Polished Turd?

Djakez

Hey guys,

I'm posting here because I would like to know some more about my Washburn, it is a 2011 Model HB30CH, I picked up the guitar for an amazing deal and I would like to know what its market value would be?

Would putting new pickups (Seymour Duncan Phat Cats SPH90's) in it be like "Polishing a turd"?

It sounds good and mellow as I have quite expensive stings on it at the moment (D'addario Flatwound 10 Gauge) and plays well compared to my Fender although, string tension is a lot higher as I use 9 Gauge custom Ernie Ball Strings on the Fender... I'm not sure what pickups are default with Washburns and whether they would be worth keeping for future projects, and whether they are good quality or not? Would it be worth the investment to put in new pickups?

I'm open to any other pickup suggestions as well, I've heard a lot of ES335's with the same pickups in it that sound pretty sweet and I would like my guitar to sound like that...

Thanks for your time!

Jaco.

Charlie4

I had an Epiphone Emperor a few years back. Had I kept the guitar I would have fitted it with Lollar pickups - Charlie Christian humbucker in the neck and perhaps a Low Wind Imperial in the bridge. For great tone you won't find better pickups. Didn't keep the guitar because I didn't like the neck profile. Was made for tiny hands imo. :roflmao:

YouTube Tim Lerch for Lollar pickups.

If you use the guitar quite a bit and really enjoy the feel of it then it's certainly not a turd. If you merely bought the guitar to sell later on I would probably not spend unnecessary money on it. I have to say I've found it difficult to really get a great hollowbody under 10k, even used.

If you intend on keeping it and upgrades will enhance the playing experience then go for it. 8)

IceCreamMan

pickups are easily transferred so simple enough to remove them at a later stage and put them in another guitar ....

V8

Djakez wrote: Hey guys,

I'm posting here because I would like to know some more about my Washburn, it is a 2011 Model HB30CH, I picked up the guitar for an amazing deal and I would like to know what its market value would be?

Would putting new pickups (Seymour Duncan Phat Cats SPH90's) in it be like "Polishing a turd"?

A bit of googling shows a 225GBP retail, so I'd guesstimate around R2k-3k 2nd hand locally?

If you like the way the guit feels (neck profile, body size), a upgrade is always a option - likely you'll not see that money back on re-sale though. There is one thing about these jazzboxes I dislike - working on them can be a absolute nightmare. There usually isn't a cover on the back to get at the pots, so you have to work everything through one of the F-holes...A serious practice in patience.

Charlie4 wrote: If you use the guitar quite a bit and really enjoy the feel of it then it's certainly not a turd. If you merely bought the guitar to sell later on I would probably not spend unnecessary money on it. I have to say I've found it difficult to really get a great hollowbody under 10k, even used.

+1.

While jazzboxes arn't my thing, I enjoy 'em when they have flatwounds on. I've tried out a Epiphone BB King Lucille that was quite playable (R4k 2nd hand), and a older Fender D'Aquisto (around R13k 2nd hand) that was reaaalll nice. The Ibanez Artcore's don't do much for me, nor the Epiphone Joe Pass.