Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	Tony LaRussa
Experience	26
Email	luvpbass@hotmail.com
Review date	February 28 2003
Manufacturer	Washburn
Model	AB-10 Acoustic Bass Guitar
Price	$260 on ebay. List is $699
Item owned for	1-6 months

Bass type	4 string ABG
Neck join	Set Neck
Neck construction	mahogony
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Body	laminated spuce top, mahogony back and sides
Finish	natural, gloss finish
Pickups	equis extra
Hardware	closed gotoh style
Electronics	active, 3-band eq, volume, presence control

I bought this bass because it has a thinner body than most acoustic bass guitars, which makes for me to play. It is quite similar to the Fender BG-10. Instead of a soundhole, the Washburn has diaganal cuts in the top. Unamplified it is almost impossible to hear if other instruments are around. But it's loud enough to rehearse alone or even with a soft touch guitar player. Amplified it is very sensitive and tends to feed back easily at even medium volumes. One remedy,I've heard, is to fill it with foam packing "peanuts." The guitar seems well constructed except from some sloppy nut work. Not sure if its like this from the factory or after market. The guitar was 3 years old when I bought it. The tone is very melodic, and the electronics seem to allow for a wide-range of tones from deep and woody to bright and barking. It has a distinctively different sound than my Fender P-bass, so it's a nice addition.

Construction	85%
(nut was a little sloppy, but otherwise a sold guitar considering it is a deli
cate instrument.)
Appearance	85%
(shiny, durable finish)
Playability	90%
(a differet feeling neck compated to most electrics. a little bit wider and fl
atter, but not chunky at all.)
Sound	85%
(wide ranging, very musical sounding)
Value	85%
(great, considering what I paid.)
Overall	85%
(solid value)