The Washburn N4 is the signature guitar of Nuno Bettencourt, the guitarist of Extreme. For me it is simply my favourite guitar – and an instrument with a story worth telling.
How I bought it
I bought it around 2008, and with a lot of luck. It was listed online at an „attractive” price, but as a working student I couldn’t spend two months’ wages at once. When I finally saved up, the listing was gone. My despair lasted about a month – until the guitar appeared online again. This time I didn’t wait: I bought it straight away and sorted out the money later.
Comfort and playability
The playability is out of this world and the comfort is from another galaxy. Much of that is down to the Stephens Extended Cutaway – an unusual way of attaching the neck to the body that gives easy access to the highest frets. Very handy if you like to wear your guitar low.
Sound and pickups
- Bridge: Bill Lawrence L-500
- Neck: Seymour Duncan ’59
- Fingerboard: ebony
A great combination. The sound can tear the air apart – it is hard to describe, you have to hear it. The ebony fingerboard brings out hellishly sharp highs: clear and cutting like a razor.
What makes my guitar special
Sometimes I think my guitar is quite unique: it has a metal logo and metal back plates, and it is not lacquered but oiled. You can tell the oil was applied after the pickups were installed – I don’t know if that is a factory finish, but that is how it is. The build quality is top class.
Who is it for?
Every Nuno Bettencourt fan should play an N4 at least once. It is a guitar for anyone looking for comfort, a fast neck and a sound that cuts through any mix.
