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WASHBURN HM Series WI556 Electric Guitar
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Metallic green, mahogany set neck, mahogany body, EMG pickups, floating Original Floyd Rose.
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Searched WASHBURN HM Series WI556 Electric Guitar in Reviews
Mean, green, but lacks something in between.... 
| Sound |
This guitar has EMGs in it, a type of pickup of which I am not really a fan. I love the sustain they give, but find they do so at the expense of tone and character. Playing through a Vox Night Train, and a Marshall 1960 cab, I got plenty of gain, but with the price of a lot of mud. Notes were not distinct and clear. As well, with my picking attack, and using a nylon pick,I got a lot of pick squeak, which is supremely annoying.
This said, it sounds like what it is advertised to be -- a modern metal shred guitar.
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| Action, Fit, & Finish |
The guitar was as well set up as one might get from playing it right off a guitar shop wall. Action was OK, and the whammy returned to pitch.
One of the guitar's selling points is supposed to be its neck, with a carbon glass epoxy composite fretboard, jumbo frets and no inlays. I was ambivalent about this new type of fretboard. I didn't find it helpful necessarily, but perhaps I was hindered by the high gloss finish on the back of the neck. It's certainly not my preference -- I like a satin finish, or oiled wood. Another issue; the guitar kept sliding off my leg. I was wearing jeans, and this doesn't often happen for me.
The shape of the neck itself was thin and flat. I am pretty sure I would like this neck a lot with a satin finish.
Overall, I don't think it plays as well as it could given its cost. I have often found that I didn't think higher-end Washburns were worth the extra money over the import versions (N4s possibly excepted), but there was nothing to make it jump out as being a great guitar.
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| Reliability & Durability |
n/a
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| Customer Support |
Past experience with another guitar hasn't been super -- if a guitar is warrantied in America, and bought by a Canadian, why can't a Canadian Washburn dealer service the warranty?
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| Liked about it |
1) The look -- the Idol body shape is growing on me.
2) The neck carve.
3) The fact that they'd make this type of guitar today.
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| Didn't like |
1) The finish on the neck (personal preference).
2) EMGs. I'd bet this thing would sing with a set of Burstbucker Pros in it.
3) Price. It doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from other, less expensive instruments.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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3.0 |
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