Washburn Vintage Series R320WRK – A Touch Of Class Goes a Long Way

Body And Neck:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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Introduction

Washburn always bring a unique touch in the mix when crafting their guitars, which is what makes them so distinctively popular among guitarists everywhere, especially vintage lovers. You can always be sure to expect something special and outstanding from the manufacturer, and the R320WRK serves as a backup to my statement.

This work of art is a parlor sized beauty from top to bottom, leaving not a single detail left out which will make any guitar lover genuinely thrilled. The R320WRK takes part in Washburn’s Vintage Series, which is a series of instruments bearing semblance to their 19th and early 20th century classic models. They pack tones of equal and even enhanced quality and charm by employing modern technologies in the creation process.

Body & Neck

This work of art features a carefully selected vintage finish giving the instrument an aged feel, as if it’s been played for a hundred years without being damaged, in order to resemble the brand’s original releases. The body is made of a solid spruce top, with an abalone rosette wrapping around the sound hole. The back and sides are made of solid rosewood, which you’ll surely be fond of.

The body is strengthened using scalloped Sitka spruce bracing. The mahogany comes in a V shape design and it accommodates an ebony fingerboard. The fingerboard is rigged with 18 frets and beautiful “tree of life” inlays. The impressive bone nut is 1.86” wide, while the instrument’s overall scale amounts to 24.75”.

Hardware

The hardware is definitely something else. It is a brave undertaking to give a distressed feel to the hardware – artificially inducing a used vintage guitar vibe, without damaging the integrity of the components themselves. Washburn have done it immaculately, which clearly exhibits their attention to detail and strive to use their maximum potential. I have nothing but praise for that.
The guitar is rounded off at the top with a gorgeous, matching headstock – rigged with six open gear tuners. Along with the ebony bridge system, the instrument does an excellent job at keeping the D’Addario EXP-16 strings in check, exuding flawless intonation.

Sound

This masterpiece’ sound is unlike anything I’ve heard of before, it puts out stunning tones with cool and funky elements, while maintaining excellent projection due to its top shelf tone wood mixture. It can get loud to a decent amount, but definitely not over the top, after all we’re talking about a parlor guitar here. If you’re expecting a vast booming tone of a dreadnought, then this beauty is not for you.

I’m not trying to scare anyone away, but I need to get that out of the way. Back on point, the instrument’s action and intonation are sublime, and if you thought parlor gits were playable, then wait until you’ve gotten your hands on this little fella – it’s a whole new level. The instrument’s lovely tones will certainly keep you engaged for years to come, while its spectacular design means you can pass it on to your grandkids. It really is that good.

Conclusion

If it were up to me, I’d double the git’s price just based on its looks. At its current state, it is an absolute steal. If you’ve got the money to spare, this may be your new favorite guitar, phenomenal tones in a beautiful compact body might be just what the doctor ordered.

More info  about the Washburn Vintage Series R320WRK , click here.
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