Washburn N4 questions

[jgcable]

I am interested in getting one and I can use some guidance.
Is there a particular year that is better than others. Pre Feiten or Feiten equipt?
Has anybody ever heard of a Purple Rain or Acid Rain finish. Apparently it is almost a holo-type finish applied over a swamp ash body and was available between 92 and 94. Some claim custom shop and some don't. Guitars with this finish have the Washburn/Floyd trem. There is no info anywhere regarding these finishes.
Thanks guys. I am a newbie to the N4.

[Accept2]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Hey you put your question on 2 forums.......I'll just copy and paste from the other forum.....


Buzz Feiten's system is great if you play alot of full chords. If you are using alot of fifths, or riffs, it doesnt really affect your tone, because 99.99% of the people on this planet arent that tone sensitive that they can pick it out. On full chords, it may have an affect, but the way I see it, how many great albums of the past 50 years have been recorded without the Buzz system...........
As for years, many people want 92 and up, since that is when the US custom shop was reopened by Grover Jackson. Any N4 before that was actually assembled with parts from Stephen's, Kahler, and Duncan. They were really a mish mash kit guitar at that point.

[jgcable]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Thanks for the info.. do you know anything about the holo flash like finish referred to as Acid Rain or Purple Rain??

[Accept2]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Not really anymore than I posted on the other forum.............

[jgcable]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

What is your opinion of the Washburn trem?

[Accept2]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

The Washburn trem on the N4 is a Schaller, so its top notch........

[jgcable]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Thanks for the info. Do you know anything about the purple rain holoflash like finish? There are 2 I am looking at with the same finish. One is a 92 and the other is a 94. I can't find any info on line regarding this finish and if it was a stock option or custom. It is listed in the Washburn 93 and 95 catalogs but it isn't offered for the N4 in either of the catalogs.

[tmdiamond]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I have an N4 in Cherryburst finish w/ the Feiten system. Schaller trem, Grover tuners, a Duncan and a Lawrence although someone said the Lawrences were all copies on these guitars. I've only seen 1 cherryburst wuilted maple like mine. I've tried to find out how many of these were made but I never get anywhere. I think this one is a 98. The serial is 9803168.
I love the Feiten but I use this guitar for clean settings, when I want to record really lush, thick chords, etc. It's really a pretty guitar, the trem is great, it sounds awesome, and tunes up most excellently. I have it set for dropped D and another 1/2 step down. It also sounds good driven really heard. Nice and Zakk-like. Almost sold it a while back. I bought it brand new for an even 900, tax included with the case. I think it listed around 2400 but I'm not sure about that. Can't find the pricing anywhere.
Tom

[Accept2]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Yours is in fact a 98, it listed for $1,999.90 back then............

[wodka]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

Willcutt Guitars had a holoflake N4 for sale for a while. They may still have the photos, so I would ask them.

[jgcable]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I saw it.. Thanks. Did you notice the dual pickup selector switches?? That can't possibly be stock. The finish is cool although I prefer the other finishes.

[BigDaddyD]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I had a black N4 years ago and it was really great.

[MountainDog]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I have two N4s, the 'early' Kahler version in natural and the later (non-feiten) with Washburn Floyd in Swamp Ash. The Kahler one has a thinner neck (not width, I'm talking thickness), more like Jackson/charvel thickness (and I've noticed that on two other Kahler versions I've run across). The Washburn Floyd one has a thicker neck (more like ESP Kamikazi/Les Paul, and I've noticed this thicker neck on others with the Washburn Floyd.

On my Washburn Floyd one, I've had problems with the screws that secures the saddles to the plate stripping out. This could be due to the previous owner overtightening them though.

Both great guitars, but I like the Kahler thinner neck one for comfort.

Also, if you play leads way up on the neck, you will think the Stephens Cutaway neck is the best invention ever for guitar!!

You might notice that due to the placement of the pickup selector on the lower horn, you hit it often while strumming. What I did was buy another plastic knob (I think a Gibson one?) and I trimmed it as short as I could and still be able to screw on a couple threads. This lowers the knob height and now I don't hit it as often.

[krimson]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I am pretty sure that they use real bill lawrence pickups on the N4. They may use copies in the N2 and lower models.

[quiksilver]

Re: Washburn N4 questions

I want one of these too someday.

Does anyone know the difference between all the various models Washburn has released over the years? I know they renumbered them, and I THINK it goes like this:

N2 - old cheaper import
N4 - old USA model

NX6 - new USA model
NX3 - new cheaper import

Is that right? I think the cheaper import models lack the Stephens cutaway and the new ones have a non-reverse headstock and include a flight case (which I don't think the old ones had). Anyone know the real facts?