Howdy all,
I‘m contemplating selling my Washburn HB-30, pictured below. I may still decide not to sell, but I’m posting this to gauge interest.
Here are the specifics:
1. The original Washburn pickups have been replaced. There is a Seymour Duncan SH-1B in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan SH-1N in the neck.
2. The cheap, import pickup selector switch has been replaced with a Switchcraft switch.
3. The original electronics have been replaced. The pots are all 500 K Ohm, audio taper Bourns mini-pots and the tone capacitors are .022 mfd Sprague orange drops.
4. The stock plastic nut has been replaced with a Graphtech XL nut.
5. The knobs have been replaced with speed knobs.
6. There is very little fret wear and the guitar plays nicely.
7. The sale includes a strap and case.
Now, the caveats...
1. The Washburn HB-30 is an import guitar. This one is Korean. I’m not sure of the finish, but I’m guessing it’s poly.
2. This may actually be a good thing to some (like me) but the guitar is slightly yellowed. This is from age. The actual color is more of a brighter white. This may suggest the finish is nitro, contrary to my thought above, but I’m not sure.
3. I had planned at some point to replace the bridge. It is a cheap, import bridge and the adjustment screws in one of the saddles has started to rattle a bit. I have stopped the rattle with a drop of Elmer’s glue. So, the bridge really should be replaced. It uses the larger size import style posts. I actually prefer the larger posts, but the bridge, itself, is on the cheap side. I had held off on replacing the bridge because I was toying around with putting on a vibrato, of some sort, and I was going to pick a bridge based on the vibrato I chose.
4. One small note, the Seymour Duncan pickups were used when I got them from a friend, who had them in his Les Paul. Consequently, the wire on the neck pickup was not long enough to solder into place on the pots. So, I soldered in about three inches, or so, of braided wire to reach the pots. This is nothing that impacts the performance of the guitar, at all. It’s just one of those full disclosure things.
5. The guitar does have a “hard” case that is included in the sale. However, it is one of those cheap, fiber-type cases. But the guitar will be packed well.
6. The tuners are stamped “Grover” but they are the cheaper, import Grovers. However, they are quite smooth and have an 18:1 ratio.
So, there you have it. Structurally, the guitar is actually rather good and I’ve played it live many times. I really enjoy playing it and it is a very stable guitar. But, it does have some of the predictable import quirks, most of which I’ve replaced.
Which brings me to price. I’m actually in a quandary about this. Admittedly, there are some flaws, as noted. But, there are also several notable improvements. Washburn doesn’t make this exact model, anymore. I am seeing HB-30s in the $500.00 range on Reverb.
I suppose I’d like to get $300.00 for it, but I’d be willing to negotiate.
(No trades. Payment via PayPal.)
Anyone interested?
I‘m contemplating selling my Washburn HB-30, pictured below. I may still decide not to sell, but I’m posting this to gauge interest.
Here are the specifics:
1. The original Washburn pickups have been replaced. There is a Seymour Duncan SH-1B in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan SH-1N in the neck.
2. The cheap, import pickup selector switch has been replaced with a Switchcraft switch.
3. The original electronics have been replaced. The pots are all 500 K Ohm, audio taper Bourns mini-pots and the tone capacitors are .022 mfd Sprague orange drops.
4. The stock plastic nut has been replaced with a Graphtech XL nut.
5. The knobs have been replaced with speed knobs.
6. There is very little fret wear and the guitar plays nicely.
7. The sale includes a strap and case.
Now, the caveats...
1. The Washburn HB-30 is an import guitar. This one is Korean. I’m not sure of the finish, but I’m guessing it’s poly.
2. This may actually be a good thing to some (like me) but the guitar is slightly yellowed. This is from age. The actual color is more of a brighter white. This may suggest the finish is nitro, contrary to my thought above, but I’m not sure.
3. I had planned at some point to replace the bridge. It is a cheap, import bridge and the adjustment screws in one of the saddles has started to rattle a bit. I have stopped the rattle with a drop of Elmer’s glue. So, the bridge really should be replaced. It uses the larger size import style posts. I actually prefer the larger posts, but the bridge, itself, is on the cheap side. I had held off on replacing the bridge because I was toying around with putting on a vibrato, of some sort, and I was going to pick a bridge based on the vibrato I chose.
4. One small note, the Seymour Duncan pickups were used when I got them from a friend, who had them in his Les Paul. Consequently, the wire on the neck pickup was not long enough to solder into place on the pots. So, I soldered in about three inches, or so, of braided wire to reach the pots. This is nothing that impacts the performance of the guitar, at all. It’s just one of those full disclosure things.
5. The guitar does have a “hard” case that is included in the sale. However, it is one of those cheap, fiber-type cases. But the guitar will be packed well.
6. The tuners are stamped “Grover” but they are the cheaper, import Grovers. However, they are quite smooth and have an 18:1 ratio.
So, there you have it. Structurally, the guitar is actually rather good and I’ve played it live many times. I really enjoy playing it and it is a very stable guitar. But, it does have some of the predictable import quirks, most of which I’ve replaced.
Which brings me to price. I’m actually in a quandary about this. Admittedly, there are some flaws, as noted. But, there are also several notable improvements. Washburn doesn’t make this exact model, anymore. I am seeing HB-30s in the $500.00 range on Reverb.
I suppose I’d like to get $300.00 for it, but I’d be willing to negotiate.
(No trades. Payment via PayPal.)
Anyone interested?
