Question:
Has anyone tried out the Idol series with the VCC tone controls? None of the music stores in town have them in stock and I was wondering if the VCC system was worth looking into or just marketing hype. I know what Washburn 600 Humbuckers sound like, but how do they sound in single coil mode?
Answer:
I have one, though I got it as I liked the guitar overall with or without VCC. As for the VCC itself, when the knob is turned up the pickup acts like humbucker and when turned down it acts like a single coil. Then there is that area in between when you can get a mix of sounds, but after experimenting I never normally have a pickup set to anything other than an extreme. Is it hype - well, it certainly does seem to give either a humbucker or single coil sound, which is kind of nice - saves having to have two (or even three) guitars or to switch between them. As for giving you any tone you desire, I suppose it will, but I find I just want one or the other. Other than that it's a nice solidly built well made and well set up guitar, imho. However I have the DL model so all that gold makes it harder to clean. If I recall correctly then as the VCC is turned down it changes the wiring of the humbucker from series to parallel. This leads to a single coil sound, however as the two coils are wired in parallel you don't get that hum that you would expect from a normal single coil. I presume that you want me to tell you what pickup it sounds similar too, however I'm not sure I can do that, I'm not sure that it even sounds similar to any single coil pickup. The result by nature gives a single coil type sound, but it's not the same as if you were to tare out the humbuckers and replace them with single coils. If you were being critical then you may even describe the sound as a bit naff for a single coil, but then you can't expect it to give a true single coil sound with out replacing them. However, even though it doesn't sound like a true single coil, it still produces a sound that is reasonable, just don't buy it thinking that you can use it as is, and then switch it to sound exactly like a strat. Maybe this extract from a review of the guitar from Guitarist magazine, UK Summer 2000, will help: ... Tricky electrics Washburn's passive voice control contour (VCC) system is, in essence, a variable sweep between series and parallel humbucking operation. It works via dual stacked 500k pots wired up to the four conductors from each of the Washburn 600 series humbuckers.With the VCC on full we have conventional series wiring but rotate it fully anti-clockwise and we get a parallel linkage of the pickup's twin coils. This latter setting has a thinner, more delicate sound with a lower volume output, yet unlike more conventional coil-splits it remains humbucking. But you can't just roll the tone pot back for a smoother sound like you would on a regular guitar, so it may not be for everyone. Experimenting with the VCC is more like working with watercolours than the stark black and white of switch-style coil-splits or indeed a series parallel switch. With no capacitors onboard, the treble content remains in tact, which is fine for retaining clarity, especially when overdriven, but adding a global tone control with a trusty of capacitor could be a worthwhile mod for those occasions when you just want to knock the edge off your sound. The control layout itself mimics a Les Paul's, except for the toggle switch which is positioned in easy reach of the playing position, instead of the top shoulder. The review model had its switch reversed: the neck pickup was selected when the switch pointed to the rear of the guitar. I couldn't get along with this, so I popped the back open and rotated it 180 degrees. Thankfully there's enough slack in the cable to do this without causing a problem. Sounds The best way to describe the overall tone of the Idol is kind of diet SG; while it possesses both body and mid-range honk, it lacks some depth in the bass department. It sustains well and the tones on offer are certainly capable of cutting it in most musical situations, especially rock and blues. At stage volumes though, the guitar never really escapes that low calorie vibe and the pickups are prone to microphony. Upgrading the pickups would cure this but at bedroom levels or small gigs it shouldn't be a problem providing the gain stays low. If clean tones are your bag, the VCC's extra clarity works particularly well for chord melody and other jazz styles and this is where you'll really notice the benefit of the Idol's Feiten tuning system. The Washburn Idol is certainly a well equipped with its Buzz Feiten tuning system and smart, gold hardware. It represents first class value for money. With its player-friendly feel, feisty tones, superb tuning and lovable personality, we'd happily recommend it as a first buy for a beginner or a no-nonsense, quality second guitar for the semi-pro. The Idol definitely complies to the old adage of cheap and cheerful, without compromising quality. And while the guitar might not incite out and out worship, I'd wager it's gonna have a healthy cult following pretty soon.
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