review
Washburn WM526
The rumors that “Shred is dead” have been around almost as long as shred has. And while "shredding" may not be as prominent as it was is the 80’s, shred still has an avid following thanks to players like, Satriani, Via, Petrucci, etc. And as long as there are players who dazzle with their technique, there will be a need for shred guitars. Washburn has recently introduced the HM series of guitars design specifically for shredders and “heavy metal” players. Oddly, none of the model numbers begin with HM. I received the WM526 to review.
Features
The WM526 is a total shred machine. It features a Mahogany body with a set 25.5" scale Mahogany neck. The fretboard is Carbon Glass Composite with stainless steel frets made by Parker guitars, and includes the Buzz Feinten tuning system. It has an original Floyd Rose locking tremolo system. The tuners are Grovers and it has active EMG pickups — an EMG 85 in the neck position and an EMG 81 in the bridge position. It comes with a nicely padded hard case.
Construction
The fit and finish on this US built guitar was excellent. The frets were smooth and polished with no sharp ends. This is a high end guitar and it shows.
Looks
The review unit I received was all black including the finish and the hardware. They all blended together to create a very sleek-looking guitar. A shiny, black, weapon-like instrument that would be at home in any metal or shred band. Yet its looks are not so extreme that it would look totally out of place in other situations. It looks fast and lean, and it is. A real stunner. Well done Washburn.
Tone
The WM526 has what I can only described as a neutral tone. The guitar doesn't seem to add much character of its own to the tonal range. This is probably due to its Mahogany body and active pickups. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just means that your other gear — amps and effects — will player a bigger role in shaping its overall tone.
Since the WM526 is designed for metal and shred, I gave it a workout using IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube Metal software. The WM526 adapted easily to all the different high gain models and effects I tried. In fact, I found that no matter how much gain I used, the WM526 never got muddy. Note definition was outstanding. I could even play Major Seventh chords with massive gain without the sonic mayhem this would normally cause with passive pickups. The WM526 always remained in control. This clarity of notes when using high gain amps makes it ideal for shredders.
Playability
The WM526 has a Floyd Rose and all the string changing and tuning hassles that accompany it (pass the Allen wrench please.) But anyone who has used a locking tremolo system knows the hassles are simply trade-offs for staying in tune. Once it is locked and tuned it stays in tune through heavy use. The whammy bar has to be removed to put the guitar in its case and close it. This is easy, but just one more thing to do every time you play.
The WM526 is fairly light-weight for a Mahogany guitar and it is comfortable to play standing or sitting. I found the neck quite comfortable, not too fat or thin. It joins the body in a smoothly curved set joint, with just a small amount of body bump, which makes it easier to reach the highest frets. The Carbon Glass Composite fretboard with its almost flat radius is extremely slippery and allows you to glide up and down the neck with only the frets providing any resistance.
Final Thoughts
The WM526 is truly a shred machine in every sense of the word. The Parker Carbon Glass Composite fretboard is very fast, and the well-behaved tone with its excellent note clarity makes it ideal for blazing up and down the neck through high gain amps. The Floyd Rose locking system will keep you in tune through all your whammy bar excursions. If you are looking for a shred guitar, you owe it to yourself to give the Washburn WM526 a try.
Reader Comments
Better Guitar encourages your input. Agree with this review? Think I’m crazy? If you have played a Reverend Washburn WM526, email me your comments and I’ll post them below. The more opinions we have available, the better our buying decisions will be.
stats
- • Mahogany Body
- • Mahogany Set Neck
- • Carbon Glass Epoxy Composite Fretboard
- • Grover Exclusive Tuners
- • 25.5" Neck Scale
- • EMG Pickups: 85 In Neck Position, 81 In Bridge Positoin
- • Original Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System
- • 24 Stainless Steel Frets
- • Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Positives
- Killer looks; clean construction; slippery, fast fretboard; great note clarity.
Negatives
- Somewhat characterless tone.
Rating
- Playability: 10
- Sound Quality: 7
- Construction: 10
- Overall: 9
Ratings Key
- 0 = Worthless
- 10 = Excellent
Estimated Street Price
- $1799
Company
- Washburn