This is a welcome return to the fore for the humble Washburn D10, always there or thereabouts around the top of a list of models for players in the market for their first "real" acoustic to check out. With select spruce top and laminate mahogany back and sides, there's not much to set it visually apart from the plethora of similar box guitars adorning the wall of your local guitar shop. At around £140, it's worth a look...
However, once you pick one up and try it, you'll begin to see the light - or rather, hear the difference. Now, although all manufacturers worth their salt will do everything in their power to both instigate and maintain quality control systems, it's a fact of life that some guitars from the same production line, especially at this end of the scale, will sound better than others. The particular D10 we tested was a beauty.
The balance between the strings is impressive and has been perfectly set-up; the action is low without ever dragging on the frets and would suit the inexperienced player. Those open chords that seem such a struggle as you begin on your way to super-stardom are simple to pull-off and the fiddly change between D and G-shapes is actually assisted by the D10's wide yet comfy neck profile - nice wide string-spacing.
As you're no doubt aware, there seems to be literally hundreds of guitars akin to the D10, but in looks and price, but most will fall by the wayside once you get to grips with this Washburn. As ever, try the actual guitar you want to buy before parting with your hard earned cash.
