Washburn WD7SCE-A Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Washburn WD7SCE acoustic-electric guitar provides solid sound and playability at an affordable price point. This dreadnought guitar features a glossy grand auditorium body shape made from mahogany back and sides with a solid spruce top. The neck is also mahogany with a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard. Electronics include a 3-band EQ and tuner from Fishman, allowing you to plug into an amp or PA system. It's a great option for players looking for an acoustic-electric model on a budget, suitable for both practice and live performance. The WD7SCE delivers balanced tone and easy playability, though the hardware and electronics are basic. Overall, it's a reliable workhorse acoustic-electric guitar for the money.

Body & Neck

The Washburn WD7SCE-A features a solid Sitka spruce top, which helps produce a bright, focused tone with good articulation and volume. Spruce is a popular top wood choice for acoustics thanks to its resonant properties.

The back and sides are made from mahogany, which provides a balanced, well-rounded sound with good low-end punch. Mahogany is a versatile tonewood that works well for both accompanying and solo playing.

The mahogany neck aims for smooth playability. It has a slim taper "C" profile that allows easy access to the upper frets. The rosewood fingerboard further enhances the feel and balances out the bright spruce top. Rosewood offers a rounder, warmer tone compared to maple.

With its 25.5" scale length, the WD7SCE-A has a comfortably familiar feel for players used to classic dreadnought acoustics. The scale length contributes to the guitar's punchy, articulate voice.

The solid spruce top of the WD7SCE-A produces a bright, focused tone that projects well, while the mahogany back and sides provide warmth and low-end punch. Combined, these tonewoods yield a versatile acoustic-electric guitar suitable for various musical genres and playing styles. The slim mahogany neck aims for smooth, comfortable playability across the rosewood fingerboard. With its 25.5" scale length, the WD7SCE-A will feel familiar to players used to classic dreadnought acoustics. Overall, it's a quality instrument with an acoustic voice that pairs nicely with its onboard electronics.

For players looking for an alternative, the Ortega Guitars RCE138-T4BK-L is another option to consider in this price range. Ortega uses solid spruce and mahogany tonewoods for the RCE138-T4BK-L, so it shares some similar tonal characteristics with the Washburn model. However, there are some notable differences, including the Ortega's slightly wider nut width and shorter 24.72” scale length. The electronics are also different, with the Ortega featuring a Shadow NanoFlex pickup and preamp system. While it may not be quite as punchy and articulate as the Washburn, the Ortega aims to offer rich, nuanced tone in a comfortable playing acoustic-electric guitar. Testing them side-by-side would reveal how they compare in terms of feel, tone, and versatility.

Electronics

The Washburn WD7SCE-A features the Washburn EQ2T preamp system, which provides a good degree of control over your amplified tone. It has a built-in tuner as well as dials for volume, bass, midrange, and treble.

The EQ2T preamp gives you the ability to shape your tone by boosting or cutting frequencies. The bass and treble controls have a boost/cut of 10dB, allowing you to add more low end thump or crisp highs. The midrange dial lets you target the frequencies that will help the guitar cut through a mix. Many guitarists find the midrange particularly useful for finding the sweet spot that makes the guitar sit nicely in a full band setting.

The onboard tuner is handy for quick tune-ups on the fly. It mutes the output when engaged, allowing you to tune quietly between songs. The tuner features a bright backlit LCD screen that makes it easy to see on dark stages.

Overall, the EQ2T preamp gives you a versatile tone-shaping toolset in a compact format that fits discretely into the guitar's lower bout. It's a practical and useful addition for amplified gigs and recording applications.

When looking for an acoustic-electric guitar that provides both great playability and amplified tone, the Ibanez AF55TKF is an excellent choice. This guitar has a comfortable thinline body with a Florentine cutaway for easy access to the higher frets. The back and sides are made from mahogany, which provides a balanced and articulate tone. The top is solid spruce, which gives you volume and dynamics while still retaining warmth and sweetness.

For amplification and shaping your acoustic tone, the Ibanez AF55TKF utilizes the Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp system. This gives you basic but useful tone controls, including a volume knob, bass dial, and treble dial. Boosting the bass adds low-end punch, while bringing up the treble adds shimmer and clarity. Having this level of tonal control makes it easy to get amplified tones suited to any musical genre or live performance venue.

In addition to its great playability and electronics, the Ibanez AF55TKF looks fantastic as well. It has a transparent black burst finish that allows the wood grain to show through. Chrome die-cast tuners and a matte mahogany neck give it some stylish appointments. And the fretboard inlays have an elegant and intricate vine motif. Overall, it's a sharp yet understated acoustic-electric that looks as good as it sounds.

At around $500, the Ibanez AF55TKF is reasonably priced for a thinline acoustic-electric with solid top construction and onboard electronics. The comfortable body size makes it a versatile guitar suitable for many playing situations. And the smooth neck, slim profile, and medium jumbo frets make it an inviting guitar for both chording and intricate soloing. If you want an acoustic-electric with great playability that also sounds fantastic plugged in, the Ibanez AF55TKF is an excellent choice.

Sound

The WD7SCE delivers a well balanced tone across frequencies that works for various musical genres. The curved mahogany back helps project the sound at high volume levels.

When strumming, the bass tones come through with pleasing warmth without muddiness. The mids are focused without sounding harsh. The treble has decent sparkle and clarity without being shrill. The guitar is versatile enough to handle chordal rhythms in rock, full strumming in folk, and fingerpicking in country.

The EQ from the preamp provides additional tonal shaping capabilities. The built-in tuner helps keep the guitar in tune during playing. The pickup and preamp system make this an acoustic electric suitable for plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

Overall the WD7SCE provides a dynamic sound with good balance across the tonal spectrum. The projection and electronics give players flexibility for various live performance and recording situations.

Playability

The Washburn WD7SCE-A acoustic-electric guitar offers excellent playability thanks to its low action, comfortable neck shape, and tuning stability.

The action on this guitar is set very low right out of the box, making it easy to press the strings down to the fretboard. Lower action reduces fatigue when playing, especially during long practice sessions or gigs. For beginner and intermediate players, the low action makes forming chords and fretting individual notes much easier.

The neck on the WD7SCE-A has a U-shaped profile that most guitarists find very comfortable to hold and play. It fits nicely in the hand, allowing easy access up and down the neck. The U-shape provides a good amount of thickness and contour without being overly bulky.

Finally, the combination of quality hardware and stable wood construction allows the WD7SCE-A to stay in tune extremely well, even during aggressive strumming and bending. The guitar holds its tuning across different playing styles, gigs, and practice sessions, eliminating the need to constantly tweak and adjust. Players can rely on this guitar to intonate properly up and down the neck.

Between the low action, ergonomic neck shape, and great tuning stability, the playability of the Washburn WD7SCE-A really stands out. It's comfortable and easy to play right away, even for guitarists with smaller hands or less experience. The high degree of playability makes this a very appealing choice in its price range.

Hardware

The WD7SCE features quality hardware that contributes to its great playability and tuning stability. It has die-cast tuners that hold the strings in tune very well, even during aggressive strumming or bending. The nut and saddle are both made of synthetic bone, which helps transfer string vibrations efficiently. Synthetic bones nuts and saddles are often preferred over natural bone or plastic alternatives. Finally, all of the metal parts on the guitar including the tuners, bridge pins and strap buttons are finished in an attractive chrome that matches well with the instrument's aesthetics. The hardware on the WD7SCE is durable and enhances the guitar's usability.

Pros

The Washburn WD7SCE-A acoustic-electric guitar has several notable pros that make it an appealing option at this price point:

• Quality Materials and Construction: The WD7SCE-A features a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck, providing both durability and balanced tone. The build quality is impressive for the price, with nice decorative touches like the Abalone rosette and binding.

• Balanced Acoustic Tone: The combination of tonewoods produces a balanced acoustic sound with good projection, sustain, and warmth. The low end has punch while the highs remain crisp and clear. It's a versatile guitar well-suited to various styles and techniques.

• Onboard Preamp and Tuner: The guitar comes equipped with a Fishman Sonicore pickup system, giving you plugged-in capabilities for live performances or recording. The preamp provides EQ controls and the integrated tuner makes it easy to keep the guitar in tune, adding convenience.

Cons

The Washburn WD7SCE-A has a few drawbacks to consider.

Electronics could be improved - The electronics utilize Washburn's own preamp and pickup system, which some guitarists may find to be lower quality than name brands like Fishman. The preamp doesn't offer much tonal shaping or EQ options. Players looking for more advanced electronics may need to upgrade the preamp and electronics.

Upper fret access limited - The cutaway does not provide as much access to the upper frets as some other acoustic-electric models. For guitarists who play a lot of solos and need to reach those higher notes, the WD7SCE-A may not provide enough access. Trying before you buy is recommended if fret access is important.

Alternatives

The Washburn WD7SCE-A competes against other high quality acoustic-electric guitars in a similar price range. Here are three comparable alternatives to consider:

Yamaha A Series A3R

The Yamaha A3R is a premium acoustic-electric with a solid Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides. It has a slightly smaller body shape than the Washburn, which some players may prefer. The Yamaha features a S.R.T. Zero Impact pickup system with adjustable controls for volume and tone. It produces a balanced acoustic tone with the ability to plug-in for live performances. The A3R sells for around the same price as the Washburn.

Epiphone Hummingbird Studio

Epiphone's take on the classic Gibson Hummingbird offers an affordable all-solid wood acoustic-electric option. It has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The Hummingbird Studio comes equipped with a Shadow ePerformer preamp and pickup system, delivering amplified acoustic tones with plenty of volume for larger venues. It has a slightly vintage look and feel. The Epiphone sells for significantly less than the Washburn.

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

This acoustic-electric model designed by Rancid's Tim Armstrong has an edgier look and sound. It has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The Hellcat comes with a Fishman Isys III pickup system for plugging in. It has a thinner C-shaped neck profile compared to the Washburn. The Hellcat is a good option for players looking for more of a rock guitar at a lower price point.

Conclusion

The Washburn WD7SCE-A is a great value acoustic-electric guitar that punches above its weight class. It features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, delivering balanced tone with good bass response and bright treble. The guitar plays very smoothly thanks to its comfortable neck contour and low action.

While not the most luxurious guitar, the hardware and electronics perform reliably for an instrument at this price point. The onboard preamp and tuner make it easy to plug this guitar into an amplifier or PA system.

With its quality materials, easy playability, and good acoustic and amplified tones, the WD7SCE-A is an excellent choice for beginners to intermediate players looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic-electric. It delivers impressive value and will likely impress beyond expectations for a guitar at this very reasonable price point.