Some Thoughts Regarding This Expensive Import Washburn Electric Guitar

[toomanycats]

What you're looking at is the Washburn Parallaxe V260FR-Michael Sweet - Black/Yellow, as offered for sale on Sweetwater for $1,519.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ack-yellow

There are several peculiarities about this guitar that drew my attention:


1) Is there really a demand for a Michael Sweet signature model? When I think of 80s type guitar players who are worthy of a brand issuing a signature models the names Lynch, VH, Rhoads, Bettencourt, De Martini, and so on come to mind. However, The fact that a Michael Sweet signature model exists is proof of the fact that Washburn was at least willing to float the idea. Is there something I don't know about Michael Sweet as a player?

2) Are the graphics an infringement of the Van Halen "Bumblebee" design? It is clearly similar to Ed's Black and yellow guitar, which I've got to assume is a copyrighted design, since EVH is itself a brand.

3) This is an import guitar priced at $1,519 and it has Duncan Designed pickups. Let that sink in. Does this guitar represent the leading edge of the industry testing what the market will bear? Will consumers actually pay 1.5 K for an import with Duncan Designed pups?

In Sweetwater's own words:

"Sweetwater and Stryper axe-slinger Michael Sweet enjoy a great history. Whenever he holds a workshop here, it's always packed to the brim with guitarists eager to replicate his killer tone and techniques. On one occasion, our Guitar Repair Shop even had the honor of servicing his prized signature guitar. The Parallaxe Signature Michael Sweet V is based on that exact instrument — but at a realistic working-musician price."

Does Sweetwater consider an import guitar with Duncan Designed pickups offered at $1,519 as "a realistic working-musician price"?

If so, then there's been a drastic sea change.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I think it's a sign of the times. It seems to me a lot of the industry has taken a "screw the realities, charge more" attitude. For some, that has to come with a dose of trying to make silk from a sow's ear.

[mozz]

I have a Washburn Idol LP copy, set neck. Bought it before i bought my first Agile as i wanted a LP copy at the time. It had Duncan designed humbuckers, which if to describe them i would say "blah, they work, that's about it ".

[bc rich]

Not everyone can swing for the 5 grand USA real thing , even the china knock offs are not cheap, and the whole look is ugly as. Now the Zoltan Bathory signature Assassin would be my pick and it was not over priced for what you got.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384495800229?_ ... %3A2047675

[Partscaster]

FWIW, Amazon may have them for 1099$.

[tonebender]

Just goes to show you that $1600 does not got that far these days.

[jtcnj]

I think it's a sign of the times. It seems to me a lot of the industry has taken a "screw the realities, charge more" attitude. For some, that has to come with a dose of trying to make silk from a sow's ear.

Sounds like what Fender did with some the Squier Classic Vibes - big jump up to around $460.
Looks like they are starting to come down.

[Rollin Hand]

Prices are rising for everything. And people are asking for more than they paid for used items. We are through the looking glass....

And yes, the Michael Sweet connection may not sell a lot of guitars, but they must have a decent business case or why do it? Perhaps they sell a lot to Christian music fans? I dunno.

It is hard to predict such things. Apparently Ibanez sells more Jems and PIAs than ever now.

[toomanycats]

Perhaps they sell a lot to Christian music fans? I dunno.

That's a great point. Even though it's probably considered just a subset of the larger music gear consuming public, it's my experience that the Christian music scene spends lots of money. I have this one spendy guitar made by a well known luthier, and the vast majority of his expensive builds are for musicians who play what he calls "Jesus music." This group of people seem to have a lot of disposable income to spend of expensive gear.

[toomanycats]

Here's another example of an import signature instrument that seems somewhat questionable, though it is much more reasonably priced. It's the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Outfit - Green with EVH D-Tuna. This guitar was $950, but for a limited time is now being offered for $799.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... tfit-green


I'm not saying that Dave Sabo isn't a competent player. His band Skid Row has sold millions of records, his music is the soundtrack of countless people's lives, and it continues to endure to this day. The man has accomplished far more than myself.

What I'm saying, while acknowledging his aforementioned accomplishments, is that he still wasn't a first rank, late 80s/early 90s guitar hero, and for that reason it puzzles me that a signature model would be marketable. Heck, I even liked Scotty Hill's playing better than Dave Sabo's. I recently had to learn "I Remember You" and that solo is just brilliant. When I think of Dave Sabo I mostly recollect the sound of a really hot pickup through a Tube Screamer pushing an overdriven amp; kinda abrasive, compressed, and synthetic; a tone where the type of wood the guitar's body is made out of is irrelevant, because it's predominantly being shaped by other factors.

The reviews of the Kramer Snake Sabo guitar on Sweetwater are not all glowing, with lots of talk of the cheapness of the parts, having to upgrade them, and somebody noting that the bridge humbucker says "Epiphone" on it (Gibson owns Kramer, correct?)

[uwmcscott]

As far as pricing, everything costs more these days and people don't seem to be slowing down purchasing all that much so they will likely keep rising until demand tapers off. In the economic lens, guitars are luxury items so for the most part the consumer base has a lot of purchasing power. As far as demand for that specific model, my guess is that Washburn has been in business long enough to know the market. And they are big enough that if something bombs out they can make up for it somewhere else.

[Tiga]

I was an 80's metal/hair metal kid but never listened to Stryper. Fast forward to 2022 and I've started listening to them and kick myself for missing out all these years. Personally, I think the guitar looks awesome - I would love to have it. No I wouldn't spend that much for it. Hopefully the price keeps dropping.

[Rollin Hand]

Here's another example of an import signature instrument that seems somewhat questionable, though it is much more reasonably priced. It's the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Outfit - Green with EVH D-Tuna. This guitar was $950, but for a limited time is now being offered for $799.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... tfit-green


I'm not saying that Dave Sabo isn't a competent player. His band Skid Row has sold millions of records, his music is the soundtrack of countless people's lives, and it continues to endure to this day. The man has accomplished far more than myself.

What I'm saying, while acknowledging his aforementioned accomplishments, is that he still wasn't a first rank, late 80s/early 90s guitar hero, and for that reason it puzzles me that a signature model would be marketable. Heck, I even liked Scotty Hill's playing better than Dave Sabo's. I recently had to learn "I Remember You" and that solo is just brilliant. When I think of Dave Sabo I mostly recollect the sound of a really hot pickup through a Tube Screamer pushing an overdriven amp; kinda abrasive, compressed, and synthetic; a tone where the type of wood the guitar's body is made out of is irrelevant, because it's predominantly being shaped by other factors.

The reviews of the Kramer Snake Sabo guitar on Sweetwater are not all glowing, with lots of talk of the cheapness of the parts, having to upgrade them, and somebody noting that the bridge humbucker says "Epiphone" on it (Gibson owns Kramer, correct?)



21122902249-body-large.jpg


sabo.jpeg

I would not be shocked if they are using a lot of the same bits from the Baretta Special on the higher end Barettas, like the Snake. Makes sense to a degree, for a company to do that. But, when someone looks at a $900 guitar and sees the same bits as are on a $300 guitar, I think they have a right to get grumpy.

Yes Gibson owns Kramer, for good and for bad. Personally, I would not mind a Special as a mod platform.

[toomanycats]

I actually didn't realize that Michael Sweet played any lead guitar in Stryper. I assumed he sang and just played rhythm. In the song "Free" he rips a really cool solo.

[Rollin Hand]

I knew he could rip.

He may just be behind my love of Jackson Kellys (Kellies?) with reverse headstocks too.

[sabasgr68]

I do like some Stryper music - I could have liked it more without some Michael Sweet´s high pitch screams, though -. One of my favorites is "Surrender", form their second album "Soldiers under command". The solo and the song structure is good, I always listen to it. On the other hand, I don´t like the mastering of that song, it sounds dark, I don´t know, but the song is good to my ears.

Another song I like is "Soldiers under command", great solo also.

I´ve never seen them live; they never came to Venezuela - of course -, and I would have been afraid to attend a live concert because I´d be very dissapointed if they didn´t play the songs - solos especially - just like in the studio recordings. That´s what I am always afraid when watching/listening a live recording/video of my favoritres bands: that they suck at playing the songs as they should - similar or better than in the sutdio albums -.

Actually, I´ve just realized that I haven´t even watched any live Stryper video on Youtube. For some reason, I have never searched for one; I think I´m afraid to be dissapointed. Also, it´s not that I like them a lot. I bought their second and third album ("Soldiers under command" and "To hell with the devil"), and then I think I´ve never listened to any of their new albums after those; the third one I thought it was not as good as the second, so I just stopped buying their albums.

[TVvoodoo]

Sweet has held his voice wayvbettervthsn most of his peers. This is recent... check the opening vocal note



Just Finished Ayn Rand's Anthem ... sort of a 1984/Brave New World vibe "Transgressor" come from that I think.
Not a big fan but do remember them from the 80s... my shreddy brother was a fan

[toomanycats]

Sweet has held his voice wayvbettervthsn most of his peers. This is recent... check the opening vocal note



Just Finished Ayn Rand's Anthem ... sort of a 1984/Brave New World vibe "Transgressor" come from that I think.
Not a big fan but do remember them from the 80s... my shreddy brother was a fan

Wow! That is just savage! Its like Stryper's "Painkiller." Since posting this thread I've truly been schooled about what great musicians these guys are. Michael Sweet does deserve his own signature model . . . though 1.5K is still hard to wrap my mind around for an import where you'd likely need to upgrade the pickups.

I also notice that Michael's brother, now that he's older and crusty, no longer looks like Heather Locklear.

[Rollin Hand]

Sweet has held his voice wayvbettervthsn most of his peers. This is recent... check the opening vocal note



Just Finished Ayn Rand's Anthem ... sort of a 1984/Brave New World vibe "Transgressor" come from that I think.
Not a big fan but do remember them from the 80s... my shreddy brother was a fan

Wow! That is just savage! Its like Stryper's "Painkiller." Since posting this thread I've truly been schooled about what great musicians these guys are. Michael Sweet does deserve his own signature model . . . though 1.5K is still hard to wrap my mind around for an import where you'd likely need to upgrade the pickups.

I also notice that Michael's brother, now that he's older and crusty, no longer looks like Heather Locklear.

Neither does Heather Locklear.

Here's the thing: Stryper sold a lot of records to non-Christian music fans as well. That speaks to the quality of the playing and the music. The fact they can still deliver at a high level says a lot.

Here is a show they played where the power went out. So they got out battery powered practice amps and played anyway.

[sabasgr68]

Sweet has held his voice wayvbettervthsn most of his peers. This is recent... check the opening vocal note



Just Finished Ayn Rand's Anthem ... sort of a 1984/Brave New World vibe "Transgressor" come from that I think.
Not a big fan but do remember them from the 80s... my shreddy brother was a fan

Wow! That is just savage! Its like Stryper's "Painkiller." Since posting this thread I've truly been schooled about what great musicians these guys are. Michael Sweet does deserve his own signature model . . . though 1.5K is still hard to wrap my mind around for an import where you'd likely need to upgrade the pickups.

I also notice that Michael's brother, now that he's older and crusty, no longer looks like Heather Locklear.

Neither does Heather Locklear.

LOL