Washburn Guitars is an American manufacturer of stringed instruments based in Mundelein, Illinois. Founded in 1883 in Chicago by George Washburn Lyon, the company got its start producing high quality banjos. Over the years, Washburn expanded into other fretted instruments like guitars, basses, and mandolins. Known for innovation, they were one of the first American guitar makers to adopt archtop and electric guitar designs. Today, Washburn continues the tradition of building quality instruments for beginners to professionals across many musical genres. Their Festival series offers excellent entry-level acoustic-electric guitars like the EA15 for players on a budget.

Overview

The Washburn Festival EA15 EA15ITB-A is an affordable acoustic-electric cutaway guitar, well-suited for students, beginners, and intermediates. As an acoustic-electric, it can be played acoustically without an amp or plugged in for amplified performances.

The cutaway body style provides easy access to higher frets, expanding the guitar's playability and making it a versatile choice for various musical genres. This is a full-scale dreadnought guitar with a slim neck and comfortable feel. Overall, the Washburn Festival EA15 delivers quality features at a reasonable price point.

When shopping for an acoustic-electric guitar, it's important to consider your budget and playing style. The Washburn EA15 is a good option for beginners because of its comfortable feel and cutaway design. More advanced players may want to look at guitars with solid wood tops and higher-end electronics. The Ibanez AZ2204-ICM is one such model to consider in the mid-range price point.

The Ibanez AZ2204-ICM features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, providing balanced tone and good projection. It has a slim neck profile for easy playability and a cutaway for access to higher frets. The guitar comes equipped with an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp and tuner for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. This gives you control over your amplified tone with built-in EQ and effects. Overall, the Ibanez AZ2204-ICM delivers professional features at an accessible price.

When deciding between the Washburn EA15 and Ibanez AZ2204-ICM, consider your budget and playing needs. The Washburn is great for new players, while the Ibanez offers upgraded wood materials and electronics for intermediate players who want more versatility. It's worth checking out the Ibanez AZ2204-ICM acoustic-electric guitar if you want an instrument that will grow with your skills over time.

Appearance

The Washburn Festival EA15 features a visually striking grand auditorium style body with a single-cutaway for easy upper fret access. It comes in a glossy vintage sunburst finish that has an elegant vintage appeal.

The top is made of solid spruce, which gives it an attractive wood grain texture. The back and sides are made of mahogany, a warm-toned wood that complements the bright tone of the spruce top.

The binding along the body, neck and headstock is a cream color that contrasts nicely against the sunburst finish. Chrome die-cast tuners provide a modern touch. Overall the appearance balances vintage and contemporary elements for a timeless look with broad appeal.

With its glossy vintage sunburst finish, the Washburn Festival EA15 acoustic-electric guitar has an eye-catching look. The single-cutaway grand auditorium body style provides easy access to the upper frets while retaining a traditional vibe. Solid spruce on the top contributes to the instrument's vintage appeal with an attractive wood grain pattern.

The use of mahogany for the back and sides adds tonal warmth to complement the crisp, bright tone of the spruce top. Cream binding along the edges provides an elegant contrast against the sunburst finish. The chrome tuners lend a contemporary detail to the guitar's otherwise vintage-inspired aesthetic.

Overall, the Washburn Festival EA15 balances modern and classic design cues for a timeless appearance. Players looking for a gorgeous acoustic-electric guitar with easy upper fret access will appreciate this model's stylish look and single-cutaway grand auditorium body.

Another acoustic-electric guitar option with appealing aesthetics is the Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3. This guitar features a vintage-style round-shoulder dreadnought body made of solid Sitka spruce on top and mahogany back and sides. The body shape and wood combination provide a full, balanced tone.

Aesthetic details like the pickguard, binding, and vintage sunburst finish give the Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3 a classic look. The Shadow ePerformer preamp and tuner add contemporary functionality while retaining the guitar's vintage vibe. Players seeking a great-looking and great-sounding acoustic-electric guitar will want to check out the Epiphone J45.

Body & Neck

The Festival EA15 features a laminated mahogany body with a glossy finish and a 15-inch lower bout for balanced sound projection and comfort. The guitar's 25.5" scale maple neck is designed for smooth playability with a rosewood fingerboard sporting dot inlays. The C-shape neck profile creates a comfortable feel that accommodates both chord shapes and lead lines. The dual-action truss rod enables adjusting the neck relief for optimal action. Overall, the mahogany body and maple neck aim to deliver a balanced tonal response.

Electronics

The Washburn Festival EA15 features quality electronics that provide strong acoustic amplification and effects. The guitar has a Fishman Presys Blend pickup system with an undersaddle transducer and microphone. This combination pickup captures both the projected soundboard vibration and ambient resonance for a balanced "natural" amplified tone.

The guitar has a straightforward set of tone controls. Volume, bass, midrange, and treble knobs give you control over shaping the EQ. There's also a built-in tuner and phase switch to prevent feedback at higher volumes. The preamp is powered by a 9V battery.

The Presys preamp aims to produce a transparent amplified acoustic sound without excessive coloring. It succeeds at providing a balanced and full-range tone whether playing chords or single-notes. The undersaddle pickup avoids the quackiness of many acoustic pickups, providing a smooth amplified voice.

Overall the EA15's electronics offer versatility for everything from live performance to recording scenarios. The blend pickup and EQ give you a variety of acoustic tones at your fingertips.

Sound

The Washburn Festival EA15 produces a bright, balanced tone that projects well. The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides provide a nice blend of crisp highs and warm lows.

The dreadnought body shape gives it plenty of volume to fill a room or play with others. Notes are articulate and clear across the tonal spectrum. The mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard also add some warmth and clarity to the EA15's overall sound profile.

The onboard preamp and pickup system accurately reproduces the Festival's unplugged tone when amplified. It has plenty of dynamic range when plugged in and played through an acoustic guitar amp or PA system. The EQ controls allow shaping the tone to suit different playing styles and venues.

Overall, the Washburn Festival EA15 sounds great for a wide variety of musical genres thanks to its balanced EQ and robust projection. The solid woods lend themselves well to both strumming chords and fingerstyle playing. Musicians will appreciate its responsive and nuanced tone.

Playability

The Washburn Festival EA15 features a comfortable and smooth satin neck finish that allows for easy movement up and down the fingerboard. The mahogany neck has a standard C-shape profile that will feel familiar to most players.

The rosewood fretboard has a 12" radius which provides a nice in-between feel - not too flat for chordal playing but not too curved for soloing and bends. The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished for smooth transitions between notes.

The action on the EA15 is set medium-low from the factory, providing very playable access to notes on all areas of the neck without buzzing. Some players may want to adjust the truss rod and string height to personal preferences, but overall the guitar has great playability right out of the box.

The shorter 24.75" scale length makes stretching to higher frets a bit easier as well. Whether strumming open chords or shredding solos, the Washburn Festival EA15 offers a fast, comfortable playing feel.

Hardware

The Washburn Festival EA15 features quality hardware that enables smooth tuning and great tone.

Tuning Machines

The guitar comes equipped with sealed die-cast tuning machines. These tuning pegs hold the strings securely in tune even during vigorous playing sessions. The sealed design prevents dirt and debris from building up inside the tuners over time. Overall, the tuning machines are smooth and precise.

Bridge

This acoustic-electric guitar utilizes a rosewood bridge and compensated saddle. The rosewood contributes to the warm, balanced tone of the instrument. The compensated saddle is expertly shaped to ensure accurate intonation up and down the neck. The bridge transfers vibrations efficiently for excellent resonance and sustain.

The hardware components on the Washburn Festival EA15 work together seamlessly to keep the guitar in tune while also enhancing the sound quality. The sealed tuners and compensated rosewood bridge equip this acoustic-electric to perform at its best.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Solid laminate spruce top produces a warm, balanced tone
• Mahogany back and sides provide resonance and sustain
• Thin C-shaped mahogany neck allows for comfortable playing
• Fishman preamp gives versatility for plugging in
• Attractive vintage sunburst finish stands out
• Lightweight and portable for gigging musicians

Cons:

• Limited controls on the preamp
• Electronics can feedback at higher volumes
• May not be as loud unplugged as a pure acoustic
• Higher action than some players prefer
• Laminate construction lacks the complex harmonics of solid wood instruments

Conclusion

The Washburn Festival EA15 acoustic-electric guitar provides a quality instrument at an affordable price point. With its laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides, it produces a balanced and pleasing tone that works well for various musical styles. The guitar's cutaway body style and slim neck promote comfortable playing, while the built-in EQ gives you some control over your amplified tone.

Overall, the Washburn Festival EA15 is an excellent choice as a starter or intermediate acoustic-electric guitar. It's well-made, easy to play, and sounds very good plugged in or unplugged. The guitar feels solidly built and the hardware performs reliably. While not as fancy looking as more expensive models, it provides great bang for your buck.

If you're looking for an acoustic-electric in this price range, the Washburn Festival EA15 is easy to recommend. With its quality construction, electronics, and balanced tone, it makes an ideal guitar for beginners through intermediate players who want the flexibility of being able to play amplified. For a relatively affordable price, you get a guitar that sounds, plays, and looks very good.