Washburn KC-40V

The KC40-V was the value for money model in the Korean made Chicago Series- genuinely good pick-ups, a locking Trem that works, and fabulous classy finish that Washburn were very well known for back then.

The equivalent guitar today is in a different price bracket altogether. Korea was determined to match Japanese quality and for a few years, it managed to do that. This has an Alder body and high quality gold crackle finish, a super skinny and slick maple neck with proper quality rosewood 9.5" radius fretboard. Simplicity for controls, one volume, one tone and a Strat-style 5 way selector.

This is the era where a gig would start with heavyish pop/rock, a bit of melodic metal, and finish with a couple of smooth chorus-soaked ballads- guitars needed to cover all of these and this is exactly what the Washburn sets out to achieve. The Frontmen may still have strummed the bottom 2 strings of Les Pauls, but the virtuoso lead guitarist usually played a Super-Strat like this. Lukather, Leggett; guitar solos you know, but had a less famous session player perform was likely done with a Super-Strat of some form.

This example is in excellent condition - the one and only flaw is that the allen key holder on the rear of the headstock has been removed and binned. Sensible move - they serve no real purpose. Tools belong in a bag.

This is a one-owner from new guitar, it was cherished and when life took over and guitars took a back seat, it was carefully stored. It just needed a minor service, and is now ready for action again.

It is true that there are some less immaculate KCs out there for a few quid and requiring three times its sales price to recommission, and this one is likely to be the priciest one in your serach. The condition determines the value here - there were new ones hanging up in guitar stores with more signs of life than this one. Quality wise, these 90s Washburns are light years ahead of modern EVH / Sire etc. If the guitar competing with this one for your attention is Indonesian, just go for this one as this one will not need fixing every few weeks.

It may look like a complicated guitar to choose as a first "proper guitar", but this is a fine guitar to learn and practice with. This could be a starter guitar that you won't outgrow - we would all take this one to a serious gig in a heartbeat.