And So, It Begins: The Great Washburn Hot Rodding Thread

smitty_p said:
Well, whatcha know...my chrome knobs came in today, too!

So, here it is with the chrome knobs:

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Frankly, I'm a little torn between the black speed knobs and the chrome knobs. The speed knobs give it a more raw look, but the chrome knobs kind of make me think of a muscle car with chrome trim and accessories. It's got a tough look all its own, in a studded leather sort of way.

Either one will work and will be consistent with a rock/metal look. In a way, though, I am leaning toward the chrome knobs because they just "pop" more.

If I stick with the knurled chrome knobs, I'll also replace the switch tip with a metal switch tip to keep a consistent look.
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Oh yeah! That looks "right".
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Glad you found one you bonded with to replace your Guild.

I have always wanted a Guild. MY Acoustic is a lowly Fender Hellcat. But I like it.
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That guitar was like an extension of my hands. I played a very percussive, one-man-band style, and dug a hole in the sunburst top just under the pickguard. That guitar was like an orchestra crossed with a cannon. Interesting thing, other people would play it and it was just a guitar. But when I played it, it was a living thing.

Why would anyone in his right mind let such an instrument go? They wouldn’t. I suffered many years from undiagnosed Bipolar II Disorder, and I sold that guitar and quit playing in the depths of a major depressive episode. A few years later, I bought a shiny new Japanese Strat and started a new journey. (spoiler: I finally got a really good psychiatrist and was prescribed medication that changed my brain for the better.)
 
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Wow...I guess history repeats itself. This is a pic I found online of the very first electric guitar I ever had (this is not a pic of the actual guitar I had).

I often say that my 1974 SG was my first "real" electric guitar, but perhaps that is a little uncharitable.

In fact, my very first electric was one of these. It is a Univox Effie, and mine was black, too. It looked exactly like this pic. These were made in Japan in the '70s. I bought it used, and I don't even remember who I bought it from. Interesting that it has an open-book, "lawsuit" headstock! I eventually sold it to a friend of mine.

It's a bolt-on neck guitar. The pickups were kind of lame.

I actually had a local music store put Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups in it. It was quite loud after that!

That was back around 1986, I think.

Kinda funny how I'm right back to a black semi-hollow guitar.


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Seamus OReally said:
I’ve got a Washburn “Cumberland” jumbo acoustic, and it’s amazing, almost as great sounding as easy to play as my long lost Guild F-50R. When I bought it, I shopped every guitar store within a two-hour drive and played dozens of Taylors, Martins, Guilds, Yamahas, ready to spend some real dollars on the guitar that reminded me of that F-50R. That damn Washburn was hanging in a store I could easily walk to from my house, and cost only $800. But that was the one.
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I've always appreciated Guild. Their acoustics are pretty much a feature of the late '60s and the '70s. In just about any folk group, you were just as likely (if not more likely) to see a Guild as you were a Gibson.

I also like their Starfire line. The Art Deco pickguard is pretty unique.

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Another tweak.

I made a new pickguard.

I had planned on making something that looked like a Les Paul pickguard. However, I hit upon the idea of doing a florentine cut in the bottom. Also, instead of the side being perfectly straight, I thought it looked better to add a very slight contour on the side. There's about 1/8" - 3/16" of inside curve on the side of the pickguard.

Here's what we look like now:

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JohnnyGoo said:
Like some light Ghost flames would look great on that guitar.
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Yeah, we’ll see how things go. Ghost flames are more what I have in mind if I decided to go that route. I’ll probably be doing mods to this guitar for months or more! But, I wanted to get a baseline set for the main appearance. I’m waiting for a couple small things to arrive in the mail, but the next phase is working on the innards.

That’s the fun of inexpensive guitars like this. They’re like a playground!
 
hello im are been some time not active. I really want some help to my first guitar build i think you are lot experience thanks anyway
 
JacobStone said:
hello im are been some time not active. I really want some help to my first guitar build i think you are lot experience thanks anyway
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Create a thread with your needs and questions. Make sure to provide pics. There are very skilled people here who I’m sure would be glad to help.
 
JohnnyGoo said:
Thats a great modding platform Smitty.I love those style of guitars.Not sure why i dont own one lol.
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They’re great to play, too. I rummaged up an old strap from my stash o’ stuff yesterday and played it for quite awhile. It just feels “right” to me.

Eventually, I plan to engage @TVvoodoo for some of his skills, as well. I’m gonna need a good strap, too.
 
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