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An extreme influence
Nuno Bettencourt is well established as one of the world's most technically gifted and versatile guitarists, following his rise to fame with hard rock band 'Extreme'. Since then, he has expanded his projects to founding multiple bands, collaborating with Steve Vai, and even touring with Rihanna. And, naturally, his influence on the world of music has grown stronger and stronger, showcasing his virtuosic shredding ability and unique sense of melody around the globe.
Part of his iconic image includes his stunning Washburn N4 guitar, hosting the secret to his distinctive tone along with a striking, natural aesthetic. Which is why Washburn have fine-tuned every detail of his signature model, to provide you with all the ingredients for the coveted playing experience of the man himself.
Hot, high-output humbuckers
Bettencourt's hailed sound is largely characterised by its searing gain and screaming high-end, allowing his melodic mastery to cut through the mix with ease. This level of hot tone can only be achieved from a pair of humbuckers. So, you guessed it, Washburn have loaded the N4 with a set of Seymour Duncan and Bill Lawrence humbucking pickups. In the neck position lies a Duncan '59, offering sweet sustain and a rounded low-end for your chord-playing. It's based on the original P.A.F. humbucker of the '50s, with a few modern enhancements to make it even more versatile. Put simply, it's the jack of all trades in the world of pickups.
The bridge position hosts a Bill Lawrence L-500, unleashing a searing, high-output tone ideal for solo-playing. On the treble strings, you get a crisp, harmonically rich sound with unprecedented clarity and articulation. As for the low strings, it's all about that thick, chunky character that tops off the N4's unique voice. Topped off with a single volume control, players are gifted with total control of a truly astonishing hard-rock sound that excels in every playing style.
Endless practice, exquisite performance
It's not enough for a signature model to just sound like the original. It needs to capture its distinctive feel, too. Luckily, Washburn have ensured that every small detail of Bettencourt's famed guitar is replicated onto his signature with ultimate precision, providing a truly authentic playing experience. A birdseye maple neck is sculpted to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, allowing for effortless movement up and down the scale length. It's layered with a super-sleek ebony fingerboard, ensuring your fingers can comfortably glide across the surface for endless hours of practice.
The neck also comes equipped with a Stephen's extended cutaway bolted onto the alder body. So, combined with the N4's dual cutaway design, players have completely unrestricted access to the upper frets for those shredding high-end licks. And you can be sure you'll roam free on stage, thanks to the superb lightweight nature of the alder body. Indulge in a performance of the greats.
First-rate Floyd Rose
It wouldn't be a Bettencourt signature without a locking tremolo. So it goes without saying that the N4 features a Floyd Rose 1000 series original bridge for even more expression in performance. From daring dive-bombs, to a whirlwind of whammy antics – players have an even greater scope for their creativity to flourish on stage. What's more - an integrated EVH D-Tuna allows for instant drop-tuning with the simple flick of a lever. And, thanks to its double-locking design, you can have total peace of mind that you'll return to your original tuning the moment you release the bridge. Because this is a guitar that not only meets the demands of the modern musician. But it surpasses all expectation.
Authentic aesthetic
As guitarists, we're all reluctant to admit that one of the most crucial aspects of the instrument is how it looks. Sure, the sound is what counts. But, when a guitar doesn't look good, it's just not the same is it? Thankfully, Washburn know this. And they've taken every step to maintain the sought-after style of Bettencourt in every aspect of its design. A reverse headstock decorates the neck with an elegance that only a signature model could get away with. Not to mention the striking, distressed matte finish that provides the perfect canvas for the iconic N4 print. Just look at it. Need we say anymore?
Specifications
- Model Name: Washburn N4 Nuno Bettencourt Authentic, Distressed Matte
- Model Code: WAS2111
Body & Construction
- Body Material: Alder
- Style: Double Cut Solid Body
- Colour: Distressed Matte
Neck & Fingerboard
- Neck Wood: Birdseye Maple 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway
- Fretboard: Ebony
- Number Of Frets: 22
- Inlays: Dots
- Nut: Kahler Locking Nut
- Scale Length: 25.5"
Hardware & Electronics
- Hardware: Chrome
- Bridge: Floyd Rose Original w/ D-Tuna
- Tuners: Grover 18:1
- Bridge Pickup: Bill Lawrence L-500
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59
- Configuration: H/H
- Controls: Master Volume
- Selector: 3-Way Switch
Miscellaneous
- Strings: D'addario EXL 120 Light Gauge
