NGD: 92 Washburn N4 anyone

[lessthan12]

So anybody else play one of these? My buddy texted me a picture of this one that just got foreclosed on in the pawn side of the business so it was put up for sale. He knows I love floyds and they're mainly vintage dealers so he always offers me any floyd guitars first. I never played one and to be honest I've never been a fan of Nuno, not because I don't like him but because I just never really listened to him. Looked pretty cool so I went and checked it out today.
I of course being the diligent researcher I am looked up everything I could the night before so I knew what to look for. Turns out this is a transition N4 from 92. It is still considered a Davies which I guess is more desirable than the actual Washburn N4's. This one apparently also is a super rare finish for these called "iridescent" Its in very good to excellent condition.
Now for playability, I was surprised to find it played and sounded really good. Body shape is a little weird but overall I really liked it. Because its a foreclosed piece I got a real good deal on it( a lot less than what the normal N4's go for used on eBay) I'll take some better pics at some point

 

[messenger]

Cool. I prefer the natural and Padauk ones but wouldn't turn that down for a good price.

 

[neilli]

Very nice! I remember Tracii Guns was pictured with an iridescent N4 in a Guitar World advert back in the day and have long been keeping an eye open for one.

 

[cecilbag]

I've never actually seen one with that finish. I've only played one N4 but it was an early one and it blew me away. It had a very wide neck, which I love, and sounded great. Killer score on what has to be an ultra rare axe.

 

[mooncobra]

one of the best guitars I ever played was an N4, it sounded great and played INCREDIBLE!!

 

[Mailman1971]

Cool guitar! Love N4's.
I owned one of Nuno's personal tour used N4's back in the 90's.
It had a crack in the fretboard and he sent it back to Washburn. They just sent him a new one.
Bought it off the guy from Washburn. Like everything else I owned/collected back then.....
Sold it.

 

[nevusofota]

A couple of things concern me. First, the only finishes that were available during the Davies era was either natural Alder or black. Second, there seems to be a truss rod adjustment wheel near the neck pickup. This was never offered on any N4 from the factory.

Edit: Actually, it appears that once the production moved to the Washburn factory in '92 this iridescent/acid rain model was produced. The truss rod wheel was likely added later by an owner.

 

[jkdsteve]

I remember seeing a few N4s offered in that fish on eBay...not sure they were as old as '92 and the truss rod wheel is presumably after market too?

The Davies neck joint is different from the production series also...although no guarantee that the transition series is identifiable.

Not convinced that lineage is authentic.....I spent a lot of time looking at N4s at one point but my memory is crap.

 

[nevusofota]

I think the N4 is one of the most under rated super strats out there. I own three, 2 from 1991 and a Paduak from '93. Though I feel the '91's play a bit better than the '93, these guitars in general are just extremely comfortable to play. Not only the neck but the placement and comfort of the right hand is excellent. I like that the strings seem to be slightly higher off of the body compared to many other super strats, more like a LP. You can really dig in. The body shape is extremely comfortable also. I've played/owned just about everything and the N4 is my watermark. I know its hard to believe around these parts but I haven't even played a Suhr that feels better IMO.

 

[Webb]

Cool guitar. There is a similar one on eBay now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/c-1994-Washburn ... Sw3ydVwM5t

 

[lessthan12]

A couple of things concern me. First, the only finishes that were available during the Davies era was either natural Alder or black. Second, there seems to be a truss rod adjustment wheel near the neck pickup. This was never offered on any N4 from the factory.

Edit: Actually, it appears that once the production moved to the Washburn factory in '92 this iridescent/acid rain model was produced. The truss rod wheel was likely added later by an owner.

actually during the transition period from Davies to Washburn there are quite a few examples that had the truss rod wheel. Raw bodies and necks were being made by Grover Jackson and then being sent to Davies shop for full completion,hence the transition guitars having minor tweaks done. Believe me, Ive already done the research, I don't buy anything without knowing the whole back story. Here are a few that also feature the truss rod wheel. Link is to another iridescent out in the UK that has wheel also
http://forums.washburn.com/index.php?topic=24480.0
Rare Black Davies transitional

Rare Seafoam Green Custom Shop 93

 

[nevusofota]

A couple of things concern me. First, the only finishes that were available during the Davies era was either natural Alder or black. Second, there seems to be a truss rod adjustment wheel near the neck pickup. This was never offered on any N4 from the factory.

Edit: Actually, it appears that once the production moved to the Washburn factory in '92 this iridescent/acid rain model was produced. The truss rod wheel was likely added later by an owner.

actually during the transition period from Davies to Washburn there are quite a few examples that had the truss rod wheel. Raw bodies and necks were being made by Grover Jackson and then being sent to Davies shop for full completion,hence the transition guitars having minor tweaks done. Believe me, Ive already done the research, I don't buy anything without knowing the whole back story. Here are a few that also feature the truss rod wheel. Link is to another iridescent out in the UK that has wheel also
http://forums.washburn.com/index.php?topic=24480.0
Rare Black Davies transitional

Rare Seafoam Green Custom Shop 93

Yup, agree with everything you said. I've been following N4's for many years and own 2 Davies and an early Padauk. I guess the issue for me (not with your guitar, but in general) is the classification that many use. IMO, it's only a Davies if production began and ended in his shop. "Transition" models show huge variation, in fact many from '92 began life in a shop which made furniture in Lahoya.

Actually, none of this matters if it plays well, in fact, in the end it's an N4. Great find!

 

[lessthan12]

Just finished stripping,cleaning and setting it up. Plays great and feels super smooth now. Here are a few better pics of that sweet finish

 

[yngzaklynch]

Those are fun

 

[lessthan12]

probably going up for sale if anyone's interested. I played a Suhr today that was amazing