This old Washburn is really bugging me!!
 

I know this is ridiculous, but I work away 2 nights a week and wanted a cheap guitar for the hotel room - one I could leave with the owners and use it just when I'm there (which they're fine with).

So I went in a music shop to buy a cheap travel guitar size thing, because I really didn't want to spend much etc. Whilst I was there the owner said they had a 1991 Washburn D14n that somebody had kind of 'pawned' with them and never returned. He said it was the same price (£99) as the travel guitar I was looking at, and so I bought it because it was so much better sounding and nicer to play.

What's 'bugging' me, and again I know this is crazy, is how much I love this thing! It's got a laminated top, back and sides, a plastic nut and bridge (the bridge is also is quite bad condition) and yet I just love the sound. It's really crisp and bright and loud and proud and even has a slight 'reverby' quality to it and is a joy to play!

But that's what's really bugging me - that there's this stubborn old part of my brain that keeps telling me I need to go buy a 'proper' solid wood 'expensive' guitar that will sound every bit as good as this but even better because it's, well, better than this piece of junk (I know!)

So there's this kind of cognitive dissonance, where I love the guitar because it's great, but the inner 'snob' is looking down it's nose because it's just 'not the real deal' and yes, I know it's crazy but just coming on here and typing this has kinda helped if that makes sense? :)

I have a similar issue. I love my Squier Jazzmaster, and play it much more frequently than my Fender Strat. Am I conscious of the different name on the headstock? A little. But what really matters is how it sounds, and the Squier is just right up my alley in that regard.

Just because it's laminate and inexpensive doesn't mean that it can't sound great. It's a factory guitar, and 1 in a 1000 (or 10,000) will be exceptional.

Agreed. I took my Mexican Classic Player Jazzmaster for a set-up to a very reputable luthier/workshop and when I went to collect it they were all asking me what pickups I'd had fitted as they were 'amazing', 'incredible', 'punchy', 'exceptional' etc. When I told them they were stock they were all a little stumped...and it really is a great sounding and looking guitar, that's also great to play (there's still a TINY part of me that wants an American one though! :P )

I think I may have just got that one! :)

I'm at the point now when I go to grab a guitar I almost always reach for my Yamaha over my Larrivee. The FG820 has a deep bass that the all solid wood Larrivee just doesn't match. I don't know if they are all that way of if I lucked out but either way it's a beast.

I have a friend who played a Squier Strat for years and was happy with it. But then the Fender snobs got to him and said he needed to get rid of that "piece of junk" I thought it sounded great. Tone is in the fingers anyway. Just play your cheapo and enjoy it. Full disclosure: All my instruments are American made. So yes I am a snob too.

I've barely picked up my Martin since bringing home my Seagull. I just absolutely love this thing! I took the Martin out today, started to play it, and I missed my Seagull.

Jambi, I know what you mean. I just got an FG820 in Brown Burst and I love it. I had bought the FG830 and was blown away on how nice it was that I wanted the mahogany counterpart. I was not disappointed. I set it up, lowered action at nut and saddle a bit and it's sounds awesome. Still has factory stings on it. I have a D18 and I won't say it sounds as good as it does but **** near! The Yamaha FG series are just great guitars!
Corey

I have a 1989 Squier that has a plywood body, but it plays so good! The guitar was free so I decided to modify it with custom handwound pickups (with a toggle switch that switches the bridge and center pickup into series), vintage style tuning keys, and big block tremolo bridge. That’s about $300 worth of parts on a $75 guitar, but so worth it to me! [emoji23]

I had a Washburn, and it used to bug me....... until I traded it on a Seagull......

Over 40 years ago, I had an all laminated Yamaha guitar that sounded fantastic.
It was so good sounding that a guy wanted to trade me his Martin for it.
I didn't know anything about Martin guitars back then but I did know that both of us liked the tone of the Yamaha over his Martin.

My point is that there are some magical laminated guitars out there.
When you find one, enjoy it.
Enjoy that Washburn.

I have a Recording King Dirty 30s rph-05 at home, which is ok, but would be much better suited to being left at the hotel. I'm going to take the Washburn, swap them over, and give it the good home it deserves :)

I think it’s a common myth that people think that just because a guitar has laminated wood, it will never sound as good or better than a solid wood guitar.

I have an all-lami Washburn WJ130EK. I took the under saddle pickup off that was as thick as a pencil, put D'Addario EXP16's on and it is great. I use it when I go camping.

Bob