lol
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $209
Submitted 12/20/2001
at 02:21am
by Anonymous
Features
:6
This guitar was made in China, no certain of the year. Purchased in 2001. 20 Frets. This is technically a D-10S, which does have a solid spruce top. The back and sides are, as best I can tell, mahogany laminates. The fingerboard is some kind of rosewood called Sonokelin. The tuners are chrome plated Grover tuners. No accessories.
Sound
:6
This was my first guitar, so I bought it to learn basic technique. It has been great for that purpose. The sound is nice and bright.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
The action on my guitar is rather high. The tuning pegs scratch easily, and the fingerboard is a little scratchy. However, the guitar is a beauty to look at-- very nice appointments for such a simple guitar. It could stand less lacquer, though.
Reliability/Durability
:8
This guitar is not meant for live playing. The tuners don't really hold their tune well and have loosened a little after only 8 months of playing. If you're playing live, you've definitely outgrown the Washburn D-10S. Still, I don't want to mislead-- this is not a guitar that will fall apart. It's built like a tank, so if durability si your concern, don't worry. (Of course, durability should only be a subsidiary concern if you are subjecting others to the sound of your axe. The darn thing should sound good first and foremost. And that is where a D-10S is not going to measure up even against models that only cost two to three hundred more.)
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never had to deal with them. If anything goes wrong, I'll just get a new guitar.
Overall Rating
:7
I've been playing for less than a year. My other guitar is a stratocaster clone made by Rogue, so my Washburn is my "high-end" guitar.
If it were stolen I'd buy something more refined.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: US $250
Submitted 05/03/2001
at 10:43am
by Andy
Features
:8
Features a laminated mahogany body and laminated spruce top. My D-10 has a piezo pickup that makes it sound really bright, but if you turn the tone all the way down it's sounds pretty good. It has good hardeware, but my D-10's neck is starting to buzz and i've tried messing with the truss rod and doesn't help. The saddle is buzzing pretty bad too.
That's probably just my guitar though so don't pay attention to that.
To warn you about my choosing of words:
It sucks= 3 or lower
Not to good= 4
alright= 5
Good= 6 to 7
Pretty good= 8
Really good= 9
Awesome= 10
Sound
:7
The sound is alright. I've heard alot better, but i've heard alot worse too.I use Elixir strings and that really helps the tone. It's not very loud and not balanced very well. You hear more treble than bass. That's a shame too because the bass sounds really good on this guitar. When you are playing through sound system or an amp with an EQ
than you can balance it out. The bass though is really good sounding and I love bassy sounds. It's not full sounded in way that it sounds like a bunch of notes were put together.You hear every note really clear.It's bright unless you can mix it with an amp or soundboard. I give it a 7 because it doesn't sound that good without elixir strings,(trust me i've tried every string out there.)and without it being mixed. It does sound like a good guitar with elxir strings. It doesn't compare to a Martin, Taylor or Larrivee at all. I don't like mahogany it's way to bright for my taste.(and most Taylors and Larrivees i've heard are to bright too.)
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
All pretty good.
Reliability/Durability
:8
Pretty good all around.(can withstand a really good bump)
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Overall Rating
:8
It's a really good beginner's guitar, which is why should get rid of it. Besides beginners don't think about it. The overall rating is for a beginner.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: 900 (Rand)
Submitted 03/02/2001
at 03:13am
by Vermaak
Email: vermaakch<at>ael dot co dot za
Features
:8
Got it for the equivalent of $200
Made in Korea 1993. I had a Fishman-pick-up put in under the bridge in 1995. The pick-up has no pre-amp or Volume control.
Sound
:9
I play in the band at Church. We play very up-to date stuff with a lot of varying styles.
In terms of the sound, any guitar really comes into it's own after being 5 years old. Then your wood is set in and dry and your tone continues to improve(in the first 5 years) with age (even if only sligtly from 5 years on).
This means that if you want to compare guitars you actually have to compare guitars that are 5 years or older to compare the ultimate sound.
Electronics aside, pick up and old(5 years or more) Washburn D10 and compare it stand alone without amps or PA's to old Yamaha's, Epiphones, Cort's, Martin's, Takamane's ect. (the list goes on).
You'll find that Tone wise none can beat the Washburn.
If you want a better tone than the Washburn then get a Taylor. The Taylor definately has better tone, but it's probably 4 or 5 times the price of the Washburn.
If you need electronics, get a washburn with the pick-up already installed, maybe even with a cut-away Nothing in the same price range can beat it for quality of workmanship and quality of sound.
I've played all kinds of guitars:
Yamaha's - none come close except the SPX(or something?)4A (Cut- away Half-body)
But then get a cut-away Washburn for cheaper
Martin - theyre over-rated 'They don't make 'em like they used to'
Cort - Crappy sound alone - get's better through an amp or PA
Epiphone - a friend has one. My D10 sounds better
Takamane - Don't come close
Ovation - Sounds like a hollow stump on it's own but very good through amps and PA
Then there are Arial and others but none come close.
I'm now using a POD with the Pre-Amp setting and Chorus(set at 9 O'Clock and I can actualy get the exact tone the D10 gives on it's own. Everyone is quite impressed.
If you're going to play Live, get a Washburn with Pick-up.
I like that for even three times the price nothing can beat it for tone. Taylor get a 10 for this category.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Beautiful action. I can play rythim without fret buzz and put in a lice lick without fetching the string from Taiwan.
The set-up was perfect from the factory.
Fit and finish is good quality.
No Flaws
Reliability/Durability
:10
I've been playing live for 5 years and never any hassel except the string broke onece - but hey stuff happens.
Solid strap buttons I've allways depended on it.
Use without a backup no problemo.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never needed it!
Overall Rating
:9
I've been playing 10 years. I also own a Washburn Lyon electric.
I wish I'd asked for one with a pickup.
If it were lost I'd get another Washburn, Cut-away with Pick-up.
I love the Tone - can't be beat.
I love the quality craftmanship.
Don't let any salesman make a sucker out of you by selling you a guitar that sounds good through an amp. Switch the amp off and compare that guitar on it's own with a washburn.
Product: Washburn D-10 Price Paid: trade used
Submitted 03/01/2001
at 04:22pm
by Tom Rafter
Email: tgrafter<at>yahoo dot com
Features
:7
I'm about to sell this after two years, so though in my last week of having it, I'd give it a thorough review. It's got mahogany back, sides, and neck, rosewood fretboard, and spruce top. 20 frets, playable to 14/15. 5-ply binding on the top. Pickguard. The finish on the back, headstock, and neck is a rich cranberry red, and the top has a natural finish. Stock tuners were okay, but I replaced them with Grovers and the tuning stability improved noticably. No electronics, but I used a Dean Markley Pro Mag in the soundhole, and it worked great.
Sound
:9
The sound is actually quite rich. It has good overtones due to the mahogany back and a nice upper-midrange bite from the spruce. With the soundhole pickup, it came across as bright and shimmery, and can even handle a bit of fuzzy overdrive with class. I was very happy with this guitar for two years, and even though I upgraded to an Ovation Specialty, it's gonna be hard to let go. I play praise, jazz, blues, and acoustic rock, and have recorded with this guitar several times with an old Sunn tube amp and a touch of compression--it sounded very rich on tape.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
Very good action for a guitar in this price range. I rank it at 6.5 on a scale of 1-10, a $5,500 Tayor Custom-shop being 10 and an unplayable, buzzing Epiphone basic being the 1. The fit is tight, and the finish is great.
Reliability/Durability
:8
Always served well. After two years, one of the frets (14) began to buzz. One of the tuners also broke off at one point, but replaced it with Grovers, haven't had a problem since.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never called them.
Overall Rating
:10
For the price, it's exceptional. Tried a $500 Dean Exotica RSE, wasn't any better in playability or tone, though it sure was attractive. Like I said, despite my upgrade to a really beutiful Ovation Special (CS257 wih quilt-top, pro-setup, and cherryburst finish) it will be hard letting go. For the price, I give it a 10--great value.