Washburn AB-20 Fretless Acoustic Dreadnaught Reviews 
4 / 5 based on 1 reviews$390 from Daddy's Junky Music, with HSC
[chipboard type] and a long scratch on
the front [uglee is cheaper ....]
Love the sound of fretless acoustic, and
the dreadnught style body emphasizes that
more than the thin-bodied hollow basses.
It has a 34" scale, not too common among
large-bodied ABGs but I prefer it.
Obviously, it's bulky and won't fit into
most gig bags etc, plus the reach over the
body for the right arm is a bit awkward
compared to thin-bodied ABGs. The strap
buttons are in the usual awkward ABG set
up: End pin and neck joint.
Action is adjustable only via the neck rod
because of the wooden bridge.
ALthough not as touch as some large ABGs,
it is rather easy to get feedback.
The bridge is attached only to the top,
with no tailpiece, which ultimately can
warp the top.
It's built like typical acoustic/electric
guitars, with piezo bridge PU, body all of
formed wood, ribbed top. It has a row of
narrow slots instead of a round sound-hole,
maybe to limit feedback.
Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 2+2
tilt-back peghead with sealed tuners.
9v system with 4 sliders on top body edge.
Jack is on the side wall, lower rear
[similar to many solid body axen].
It's got a really great sound with nylon
covered strings. Has proved durable so far
for what play time it gets due to its size
and feedback. Mostly I play thin body ABGs.
The AB20 is plenty loud for practice when
unplugged, but no AGB can play in a band
unplugged, thus I prefer the thin bodies.
But, the AB-20 has a plainly woody-er more
acoustic tone when amped, compared to the
semi-acoustic types, so I have no plans
right now to retire it. It works best in
a small ensemble where it's not too crowded
for the big box and where sound pressure is
not always above feedback level.
The only reason I'm not rating it a "5" is
because I know the sound of the super-huge
Talyor ABGs, in a class of their own. The
Washburn would be a "5" if I'd never heard
the Taylor.
Golem rated this unit
on
2003-12-17.
