Where are all those Washburn basses?

[Bassassin]

On 24/06/2021 at 11:27, dudewheresmybass said:

I've just spotted a beaten up Vulture IIRC on ebay. Asking 200 BIN i think

Just had a look - it's a bit tatty but if it wasn't collection in person from London I'd be sorely tempted. There aren't too many unmolested through-neck, early Yamaki-era Washburns around, and when they turn up they don't tend to be Vultures. Even in that condition it's a bit of a bargain.

[Kickass]

I have a small collection of Washburn instruments: Force42 headless bass, AB20 acoustic bass and a Timber Ridge D 60SW 6 sting acoustic. The headless is ridiculously heavy. 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Kickass

[bass_dinger]

I now have two Washburn XB500 basses. 

 

And one of the best acoustic guitars I ever played was a Washburn D40.  Best? Maybe "Most inspirational, and responsive ".

[Kickass]

4 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

I now have two Washburn XB500 basses. 

 

And one of the best acoustic guitars I ever played was a Washburn D40.  Best? Maybe "Most inspirational, and responsive ".

I would say the same is true of my D 60SW.

[bass_dinger]

Phwoar.  Look at that bass! Washburn XB400 in teal.

 

Take That, playing Smells Like Teen Spirit 

 

 

[MrSpace]

Here's my Washburn XB-100. I've had it for about 25 years. Played it on and off at University, then didn't pick it up again until lockdown. Been in my hands most days ever since.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Rich

[Linus27]

I think the first bass I bought was a Washburn Force ABT bass in red with the lighting crackle design on it. No idea what happened to it but I know I bought it from Andertons in the late 80's when they were in their original building.

 

I've also has a couple of Washburn AB20 acoustic basses. They were great basses but to me were a bit pointless if not fretless. Here I am playing one in 1998 that belonged to John Payne from Asia in his studio whilst recording an album.

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Linus27

[BreadBin]

3 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

I think the first bass I bought was a Washburn Force ABT bass in red with the lighting crackle design on it. No idea what happened to it but I know I bought it from Andertons in the late 80's when they were in their original building.

 

I've also has a couple of Washburn AB20 acoustic basses. They were great basses but to me were a bit pointless if not fretless.

I've got a crackle red B20, and a plain (but aged) red B10 with a B20 neck and bridge.

My first bass I owned was a B2, then I had two B10s.

[Linus27]

2 hours ago, BreadBin said:

I've got a crackle red B20, and a plain (but aged) red B10 with a B20 neck and bridge.

My first bass I owned was a B2, then I had two B10s.

 

That's so cool, please post a picture of the crackle red B20. Would love see it 😍

[bass_dinger]

These two Washburn XB925 basses just came up after I did a Reverb search - the connection with Def Leppard, and the band memorabilia, explains the asking price, totalling £38,000

 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/76161223-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-storyteller-washburn-xb925-5-string-bass-guitar-rs-2024-authenticated 

 

 https://reverb.com/uk/item/73216015-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-washburn-xb925-st-george-s-cross-5-string-bass-guitar-plus-signed-touring-collection-iconic-rs-5019

 

 

[LowB_FTW]

49 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

 

 https://reverb.com/uk/item/73216015-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-washburn-xb925-st-george-s-cross-5-string-bass-guitar-plus-signed-touring-collection-iconic-rs-5019

"-Def Leppard rare Photograph fold open single sleeve. (no record)."

Pfffttt, not worth it then. 😂

(my added emphasis)

 

Mark

 

 

[bass_dinger]

On 08/10/2022 at 20:51, bass_dinger said:

I now have two Washburn XB500 basses. 

I now have four Washburn basses.  The two XB500s and now, two XB925s.

 

Zebrawood fretted, which is now my main bass.

 

Flame maple fretless - being refinished, and rebuilt right now.

 

Photos available for those who are not yet fed up with Washburn basses...

 

[bass_dinger]

On 05/09/2024 at 16:19, bass_dinger said:

These two Washburn XB925 basses just came up after I did a Reverb search - the connection with Def Leppard, and the band memorabilia, explains the asking price, totalling £38,000

 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/76161223-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-storyteller-washburn-xb925-5-string-bass-guitar-rs-2024-authenticated 

 

 https://reverb.com/uk/item/73216015-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-washburn-xb925-st-george-s-cross-5-string-bass-guitar-plus-signed-touring-collection-iconic-rs-5019

 

 

And one more from the same Def Leppard stable. £16,000 for this one, along with the other memorabilia. 

 

So, buy the set of 3 for £54,000-ish. 

 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/73626239-rick-savage-s-def-leppard-washburn-bubinga-5-string-bass-guitar-rs-5020-authenticated

Edited September 7, 2024 by bass_dinger

[prowla]

On 08/03/2021 at 11:45, BigRedX said:

I've owned two Washburn basses both dating from the 1980s.

The first was a B105 Force ABT which was my first 5-string and a reasonable instrument, but not a patch on the Overwater that replaced it less than a year later. Interestingly before I got the Overwater I "upgraded" the pickups with a set a quite expensive active EMGs that made absolutely zero difference to the sound. It was sold to someone on here who was specifically looking for this model, at which point I was surprised to see just how battered the red finish was considering that it has spent most of it's life unused as my backup bass.

The second was a B20-8 which I bought second hand in rather poor condition with the intent on doing it up. However stripping the finish off the neck revealed a rather serious break and repair that had been hidden behind a darker stain. In the end the project turned out to be too complex for my skills and available time and the parts were sold on eBay who then managed to loose the bass in their Global Shipping programme. 

I'd like one of those.

[prowla]

I've realised I don't have a Washburn bass; I did have one of the Status ones bought new in the 80s, but I replaced it with a real Status Graphite S2 in the 90s.

 

 

I've got a superstrat though; it's not bad.

 

[bass_dinger]

1 hour ago, prowla said:

I'd like one of those.

Ebay is your friend.  Or, if you are in the Gear Abstinence challenge, your enemy....

[prowla]

9 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

Ebay is your friend.  Or, if you are in the Gear Abstinence challenge, your enemy....

I did have a saved search on there for quite a while, but nothing came up.

[Chienmortbb]

I used to have a T25 sometimes called a Taurus 5 or Taurus 25 and it was a budget instrument but superbly made. I sold it as I was not good enough then to handle a fiver. I also still have a Washburn Acoustic. Again superb value. Picture below is stock but its exactly as I remember it.

 

 

The bass was unique as Soundtech, the then UK distributor wrongly advertised them as Active on their website. I told them and rather than just thank me and correct it, they fitted the preamp from the range above (sorry I do not know the model). I still don't play 5 strings but if I did I would have one of these in in a heart beat. Yes the neck really is a through neck laminated.

Edited September 7, 2024 by Chienmortbb

[bass_dinger]

17 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

I used to have a T25 sometimes called a Taurus 5 or Taurus 25 and it was a budget instrument but superbly made. I sold it as I was not good enough then to handle a fiver. I also still have a Washburn Acoustic. Again superb value. Picture below is stock but its exactly as I remember it.

 

 

The bass was unique as Soundtech, the then UK distributor wrongly advertised them as Active on their website. I told them and rather than just thank me and correct it, they fitted the preamp from the range above (sorry I do not know the model). I still don't play 5 strings but if I did I would have one of these in in a heart beat. Yes the neck really is a through neck laminated.

 

The original Bantam (XB series) was designed with a laminated through-neck (and 7 strings too!).  It was first offered to Hamer who did not want it.  It was then offered to Washburn, who accepted the body shape, and refined the headstock to what you see here, but seem to have lost the laminate through-neck.  However, that feature reappeared on the Washburn Force ABT series and the Taurus too.

 

The YouTuber "cover solutions" uses a Taurus.

 

[bass_dinger]

On 05/09/2024 at 17:25, bass_dinger said:

I now have four Washburn basses.  The two XB500s and now, two XB925s.

 

Zebrawood fretted, which is now my main bass.

 

Flame maple fretless - being refinished, and rebuilt right now.

 

Photos available for those who are not yet fed up with Washburn basses...

 

 

The only photo of all four of my Washburn basses, with the "bag of bits " XB925 finally restored and rebuilt as a fretless.   

 

 

 

 

 

Left to Right, 4 of the same Bantam basses.

 

1. 1998 XB500 (twin humbuckers; panpot selection of the pickups). Translucent green finish. 

2. Probably a later (1999 to early 2000s) Custom Shop XB925. We know it's a later one, as it has the signature "dodgy neck" that eventually twists, and fail. Neck remade by Mike Sherman, who ran the original Washburn Custom Shop, and also designed the Bantam bass. There is a whole thread on this particular vanity project...

Twin Barts, pan pot pickup selection,  stack-knob bass and treble controls, plus a midrange control too.  And an active/passive toggle switch. Purchased from Hungary, along with the other XB925. 

3. Probably an earlier (pre 1999?) XB925, with zebrawood top. We know it's an earlier one, because Mike Sherman told me so....  And he made them, at the time.

The neck is asymmetric (fatter on the bass side). Same control configuration as for the previous XB925.

4. 1994 XB500 (twin single coils; switch selection of the pickups).

 

So, "Where are all those Washburn basses?"  I have them all.  Or at least, four of them...

 

[AndyTravis]

8 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

 

The only photo of all four of my Washburn basses, with the "bag of bits " XB925 finally restored and rebuilt as a fretless.   

 

 

 

 

 

Left to Right, 4 of the same Bantam basses.

 

1. 1998 XB500 (twin humbuckers; panpot selection of the pickups). Translucent green finish. 

2. Probably a later (1999 to early 2000s) Custom Shop XB925. We know it's a later one, as it has the signature "dodgy neck" that eventually twists, and fail. Neck remade by Mike Sherman, who ran the original Washburn Custom Shop, and also designed the Bantam bass. There is a whole thread on this particular vanity project...

Twin Barts, pan pot pickup selection,  stack-knob bass and treble controls, plus a midrange control too.  And an active/passive toggle switch. Purchased from Hungary, along with the other XB925. 

3. Probably an earlier (pre 1999?) XB925, with zebrawood top. We know it's an earlier one, because Mike Sherman told me so....  And he made them, at the time.

The neck is asymmetric (fatter on the bass side). Same control configuration as for the previous XB925.

4. 1994 XB500 (twin single coils; switch selection of the pickups).

 

So, "Where are all those Washburn basses?"  I have them all.  Or at least, four of them...

 

Those 925’s 🤤🤤🤤

[bass_dinger]

3 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Those 925’s 🤤🤤🤤

Stop dribbling, man!

 

The next time an XB925 comes up, I will let you have first dibs. 

 

I am in danger of collecting the whole set of variations, so, best for me to stop now.

 

Indeed, this morning, someone offered to buy the 1994 XB500, so, that should be gone by the end of the week.