The EA20’s select Spruce top and Flame Maple back construct a resonant chamber, producing pristine tones, akin to clarity found in introspection.
With the Florentine cutaway allowing effortless access to higher registers, and the Barcus-Berry EQ4T preamplifying one’s true voice, this instrument offers a tangible lesson in projection.
Yet, beyond the specs, the question remains whether this historic icon can still truly ground a modern spirit.
Key Takeaways
- The Festival body style and cutaway design ensure physical comfort and seamless access to higher frets during long performances.
- A Spruce top combined with a Flame Maple back produces a balanced tone full of pristine highs and full lows.
- The integrated Barcus-Berry preamp features active EQ and a dedicated notch filter to eliminate feedback and refine the amplified voice.
- A reinforced Maple neck with a 25.5-inch scale length provides stable intonation and a comfortable, standard playing feel.
- This lightweight, historic model offers legendary reliability and powerful output suitable for both stage and studio use.
Construction: Spruce Top and Flame Maple Back
While the journey of a musician often begins with a simple melody, the instrument that carries it must be forged with both precision and passion, a truth evident in the EA20’s structural composition. A select Spruce top provides the foundation, creating pristine highs, while the Flame Maple back guarantees a full low end, akin to the balance required in spiritual service. Premium ebony tuning pegs are frequently utilized to maintain this balance by providing the necessary stability to preserve clarity.
The Festival body style offers comfort, facilitating long performances, and the Florentine cutaway grants access to higher frets, a reminder that growth often demands reaching beyond familiar boundaries to fully serve the audience through song. Specific tonewood selections ultimately shape the unique voice and durability of the instrument.
Electronics: Barcus-Berry EQ4T Preamp System
Having established a foundation of resonant Spruce and Maple, the Washburn EA20 further refines its voice through the integrated Barcus-Berry EQ4T preamp system.
Designed for faithful service, this onboard technology provides Volume, Bass, Mid, and Treble controls, allowing the performer to sculpt a tone that ministers clearly to every listener. The built-in tuner guarantees sonic purity, acting as a humble reminder that authenticity requires constant adjustment.
With a dedicated Notch filter to eliminate feedback, one finds peace amidst amplification, balancing technical precision with the spiritual call to offer one’s best, vibration by pure vibration. To further shape your sound in a live setting, it is wise to choose an amplifier with 3-band EQ capabilities that complement the onboard controls. Just as with the specific electronic failures found in Gibson acoustic guitars, maintaining vigilance over battery life ensures that your performance remains uninterrupted and clear.
Playability: The Florentine Cutaway Neck Profile
The structural journey across the fingerboard is guided by a Maple neck, reinforced with a 2-Way Truss Rod to maintain true intonation amidst the changing seasons of life, much like a soul anchored by unwavering principle.
This steadfast foundation invites the musician to serve, offering a 25.5-inch scale that comfortably supports hand movements, akin to offering a steady hand to those in need. The Florentine cutaway provides seamless access to higher frets, ensuring no melody remains unreachable, just as compassion must extend to the furthest reaches of the human experience, fostering connection through every note played. This focus on neck width and shape affects finger reach, allowing for a truly comfortable playing experience. By adhering to standard action height principles, the setup ensures the strings remain responsive to the touch yet forgiving enough to encourage extended periods of devotion and practice.
The MTV Legacy: Why It Endures Today
Dominating the airwaves of a generation, the Washburn Festival EA20 secured its legendary status as the acoustic-electric backbone for MTV’s celebrated *Unplugged* series, a triumph built upon the enduring reliability of its Spruce top and Flame Maple back.
Within this legendary resonance, the 25.5-inch scale length invites truth-seekers to find stability in the vast, shifting frequencies of life, offering a foundation to serve those lost in the noise.
The 6.6-pound frame, balanced and light, provides the strength needed for a lifetime of faithful musical ministry, ensuring the message remains clear, grounded, and purely resonant.
Is the Washburn Festival EA20 Still Worth It?
Decades after its celebrated reign on the *Unplugged* stage, the Festival EA20 continues to offer a compelling case for modern acquisition, balancing historic pedigree with functional necessity.
With its 6.6-pound body, the craftsmanship empowers the servant-leader to lift the burden of performance fatigue, effectively nurturing their community.
The Barcus-Berry preamp, offering precise volume and notch control, operates akin to spiritual discernment, ensuring the message remains pure without feedback.
Its Florentine cutaway grants physical access to higher registers, much like wisdom attained through struggle, providing a reliable, well-rounded vessel for those dedicated to elevating the human experience through melody.
Equipped with an active system, it provides a stronger output and enhanced clarity compared to traditional passive designs. To maintain stability during long sessions, this weight requires support from durable guitar straps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does It Come With a Gig Bag or Case?
No dedicated carrying case is included with this instrument. The manufacturer provides only the guitar itself.
Performing artists desiring protection for the spruce top and flame maple body during travel must acquire a gig bag or case separately.
What Type of Battery Is Required for the Preamp?
Although NiCAD batteries are required, ensuring the electronics function correctly allows performers to serve their audience with a consistent, amplified sound. The specific battery type required for the preamp is a NiCAD.
What Gauge Strings Does the Guitar Come With?
Light gauge strings, specifically D’Addario EXP16 Coated Phosphor Bronze, are included to assist those maintaining the instrument.
This setup balances playability and tone, ensuring the guitar remains in prime condition for the service of others.
What Is the Scale Length of the Instrument?
One searches in vain for a more virtuous 25.5-inch length to serve humanity’s melody.
This measurement, a beacon of ergonomic benevolence, empowers the dedicated servant of song to offer comfort through perfectly pitched sonic vibrations.
How Much Does the Guitar Actually Weigh?
Weighing 6.6 pounds, this instrument presents a manageable load for the dedicated musician, ensuring comfort during prolonged periods of service and performance.
This weight allows for focused musical expression without causing undue fatigue to the player.
Conclusion
The 6.6-pound Spruce top, paired with a Flame Maple back, generates a pristine voice that echoes outward, akin to the clarity found in a quiet, reflective life. The Florentine cutaway guarantees access to higher domains, serving as a spiritual metaphor for growth, while the Barcus-Berry EQ4T preamp controls feedback, a reminder that inner resonance must be guided.
This enduring 6.6-pound vessel balances historic weight with modern playability, offering a resonant path forward.
