The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Great site!

I've had a Washburn Scavenger bass since 1985 or so. I started doing a little research on it the other day, and eventually found my way here. Washburn themselves couldn't even tell me much about it, with the exception of that it was most likey built in 1980 from the serial number, which is CB800530. I've seen someone claim that his Scavenger was built by "Mighty Matsumoku", and I've seen others say they were "probably" made at another factory. Another site lists it as "unknown".

The body is mohogany with what appears to be a maple top. Bolt-on neck. Clear wine-red finish, arched top, spilt-coil pup, fingerboard appears to be rosewood. Gold "new" style Washburn logo on headstock, and stamped into neckbacking plate, thru-body stringing (if you can find strings long enough - I never have. Luckily you can also mount strings the bridge!). Sorry, pics are on another computer, will post when able.

Never occurred to me until tonite that my old Aria Pro II and my Washie might be the same manufacturer, but looking at a pic of my AP II, the tuners look to be identical (sort of triangular), and the headstock shape is almost identical. Nothing else is the same, though.

Is this a Mats?

Kenny

Welcome aboard.
I'm sure that someone here will be along to help you out (just not me).
In the meantime follow this link and have a look at the bottom photos.

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/wing/wing.html

Cheers
Don

Yes, mine's identical. Smooth, unbound body, clear wine-red finish. Heavy as a mofo and a neck like a tree trunk. Pulled it out to have a look at it last night, didn't put it down for hours. Not as comfy as any of my other basses to play, but still a joy. Nice action. And as I'm sitting here describing it, I realize I'm now on the computer that has the pics...



Yep, still got the original case, in pretty decent shape!





Looking at pics of an old Aria Pro II bass I once had, I notice that the tuners appear to be the same, and the headstock is very similar, with the exception of the very top, which is a V shape on the Washie and sort of an M (or perhaps a seagull?) on the AP II. Interesting...