Rehabbing a Washburn MG120

[RobB]

I did two major mods to this 90’s Washburn:

I had the neck re-profiled by Wood Street (huh-huh…”wood”) Guitars in Oakland from a nearly 1” depth to a very Charvel-friendly, .810”-.860. It plays beautifully. 

Second, I replaced the aging Wilkie VS100 trem with a modern version, the VS1300. Upgrades include redesigned Gotoh posts (with internal set-screws) and locking saddles. With three springs/9.5-44 strings, it stays very stable with full-step bends. Bar tension can be adjusted to taste with no slop. 

I’ll get more pics later:

[donner]

Washburns from 1993 to 1996 are often overlooked instruments from when Grover Jackson ran the Washburn US-shop.

Obviously, a Good-Wood- and Craftsman-Era

I have a 94 Silverado (straight Strat-Copy with exceptional light Swamp Ash body), which I spent a Rio Grande Muy Grande/Stelly-Set and a better vibrato, too.

Oiled, relatively flat, but wide Maple neck.

Only pet peeve stays the neck pocket. A wooden thwart separates it from the PU-routing within the body.

So, any trussrod-adjustment is a great PIA: Neck off, blindly turning the nut, neck, strings etc. on. And repeat...

[RobB]

Yeah, heel-access trussrods are a total PITA to wrench on. Once the strings are slacked, I use a capo over the nut and one at the 7th fret to make it easier to handle. That being said, a quarter-sawn maple/vintage trussrod make for a very stable neck IME. 

[Biz Prof]