Washburn HB35

My HB35 was made circa 1980- it is one of the first batch made in Japan, and I bought it brand new. It has 22 frets, and has a laminated top with a solid block in the middle (like a 335). It has two stock coil tapped (accesed with volume pull pots) humbuckers, the make is unknown, and it is passive. i wouldn't like to comment on the woods used, with the finish it has I can't really tell. The finish is a gloss tobbaco sunburst, two tone. The finish on the neck is the darker shade. The body is bound front and back, as is the neck and head. The binding has aquired that lovely buttery patina that only comes with age.It is a visually passable copy of a 335. These models had a very unusual feature. in that they were strung through the body, like a tele. I had a Khaler locking tremelo unit fitted- a decision I've since regretted on and off, mainly because it changed the beautiful balance of the instrument. However, it didn't significantly change the tone. Nut to bridge measures 630mm, and I'd call the frets medium jumbo. It came with a case, which has been replaced due to wear and tear. The tuners have a Wasburn logo, but are probably from one of the regular manufacturers. I can't give it a 10 for features due to some very minor niggles:- The hard plastic finish has lifted a little in a couple of places, either due to water damage (I live in Durban, a very hot and humid place where sweating is common) or using lemon oil (so my repairman told me). If unused for a while, the fingerboard tends to mildew, and the frets tarnish. The dot inlays are not completely flush, and I can feel them when I play. The furules on the headstock have rusted.

I play mainly covers, due to my deplorable need to eat, but in a wide variety of styles. I worked as musician and musical director at a theatre for a number of years, as well as solo and band work. The thing is, any 335 style guitar is what it is. Not even the coil taps can make it sound like a Strat or a Tele, so I wouldn't use it for everything- but this is not a fault. I've used it for big band, rock, jazz, pop and a heck of a lot in-between. I have not as yet changed the pickups, but i've got my beady little eye on some Toneriders, in an attempt to get closer to a Larry Carlton sound ( as if anyone ever could). The sustain is absolutely killer. You could hold the long Parisienne Walkways note for a week- at a very modest level. The pickups are very quiet, comparable with most humbuckers. I've played it through quite a lot of amps and effects (well, you must know how much gear you can go through in nearly 30 years) and have managed a good tone through most of them. If anything, the pickups sound slightly thin, but when I've tried the Toneriders, I'll do an update. One thing I must say, everyone who has tried this guitar wants it. When I first tried this beast the music shop let me take it to try at the gig, mainly because I was irritating them by being unable to stop playing the thing. Whilst I was playing, it was singing to me----"Buy me, buy me, buy me........". When I took it to the gig that night, the band were yelling at me (it was a loud rock band) "Buy it, buy it". I once owned a +/- '68 335 (with a trapeze tailpiece!)which I sold to get back to South Africa from England. That guitar never talked to me like the Washburn does. Sure, it had a better finish and hardwear, but it was just another guitar. I've never had even the slightest urge to sell this guitar, and as long as nobody steals it, I'll keep it till I die.

This guitar was well set up from the factory- in fact the best set up from new I've ever had. I think they tried really hard to break into the market with their first Japanese models, and you could say they succeeded as Washburn is a big company now. Nearly all the session guitarists in Johannesburg bought one of these (before you think how useless can a 'Joburg musician be, Trevor Rabin was one. I don't know if he bought the Washburn, though). Apart from the minor issues allready raised, I'm more than satisfied with this guitar.

I've used this guitar for nearly 30 years without a backup, and the only problem I've had was a faulty pickup selector switch, which I had replaced. A tuning peg broke when a groupie pulled on the drummers tie, and his foot caught on the guitar, knocking it over (it was a tie kind of band). The guitar fell of the strap once while I was trying a trick, breaking 3 of the Khaler's tuners. Since then I've used strap locks on all my guitars. A quibble I have with most of the 335 type guitars is the jack socket on the front of the body. Someone stood on the Jack, damaging the finish. I managed to fix it with a large gold washer, and now I only use angled Jacks. I have had the frets dressed and a few setups. I'd say that 30 years of fairly constant use qualifies this instrument as reliable and durable!

I've never dealt with Washburn, so have no opinion. One thing I'd like to see is the discontinuation of the HB35 name. Only this model should have had it. They have changed drastically over the years, and the only similarity is a vague 335 heritage. After all, no matter the year, a Strat looks like a Strat, and a Les Paul looks like a Les Paul. The only major surgery my HB35 had was fitting the Khaler.

I've been playing since 1959. I've had 3 L series Strats. I know, you think I'm a fool for selling them. But back in the day The Beatles didn't use Fenders, so you could hardly give them away. Who knew? I also owned the aforesaid 335, and a completely gorgeous cherry red SG-the Les Paul model, which I foolishly traded in for an SG Custom- the worst guitar I ever owned. I had a rosewood Tele, similar to the one George Harrison used on the rooftop gig, and a yellow 70's Tele that I resprayed red myself. I found it a bit limited, and that's when I bought the HB35. I now own a 35th anniversary American Standard which is a work in progress. I replaced the pickups with Kinman Traditional Mk II's, a good move, but next is the tremolo assembly.

One thing I dislike about the 335 shape is that they are uncomfortable to play seated as the waist is too far off centre. If this guitar were stolen, I doubt I'd be able to replace it, but I would if I could. I have a friend with a dot neck 335, and I'd swap it for that (not that there's any chance) but otherwise I've never tried a 335 type guitar to compare. If ever you see one of these, buy it quick. No matter what you pay it'll be a bargain.

This is 2006 Wine Red model with all of the features listed on other reviews. I bought it on EBAY from a Wholesaler who purchased a number of these from Washburn because of a defect or blemish on them. Mine had an inlay that was slightly off kilter. They sawed off the top of the headstock taking off the Washburn name and took a marker to try to conceal the Washburn name on the label in the F-hole but you could still see it.

It supposed to come with the body and neck only but with mine all I needed were a bridge, tailpiece, and some Grover Rotomatics and it was ready to go.

I play Garage Rock and the guitar is very versatile. The neck pickup is average being a bit muddy but I have a digitech box and can get pretty much what I want out of it. The bridge pickup has a lot of treble but I it find better than average for lead playing. Very defined and can get harmonics relatively easy. I play it through a Mesa Boogie 50 Caliber head with a Marshall 1936 Cab.

I own a Gibson ES 325TDW with humbuckers and the Washburn is much brighter in sound. The pickups seem to be very hot for a guitar of this type but I believe these are used in many of their other models. Just doen't really cover the low end.

The Sycamore sides and top are beautiful. The neck profile is wide, thin and flat and fast. Very comfortable. Besides the one inlay (Barely noticable) the frets were dressed nicely and the rosewood fretboard has nice feel. Strings are set low with no buzzing.

A friend I play with has an Epiphone Sheraton II and I would put this guitar in that category for comparison as they are similar in build and price. The only edge I would give to the Sheraton is that it has Epi 57 humbuckers which are some of the best sounding pickups Epiphone makes.

Built like a rock. Would gig without a back up but will bring one if a string breaks or something like that so I don't have a delay. I'm not a gold hardware fan but it is holding up rather well. Funny thing is I bought chrome tuners, pickups, rings, tailpiece and bridge thinking I had to install all of that but when it came with most of ready to go I have half of it gold and half of it chrome!

Never dealt with Washburn

Currently own one comparable model-Gibson ES 325 and one previous- Dearmond Starfire and this holds up pretty well with those two. Bought it for next to nothing so I don't know if I'd buy another but is well made. Just have to decide if the pickups are right for you.

I currently play an Gibson ES-325TDW, Carvin DC400, Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst, Epiphone Firebird VII, Epiphone Firebird 500, and a Rickenbacker 350 Liverpool.

Mine's a 2007 model, made in Indonesia. I bought it on eBay, allegedly used, but if it was, the guy was playing air guitar with it. I couldn't find a scratch on it anywhere. No modifications have been made to it as of this date. I've had it for two weeks. No case came with it.

I've been playing since 1966 and have owned Fenders, Guilds, Gretsches, along with some cheaper stuff.

This is a goofy category to be rating. It's a semi hollowbody guitar, 335 style and has the features one would expect on this type guitar, so I guess that makes it a 10 in that respect. If it had come with four bedrooms, 3 baths and a jacuzi, I might be lobbying for a higher choice in ratings. It didn't.

The neck is a dream to play on. The binding is perfect on the instrument. The wood on the face of the guitar isn't bookmatched, so it's not a perfect instrument. It doesn't have a tremolo unit on it, which suits me fine. I don't use them anyway.

It's lighter weight than a Gibson 335 or even an Epi Dot 335, which I like. In my opinion, the build quality is extraordinary. Every bit as good as you see on a Gibson these days. I'm quite content with this aspect of the instrument.

I play 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's rock, old and new country and blues. Being in northeast Texas, a lot of that rock is swamp rock and southern rock styles.

I have a couple amps that I use mainly, both heavily changed from their original models. One is a Peavey Classic (series 100), which is a hybrid amp built back in the late 70's, 50 watts, solid state preamp, tube power amp. The other is a Kustom K200B-5 head (the tuck and roll variety from back in the 60's) running into a Kustom 3-15 cabinet (also tuck and roll) which originally was a bass cabinet, but I've replaced the speakers and modified it somewhat. It now has two 15's and two 8's in it. The bass is incredible off of it and the highs will cut glass. As far as effects, I use what's on the amps and have a Boss BD-2 distortion pedal and an original Vox Crybaby Wah. Are you getting the idea I'm into vintage stuff? LOL

The guitar is very quiet. As far as sound, I'm disappointed in the sound I'm getting from the stock pickups. The neck pickup is very muddy when used by itself. Too muddy without effects. Kick the distortion pedal on and it's horrible. I read another review on this guitar where the reviewer said he didn't like the sound of his HB35 running into a tube amp. I must agree here. My Peavey is a tube amp, my Kustom is solid state. The sound of this guitar is much muddier through the Peavey.

The Bridge pickup, on the other hand is twangy, almost shrill. And the volume is lower from that pickup than the neck pickup. I've set up my own guitars since back in the 60's and I know how to adjust pickups and I just can't get there with these stock pickups. I will be changing pickups very soon.

I will say this. This isn't my first rodeo, and I do know how to squeeze all there is to squeeze from an amp or a guitar. The sound of the two pickups together isn't bad. It's not what I'd call clean because there's a bit of mud still hanging around, but it's usable. I can kick some treble boost from the Boss pedal into the mix and clean it up a bit and ease up on my pick attack and get a definitely usable clean sound from the system. But I shouldn't have to do that, so I'll change the pickups on the unit. The rating I'm putting for this category is based on the stock pickups.

I love the neck. I'm one of those nuts who wants the strings laying on the neck. It'll take me probably a year of changes before I get this neck exactly where I want it, but I have no doubt I can get there. It's very playable as it is. I'll just make it more to my liking. And one can't hurry that. It takes time.

As far as the setup when I received the guitar, it was fine and what I expected. I stated earlier that the top was not bookmatched. I think I can live through this, somehow.

I owned a Guild Starfire many years ago. This guitar, in my opinion, is built as well as the Starfire was, so I fully expect it to withstand live playing. I'd use it on a gig without a backup. I already have, in fact. The only caveat about my rating here is that I haven't owned the guitar but 14 days, so this is merely a guess regarding reliability/durability. But I've got enough experience that I believe I'm right here.

I have no clue, but based on other reviews, I believe Washburn would be responsive, should I need support. I maintain and upgrade my own instruments, including electronics, neck modifications, repairs, etc., so I don't foresee me ever needing that support.

As I said earlier, I've been playing since 1966. I listed my amps earlier. I have two or three other guitars, nothing special. I'm building a custom Strat that I'll keep. The other guitars I own will probably get sold soon.

The only real downside I have with this guitar is the stock pickups. And that's an easy fix. Once that's done, I anticipate that the HB35 will be my main guitar. I owned that Guild Starfire for four years. I replaced it with a '69 Fender Tele that I owned for thirty four years. I replaced the Tele with a Gretsch DuoJet and kept it for a year. Just didn't like the neck on it, but I must say the craftsmanship and sound was just incredible. I do like the neck on the HB35, and that's before I get it dressed the way I like it, so I anticipate this being my main guitar for many years to come, barring something unfortunate happening.

It's a 9 because of the pickups and the non-bookmatched top. One will be fixed, the other I can live with. I think this is a great value on a semi-hollowbody guitar.

Semi-hollow tobacco sunburst washburn hb35(s).

Amazing sound, i play lead blues with it and the hollow body really sounds amazing for this type of music, this guitar truly has "soul".

The action is like a dream, as perfect as can be, with this guitar in my hands i become twice the better player.
Bending, fast licks but also chords and fingerpicking, everything plays and sounds extremely well on this guitar.

Don't know, it looks firm and reliable, but i haven't fully tested it yet to give an honest review.

Don't know.

Having owned about a dozen guitars over the years, and played at least double that amount, this guitar really sticks out being brilliant.
It performs, plays and sounds so good that i thought it was worthy of a good review here.

Mainly I would like to point out that this guitar has been through a number of incarnations. It started out being made in Japan, then moved to Korea, and now is sourced from China. I own two of the Korean models, which both have the Buzz Feiten setup. I have a real problem with Washburn concerning these changes. They keep dropping the retail price rather than changing the model # to reflect the differences. The Japanese versions are killer but rare, the Korean Buzz Feiten models are a great value, and the Chinese are a cheap 335 knock-off.

The pickups on my Korean models are OK. The neck works pretty well for some jazz but can be muddy. The bridge is good for rock and overdriven sounds but both pickups lack somewhat in terms of harmonics and complexity. The guitar does, however, sound good acoustically, which points to the pickups as the limiting factor. One thing you should be aware of; the pots from the factory are 250K. If you change them out to 500's the sound opens up quite a bit, becomes somewhat brighter and has more harmonics. If you upgrade to a better humbucker and can't figure out why you don't hear more improvement, try changing the pots.

Mine are really nicely done considering the price point. Actually they are brilliant when compared to much of the junk that comes out of Gibson. I decided to buy a CS-336 and went through six before I found an acceptable one. Everything from orange peel to a twisted neck. The hardware is marginal. Not unreasonable for the price but the guitar is good enough to justify upgrades. I put a bone nut on mine and changed to bridge to a Tone Pro. I also replaced the pots with 500K and upgraded the pickup switch. My only real complaint is a matter of preference. I wish the neck was a little beefier. In fairness, it is very similar to an early 60's 335.

For a semi-hollow body it seems very stout. The gold will wear off over time but that is pretty typical. The switches should be replaced if you plan to keep this a long time.

I contacted Washburn to check on the pots issue. They sent me an email which gave me an extremely detail spec sheet on the guitar. It helped me make decisions on what to upgrade.

I like semi-hollow guitars. I also have a Hamer Newport, a Heritage 555, a Yamaha SA-2200, and an Epiphone Elite. This is the least expensive but holds its own. Going back to Washburn's bizarre dumbing down of the model, my versions list price was $1200.00. I think they are around half of that now but it is NOT the same guitar.

Semi-acoustic double cutaway tobacco sunburst guitar, styled after the gibson ES 335 ofcours.

This guitar is one of the few semi-acoustic guitars under a 1000 that actually really sounds great, it really uses it's hollow body to get great tone.

I got it second-hand, but it was setup already perfect, no adjustments needed.
Finish looks amazing, so do the details, it looks and feels very solid and stylish.

But this is where it really rocks: the action and playability of this guitar; it's like no other i have ever felt, this guitar plays like a dream, bends like a dream, it feels like you have to do so little to play so well, it invites to be brilliant, i love this guitar.
And just for the record; i have tried over 20 or so similar guitars under a 1000 dollars, none of them i really liked , this washburn though immidiatly felt great and it still does.

As good as it gets.

Don't know.

I have nothing but great words for this guitar and i can't think of anything bad to say about it. I have played and owned a lot of guitars, this one is the first to be perfect.

1984 japanese hb35 tobacco burst.

i mainly play blues and blues rock and it is great for that. i use a gibson ga-5 reissue amp. with the stock pickups it literally booms. but i detect a bit of harshness in the sound and might swap the pickups for seymour duncan blues 59 set.

i bought the guitar on ebay and for a 22 year old guitar it was in pretty good condition - with a small paint chip on the head stock and small scratches all over the body - but the neck and fret board were without a blemish and fret wear was almost zero! i do have some concern with the tuners - but have to check them as times goes by to see if they have to be replaced.

guitar is built like a tank and is sure to outlast me!

never been in touch with washburn.

playing for around 5 years. own a gibson les paul studio lite. wanted a semihollow and after some research considered the hb35 as a very good alternative and value for money.

i've played gibson 335s in guitar center, manny's music etc in nyc and i think the hb35 is way above in playability. i love the way the hb35 rests on my body when strapped on - very comfortable. fantastic fret access. neck is eminently playable. i can't stop playing it and am sure my playing is going to jump a notch.

the great thing about my hb35 is that it is relatively light. 335 models are normally 8 lbs plus. japanese guitars especially weigh more than normal. but strangely mine weighs only around 7 lbs! i love it for that.

Submitted for your consideration is a 2005 CIC HB35 in natural finish. I bought it new with the Washboard er... umm... Washburn HSC and have owned it for one year. That is enough time to give it a thorough review. The hardware is gold plated and the flamey maple laminate body is truly a sight to behold. As an alternative to the Gibson 335, it is quite gorgeous and affordable. All the hardware details have already been covered. Since it has all the features of a 335, this category gets a perfect 10.

This guitar was purchased for blues, jazz and the occasional Allman Brothers Band song. It does sound best through a quality 100 watt solid state amp. I have tried it through a 1978 Fender Pro Reverb, Marshall 1/2 stack and many others ranging from a 10 watt 1X8 up to the aforementioned.

The sound is abysmal.

At first I thought it might be the wiring. I spent many hours rewiring the guitar with quality components but it did not help. Lastly I changed out the pickups with some alnico humbuckers that measure in the 8K ohm range and the guitar came to life. If you are reading this (and have done your research) you will note that Washburn does not say what magnet material the pickups are manufactured with. I suspect it is ceramic. What were you thinking, Washburn??

Mighty Mite gold humbuckers were installed which made the guitar come to life.

Action was very good out of the box. Over the last year, it did need a fret dressing two times to trim fret end sprout. I cannot ding Washburn for that as I live in the dry Mojave Desert.

The finish has several flaws and spots of obvious touch up and glue fill. About what you can expect on a guitar in this class. The back of the neck has a spot that looks like a dirty fingerprint under the finish but none of this is visible ten feet away. (Minus one point. There is a lot of filler around the neck inlays. (Minus one more point.)

The action is very nice and this it where the guitar kicks the Ibanez Artcore series of 335 style guitars to the curb. (Yes, I own an Ibanez AS73, too.) You cannot play the Ibanez above the 14th fret. The Washburn has excellent access all the way up the neck, much like my Gibson SG. The HB35 is a step up from the Artcores but both need pickups with alnico pickup upgrades unless you play hair metal music from the 1980s, in which case you would not play a 335 style guitar.

The guitar should last if well cared for but the gold is wearing off of the hardware in only one year of light use. The Grover tuners work well. Yes, I would play it without a backup as I have worked the guitar over for a year to set it up.

I have been playing guitar since 1963, and we have about 20 guitars in the house. If it were stolen, I might get another but I would be picky in my selection.

Wine red gorgeous wood grain. Standard tuners. This one did not come with a case, so I bought a generic one that fit, but was still a bit loose. Found the right case on ebay and bought it. This one is a Chinese made guitar.
Maple body and neck.
Semi-hollow body, gold hardware.
Standard pick up, Humbuckers I believe.
Tune-o-matic bridge,

Gorgeous sound, rich full and beautiful. Nice echo and warm feedback from the hollow body, but when you want it. Resonance is awesome. Good for nice jazz playing, or deep gutty Nugent rocking. Still experimenting with pedals and amps. Sounds awesome no matter what I put it through, and works as an acoustic as well.

This thing is the finest guitar I have ever played off a rack. Set up perfect, or anywhere else for that matter. No flaws that I can see. Everyone who sees it is in awe. Action is phenominal, not sure if I just got a special one or all HB35's are this smooth. Ended my desire for an ES 335.

Just got it, so can't say how it will hold up. I don't see any reason it would not though. Gold hardware will perform like gold hardware though. It will fade eventually, but man does it look awesome. I play in a Church band, so not a lot of traveling around, but I don't leave my instruments since my 2nd Les Paul got ripped off from the church.

Everything seems to be solid, though the jack nut was loose and came off. Replaced and tightened, no problem. Common problem.

Have never dealt with Washburn before. But everything I read and heard was good. Have no reason to take it to my normal set up guy. I can't imagine anything he could do better.

Been playing for over 30 years, but recently got serious and started taking lessons again with a master. Have had 3 Les Pauls, "The Paul" solid Walnut body, a 1978 "Custom" (both got stolen at different times)and have a Les Paul Pro now, but it will take a back seat to the HB35, even though it is an incredible Les Paul, over 28 years old, one of only 2 Les Paul Pros made in black.

I also have a Fender Squire youth model (bought for the kids, then stole it back), an Alvarez thin body electric acoustic. Always wanted an ES335, but never could justify the price tag. This stopped my search.
The action is incredible, sound is wonderful, love the high cut aways giving access way up the neck. Some complain about the weight, but for a Les Paul player it is light. The best playing guitar I have ever played, bar none. The only HB35 I ever played, so again I don't know if this is a fluke or what. A oot better than the HB30's and J-4's, etc. that they had.
If I lost this one for whatever reason, I would most certainly buy another ASAP. I almost bought another on EBAY for the heck of it.

When this music store opened about 2 years ago this was on the wall, and I fell in love with it. It hung there all that time and never sold, I played it every time I went in. Finally I talked them into a price I could not refuse. Even at the orginal price of 599 it was a bargain, but for the amount I played I could not justify buying another guitar.

1984 Washburn HB35--tobacco sunburst with 2 HB pickups. My 1984 guitar was made in Japan of sycamore. the newer models have the pickup switch on the upper bout, mine is down by the knobs. This guitar has a lot of binding and is a well-made guitar throughout. I'll rank it just above the middle...it doesn't have a lot of features, but you're not looking for bells and whistles when you buy a guitar like this.

This is a great sounding guitar, plugged in or unplugged. It has a warm, solid acoustic sound that is enhanced by the pickups. I have had microphonic feedback from the pickups on occasion, but it hasn't been enough of a problem to make me swap them out.

I play the HB35 through a Hot Rod Deluxe with a minimum amount of effects. I've used it in several bands--a classic rock/blues cover band, an all-original Beatlesque group, and a jazz trio. It has sounded sweet in all settings.

The guitar was set up very nicely when I got it. The previous owner had obviously cared for it well. The only blemish on the guitar is a small ding in the top from a percussion stand falling and striking the guitar while on a guitar stand.

The set in neck is a dream. I have only had to make minor adjustments in the 6 years I've owned this guitar, and those were due to seasonal climate changes (I live in Minnesota).

I owned this guitar for over 2 years before I gigged with it. When I finally took it out, it became my main performance guitar. I have gigged without a backup for the HB35 many times. I now cart multiple guitars for my current band, but if I had to rely on the HB35 alone, I wouldn't worry at all. It's a tank.

The only minus on this guitar is the gold hardware. It has worn off to the nickel on the pickup covers and tailpiece. This seems to be consistent with other HB35s from this period. Obviously, it doesn't affect the sound or the playability of the guitar.

I bought the guitar used, it was 17 years old when I got it (only one previous owner). I e-mailed Washburn with the serial number because the dealer who sold me the guitar wasn't sure how old it was. They responded the same day with the date of manufacture. The warranty no longer applies for the guitar, but I'll give them high marks for a quick response.

This guitar was sitting in the music store for almost a week before I picked it up. A friend of mine had worked for a division of Washburn and had a very negative opinion of their products. I had also played some Washburn guitars that left me underwhelmed. But my eye kept getting drawn back to the HB35, and finally I tried it out. I played it for an hour, through different amps, trying different styles, etc. I was actively trying to find flaws in the instrument. I couldn't.

I had wanted a 335 style guitar for years, but thought a high-quality model was out of my price range. My HB35 has been in the hands of people who own Gibsons, Heritages, Hamers, and so on...everyone has been amazed at the quality of my $350 find.

Since buying the HB35, I have purchased two other Washburns, the J3 and the Oscar Schmidt OE-30. I'm happy with the OE-30, VERY happy with the J3, but the HB35 remains my workhorse and my precious baby.

I give this guitar the highest recommendation. It costs a little more than an Epiphone or an Ibanez Artcore, but it is well worth the difference. This is Gibson quality for a sixth of the price.