Washburn M6SW Opinions (early 2000s)

[TonyC]

As I am new to this mando world, I am curious about an instrument I saw for sale; Washburn M6SW from the early 2000s. Is anyone familiar? How was sound? Looks nice, but that can easily fool you until the first strum. Thanks for any insight.
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Tony

[rcc56]

Quality control on Washburn instruments has been quite inconsistent over the past 20 years or so. Their instruments from the 80's and 90's were a bit better, but not necessarily great. If you're looking for a modestly priced import, you might be better off with Eastman or Kentucky.

[gtani7]

I don't know anything about Washburn instruments but I think Troy Grady is playing one (Andy Wood interview, great video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh0He941q0k

[allenhopkins]

Here's a 2010 thread on the M6SW. Lotsa pro and con. The specs on the mandolin, in Washburn's "Jethro Burns" series, are pretty impressive: carved solid woods, etc. It's a discontinued model, apparently.

However, there are several anecdotal posts, mentioning Washburn's unreliable quality control. Hope you get to "try before you buy."

[rcc56]

I'll mention this: My friendly neighborhood music store signed on as a Washburn dealer somewhere around 2015. After receiving 2 shipments from them, he immediately cancelled his dealership and returned all but one or two of the instruments because they had too many problems and were unsaleable. A couple of years ago, he gave them one more try, with worse results-- he returned every one of the instruments.

A 2000 model might be ok, but you would be taking a risk. I will not recommend a more recent issue Washburn to anyone under any circumstances.