Washburn D46SCE Southwest Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

Feature:
The electronics (this is my first A/E) controls are a bit difficult to adjust on the fly because they are quite small, but no more so than others in this category, so I still rate this high. The actual controls work flawlessly.

Quality:
Fit and finish are as close to flawless as I can rate it. Overall, it has that great balance of sturdiness and delicateness that makes me feel it is a finely crafted instrument that will last a lifetime. Mechanically, the cord jack was loose, but was tightened easiy. No rattling from battery or control components. So far no fret buzzing, etc.

Value:
From my not-so-vast experience and collection, I would rate this as a very high value. $400 for a guitar seemed totally unreasonably not too long ago, but from what I can tell, this is guitar gives you a LOT of what the > $2000 instruments have, but for a lot less. Great bang for the buck. Great value.

Desirability:
I love the southwestern theme and understated but special fret inlays and rosette. The old-style headstock fits nicely and the contrast of dark and light wood tones on the top and sides / back are nice. The dark finish on the headstock and older Washburn logo fit nicely as well.

Sound:
Great sound. I was not sure how the cutout would affect tone, but this one sounds great - better than my Washburn D10S.

Ease of Use:
The guitar was set up quite nicely and has great intonation and action. It plays very well with a nice slim neck. Frets and neck finish help to make quick play and bends a breaze.

Support:
No need so far.

Overall:
Other than typical G.A.S. issues, I feel this will probably be my favorite acoustic for a long time. It makes me feel like I want to play more often and for longe periods.

Feature:
Great looking guitar. The look and feel is well worth the cost. Awesome tuners, binding and details of the guitar compares to $1000+ guitars on the market. Just love the butterfly bridge and the multi-colored binding around the body. Really stands out and looks great.

Quality:
Mechanically and cosmetically, this is top notch. Everything looks perfect. Great finish with nice little details to make the guitar look much more expensive than it actually is.

Value:
Great guitar for the price. I was looking for a guitar that looks expensive and stands out. The butterfly bridge makes it look like it's expensive Washburn USA brothers with the Made in China price! I was so bored with the boring rectangle bridge that all other guitars have. Does lack in the sound department but quite nice for a $400 guitar.

Desirability:
As I said before, this has all the signs of it's more expensive Washburn USA brothers with the Made in China price. Great looking guitar compared to others in the same price range.

Sound:
Slight buzzing of the frets when I first got it but a few turns of the truss rod and it's now under control. I'd expect the sound to be a tad brighter and fuller. The sound is very nice as a whole but does lack in sustain and clarity. I've owned a Takamine EG340SC and it sounds so clean and bright with each string making a clear and even sound.

Ease of Use:
Had to tweak the truss rod to remove the buzz. Because the sound quality is average, it does take a little bit to make everything sound just right. I seem to struggle to hit the notes just right and focus on technique to make a clear crisp sound. Here's where I really miss my Takamine, it just rang perfectly without much change to my sloppy technique. Now I really have to work harder to get the same sound.

Support:
I've heard good things about them but hopefully I'll never need them. Lifetime warranty is nice to have.

Overall:
Overall great guitar for the price. When I go jam with friends, mine guitar stands out from the rest. Thats the reason I bought it. Sound does lack a little but the appearance makes up for it. For a $400 guitar, you can looks or sound quality but hard to get both. I really loved the way the Takamine EG340SC sounds but it was pretty boring looking. This has way more bling factor but I do struggle to get the sound I love in the Takamine.