Oscar Schmidt OE30 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar, Blue Burst

 Flippin' sweet
Nice construction, good finish, sweet sustain -- for 150 bucks, you're not going to find a sweeter semi-hollow body geetar....

 Great Guitar for the price
This was my second Oscar Schmidt OE30 purchase. Previously I bought a Cherry model. While this certainly isn't the best guitar I ever purchased, it ranks up there with some of the $500 - $600 guitars I own. You really would be hard pressed to beat this axe on a "Bang for the Buck" basis.

This would make a fine first or second guitar for an older (15 and up) beginning player. It's a bit on the heavy side, which might be problematic for the younger beginner.

 Hard Axe to Beat for the Price
I bought this guitar (blueburst version, made in China) based on the reviews I'd seen here and elsewhere on the web. After having played it now for several months, I can safely say this guitar is worth WAY more than than the price being charged here. Even including the Washburn GC71 case, to walk away with everything for the amount I paid, I feel like I'm stealing.

Let me qualify this by saying I've been playing guitar for about 40 years. I spent about 8 of those years playing, teaching, selling and repairing guitars for a living. I own or have owned a wide range of guitars, from collector's items to old junker guitars. I know guitars.

I value my various guitars for their playing and sonic qualities, not simply because they have a prestigious nameplate. I've been wanting a semi-hollowbody ever since my '78 ES-335 was stolen from me (along with my '67 Les Paul Custom) many years ago. I just didn't want to spend the $500+ to get a decent 335-type guitar (and definitely couldn't justify buying a new Gibson). When I saw the OE30, I figured I'd take the chance, since the price was so affordable.

OK, on to the details: The overall workmanship is excellent, especially considering the price. There were a couple of laquer drips on the edges of the "F" holes, but nothing a fine file and gentle touch couldn't fix in a minute or two. One of the pickup ring screws was not all the way in, but I know how to operate a phillips screwdriver. The action and intonation were decent, as were the strings, especially for an "out of the box" guitar. I did a little tweaking the first time I changed the strings, and even then I don't need to make much of a change. The neck joint is rock solid, with no discernable movement, and less neck flex than my original handmade neck-through-body BC Rich Mockingbird. I was impressed by the high-quality Grover tuners, and a very workable bridge. The frets are nice, although they needed a bit of breaking in, like on almost any new guitar. The electronics don't appear to be shielded, but the pots sound smooth and clean. The input jack is the only part I've had any trouble with; the connection is sometimes intermitent. Still, it's not been so bad I've felt the need to replace the jack, and if I do, it's a relatively simple operation. I'd be dissapointed to see this problem in a $500.00 guitar, but for the price being charged for the OE30, I can deal with a minor problem like this. (It's minor enough that I'm still giving the total package 5 stars.)

If you're debating whether to buy this guitar, do it! I don't think you'll be dissapointed, and more than likely you'll be pleasantly amazed, as I am.

 Washburn's Little Brother Deserving Of Name & Reputation
If you have read the reviews I have written on my other OE30 and Kramer Focus, it is not a secret I am in no means a professional. I dabble, play a few chords and have had lessons when I was younger as well as classes in High School. I am now 38 and experiencing my second childhood. Seriously, I missed playing the guitar and wanted to re-learn how to play.

I am a cowboy and I love Country and Country Western Music. I also enjoy some jazz, some blues and some rock. After purchasing my Kramer Focus, I wanted a guitar that I could play with or without an amplifier. Acoustic/Electrics are nice, but I wanted more. While looking over the selections here on Amazon as well as Musician's Friend, I saw the Oscar Schmidt and could NOT believe the price! From the look, (and knowing Washburn's reputation), I KNEW this would be a quality guitar and well worth the money.

When I received the OE30, the shipping box was taller than I am and knew this was not going to be a small guitar. The OE 30 that I received was made in China. I unpacked the OE30 and was overwhelmed and in awe by the quality and size of the OE30!

The finish is flawless. The guitar has a sweet smell from the Mahogany neck and the maple body. The volume and tone knobs are smooth and have nice feel. The neck has an awesome feel and the fingerboard is easy to play chords even with short fingers like I have. The pickups can produce a warm deep mellow sound or a sharp rock growl. After tuning it up, (the guitar does come un-tuned), I played a few chords and was in awe at the sound that this guitar produced! With or without an amplifier, the OE30 has a sound that can and DOES rival the higher priced semi-hollows!

Washburn has always been one of the leading guitar manufacturers, but to produce a guitar of this quality and at the price it is sold at, is remarkable! The OE 30 is not only a quality guitar that is deserving of the Washburn name, but is also covered by the Lifetime Washburn Warranty.

The OE30 BLB I received did have a bent adjustment screw on the bridge, but I contacted Musician's Friend and they replaced the guitar, no question asked and within one week.

Since I bought my OE30 BLB, I have also purchased a Tobacco Sunburst OE30. I also learned that the OE30 is made in Indonesia as well as China. The Indonesian OE30 rivals the quality and sound of the Chinise OE30 and are both equally deserving of the Washburn name.

I highly recommend the Washburn Oscar Schmidt OE30. I can honestly say that the OE30's are with out a doubt and hands down my favorites. You get a quality guitar with remarkable sound, an awesome warranty at a price that you don't have to mortgage your house or sell body parts to afford.