Washburn HB35

My HB-35 was purchased new in 1997. I believe it was made in Korea... but I'm not sure of that. I has the standard feature set of any of the HB-35s (no need to repeat what the other reviewers have already entered...) It has all the features I would expect from a fine insturment, namely independent control for each pickup as well as pickup selection. I replaced the stock sadles with some of the graph-tech teflon models and what a difference that made! I break a lot fewer strings than before and I actually gained some sustain. I'm considering replacing the nut as well, but other than that this guitar comes with all you need.

I play a mix of jazz, funk rock and experimental stuff. This guitar suites all these styles exceptionally. I mess around with playing metal sometimes and it is really no good at that, but if you want a metal guitar you'd be looking at the #insert favortie thrasher guitar company# reviews ;-) The sound is very full (I get lots of complements from other players about that) - ultimately it is a jazz guitar and sounds as such, but it is quite adaptable.

I pretty much had to replace the sadles, because I was going though several strings a night - but other than that the workmanship is excelent. There are a few imperfections in the fretboard inlays, but that gives e guitar a bit of visual character, and you can't even see it from more than about two feet away.

I've been using this beauty fairly intensly for practice, gigging and a variety of jamming settings for over three years and with e the exception of some of the laquer coming off of the bridge where I rest my right hand she still looks and plays like new. I still have an old electric as a backup, but I have not need to use it since I replaced the sadles.

I've only contacted Washburn once to find out specifics of the model number and the response came within 30 minutes (via email.) Nothing has needed repair since I've owned it (more points for reliability :-)

I've been playing for about 12 years and this is my second electric (other is an Ibanez.) Even with it's imperfections (really the sadles are the only problem, but your probably tired of hear about that :-P ) I love this guitar, and would replace it with the same model in a heartbeat if anything happened to it. It sounds great playing through anything (even direct to the PA!) Now all Washburn needs to do is come out with a seven string version and I'd be set.

Washburns take on the 335 theme. Built around '92/3. According to factory spec. it has a sycamore body, glued in maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The body has a solid core, however, that is clearly not sycamore (think maple) but more like mahogany or merbau. Top and back are laminated, arched sycamore. Black finish (out of prod.), gold hardware, 5-ply binding around top and fingerboard, 1-ply around back and f-holes. Abalone block markers. 2x stock humbuckers, 3-way switching, 2x vol, 2x tone configuration. Tunomatic bridge and stop-tailpiece. Tuners are unbranded, die-cast types that look a heck of a lot like Shallers. 22 frets, short scale (never measured this, but guess it 'll be 24.75") Very smooth and comfortable neckshape. Not thin, not chunky, just right. Nice balance seated, maybe a bit neckheavy strapped, but not too much. Beautiful guitar.

Used mostly with a KittyHawk M1 All-valve amp. Hardly use effects. Styles vary from blues, rock to jazz to whatever. This guitar sounds very, very warm, with a hint of acoustic hollowness. Less focused than my friends (Epi) LesPaul, very ballsy yet gentle (...) This guitar inspires more subtle playing than my Strat (which sees some real abuse evry now and then). The neck pu is round and fat, but not muddy. Roll off a bit of tone; nice Jazz sound. Dial in a bit more gain and you've got a rather nice blues sound, from smooth to dark and threatening, depending on amp settings. More gain enters rock-realm, with fat, round rock sounds and smooth sutaining solo notes. The Bridge pu I'm not too happy with. It sounds a bit whimpy, less acoustic and plunky to my ears. On high gain settings this pu does work well for solo's however. Bit of a Slash sound. This pu is very susceptible to squealing feedback! The pu mix is my favourite; the neck pu is dominant, but with a bit more twang from the bridge pu, and a pleasant hollowness that emphasizes the acoustic character.
This is definitely a guitar that covers a lot of bases; good jazz, great blues, but this to me is definitely is a (blues-)Rock guitar. There is terrific sustain, which can be enhanced by feedback. The hollowbody is pretty stable on high volumes. Feedback is nicely controllable. My only gripe is the weak and squealy bridge pu.

This guitar was bought second hand, but unchanged (and practically unplayed) by the previous owner. I suspect something happened to it before the original purchase, because; -the stupendously low price -a badly cut plastic nut that did not look original at all -a chip in the laquer on the back of the headstock -something that almost looked like a burnt/melted spot on the side of the headstock -a slightly damaged tuner -The potting (wax)of the pu's looked like it had more or less run out of the casing. The pickups are stuck to the cover, and the cover was fixed to the pu. ring, instead of the other way around. The bridge pu. is loose in it's case, and gets a bit microphonic every now and then. Needs to be repotted. The rest of the guitar was in perfect shape. I bought it with .009's, which I immediately replaced with .11's. The action rised just a bit, but not too much. It was too low as it was, after a month with .11's it was perfect for me. Apart from the nut (sloppy slots, all the same size, gripping the strings now and then) the setup was great. Frets were even, and well polished. As I said, this guitar had hardly been played. Intonation was spot on with the new strings, so I guess the guitar originally came with these. The inside looks neat and tidy. Nicely regular woods, too. Only a few tiny flaws in the edge and f-hole bindings - some spots aren't cleanly scraped. That's all. Nice laquer job. Hardly any filler around the fretboard markers, though they are (now I'm being picky) not quite parallel to the frets. I do feel the nut is positioned to far back ever so slightly, causing low position notes to go a bit sharp. I plan on correcting this when I'm installing a new nut.

It's surprisingly rugged (and heavy) for a semi-solid. The pu's are vulnerable as is, but they'll live. All hardware looks/feels positive and solid. Tuners are fine. This guitar cannot take a beating like a Strat or Tele, but somehow it inspires to treat it more sensitively. I would always use a backup guitar (or this one as a backup) because of strings breaking, not because I didn't trust a guitar. I trust this one. BUT I would not take it on an extensive tour with these pickups, nor without a decent case. (fortunately, I don't have any prospects of an extensive tour... ;-p)

Only seen their website, which is nice.

I've been playing for well over a decade, own several other guitars, played a lot of different ones I don't own, and this is definitely one of the best I ever touched. I guess the guy I bought it from got it cheap himself (probably 'cause she had had a little accident), and he absolutely hated it himself. With the nut uncorrected, .009's and a preference for singlecoils I can imagine this. But I love this guitar (and the price was ludicrous). I would buy it again, though I'm not sure if all these Washburns sound alike (i know Epi's don't). The recommended retail price is a bit high (something like a grand I beleive), but I think this guitar is worth it. I still feel guilty for getting it this cheap... I would consider replacing the bridge pickup. This is my favourite guitar to date, even with the tuning problem and weak br. pu.

1991 Washburn HB 35. This is Washburn's 335 style guitar. It has 22 frets, the body is Sycamore, the neck is Maple and the fretboard is rosewood. It's a hollowbody with 2 f holes. Two humbuckers, three way selector with the two volume, two tone combination. It has a tunomatic bridge and a stop tailpiece.
I bought this guitar used, after seeing an add on this service. The gentleman said that he had changed the pick-ups to SD 59's and replaced all the hardware. He gave me a screamin' good deal and shipped it. It arrived in a nice hard shell case and, with some trepidation, I opened it revealing the MOST BEAUTIFUL GUITAR I'd ever seen. Tobacco Sunburst, seven years old and not a scratch. The hardware WAS brand new and gorgeous. I changed strings immediately, and opened the pickups to verify that they were the SD's -- Sure enough, it was like he said.

Boy is this a neat guitar. Totally different than my strat (see Deluxe Powerhouse Strat review). I have played it now for over a month to make sure I have a good handle on the sound before I reviewed it.
Before I go into the sound, let me backtrack. When I was originally thinking about a 335 style guitar, I was looking at the Sheraton II from Epiphone, which has had some nice reviews. I make a habit of trying and retring any guitar I think of buying, so I have a decent idea and am not rushing a purchase. So, I was at this guitar store, as usual, but this time my wife was with me. I was trying the Sheraton and she says "I don't like it. Try this one." Low and behold, she hands me the Washburn. I plug in, and it sounds better, stronger, more body than the Sheraton. It also has a faster neck, which I like. Then I look at the tag and say "Can't afford it."
So, I'm reading the for guitar reviews, and everyone who pruchases the Epiphone hollow body's rave about upgrading pickup's to SD 59's.
Then I see this Washburn, with SD 59's, and the guy gives me a great price. I jumped, sight unseen. Risky, but worth it.
This guitar has a very rich, warm sound. It is a blues monster. I play it through a solid state Peavey Studio-Pro 112. I have to spend more time adjusting the sound from the guitar to suit my desires than I spend with my Strat, but it's worth it. Play around a little and it smokes. I REALLY want a good distorion pedal for this guitar (The Peavey amp has distortion, but it's not the greatest...) For blues, for the price, for the features, this guitar is a clear TEN!

As I said, I bought used. The action is great, I love the pickups. It is a beautiful guitar. I have compared it to the other moderately priced hollow body's in it's class, and I would not purchase them, period. This guitar rocks, when it comes to how well it is built.

This is a delicate guitar, one that I would not want to subject to a lot of abuse, because it so pretty. It is also VERY HEAVY compared to your strat style guitar. If I were a gigging musician, I would employ the same philosophy I have about all beautiful instruments: If it's meant to do something, then use it. Don't cry when it goes from pristine to less than pristine condition, just enjoy it. It would definitely hold up to gigs, but its beauty would suffer.

NA

I LOVE THIS GUITAR. It balances my strat SOOOOOO well. Totally different sound, totally different feel. What I really love about this guitar is that you feel like you are playing a vintage musical instrument. It has that romantic quality about it. It really is a piece of art. Now, would I buy one stock. No, not for the price. I think the stock pick-ups are weak. With the SD 59's, this guitar shines. Very warm, very bluesy. Not a rock monster, by any stretch. You could swing some jazz with it. Unlike my strat, you need to PLAY this guitar right on the frets. With my strat, I can play here and there and my tech. can really suffer without the sound suffering too much. With the Washburn, YOU MUST PLAY WITH GOOD TECH. If you are off just a little, the sound suffers. But when you pay attention to what you are doing, the sound is really magnificent. Just unbelievably warm, fat, etc. You can really add your own tone to this machine. Just a fun, fun guitar to play, and your technique improves because you are also forcing yourself not to slack. Good for someone like me who's new (1 year) and working daily to become better. However, stock for the price I would only give it a 6. With the SD's , and the price/condition, a total 10!