Washburn has announced the arrival of their Bella Tono acoustic guitars series that introduces the company's new smaller-profile "Studio-sized" bodyshape.
The Bella Tono – Italian for good tone but just a careless "n" away from being good tuna, which might work, too – series comprises two entry-level models in Charcoal Burst, the Novo S9 and Vite S9V, and two carefully appointed midpriced models in, the Elegante S24S and Allure SC56S.
Washburn says the new Studio-sized bodyshape offers a more comfortable playing experience while keeping the tight lows and mid-to-high frequency response of larger-bodied guitars. Each guitar has a 25.5-inch scale.
The Novo S9 is priced at £169, the Vite S9V at £219, while the Elegante 24S retails at £439 and the flagship Allure SC56S at £489.
Bella Tono Novo S9
The Bella Tono Novo S9V comes in a high-gloss charcoal-burst spruce top and has figured walnut back and sides. It has a satin-finished okoume neck in a contemporary C-profile and an ebony fretboard. It's nice to see some binding at this price.
Bella Tono Vite S9V
Bella Tono Vite S9V has a similar finish and spec to the Novo but has a cutaway body, an onboard Barcus Berry LX4 pickup system, and exotic-wood inlay on the ebony fretboard.
Bella Tono Elegante S24S
The Bella Tono Elegante S24S enjoys a solid-spruce top in a natural finish and has pau ferro on back and sides. The mahogany neck has a similar C profile to the others in the series, while abalone in the rosette, purfling and fretboard inlay adds a little bit of bling.
Indeed, the ebony fretboard depicts a scene of "mountains and birds in flight" which is pretty fancy at this or any other price.
Bella Tono Allure SC56S
And so to the flagship model . . . The Bella Tono Allure SC56S has solid spruce top with acacia back and sides, and this time we have a beach seen inlay on the ebony fretboard. Again, the abalone is liberally applied, and again there is a mahogany C-profile neck which, allied to the new Studio-sized body, keeps a consistency of feel across the Bella Tono range.
There's a Washburn comfort arm rest on guitar's top. Electronics are taken care of by a Barcus Berry LX4 pickup system, so the Allure SC56S is ready to gig.
See Washburn (opens in new tab) for more details.
