I’ve had the Washburn Vintage Series WA90CEVS acoustic-electric guitar for a few years now, and it’s been quite a journey. For a guitar priced around $147 to $150, it’s delivered an impressive performance and sound quality that’s hard to beat at this range.
Playability & Sound:
From the get-go, the WA90CEVS felt comfortable to play. It has a rich, warm tone that stands out, especially when plugged in. The preamp and onboard tuner are solid features, making it versatile for both live performances and recording sessions. It records beautifully into a mixing console or a DAW, capturing its natural acoustic resonance.
Here is an example of me using it on a video I created. At the time this was direct inject into a Behringer audio interface and recorded using Ableton Live and Native Instruments (Guitar Rig and other devices).
I found recently that just having it availbale and tuned to standard is great because I am actively mentoring a couple of new gutarists. It’s very comfortable and punchy.
Build Quality & Issues:
Owning this guitar hasn’t been without its quirks though. Early on, the nut came loose during a string change. A simple fix with a drop of Elmer’s glue made it as good as new, and it hasn’t budged since.
The machine heads also gave out on me after a while, but replacing them with Grover tuners, as recommended by Sweetwater, was straightforward and significantly improved the tuning. In fact this guitar is rock solid tuning wise – another thing I’ve noticed.
Final Thoughts:
Despite these minor setbacks, the guitar remains a reliable and fantastic instrument, especially for teaching and practice. Its sound quality and versatility far outweigh the initial hiccups, making it a great value for the price. If you’re considering this model, be prepared to make a few tweaks, and you’ll have a dependable guitar that punches well above its weight.
