review
Washburn WB400SWCE Baby Jumbo
Acoustic guitar designs tend to be fairly traditional. Occasionally, though, builders throw caution to the wind and something different comes along. The Washburn WB400SWCE is one of those guitars, with a design that is unique yet not outrageous. Of course, there is a reason traditional designs are so prevalent — they work. So how does the WB400SWCE fare compared to more traditional designs? Let’s take a look.
Looks
The WB400SWCE looks are obviously non-traditional. To me it looks like a squashed jumbo guitar. I don’t mean that in a bad way. In fact, I have grown to appreciate its unusual curves. I first saw the WB400SWCE in guitar magazine ads, and was surprised when I opened the box of the review model and discovered it was much smaller than I expected. The lower part of the body is about the same width as my Alvarez-Yairi Dreadnaught. The body height however is about four inches shorter.
This compact beauty also sports attractive cloud inlays on the fretboard and the Washburn name inlayed on the somewhat plain headstock. The small “Butter Bean” grover tuners are in keeping with the compact design, although I would have preferred full size tuners. Another break from tradition is the volume knob on the face of the guitar. Some will balk at this, but it is quicker and easier to access in that location. The sound hole is oval shaped, which either suits or contributes to the “squished” looks — you can decide. Overall, the WB400SWCE has exotic good looks that are sure to turn heads and be a continual source of interest to fellow guitarists.
Construction
The WB400SWCE is made in China and my review model featured nearly flawless construction inside and out. One only very minor issue I found was where the binding and nut met on one side, which was a little ragged. The WB400SWCE has a solid Cedar top and solid Rosewood sides and back. The neck is Mahogany with an Ebony fingerboard and bridge. The WB400SWCE has custom B-Band electronics with bass, midrange, and treble controls located on the “top” side of the guitar and a volume knob located on the face of the guitar.
The WB400SWCE has cable jacks for both 1/4” and XLR cables allowing you to run it through an amp or direct into a P.A system. The battery compartment and cable jacks are located on the bottom of the guitar near the strap button. There is only one strap button, installed on the bottom of the guitar. The WB400SWCE comes with a molded plastic case, which will do the job, but is not as nice as I expected from a guitar in this price range.
Playability
The WB400SWCE is comfortable to hold and balances nicely on your leg. If you can handle a Dreadnaught, you will be fine with the body size on the WB400SWCE. The fretboard featured low action, with no buzzing, that was very comfortable to play. While the narrow neck was not designed specifically for fingerstyle guitar playing, it works well with both picks and fingers. The WB400SWCE has non-traditional looks, but its playability is quite traditional.
Tone
The WB400SWCE has a fairly balanced tone with a slight emphasis on the upper midrange. The Cedar top adds a warmth to the tone, removing the treble “bite” common in Spruce tops. To my ears, and a fellow guitar player who also wanted to check it out, the tone sounded smooth, warm and slightly compressed. For side-by-side comparison, I used my Alvarez-Yairi DY74C Dreadnought (Spruce top, Rosewood sides and back.) The WB400SWCE had less bass than the Dreadnought, but it was not “boomy” like the Dreadought. It should sit well in a mix or in a band setting. The B-Band electronics system made it easy to dial up a pleasing, natural acoustic sound, even through an inexpensive practice amp.
Final Thoughts
The WB400SWCE is an exotic looking guitar, with a smooth, warm tone that should work well in a recorded mix or band setting. The B-Band electronics provide excellent amplified tone. The compact size is comfortable to hold and the neck is easy playing. And if you are looking for a little more attention, its non-traditional looks are sure to turn heads.
Reader Comments
Better Guitar encourages your input. Agree with this review? Think I’m crazy? If you have played a Reverend Washburn WB400SWCE Baby Jumbo, email me your comments and I’ll post them below. The more opinions we have available, the better our buying decisions will be.
stats
- • Baby jumbo body style
- • Cutaway for upper fret access
- • Solid Cedar top
- • Solid Rosewood sides and back
- • Mahogany neck
- • Ebony fingerboard and bridge
- • Bone nut & saddle
- • Ivoroid binding
- • Bound Rosewood capped headstock
- • Gloss finish
- • Gold Grover Sta-tite tuners
- • Abalone rosette
- • Washburn exclusive B-Band designed EQ system
Positives
- Exotic looks; clean construction; low action; smooth, warm tone; XLR jack.
Negatives
- Somewhat compressed tone; not as much bass as expected; plastic case.
Rating
- Playability: 10
- Sound Quality: 9
- Construction: 9
- Value: 8
- Overall: 9
Ratings Key
- 0 = Worthless
- 10 = Excellent
Estimated Street Price
- $1199
Company
- Washburn