As a die hard Fender/Gibson 'snob' it's always interesting listening and discovering 'new' guitars and what manufacturers are doing. Music is a multifaceted thing and people engage with it in so many different ways that I'm pleased there is something out there for everyone. Great little preview guys.
You know what I respect the most about about these guys particulary the Captian is the honesty and a very good eye for detail..something that's been lacking in many industries for a while.
Paul Gill Paul used them until just the end of last year when he announced he's back with Ibanez and thank god, I missed seeing him with an Iceman... His Washburns were definitely not my thing
That could be a fact I didn't know that those where Washburns either. But yes he should get something he was amazing. Im not a huge Washburn fan but my brother had one years ago Im talking early 90s maybe it was called Washburn Wing Eagle Sersies it was a body thru - neck very expensive about the price rage of a Les Paul I think . It was amazing it was stolen and we cant find another one no where. I think this was their top of the line.
My first electric guitar was a Washburn, so they've always held a special place in my heart. These look pretty cool! Glad to see them back in the game.
I hold my hands up & apologise for forgetting that Dimebag was a Washburn guy for a while, so I take back my statement that they didn't have a super star player other than Nuno. I know I couple of you threw Paul Stanley in the mix too.... well I forgot about him too, but I sleep better for it ;)
Oh shit, shots fired haha more importantly than Paul, Ace went Washburn in the late 80's with that really stupid looking guitar during the Frehley's Comet days
Steve Stevens had a Washburn signature in the early 90s too, but his relationship with them didn't last very long (less than a year). Sammy Hagar also had a Washburn signature
hate to show up way late to the party, but does Dan Donegan of Disturbed not count? not a huge fan of the band myself, but they strike me as having reached at least a moderate level of success.
That was some different playing in the Intro rob. Love that style I've been hearing lots of similar sounding riffs through all your Reviews over the years. That opening jam was Refreshing.
As an owner of a Parallaxe guitar I can say: it is worth its money. Serves well. I have a model with fixed bridge and with a pair 81/85 by EMG. Sound is clear, rich (however, I presume subjectively, some Bare Knuckles pickups might have deeper sound), with biting mids. Has enough presence and attack even in neck position. Absolutely great with almost any kind of distortion or overdrive, obviously because it was designed for that. You'll get powerful riffs and solos with lots of sustain and all noises absent. Clean sound is supreme as well, however the pre-built pre-amp might cause the guitar go naturally overdrive, so keep the volume in mind. Anyway, it sounds awesome; I, myself, at least, got what I had expected. As for the hardware and other: he guitar plays and feels very nice, so you don't really sense a scent of something cheap. The cutaway comes in handy, although I'm not really into playing high on the fretboard. The neck's thin, but it doesn't feel like that. I like kinda thicker necks, like the ones Strats have, but feel absolutely comfortable playing the Parallaxe. However, I really miss logarifmic potentiometers (the guitar is equipped with linear ones, so you wont' be able to do "swell" kind of things). The quality of manufacturing I would assess as satisfactory. Wood is fine, with beautiful flamed maple top (NB! Not all models have it). The finish, however, could have been thinner. The really must be sonething about the paint (I have some pieces fallen off)? but that's minor. A kind of thing you'd be polite not to notice for that money. The most essential thing - wiring - is done well and neat, but I sometimes have issues with the switcher (it doesn't switch well into the bridge position). I would attribute that to me using the switcher in Buckethead fashion, but keep that in mind anyway. Well, I certainly have no regrets about this instrument. Plays well, feels well, what else?
Dime was with Washburn for about 10 years. I'm a huge fan of their Idol series guitars. Particularly from the mid 2000s when they were Korean Mande, and you can get some great deals on their USA guitars which are excellent.
+mialph leonarsquez I respectfully disagree. You have played the wrong Washburns apparently. The problem with Washburn is that they flood the market with crap beginners guitars so no one takes them seriously. You have to spend a little more money on a Washburn to get one that isn't meant as firewood but once you break that point they can be incredible. I have an Pilsen Idol (made in USA) that no sane person could play onstage for long becasue it is soo heavy. However, the tone is a Les Paul killer. It stays in the case unless recording or sitting down.
scotto0010 True, I haven't played top of the line washburns and I'm sure they are a fine instrument but I could imagine them being similar in feel /sound/quality to a top of the line Jackson or Charvel or Schecter but the point I was making was that the PRS archon head would make even a firewood guitar sound glorious.
+mialph leonarsquez Ok, point taken. I would say a majority of custom shop Washburn's follow the PRS Gibson feel rather than the shredders like Jackson, Charvel & Schecter. They do of course have the shredder customs too (Solar, N4, WM526 etc) but I would most are made for the previously mentioned group. Their high(er) end imports are meant to compete with the Jackson, Charvel & Schecters and some do it admirably. I have three Charvels - one MIA, one MIJ and one MIM. I have the Washburn PXM20FRFBCBM which is a combination of the two reviewed in this video. It keeps up with the MIA and MIJ Charvels and blows the MIM Charvel away.
a little history from an Indonesian about the Indonesian Guitar factories and luthiers (please be informed that my national pride for my country might sound a bit cocky)...the factory that makes Ibanez, schecter ESP, Squier, Gregg bennet etc are located in Mojokerto east java, us indonesians are known for being Kere tapi aktif hence the term kereaktif/kreatif translated to english as Poor but active into Creative, we even went to the reaches of the impossible to make things for a very cheap price in general, where in the west could you find a custom shop guitar pickup wounder that would create your own custom pickup for only 65 dollars with all the trials failures and errors covered by the little company that makes it, you should check it out Ganee pickups, and for guitars we have customshops that makes guitars for under 500 dollars and it's all custom to the buyers liking, includes all the amazing maple tops etc plus a wide variety of exotic Indonesian tonewoods that they offer, i've been ordering many indonesian customshop guitars since 5 years till now, and i've always been pleased, not only that, the guitars that you order are built by master luthiers that if you are interested may offer a course in building your own guitar, but it would cost you a pack of cigarettes a day and 2 cups of coffee a day. i really don't want to belittle mexican Fenders because i think they're gorgeous, but our 500 dollar customshop totally beats up the mexican fenders, i had a mexican fender tele and my 500 dollar customshop tele with my customshop pickups side to side, i had to see their audio waveform in logic pro 9 and i had it all measured up and my tele beats it up in the playability, finish and the thickness of the sound, i didn't have to use a preamp when i track dry signal with that tele of mine...
I get what these guys are saying with these guitars, but I'd rather buy a cheap guitar and do the upgrades myself. It's more personal, and feels like you've accomplished something that way. Plus the custom specs are in your control as well, and you aren't limited to, say, only what Washburn has available. That said, nothing wrong with these guitars. Although I was kind of taken aback when Rob said his guitar was 750 pounds. I wasn't expecting that at all. Either way, this particular line isn't what I'm interested in as far as Washburns go. Really want to see those Solars.
Fuck that. Go get a Chappers. Watch out for the Ghost Fret model coming soon. (Chapman Explorer) AWE YEAH! Don't know about you, but I'm fucking getting one!
flips220 I totally agree, buy a few tools (fret leveler and files, nut files etc...) and whatever hardware you want. You'll be able to turn any guitar into a beast.+Scott McKinstry, I like the ML guitar series, I want a ML1 pro (walnut), bad ass guitar!
I bought a Washburn Mercury series limited edition Tonewood 23 yrs ago. I have battered the shit out of that guitar in fact its the guitar in my profile pic. It still plays and sounds as good as the day I got it, it's had very little maintenance over the years and is still going strong. One of the best guitars I have ever played!!
Washburn had Dimebag, doesn't get anymore "MEGA" than that, Nuno is great as well but Dime pushed and carried Washburn to their peak when he was with them. When Dime left and signed with Dean that's when Washburn took a nose dive and went to hell, but those Dime USA Made Custom Shops where some of the best you could get. I own a Southern Cross (a real one not Boogie Street) and a signed Dime Blackjack both USA Custom Shop from Washburn and to this day 2 of the best guitars I've ever laid my hands on other than my PRS Private Stock Custom 22.
The headstock on the black one is a throwback to their late 80s guitars. I used to own an SBT-21, the tele-style "acousti-lectric" (I just made that up) solidbody with only a piezo bridge pickup, and it had the same headstock shape. I saw these parallaxes at NAMM and they were pretty cool. Loved the shapes and finishes. The mid-range ones were an especially awesome value for the money! Rock on! \m/
Captain said the black one has no clean tones but that was clearly the amp. Clean channel even has gain. I have pretty much the same one with EMG's and it sounds amazing for clean tones through my blackstar! I can play ben Howard,oasis,pearl jam and many more and it sounds absolutely amazing for them! Sounds just as good as the metalcore tones I also go for
Grover Jackson designed the Washburn Mercury Series in the early/mid-90s which were pretty nice. Dimebag from Pantera and Scott from Anthrax had some signature series in the late 90s/early 00s. The Buzz Feiten tuning system uses any manner of standard nut (Gibson, Fender, Floyd), but the distance between the nut and the first fret is shortened by about 2/3 of a millimeter. Supposedly this slight alteration of the standard fret scale makes chords ring more evenly across the entire fretboard.
Back in 1989 I bought my 2nd electric guitar which was a Washburn KC40V, and I'm pleased to say it's still going strong! I've bought many other guitars since then of course (like a Strat, Tele, EVH Wolfgang) but the Washburn still holds up really well!
That was the second guitar I ever had and I still have it today too. It was the first that I bought new out of only four guitars that I have bought new - out of about 60 guitars I have gone through. All it ever needed was a pickup change and it was good to go.
First guitar was a Washburn Chicago KC40V in taxi yellow - loved it! Buzz Feiten is done via a nut nearer the bridge and compensated tuning, not a compensated nut like the Earvanna and the Musicman to name a couple. Because the nut is moved nearer the bridge Suhr decided to stop Feitenising their guitars because it is easier to retrofit it than it is to undo it later. Because the Feiten system does not require a compensated nut you can use it with locking nuts aswell. Hope that helps.
CaptAnderton Rob Chapman Cool review! These guitars are like a step up from entry level where you would spec it up except its done for you already. Again how captain lee says, and i agree with, picking a guitar is personal. BTW the smerk that naturally happens on chappers face when lee drops some mean playing out of no where is priceless!
Finaly someone got hands on parallaxe guitars!!! such a small amount of info about them in the internet. And i want pxl20B so much. But i cant afford blindbuy it :/
regarding the small head-stock; i gig with a gorgeous 1987 Washburn with the same exact size and shape head-stock as the in-line 6 one in the video. Washburn has always made guitars with that style, it's nothing new. Mine sits on a set neck in a PRS style body (which they were forced to stop copying) none-the-less they did a hell of a job making mine, gorgeous real QM top, not a veneer, 2 tone body (dark brown body and bright goldish orange natural top, 24 frets, VERY unique "carbonite" finger-board, Floyd Rose trem system with locking nut, stock passive EMG pups. i gig with it straight into a high gain Randall stack and it's the nicest guitar i've ever owned, very rare too (only 1,100 made, far fewer left). paid $75 for it from a nice woman in Boston, who mustn't have known what she had. My Washburn is older than i am and sounds better than any of my newer Jacksons, Schecters, Ibanez, and Dean guitars i've owned or still own. Not familiar with their newer models, but it's high praise for a 80's metal guitar for under 80 bucks to sound, look, and play as well as mine. Been a Jackson guy all my life, but my favorite ax is a cheap 80's Washburn.... also, agree completely about Dime, why they didn't mention him is beyond me.Of all the Washburn players to forget, Do your homework, guys
i bought that black washburn parallaxe with the bolt on for about 350 used. stuck sd blackouts in it. best shred guitar ive ever played. i love the cutaway reach nothing like it. stays in tune really well too.
Assuming that the amp tones and the post eq hasn't drastically changed the guitars to my ears have a very present mid range, which is something different compared to Ibanez, Jackson, esp and other such likes PS. I love the vids, keep them coming,my here should be an Andertons channel on sky lol
I have an early 90's Washburn Mercury Series MG30, one of the cheapest of the series. I've loaded it with a Bareknuckle Nailbomb and still has original factory single coils. For a cheap guitar it plays and sounds great and use it as much, if not more than my more expensive ESP's
If washburn made the primal concrete sledge guitar with the pointy Jackson style that dime played on the psycho holiday video they would be back in business no doubt
I have a Washburn X50 Pro and I aboslutely love it Buzz Feiten, quiltet top and seymour duncan pups/coiltap etc. for £300 (back in 2007) was amazing value
Ha, my first electric guitar was a Lyon by Washburn. Just a black Strat copy that came with a tiny 5 watt amp from Target. Sold it to help pay for an ESP about 8 years ago to a local music store and it's still for sale to this day in the very back for about 70 bucks.
The guitar is the EC-29 Spitfire and this :) There is a portuguese guitar player that always uses this guitar :) He is really something, in 30 years is rare to see him play with another guitar... His is the red one with the crackle paint job... Amazing
captain forgot that paul stanley was with washburn when he said there was no major artists using them, say what you want about paul stanley or kiss (or don't because I don't care) but I would say that he's a pretty big artist to endorse any brand.
I had a Washburn flight case, but it contained a Schecter C1+, sold both a while ago. Mick, my nemesis still owns a 1960s Washburn, no idea what model, but it's red!
I wish that Chappers and El Capt did some more like psychedelic-based videos! The ones with the moog pedals are cool and experimental but I'd love like more modulation effects and stuff! Though I do enjoy Rob and Lee's rockage! I hope more modulation stuff comes out in the future! :D
Since the instrument has been built with the BFTS, the nut will have been positioned by the manufacturer according to the BFTS specifications and will look exactly like a standard nut for that model of instrument: bone, plastic, GraphTech Tusq, locking nut, roller nut, zero fret, etc.
It's called the Washburn sonamaster s1b! And at a low price of CDN 295 +shipping? It sounded great right from the box! And it was LOVE! IN MY BOOK WASHBURN IS KING!
The buzz feiten guitars don't have a compensated nut because thats a retro fit part. the factory made ones as far as i know have had scale tweaked in their placement (Not sure if the frets are tweaked too). I own one and i honestly could never tell the difference in anyway from a buzz feiten guitar and a standard one.
thought so, i think its a case of that they can compensate it at either end so on hardtails its easier to just to retrofit that special nut and with floyded guitars i think they move the bridge end changing the scale length ever so slightly and then adjustment happens at the saddles intonation..
Yeah thanks. I've worked on one before and its the nut depth that I have the problem with with Buzz Feiten nuts. If you go too deep, they become very weak.
the range Cap is asking for is KC! I had the KC40 which was good and Nuno also used the KC70 on the Pornograffiti album which had 2 switches to split the humbucker!
I had the good fortune to see a free clinic with Michael Angelo Batio at Guitar Center in Seattle when he was promoting Washburn guitars. I can't remember exactly when that was, but it was probably at least 15 years ago. It was very loud, fast and inspiring. I didn't buy a Washburn though, and I still can't play anything like Michael Angelo.
Lee and Rob are saying they don't feel that nice, but sound great. I can't help but think those incredible PRS Archon amps deserve the lions share of the credit.
I'm all about a plain looking guitar with nice bits on it. Forget flash!!!! The tone of the solo especially is so good so thick and full! However, their price is a little high for these particular guitars.
I believe their cheaper series in Washburn was the Chicago series, I had a 1980's Washburn KC-10 with a humbucker that was angled to going between humbucking and single coil and a maple fretboard
it has a buzz feiten nut system but not the shelf nut version as they cut the same compensation from the fretboard so that they can use a regular nut but have the Co oensation done by shortening the fretboard from the nut end to push the nut a little closer to the 1st fret instead of putting a nut with a shelf (balcony) that hangs on the fretboard. this is a negative point in my opinion as you can not go back to non-buzz feiten conventional nut system but with the shelf nut version if you don't like buzz feiten or smth else comes up in the future you can just remove the shelf nut and remain with a standard length fingerboard
Great explanation and insight, Ahmed. I agree - you should be able to pull the nut off and slap a "regular" nut and go to the "standard" tuning system but this makes it a bit harder to do - but not impossible. There just needs to be a bit of filler added between the new nut and the fret board (hopefully not enough to be too noticeable). Of course it needs to be done by someone that knows what they are doing and with the right measuring tools. A but more info on the subject - The only other manufacturers to use the Buzz Feiten system are the likes of Suhr and Tom Anderson who make only $3000-$5000+ guitars. That should tell you a little about the system and how Washburn feels about trying to put that extra bit in there. For those who don't know, every guitar manufactured with this system has to be licensed so it is more costly to produce. Also, when the Washburn company (U.S Music) was sold to the Canadian company "Jam Industries" in 2008, the first thing they did was to ditch the Feiten system with the new 2009 models. That lasted for a while and now they are apparently back to using it.
Rob Chapman Hello , i have saw this video about Washburn, i find the video as very good one and useful. How ever Washburn have aslo more cheeper models that actually plays very well. Can i ask you please to make an review for one specific model that is really really SHAfordable :) It is actually from the low range price guitars. So the guitar i will like to see in a video from you is Washburn RX10MRD Double Cutaway HSS . I will really appreciate if you make a short video for this guitar because i am very in-fluent from your opinion, the guitar i ask a video is maybe a one i want to buy , and in this point as a begginer with this will be nice to know does it worthy . Thank you and keep going with this great vids mate . Cheers !
The black one with EMGs that Chappers plays on looks much more spot on like a Horizon than a Jackson :p And as Chaps said, they shrunk the headstock ALOT.
Hi gents, first off, great video. Good to see a honest opinion on these, as have been intrigued as a Washburn fan of old (had a Mercury series MG74 back in my teen years, and recently purchased a second hand MG40 in a bid to get those days back). Anyway, before this gets TL:DR, would you say a good comparison to these lower end of the range models would be the now discontinued Charvel Desolation series? That was the distinct feeling I got from watching, as I also currently own a Charvel DX1-ST, which has awesome appointments, but feels a little 'toy like' against some of my other guitars (specifically the Charvel San Dimas and my Chapman ML-1 Hot Rod).
I own an 80's Washburn A10 ( kind of an explorer/firebird hybrid) and it Rocks! The Washburn 'Power Sustain" humbuckers and Harmonic Lock hardtail bridge with brass saddles make it absolutely sing. Sadly they no longer make them, but what can you do.
Just remembers something or someone...the Washburn AF40 Ace Frehley Signature...wasnt a big seller but if you are a FrehleyFan its like one of the pieces to your shrine
The Feiten system is unbelievably important. If you've played a non-feiten guitar right next to one that has it, there's a MASSIVE difference in how your chords played out even under drive.
scotto0010 Oh no, they suck terribly, the only use is playing in standard, in your bedroom. Otherwise they're a complete piece of shit. That goes for true temperament frets, compensated nuts, all of it. Tuning is relative, and unless everyone else is completely on point it isn't going to sound right. Plus it's annoying to play with these things, especially compensated nuts. They're never cut right and if you go up one gauge of strings it will never stay in tune on the G.
+Tanikaze2 What sucks terribly? I agree if you have two guitarist playing - one with a BF system and one with a standard system you can get some pretty bad tuning problems.
The old series you are thinking of is the EC29/EC36 "extended cutaway George Washburn signature series. At the time the Force series was the run of the mill models. Pretty much the same small inline headstocks as they used on all the models mentioned above...so it has been around awhile (mid 80's) and is nothing new.
I actually have put together a few guitars over the years and aside from rebuilding a few, I am thinking about making my own designs. It would be just handmade instruments by one guy. They would be like playable works of art. So for my first one I am thinking a right-handed upside-down left-handed Strat-style with 7 pickup positions instead of the limited factory-standard 5 on Fenders and decent clones (you ever notice how you can't use all three pickups at the same time and never the bridge and the neck pickups at the same time?), DiMarzio pickups (two doubles and one single), maybe even industrial lights beneath the pickups that glow red when each pickup area is activated and an electrical signal needle in the back of the front left above the bridge area tied to the output. Lots of knobs. All skull knobs. Color-wise either black with chrome hardware or black sunburst with gold hardware. Really, the wood is unimportant and I really haven't decided on the fretboard (but yeah pentagrams instead of dots on the fretboard lol). But I think I could build this guitar for like $600-700 bucks. Floyd Rose or some other locking tuners. Maybe a lightning bolt-shaped head. Maybe use all Fender parts except for body and neck. Maybe the neck plate flush with the back. Dual output plus digital output. Ghost power maybe? I'd send Dave Mustaine one for sure.
the washburn bantam series where quite spread around under the guitars and basses. i own a maverick bt4 in blue transulant and put in seymour jb1 in the bridge and an sh4 in the neck and i can not part with this guitar,thats how awesome it is.
+keysha bushido If you think that is good you should try to find a BT8 (stop tail) or a BT10 (Floyd bridge). Those are wonderful arched top guitars. Even better, get the USA made model, the WM100 and you will freak out.
+keysha bushido No question about it, that is definitely a BT10. It is exactly like mine. Highly underrated guitar. Even the stock pickups aren't that bad in it (which is a rarity for any stock pickups that aren't Duncans or DiMarzios). The BT8 is the exact same thing but with a tunomatic bridge instead of a Floyd. The trem is a Washburn branded 600S which is really a TRS101 in disguise. It was made in Japan by the Takeuchi company which made damn fine stuff (until the owner died and the wiidow sold everythign off). It's not a German made OFR but better than most Floyd licensed trems. This is the best feeling neck by FAR of any budget guitars I have tried. I have this one and a BT8 and love them both - that's coming from someone who also owns a lot of USA custom shop guitars as well.
i fully agree.of all my self customized guitars(hardware and PU's and switching.this guitar would be the last one i would part with.The body,neck and overall ease of play abillity feels so natural.I own a 70's harmony marque les paul and epiphone gold top and a black beuty and a japanese fender strat and jaguar but this guitar tops them all overall.
I think that the Buzz Feiten system has to do with the distance between the first fret and the nut. Traditional nut/fret spacing can make the first fretted note a bit sharp, but the Buzz Feiten system moves the nut a tad closer to the first fret as to not sharpen the first fretted note - I think.... Chappers and the Cap'n rule!
As a die hard Fender/Gibson 'snob' it's always interesting listening and discovering 'new' guitars and what manufacturers are doing. Music is a multifaceted thing and people engage with it in so many different ways that I'm pleased there is something out there for everyone. Great little preview guys.
Washburn guitars are my favorite ones by a long range. I own 3 of them and they are fantastic, they are basically my daily practice and record woods.
You know what I respect the most about about these guys particulary the Captian
is the honesty and a very good eye for detail..something that's been lacking in many
industries for a while.
I think Dimebag Darrell should count as a super famous musician who played Washburn.
Paul Stanley did also for a while not sure if he still uses them now.
Paul Gill Paul used them until just the end of last year when he announced he's back with Ibanez and thank god, I missed seeing him with an Iceman... His Washburns were definitely not my thing
That could be a fact I didn't know that those where Washburns either. But yes he should get something he was amazing. Im not a huge Washburn fan but my brother had one years ago Im talking early 90s maybe it was called Washburn Wing Eagle Sersies it was a body thru - neck very expensive about the price rage of a Les Paul I think . It was amazing it was stolen and we cant find another one no where. I think this was their top of the line.
DamageIncM dime was with washburn from 1996 when dean went under to shortly before his death in 2004, so 8 years.
+Sawyer Smoak I don't think he could count though, as he was drunk a lot of the time ; D
Nice to hear Lee rocking out. Great channel, guys!
I appreciate the honesty in this review. Thanks, guys!
My first electric guitar was a Washburn, so they've always held a special place in my heart. These look pretty cool! Glad to see them back in the game.
I hold my hands up & apologise for forgetting that Dimebag was a Washburn guy for a while, so I take back my statement that they didn't have a super star player other than Nuno. I know I couple of you threw Paul Stanley in the mix too.... well I forgot about him too, but I sleep better for it ;)
Oh shit, shots fired haha more importantly than Paul, Ace went Washburn in the late 80's with that really stupid looking guitar during the Frehley's Comet days
Steve Stevens had a Washburn signature in the early 90s too, but his relationship with them didn't last very long (less than a year). Sammy Hagar also had a Washburn signature
CaptAnderton We need to see a Washburn Ola Englund Solar review!
hate to show up way late to the party, but does Dan Donegan of Disturbed not count? not a huge fan of the band myself, but they strike me as having reached at least a moderate level of success.
I thought he played Schecters?
So basically it's an inexpensive guitar with all the mods that modders tend to do already done for you. Great idea.
no its not i just bought one. Its not cheap at all, I dont know what these guys are talking about, its better than any guitar in its price range
NO EXPENSIVE! VERY HIGH-END!
Lee is getting better in every video! Keep on rockin' Captn!
That was some different playing in the Intro rob. Love that style I've been hearing lots of similar sounding riffs through all your Reviews over the years. That opening jam was Refreshing.
My Washburn Mercury is an awesome beast. Oldest guitar-brand in the US, since 1883.
I love the smile on Rob's face when Captain dropped in drop D.
As an owner of a Parallaxe guitar I can say: it is worth its money. Serves well. I have a model with fixed bridge and with a pair 81/85 by EMG. Sound is clear, rich (however, I presume subjectively, some Bare Knuckles pickups might have deeper sound), with biting mids. Has enough presence and attack even in neck position. Absolutely great with almost any kind of distortion or overdrive, obviously because it was designed for that. You'll get powerful riffs and solos with lots of sustain and all noises absent. Clean sound is supreme as well, however the pre-built pre-amp might cause the guitar go naturally overdrive, so keep the volume in mind. Anyway, it sounds awesome; I, myself, at least, got what I had expected.
As for the hardware and other: he guitar plays and feels very nice, so you don't really sense a scent of something cheap. The cutaway comes in handy, although I'm not really into playing high on the fretboard. The neck's thin, but it doesn't feel like that. I like kinda thicker necks, like the ones Strats have, but feel absolutely comfortable playing the Parallaxe. However, I really miss logarifmic potentiometers (the guitar is equipped with linear ones, so you wont' be able to do "swell" kind of things).
The quality of manufacturing I would assess as satisfactory. Wood is fine, with beautiful flamed maple top (NB! Not all models have it). The finish, however, could have been thinner. The really must be sonething about the paint (I have some pieces fallen off)? but that's minor. A kind of thing you'd be polite not to notice for that money. The most essential thing - wiring - is done well and neat, but I sometimes have issues with the switcher (it doesn't switch well into the bridge position). I would attribute that to me using the switcher in Buckethead fashion, but keep that in mind anyway.
Well, I certainly have no regrets about this instrument. Plays well, feels well, what else?
I really dig my Washburn. Best feeling guitar I own.
Dime was with Washburn for about 10 years. I'm a huge fan of their Idol series guitars. Particularly from the mid 2000s when they were Korean Mande, and you can get some great deals on their USA guitars which are excellent.
I have 3 Washburn Idols and love them all. Still need to find a honeyburst one and if I ever get my hands on a US model I'll be very happy
I played a Washburn parallax in store, sounded incredible. Amazing sound for the price
Both of their tones from that opening jam are beautiful... Captain has that chunky umph and Chapper's gainy lead is beautiful.
Ryan O'Toole But having played Washburns before I credit the amps
mialph leonarsquez good to know
+mialph leonarsquez I respectfully disagree. You have played the wrong Washburns apparently. The problem with Washburn is that they flood the market with crap beginners guitars so no one takes them seriously. You have to spend a little more money on a Washburn to get one that isn't meant as firewood but once you break that point they can be incredible. I have an Pilsen Idol (made in USA) that no sane person could play onstage for long becasue it is soo heavy. However, the tone is a Les Paul killer. It stays in the case unless recording or sitting down.
scotto0010 True, I haven't played top of the line washburns and I'm sure they are a fine instrument but I could imagine them being similar in feel /sound/quality to a top of the line Jackson or Charvel or Schecter but the point I was making was that the PRS archon head would make even a firewood guitar sound glorious.
+mialph leonarsquez Ok, point taken. I would say a majority of custom shop Washburn's follow the PRS Gibson feel rather than the shredders like Jackson, Charvel & Schecter. They do of course have the shredder customs too (Solar, N4, WM526 etc) but I would most are made for the previously mentioned group. Their high(er) end imports are meant to compete with the Jackson, Charvel & Schecters and some do it admirably. I have three Charvels - one MIA, one MIJ and one MIM. I have the Washburn PXM20FRFBCBM which is a combination of the two reviewed in this video. It keeps up with the MIA and MIJ Charvels and blows the MIM Charvel away.
a little history from an Indonesian about the Indonesian Guitar factories and luthiers (please be informed that my national pride for my country might sound a bit cocky)...the factory that makes Ibanez, schecter ESP, Squier, Gregg bennet etc are located in Mojokerto east java, us indonesians are known for being Kere tapi aktif hence the term kereaktif/kreatif translated to english as Poor but active into Creative, we even went to the reaches of the impossible to make things for a very cheap price in general, where in the west could you find a custom shop guitar pickup wounder that would create your own custom pickup for only 65 dollars with all the trials failures and errors covered by the little company that makes it, you should check it out Ganee pickups, and for guitars we have customshops that makes guitars for under 500 dollars and it's all custom to the buyers liking, includes all the amazing maple tops etc plus a wide variety of exotic Indonesian tonewoods that they offer, i've been ordering many indonesian customshop guitars since 5 years till now, and i've always been pleased, not only that, the guitars that you order are built by master luthiers that if you are interested may offer a course in building your own guitar, but it would cost you a pack of cigarettes a day and 2 cups of coffee a day. i really don't want to belittle mexican Fenders because i think they're gorgeous, but our 500 dollar customshop totally beats up the mexican fenders, i had a mexican fender tele and my 500 dollar customshop tele with my customshop pickups side to side, i had to see their audio waveform in logic pro 9 and i had it all measured up and my tele beats it up in the playability, finish and the thickness of the sound, i didn't have to use a preamp when i track dry signal with that tele of mine...
...I just lost 30 IQ points...
This isn't history. This is an advert or spam as some might call it.
Cool story bro.
I get what these guys are saying with these guitars, but I'd rather buy a cheap guitar and do the upgrades myself. It's more personal, and feels like you've accomplished something that way. Plus the custom specs are in your control as well, and you aren't limited to, say, only what Washburn has available. That said, nothing wrong with these guitars. Although I was kind of taken aback when Rob said his guitar was 750 pounds. I wasn't expecting that at all. Either way, this particular line isn't what I'm interested in as far as Washburns go. Really want to see those Solars.
Fuck that. Go get a Chappers. Watch out for the Ghost Fret model coming soon. (Chapman Explorer) AWE YEAH! Don't know about you, but I'm fucking getting one!
flips220 I totally agree, buy a few tools (fret leveler and files, nut files etc...) and whatever hardware you want. You'll be able to turn any guitar into a beast.+Scott McKinstry, I like the ML guitar series, I want a ML1 pro (walnut), bad ass guitar!
flips220 Don't forget to add in $1800 for the PRS Archon combo
I bought a Washburn Mercury series limited edition Tonewood 23 yrs ago. I have battered the shit out of that guitar in fact its the guitar in my profile pic. It still plays and sounds as good as the day I got it, it's had very little maintenance over the years and is still going strong. One of the best guitars I have ever played!!
Just love you'r vids chapers.
Keep on rocking!!!
Washburn had Dimebag, doesn't get anymore "MEGA" than that, Nuno is great as well but Dime pushed and carried Washburn to their peak when he was with them. When Dime left and signed with Dean that's when Washburn took a nose dive and went to hell, but those Dime USA Made Custom Shops where some of the best you could get. I own a Southern Cross (a real one not Boogie Street) and a signed Dime Blackjack both USA Custom Shop from Washburn and to this day 2 of the best guitars I've ever laid my hands on other than my PRS Private Stock Custom 22.
The headstock on the black one is a throwback to their late 80s guitars. I used to own an SBT-21, the tele-style "acousti-lectric" (I just made that up) solidbody with only a piezo bridge pickup, and it had the same headstock shape. I saw these parallaxes at NAMM and they were pretty cool. Loved the shapes and finishes. The mid-range ones were an especially awesome value for the money! Rock on! \m/
Captain said the black one has no clean tones but that was clearly the amp. Clean channel even has gain. I have pretty much the same one with EMG's and it sounds amazing for clean tones through my blackstar! I can play ben Howard,oasis,pearl jam and many more and it sounds absolutely amazing for them! Sounds just as good as the metalcore tones I also go for
Long live the Washburn Idol :-)
Grover Jackson designed the Washburn Mercury Series in the early/mid-90s which were pretty nice. Dimebag from Pantera and Scott from Anthrax had some signature series in the late 90s/early 00s.
The Buzz Feiten tuning system uses any manner of standard nut (Gibson, Fender, Floyd), but the distance between the nut and the first fret is shortened by about 2/3 of a millimeter. Supposedly this slight alteration of the standard fret scale makes chords ring more evenly across the entire fretboard.
Capt'n & Chappers, we appreciate the honest feedback & reviews. It's not bad, it just is what it is.
Nice to see Lee playing some metal riffs.
Back in 1989 I bought my 2nd electric guitar which was a Washburn KC40V, and I'm pleased to say it's still going strong! I've bought many other guitars since then of course (like a Strat, Tele, EVH Wolfgang) but the Washburn still holds up really well!
That was the second guitar I ever had and I still have it today too. It was the first that I bought new out of only four guitars that I have bought new - out of about 60 guitars I have gone through. All it ever needed was a pickup change and it was good to go.
Love my old 80's Washburn Panther prototype. Made in Japan
I just bought a 90's Washburn Maverick BT-10 with a scalloped fretboard and I'm loving it!
beginning playing is awesome, yall should record an album of you two original music
Fantastic work , class track & video °^°
1:38 ahahaha Lee!!! cannot unsee!
First guitar was a Washburn Chicago KC40V in taxi yellow - loved it! Buzz Feiten is done via a nut nearer the bridge and compensated tuning, not a compensated nut like the Earvanna and the Musicman to name a couple. Because the nut is moved nearer the bridge Suhr decided to stop Feitenising their guitars because it is easier to retrofit it than it is to undo it later. Because the Feiten system does not require a compensated nut you can use it with locking nuts aswell. Hope that helps.
Nice opening guys. Some really cool playing :)
CaptAnderton Rob Chapman Cool review! These guitars are like a step up from entry level where you would spec it up except its done for you already. Again how captain lee says, and i agree with, picking a guitar is personal. BTW the smerk that naturally happens on chappers face when lee drops some mean playing out of no where is priceless!
The Captain rocking on the dirty yea!!!!!!!!!!
Nice news from Washburn! I own two Washburns (X40 Pro QTBL electric and EA20SDLK electro-acoustic) - they are great guitars!
Finaly someone got hands on parallaxe guitars!!! such a small amount of info about them in the internet. And i want pxl20B so much. But i cant afford blindbuy it :/
regarding the small head-stock; i gig with a gorgeous 1987 Washburn with the same exact size and shape head-stock as the in-line 6 one in the video. Washburn has always made guitars with that style, it's nothing new. Mine sits on a set neck in a PRS style body (which they were forced to stop copying) none-the-less they did a hell of a job making mine, gorgeous real QM top, not a veneer, 2 tone body (dark brown body and bright goldish orange natural top, 24 frets, VERY unique "carbonite" finger-board, Floyd Rose trem system with locking nut, stock passive EMG pups. i gig with it straight into a high gain Randall stack and it's the nicest guitar i've ever owned, very rare too (only 1,100 made, far fewer left). paid $75 for it from a nice woman in Boston, who mustn't have known what she had. My Washburn is older than i am and sounds better than any of my newer Jacksons, Schecters, Ibanez, and Dean guitars i've owned or still own. Not familiar with their newer models, but it's high praise for a 80's metal guitar for under 80 bucks to sound, look, and play as well as mine. Been a Jackson guy all my life, but my favorite ax is a cheap 80's Washburn.... also, agree completely about Dime, why they didn't mention him is beyond me.Of all the Washburn players to forget, Do your homework, guys
i bought that black washburn parallaxe with the bolt on for about 350 used. stuck sd blackouts in it. best shred guitar ive ever played. i love the cutaway reach nothing like it. stays in tune really well too.
Assuming that the amp tones and the post eq hasn't drastically changed the guitars to my ears have a very present mid range, which is something different compared to Ibanez, Jackson, esp and other such likes
PS. I love the vids, keep them coming,my here should be an Andertons channel on sky lol
I have an early 90's Washburn Mercury Series MG30, one of the cheapest of the series. I've loaded it with a Bareknuckle Nailbomb and still has original factory single coils. For a cheap guitar it plays and sounds great and use it as much, if not more than my more expensive ESP's
If washburn made the primal concrete sledge guitar with the pointy Jackson style that dime played on the psycho holiday video they would be back in business no doubt
I wish they could but they would probably get sued by dean
I have a Washburn X50 Pro and I aboslutely love it
Buzz Feiten, quiltet top and seymour duncan pups/coiltap etc. for £300 (back in 2007) was amazing value
Ha, my first electric guitar was a Lyon by Washburn. Just a black Strat copy that came with a tiny 5 watt amp from Target. Sold it to help pay for an ESP about 8 years ago to a local music store and it's still for sale to this day in the very back for about 70 bucks.
Whoa. At 17:44 the Captain goes dropped D. Rock on man.
Washburn needs to bring back the MG series, those things rocked!
1:57 I think you are referring to the Washburn KC series? I think I still have some old guitar magazines with the adverts on them.
Yep with Robbie Robertson playing top of line red KC100, got mine for £500 new (Still have it!) best money I've ever spent!
The guitar is the EC-29 Spitfire and this :) There is a portuguese guitar player that always uses this guitar :) He is really something, in 30 years is rare to see him play with another guitar... His is the red one with the crackle paint job... Amazing
captain forgot that paul stanley was with washburn when he said there was no major artists using them, say what you want about paul stanley or kiss (or don't because I don't care) but I would say that he's a pretty big artist to endorse any brand.
This is why I never regret subscribing though!
Winter WEB! lmao I love that .........you realy need to run with that ....I will be waiting for your first Winterweb Album
I had a Washburn flight case, but it contained a Schecter C1+, sold both a while ago.
Mick, my nemesis still owns a 1960s Washburn, no idea what model, but it's red!
I wish that Chappers and El Capt did some more like psychedelic-based videos! The ones with the moog pedals are cool and experimental but I'd love like more modulation effects and stuff! Though I do enjoy Rob and Lee's rockage! I hope more modulation stuff comes out in the future! :D
I'm super excited I'm going to buy a Washburn pxm 100c
When do I work when you keep these nice nice videos coming all day long :D
In addition (or alternatively to) to the compensated nut, the frets are placed differently on a "Buzz Feiten" guitar.
Since the instrument has been built with the BFTS, the nut will have been positioned by the manufacturer according to the BFTS specifications and will look exactly like a standard nut for that model of instrument: bone, plastic, GraphTech Tusq, locking nut, roller nut, zero fret, etc.
It's called the Washburn sonamaster s1b! And at a low price of CDN 295 +shipping?
It sounded great right from the box! And it was LOVE!
IN MY BOOK WASHBURN IS KING!
Looked at the scalloped LTD TE the whole time. That guitar's awesomeness haunts me.
The buzz feiten guitars don't have a compensated nut because thats a retro fit part. the factory made ones as far as i know have had scale tweaked in their placement (Not sure if the frets are tweaked too). I own one and i honestly could never tell the difference in anyway from a buzz feiten guitar and a standard one.
Neither could I.
Is your's a hard tail type guitar .. maybe its easier for them to do those types by just retrofitting their nuts on them.
thought so, i think its a case of that they can compensate it at either end so on hardtails its easier to just to retrofit that special nut and with floyded guitars i think they move the bridge end changing the scale length ever so slightly and then adjustment happens at the saddles intonation..
I can't tell the difference either! As a guitar tech, what I do know is that Buzz Feitens are a pain to work on.
Yeah thanks. I've worked on one before and its the nut depth that I have the problem with with Buzz Feiten nuts. If you go too deep, they become very weak.
the range Cap is asking for is KC!
I had the KC40 which was good and Nuno also used the KC70 on the Pornograffiti album which had 2 switches to split the humbucker!
I had the good fortune to see a free clinic with Michael Angelo Batio at Guitar Center in Seattle when he was promoting Washburn guitars. I can't remember exactly when that was, but it was probably at least 15 years ago. It was very loud, fast and inspiring. I didn't buy a Washburn though, and I still can't play anything like Michael Angelo.
The (sh)affordable Washburns from the late 80s to early 90s were called Mercury series. I had one in blue/purple that was an ok guitar for the money
my first guitar was a Washburn WR 120 and i loved it
i have the Parallaxe PXL20B single cut and its awesome and going to get the Parallaxe PXM200AFTBLM Double Cut soon i started to love this brand
Sweet vid rob!
Lee and Rob are saying they don't feel that nice, but sound great. I can't help but think those incredible PRS Archon amps deserve the lions share of the credit.
+mialph leonarsquez I have the PXM20FRFBCBM and it feels wonderful. The neck is as smooth and slippery as an oiled EBMM, Charvel, etc.
Im certain its a fine guitar, try it through a PRS amp.
that les paul thing you have there looks sweeet
I'm all about a plain looking guitar with nice bits on it. Forget flash!!!! The tone of the solo especially is so good so thick and full! However, their price is a little high for these particular guitars.
I think the guitars look pretty good and sound really nice too.
I believe their cheaper series in Washburn was the Chicago series, I had a 1980's Washburn KC-10 with a humbucker that was angled to going between humbucking and single coil and a maple fretboard
The Best Washburn players:
Nunno Bettencourt
Dimebag Darrell
Paul Stanley
Emmpu Vuorinen
Ola Englund
I've tested the Washburn PXL200 and it felt amazing for the price. That's coming from a guy who's got 6 korean LTDs.
Best play of u2!!!
The crackle-finished guitars with crazy fret-counts were the EC-29 (29 frets) and EC-36 (36 frets, obviously). Mental things.
Always wanted one. Watched ebay for an age a few years back, for a good one. Found a lot of shit ones.
They looks like Shecter and ESP had babies. BTW, still waiting for some Schecter reviews like the Hellraiser Extreme ;)
it has a buzz feiten nut system but not the shelf nut version as they cut the same compensation from the fretboard so that they can use a regular nut but have the Co oensation done by shortening the fretboard from the nut end to push the nut a little closer to the 1st fret instead of putting a nut with a shelf (balcony) that hangs on the fretboard. this is a negative point in my opinion as you can not go back to non-buzz feiten conventional nut system but with the shelf nut version if you don't like buzz feiten or smth else comes up in the future you can just remove the shelf nut and remain with a standard length fingerboard
so if I have a washburn with buzz feiten and I want to replace the nut with a bone one, can I buy any regular nut?
Roger Schooneveld yes
Great explanation and insight, Ahmed. I agree - you should be able to pull the nut off and slap a "regular" nut and go to the "standard" tuning system but this makes it a bit harder to do - but not impossible. There just needs to be a bit of filler added between the new nut and the fret board (hopefully not enough to be too noticeable). Of course it needs to be done by someone that knows what they are doing and with the right measuring tools.
A but more info on the subject - The only other manufacturers to use the Buzz Feiten system are the likes of Suhr and Tom Anderson who make only $3000-$5000+ guitars. That should tell you a little about the system and how Washburn feels about trying to put that extra bit in there. For those who don't know, every guitar manufactured with this system has to be licensed so it is more costly to produce. Also, when the Washburn company (U.S Music) was sold to the Canadian company "Jam Industries" in 2008, the first thing they did was to ditch the Feiten system with the new 2009 models. That lasted for a while and now they are apparently back to using it.
Buzz fieten just adjusts the distance between the nut and first fret to keep it going sharp
rep for washburn... Johnny X. Steve, was co-owner with Gavin. used to do the EC-29 and EC-36 (extended cutaway?)
Smokin and Rockin!
Rob Chapman Hello , i have saw this video about Washburn, i find the video as very good one and useful. How ever Washburn have aslo more cheeper models that actually plays very well. Can i ask you please to make an review for one specific model that is really really SHAfordable :) It is actually from the low range price guitars. So the guitar i will like to see in a video from you is Washburn RX10MRD Double Cutaway HSS . I will really appreciate if you make a short video for this guitar because i am very in-fluent from your opinion, the guitar i ask a video is maybe a one i want to buy , and in this point as a begginer with this will be nice to know does it worthy . Thank you and keep going with this great vids mate . Cheers !
The black one with EMGs that Chappers plays on looks much more spot on like a Horizon than a Jackson :p And as Chaps said, they shrunk the headstock ALOT.
they took a "few" styling cue's from Horizon's :)
one of my Horizons is in my sig pic. I assure you the real ones sound and play much better.
The headstock looks like the ESP headstock too. I would look from afar and say hey that's an ESP guitar. Smart from WB but a bit hmmmmmm
kasnitch Got a Horizon my self :-)
can't wait to see the solar. I have a white 160.
The old Washburn models the Captain couldn't remember were the EC29 and EC36
That's was a great intro.
Hi gents, first off, great video. Good to see a honest opinion on these, as have been intrigued as a Washburn fan of old (had a Mercury series MG74 back in my teen years, and recently purchased a second hand MG40 in a bid to get those days back). Anyway, before this gets TL:DR, would you say a good comparison to these lower end of the range models would be the now discontinued Charvel Desolation series? That was the distinct feeling I got from watching, as I also currently own a Charvel DX1-ST, which has awesome appointments, but feels a little 'toy like' against some of my other guitars (specifically the Charvel San Dimas and my Chapman ML-1 Hot Rod).
I own an 80's Washburn A10 ( kind of an explorer/firebird hybrid) and it Rocks! The Washburn 'Power Sustain" humbuckers and Harmonic Lock hardtail bridge with brass saddles make it absolutely sing. Sadly they no longer make them, but what can you do.
Just remembers something or someone...the Washburn AF40 Ace Frehley Signature...wasnt a big seller but if you are a FrehleyFan its like one of the pieces to your shrine
It's Obvious they are not to happy with the quality of these guitars, but Rabea's new guitar corse looks Awesome!
Haha, the Evil Twin is Nick Catanese formerly of Zakk's BLS, he played the Washburn LP looking thing.
Washburns Paul Stanley Starfire and V guitars were two of the best guitars I have ever played im my life but they sadly dont make them anymore
The Feiten system is unbelievably important. If you've played a non-feiten guitar right next to one that has it, there's a MASSIVE difference in how your chords played out even under drive.
+Tanikaze2 Yes, but try to set the intonation on them. Mr. Feiten likes to keep his technical specs under lock and key so you're left to guess at it.
scotto0010 Oh no, they suck terribly, the only use is playing in standard, in your bedroom. Otherwise they're a complete piece of shit. That goes for true temperament frets, compensated nuts, all of it. Tuning is relative, and unless everyone else is completely on point it isn't going to sound right. Plus it's annoying to play with these things, especially compensated nuts. They're never cut right and if you go up one gauge of strings it will never stay in tune on the G.
+Tanikaze2 What sucks terribly? I agree if you have two guitarist playing - one with a BF system and one with a standard system you can get some pretty bad tuning problems.
scotto0010 tempered tuning in general. They claim to fix tuning and intonation issues but it's literally impossible to do so
The old series you are thinking of is the EC29/EC36 "extended cutaway George Washburn signature series. At the time the Force series was the run of the mill models. Pretty much the same small inline headstocks as they used on all the models mentioned above...so it has been around awhile (mid 80's) and is nothing new.
I actually have put together a few guitars over the years and aside from rebuilding a few, I am thinking about making my own designs. It would be just handmade instruments by one guy. They would be like playable works of art. So for my first one I am thinking a right-handed upside-down left-handed Strat-style with 7 pickup positions instead of the limited factory-standard 5 on Fenders and decent clones (you ever notice how you can't use all three pickups at the same time and never the bridge and the neck pickups at the same time?), DiMarzio pickups (two doubles and one single), maybe even industrial lights beneath the pickups that glow red when each pickup area is activated and an electrical signal needle in the back of the front left above the bridge area tied to the output. Lots of knobs. All skull knobs. Color-wise either black with chrome hardware or black sunburst with gold hardware. Really, the wood is unimportant and I really haven't decided on the fretboard (but yeah pentagrams instead of dots on the fretboard lol). But I think I could build this guitar for like $600-700 bucks. Floyd Rose or some other locking tuners. Maybe a lightning bolt-shaped head. Maybe use all Fender parts except for body and neck. Maybe the neck plate flush with the back. Dual output plus digital output. Ghost power maybe? I'd send Dave Mustaine one for sure.
Dan Donegan from Disturbed used Washburn, even had signature series and I consider him a good player.
the washburn bantam series where quite spread around under the guitars and basses.
i own a maverick bt4 in blue transulant and put in seymour jb1 in the bridge and an sh4 in the neck and i can not part with this guitar,thats how awesome it is.
+keysha bushido If you think that is good you should try to find a BT8 (stop tail) or a BT10 (Floyd bridge). Those are wonderful arched top guitars. Even better, get the USA made model, the WM100 and you will freak out.
profile.ultimate-guitar.com/profile_mojo_data/1/7/3/3/173355/pics/_c33371_image_0.jpg this is the version i own,it looks allot like the BT-8
+keysha bushido No question about it, that is definitely a BT10. It is exactly like mine. Highly underrated guitar. Even the stock pickups aren't that bad in it (which is a rarity for any stock pickups that aren't Duncans or DiMarzios). The BT8 is the exact same thing but with a tunomatic bridge instead of a Floyd. The trem is a Washburn branded 600S which is really a TRS101 in disguise. It was made in Japan by the Takeuchi company which made damn fine stuff (until the owner died and the wiidow sold everythign off). It's not a German made OFR but better than most Floyd licensed trems. This is the best feeling neck by FAR of any budget guitars I have tried. I have this one and a BT8 and love them both - that's coming from someone who also owns a lot of USA custom shop guitars as well.
i fully agree.of all my self customized guitars(hardware and PU's and switching.this guitar would be the last one i would part with.The body,neck and overall ease of play abillity feels so natural.I own a 70's harmony marque les paul and epiphone gold top and a black beuty and a japanese fender strat and jaguar but this guitar tops them all overall.
I think that the Buzz Feiten system has to do with the distance between the first fret and the nut. Traditional nut/fret spacing can make the first fretted note a bit sharp, but the Buzz Feiten system moves the nut a tad closer to the first fret as to not sharpen the first fretted note - I think.... Chappers and the Cap'n rule!