The Weird Bass That Gets Everything Right Disclaimer: This bass was kindly provided by Washburn for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinions or the content of our reviews. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information. TL;DR If you’re looking for another modern P-style bass, this isn’t it. The Scavenger is unapologetically different. It looks like something straight out of the late ’70s, sounds remarkably close to a great Precision Bass, sustains forever, and has one of the most effective passive tone controls I’ve used in quite a while. It’s not perfect, it’s definitely on the heavy side, but it’s one of those instruments that makes you want to keep playing because every note seems to hang in the air just a little longer than expected. Product Specifications The Washburn Scavenger features a mahogany Wing Double Cutaway solid body paired with a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The neck has a 16″ radius, 22 frets, 6 mm pearloid dot inlays and a 41 mm nut width. The scale length is the standard 34″. Electronics are deliberately straightforward, with a P-style split-coil pickup controlled by a single volume and tone knob. The bass comes with a gloss body finish and satin-finished neck, and is available in Black and Ruby Red. The Scavenger comes strung with D’Addario EXL165 strings. First Impressions Some basses immediately feel familiar. The Scavenger doesn’t! Its asymmetrical “Wing” body shape is unlike almost anything else on the market today. It’s exactly the sort of instrument that divides opinion before anyone even plugs it in. Personally, I love seeing manufacturers revive designs that don’t simply imitate another Precision or Jazz Bass. The Scavenger has a personality all its own, and in a world filled with safe choices, that’s refreshing. Thankfully, it has far more going for it than just its looks. Design & Heritage The Scavenger is part of Washburn’s Wing series, a collection of instruments that helped establish the company’s distinctive approach to electric guitar and bass design in the late 1970s. The original Scavenger was very much a product of its era. Its unusual double-cutaway body, large hardware and distinctive styling were a departure from the more traditional bass designs that dominated the market at the time. Rather than trying to follow the established Precision and Jazz formulas visually, Washburn went in a very different direction. This reissue keeps that identity intact. That’s important because it would have been easy to modernize the design to the point where it lost what made the original interesting in the first place. Instead, the Scavenger looks like it belongs to another era while benefiting from the consistency and build quality expected from a modern instrument. And while the styling is firmly rooted in the late ’70s, the playing experience doesn’t feel dated. The 34″ scale, comfortable neck and straightforward P-style electronics make it immediately familiar once it’s in your hands. In that sense, the Scavenger manages to strike a nice balance between vintage character and a modern, usable instrument. Build Quality & Feel Washburn has done an excellent job with the overall construction. The first thing I noticed was the neck. Despite being brand new, the satin finish feels wonderfully broken in, almost as if you’ve been playing it for years. Your hand glides across it, making long practice sessions and fast position shifts feel very natural. The mahogany neck also feels reassuringly solid, complementing the substantial mahogany body. Comfort-wise, the unusual body shape works better than you might expect. Whether sitting or standing, the bass balances nicely and never feels awkward despite its unconventional design. The only caveat is for those who enjoy playing the bass in the “classical guitar” positioning. Those will find it difficult to balance due to the shape of the body. The other drawback I found is the weight. This isn’t a lightweight instrument. The all mahogany construction gives the bass plenty of substance, and you’ll certainly notice it after a long rehearsal or gig. Thankfully, the balance prevents it from ever feeling cumbersome. Tone – Surprisingly Familiar Looking at the Scavenger, you’ll almost immediately imagine how it sounds. The P-style split-coil pickup delivers much of the bite, punch and authority you’d associate with a great Precision Bass. The pickup position gives that away almost instantly. There’s a focused midrange that cuts really well through a mix, while still retaining plenty of low-end weight. Fingerstyle playing has definition, pick playing becomes wonderfully aggressive, and digging in rewards you with that unmistakable growl that has made the Precision Bass such a studio and stage staple for decades. It feels like Washburn took the P-Bass formula, wrapped it inside an unmistakably original design, and added its own character. Sustain That Borders on Ridiculous The biggest surprise for me wasn’t the tone. It was the sustain. I genuinely wasn’t expecting notes to ring out for as long as they do. Whether it’s the combination of the dense mahogany body, the high-mass bridge, the string-through-body construction, or a combination of all 3, the result is remarkable. Notes simply refuse to die. Sustained chords bloom beautifully, melodic passages become more expressive, and slower bass lines feel almost effortless because every note hangs in the air. It’s one of those characteristics that becomes more impressive the longer you spend with the instrument. A Tone Control You’ll Actually Use The passive tone control on the Scavenger is very usable. Even the smallest adjustments produce immediately noticeable results. Wide open, the Scavenger delivers an aggressive, bright voice with plenty of upper-mid presence that works brilliantly for rock and modern styles. Roll it back just a little and the sound becomes warmer while still retaining clarity. Turn it down further and suddenly you’re in classic Motown territory, with a thick, rounded thump that’s incredibly satisfying. Close it completely and pair it with a set of flatwound strings and you’re left with an intentionally dark, almost muffled sound
