Washburn D9

Washburn's long-running D10model, claims the company, is the world's best-selling acoustic. That's a mighty boast and one that's statistically hard to verify, but there's no doubting that this budget dreadnought - which was upgraded to a solid top some years ago - has sold by the veritable shedload since its launch in 1990.

D9

Given the modest price tag, you might expect the D9 to be a plain, drab affair. In fact it's encouragingly well-equipped. The spruce top carries multi-ply purfling and a quite intricate marquetry rosette design, while up at the sharp end on the rosewood-overlaid peghead sits a set of diecast tuners with classy-looking ebonite buttons.

The rosewood fingerboard is bound in white to match the body binding, and the whole instrument has been treated to well-buffed gloss lacquer (similarly-priced rivals can often have matt finishes).

The mahogany back, sides and neck are stained to an attractive red-brown under the lacquer, and there are no cosmetic niggles anywhere to complain about for the dosh. Everything's commendably tidy.

The neck - predictably constructed with scarfed headstock and separate heel portion - is a very obliging player. With a medium-width span, the ‘C' profile has enough meat under higher positions to approach a traditional grip, but it isn't offputtingly bulky.

A regulation 55mm string spacing at the bridge takes care of those fingerstyle moments, and the fretboard's well-dressed, near-medium-oval fretting offers the hint of an electric feel that will go down well with players regularly swopping from one to the other.

Our sample's excellent action set-up enhances the sense of slickness, also helped by the fingerboard's moderate camber.

SOUNDS

Expectations of cheap all-laminate acoustics aren't high, but the D9 gives a respectable account of itself. Volume and projection aren't noticeably lacking, and although the highs can sound a little raw and the lows aren't especially rich, the overall balance is actually quite pleasing and the guitar sustains pretty well.

It's not a tonally complex or hugely dynamic sound, but it does the job - and that's encouragement enough at this price.