Washburn J-3 clean, service and update

[j4zz]

I have this Washburn J-3 (ES-175 type) that I used to gig with a few years ago, playing light jazz, smooth rock, and similar stuff. I used it with 10 gauge strings back then. It has been sitting for a while, so I dragged it out to get some more use from it.



Right, so it needs a clean. I put it away dirty (bad).

I decided to put Elixir Nanoweb 12-52s on it. It actually had 11 gauge on it that I tried a little while ago. Taking the old strings off, I noticed the bridge was wobbly. One of the threaded posts had stripped it's hole in the wood base. Luckily I had a similar rosewood bridge. I had to shave off a few millimetres to get the new one low enough. With that in place and new strings on, I brought it up to tension and set the bridge position for correct intonation. I then noticed 3 strings were sitting too high in the nut. Probably the slots not wide enough for the bigger string gauge, so I filed them out. Also, one slot is too low, so I will have to fill that and readjust it.

So, playable at this point. I tried it out, and I must say I like the sound. Happy !

Still to do... clean it. Also, need to adjust the bridge pickup a bit to level the volume from each string - the trebles are too loud. I don't think I'll replace the pickups with anything different for playing Jazz, as I am happy with the sound.

Lastly, what about that gaudy "W" tailpiece? What do you think. Ugly? Replace it?

[j4zz]

This is turning out similar to my work on my J&D hollow body. Today -

• masking taped some sandpaper on the body and shaped the foot of the floating bridge to match the curve
• replaced the strings and reset the action and intonation
• filled the 3rd string nut slot with loctite and refiled the slot to the correct height
• adjusted the slug screws on the neck pickup to balance the strings' loudness

I played it for an hour or so, and it is feeling and sounding great.

I ordered a new black tailpiece and when it arrives I will strip the guitar down and clean everything, polish the frets and maybe oil the fretboard. Then put it all back together like new.

[pingu]

for just one ....
I dig the W tailpiece !

[chasranney]

for just one ....
I dig the W tailpiece !

Me too!

[j4zz]

Oh no. Two likes for the big W tailpiece.

Hmmm. Not too late to change my mind...

[sgosnell]

It's a Washburn. Own it. To me, looks are a secondary concern. Tone and playability are what count. Having a W tailpiece probably don't affect those, at least not much.

[j4zz]

It's a Washburn. Own it. To me, looks are a secondary concern. Tone and playability are what count. Having a W tailpiece probably don't affect those, at least not much.

It does feel a bit thin and resonant, but I can't honestly say I hear it in the sound.