Sure, the Novo has a laminate construction, with spruce on top and walnut on the back and sides, but at this price the finish is immaculate. Washburn has built guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and more throughout the years. Not so today, but with that comes rising expectations, and there’s only one way to find out if the Bella Tono series will meet ours... KEY FEATURES: Solid spruce top with select pau ferro back and sides, quarter-sawn scalloped bracing, mahogany C profile neck, 25.5” scale, 20 frets, ebony fretboard with abalone ‘birds in flight’ inlay, ebony bridge, diecast gold tuners Thank you for signing up to Total Guitar. What can I expect from the cheapest in the series? FINISH: Gloss Natural. The C-shaped neck, with satin finish and low action, feels fast, effortless, and inviting to play, too. Not only that, but these compact, Chinese-made instruments have an abundance of visual flair, a feel tailored for today’s player, options for onboard pickups and preamps, and all at a competitive price. Indeed, and it makes the Vite a persuasive option for those seeking an affordable, playable instrument to play some shows or hit the high street with a songbook and an open gig bag to collect change from passersby. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} If I want prog time in Nerdville, let’s go!“, Orianthi: “Michael Jackson taught me to do what’s best for the song. KEY FEATURES: Select spruce top with select figured walnut back and sides, quarter-sawn scalloped bracing, okoume C profile neck, 25.5” scale, 20 frets, ebony fretboard w/lotus inlay, ebony bridge, diecast black tuners It is and it does! We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Between the Washburn’s compact body dimensions and forearm bevel, the guitar is super-comfortable to hold. And, of course, the price isn’t bad either. But with features like a forearm bevel, maple binding, and fancy abalone inlay, it also offers amenities associated with guitars several notches up the price ladder—and a balanced, versatile voice, too. The dramatic cutaway makes it possible to reach even the very highest frets with ease. George Washburn Lyon and Patrick Healy came together in 1883 to setup Washburn Guitars in Chicago, America, with the common goal to build high-quality stringed instruments. Not bad. The Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V is equipped with an okoume neck with Modern "C" neck profile, which Sweetwater players appreciate for its not-too-thick, not-too-thin feel. But we would love to see a stripped down version without the tropical abalone island inlay. Even better, the smooth satin finish won't feel sticky or slow down your fretwork, even during long playing sessions. Check out our review of the best Washburn acoustic guitar offerings in 2020! I recently received a Bella Tono Elegante S24S for review, and it impressively checked all of those boxes.. What the Allure might lack in low-end punch it often makes up for in balance. A Tiki island them decorates the Allure's fretboard. KEY FEATURES: Select spruce top with select walnut back and sides, quarter-sawn scalloped bracing, okoume C profile neck, 25.5” scale, 20 frets, Barcus Berry LX4 pickup and onboard tuner, ebony fretboard w/ exotic wood vine inlay, ebony bridge, diecast black tuners But with features like a forearm bevel, maple binding, and fancy abalone inlay, it also offers amenities associated with guitars several notches up the price ladder—and a balanced, versatile voice, too. The Charcoal Burst finish might be a little industrial grunge to some eyes but it's nonetheless good to see an alternative finish. Overall, the Allure is very well built. That pickup system at this price? The Elegante features a solid spruce top with beautifully figured pau ferro laminate on the back and sides. A balanced, super-comfortable flattop that brings the bling. The Bella Tono Novo S9, the initial offering in the Bella Tono line, features an eye-catching high gloss Charcoal-Burst Spruce top and Figured Walnut back & sides.The new Washburn “Studio” body design makes for an incredibly comfortable playing experience while managing to maintain the tight lows, focused mids and clear highs commonly associated with larger body sizes. It shares the same depth but is 7mm thinner than the Novo when measured across the lower body bout. These are not irregularities you would want to see in a new high-end guitar, but they don’t significantly affect playability on the Allure and are easier to overlook at this price, if not downright commonplace. Receive news and offers from our other brands? By The CITES restrictions on rosewood have been lifted in recent months but it remains to be seen if the industry’s go-to replacement will be phased out, especially for instruments at this price. It can’t be overstated how useful an onboard tuner is on a guitar at this price. Here, Washburn has plumped for okoume for the neck, which offers a more lightweight - and cheaper - alternative to mahogany. At first glance, Washburn's Bella Tono S9V Studio acoustic-electric guitar is an obvious pairing to the S9 boasting the same eye-catching high-gloss Charcoal Burst spruce top and figured walnut back and sides. With the Bella Tono acoustic series, Washburn set out to create a collection of compact and elegantly designed guitars with rich and full clarity and projection. Both are strikingly figured. Terms Of Use. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. 4.5 out of 5, Best for buskers on a budget - Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V It doesn’t sound compressed or overwhelmed when played with a pick, but still sounds lively when played fingerstyle. Beach Trip The fretboard’s abalone and turquoise inlays depict a tropical scene, complete with a palm tree that starts around the 12th fret, and above it, seagulls in flight. The Bella Tono Allure SC56S by Washburn is an excellent example. Tonally there’s nothing between them, but we liked the more subtle inlay on the Novo, and if you can do without the pickup then that might be the guitar that presents the best value. Read More. Best all-rounder - Wasburn Bella Tono Elegante S24S The solid spruce top has a warm, reddish hue and subtle popcorn-like figuring, and the acacia-laminate back and sides are also nicely figured. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Plugged into a Fender Acoustasonic amp with the controls set flat, the Allure and Barcus Berry tandem are noise free, reasonably lifelike, and well suited to the guitar’s relatively neutral voice. Take the S9, give it a Venetian cutaway, install a Barcus Berry LX4 pickup system and onboard tuner, garnish with some vine inlay, et voila! The Washburn Bella Tono Series consists of four acoustic guitars, all of which feature an all-new “Studio” sized body, that has a smaller body profile but still delivers a full body tone. And while the bling won’t suit everyone’s taste (more subdued variations of the Bella Tono shape are available), the Allure’s adaptability, comfort and playability, and breadth of voices make it a remarkable guitar for the money. Sign up below to get the latest from Total Guitar, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! But what the Allure might lack in low-end punch it often makes up for in balance. Inveterate noodlers will enjoy exploring the territory between the 14th and 18th frets - especially when the neck profile encourages fleet-fingered playing. The premium feel continues with the ebony fretboard and the details in the finish. The Allure SC56S and the Vite S9V boast incredibly useful in-built tuners with their Barcus-Berry pickup and preamp systems. And it’s perfect for those who liked the look of the S9 but really needed an electro-acoustic option. New series of electro-acoustics will be familiar with the Barcus Berry LX4 pickup Web... 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