Washburn HB35B Hollow Body Electric Guitar - Black

The Washburn HB35 WR is a very nice, easy played and well constructed guitar. It looks nice, it feels nice and it plays well. In many ways it is on par with Gibson ES-335 - not as iconic but looks a little bit better with its block inlays. Soundwise the humbuckers are very good, not the top nutch pickups, but sound very well indeed without noice or hum. The only two things I would take in the more negative points of view are: 1) The package with a single cardboard box with a bit of styropore inlay for shipment is a bit risky in transit (mine arrived undamaged) 2) The strings have to be taken off right away and replaced with better strings that will not give you dirty fingers. Given the fact that guitar arrived unharmed and the price of a set of strings are approx. GBP 10,- that should not hold you back. If you prefer the price tag and sound to the name tag on the head stock, this is one to go for.

Guitars are beautiful things and currently a potentially better investment (and more fun) than money in a savings account. This one is truly an object of beauty (at least until the gold plating wears off) with a flawless finish. But it's also an excellent instrument. I'm not likely to use it for major gigs as I have absolutely top class guitars for both electric and acoustic gigs, but it'll look and play great at those open mic nights etc. I bought my first two Gibsons in 1971 for similar money to this. But that money then would buy a decent car. Neither of those Gibsons were as well finished, or even as well set up as this Washburn. I used to be nervous about buying a guitar I hadn't yet played, but these days, presumably thanks to plek technology, the last 3 guitars I got by mail order all arrived with perfect necks and fretting. This Washburn just needed a slight lowering of the bridge on the treble side, a slight lowering of the bridge pickup and a couple of tweaks on the pole pieces. After that it plays as well as guitars I have which cost nearly ten times as much. Necks are matters of taste: this is a little narrower at the nut, and a little fatter low down that I prefer, but not much, and actually better than the Gibson 355 (BB King) I owned in the 1980s: that was too narrow by far. And on the subject of Gibson 335/345/355s: great guitars, but those Micky Mouse ear horns are just a little too big aesthetically: the Washburn (and Epiphone Casino/Sheratons) are much better proportioned. Also the Washburn pickup selector is where a pickup selector should be. So finally, the sound: well that's a lot down to taste too. These pickups are very powerful (ceramic?) and the bridge works really well for rock through a small valve amp. Otherwise they are OK - lacking a bit of subtlety - and I might well invest in a couple of PAFs or something coil-tappable. To sum up: beautiful and fantastic value for money, and you don't need to spend over a grand to buy that American guitar that it looks like.

Having owned 8 guitars including one other hollow body, I have to say this is by far the best. Both in terms of quality and value for money. this guitar is a real gem !Had to order a replacemt from Amazon due to a duff fret, but all credit to them. Amazon offered a full refund or replacement without question, which arrived next day. Excellent customer service ! Guitar looks absolutely beautiful and plays like a dream - straight out of the box (just needed tuning). Cosmetically, this guitar is totally faultless and the detail is amazing. The set up on the replacement is far better than the one I returned. Might tweak the pickup height and swap the strings, but that's just personal preference. All in all a really fantastic guitar. In my opinion, far superior in every way to similar priced guitars and even some more expensive ones.

This guitar is really nice, plays blues and rock extremely well. Can handle some jazz and some very light metal. Doesnt give awful reverb like some hollow bodies can, a brilliant guitar all round for a very reasonable price.Unfortunately it is let down by amazon. I was waiting 5 months from placing the order to it being delivered, obviously it says 1-2 months expected delivery but for my extra 3 month wait I wasnt awarded anything, no 'sorry we keep screwing up' gift or even free delivery. Completely shoddy service on amazons part.

I'll start by confirming this is a good guitarbut the price does not reflect the quality (in 2014 my tobacco sunburst cost me £265 new)If you have this sorta money to throw about have a look at the epiphone 335 pro, and pay extra £25 -35 for a decent setup.

Arrived in 2 days from order.No damage. Pluged into amp tuned it and played it. Tone controls are minimal effect Volume controls work ok. Slight buzz on E and A strings otherwise action very good. When I have played it in for a while I will get it set -up by a pro. Nice feel and tone. Not as heavy at it looks .May change strings to flatwound in future.

Just received this guitar and I am staggered at how good it is. Straight out of the box it has a great action (one of the best I've ever played) all I had to do was put on a set of 11s and it was good to go.The quality of the finish is excellent and it sounds terrific plugged in to my Polytone amp.I can't recommend this guitar highly enough for £299 it's a snip.

Came " as usual" for Amazon - faster than expected!! The packageing was "a little flimsy" but sufficient for the "job". that being said onto THE Guitar, "Beautiful" (looks better in the flesh) all I can say is "stop" thinking shall I or should,nt I?? Go for it like I did and you wont be disappointed especially @ this price!! My only (small) issue was that some of the nicely decorated fret wires were, how do I say it. Sharp (unfinished) -that being said, 5x Minutes with your beloved,s nail file to caress those wires; did the "trick"and BINGO. Read the other Review,s over, to save me repeating what they have wrote because I have this urge to go play again, my finger callouse,s are getting worse.(as yours will) Excellent Buy,Enjoy!!!