Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit Review: The Ultimate Budget-Friendly Powerhouse for Beginners and Beyond

Every guitarist remembers the day they brought home their first instrument. For some, it was a glorious moment that sparked a lifelong passion. For others, it was a frustrating encounter with a “guitar-shaped object” that had strings an inch off the fretboard and a tone like a cardboard box. The struggle is real: how do you find an instrument that is affordable enough for a beginner’s budget but high-quality enough to actually inspire you to keep playing? Many aspiring players find themselves paralyzed by choice, staring at endless rows of glossy finishes without knowing what lies beneath the surface. We have spent years testing entry-level gear, and we know that the wrong choice doesn’t just cost money—it costs motivation. That’s why we were so eager to get our hands on the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit. This bundle promises to bridge the gap between “affordable” and “professional,” offering a complete ecosystem for the modern player. We wanted to see if this kit truly offers a solution to the beginner’s paradox or if it’s just another bundle of accessories with a mediocre guitar at the center.

What to Consider Before Investing in Your First Acoustic Guitar

An acoustic guitar is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for creative expression, stress relief, and musical development. For many, it is the primary tool for songwriting and personal entertainment. However, not all guitars are created equal, and the market is flooded with options that range from $50 “toys” to $5,000 heirloom instruments. When you are looking at this category, you are looking for a balance of resonance, playability, and durability. A good acoustic guitar should feel comfortable in your hands and reward your efforts with a pleasing, harmonic sound that encourages you to experiment with different chords and styles.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daunting task of starting their musical journey from scratch, while it might not be suitable for those who already own a high-end collection and are looking for professional studio-grade boutique tone. This kit is specifically designed for the “all-in-one” seeker—someone who doesn’t want to spend weeks researching stands, tuners, and bags separately. If you are a student, a hobbyist, or even a gigging musician looking for a reliable “beater” guitar that you can plug into a PA system without fear, this is your territory. However, if you are a purist who only settles for solid Sitka spruce tops and hand-carved bracing, you might find the laminate construction of entry-level bundles limiting.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The “Dreadnought” shape is the industry standard for a reason—it provides massive volume and deep bass. However, it is a large body style. Before buying, ensure you are comfortable holding a guitar that is roughly 42 inches long and 5 inches deep. If you have a smaller frame, the Venetian cutaway on the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit is a vital feature, as it allows your arm to reach further without straining against the bulk of the body.
• Capacity/Performance (Electronics): If you ever plan to play in a church, a coffee shop, or even just record into a computer, you need an “Electric” component. Look for an onboard preamp with a built-in tuner. This saves you the headache of carrying extra gear and ensures you can be heard in any environment. The performance of the piezo pickup under the saddle is what determines how natural your guitar sounds when amplified.
• Materials & Durability: Guitars are made of wood, and wood reacts to the environment. While “solid top” guitars sound better over time, laminate woods (like the Linden wood used here) are actually more resistant to changes in humidity and temperature. For a beginner or a traveler, this durability is often more valuable than the subtle tonal nuances of expensive hardwoods.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A guitar is a mechanical device. The “action” (height of the strings) and the “intonation” (accuracy of notes up the neck) are paramount. Look for a guitar with an adjustable truss rod. This allows you to fix “fret buzz” or high action as the wood settles. A kit that includes maintenance tools or a polishing cloth, like this Washburn bundle, shows a commitment to the long-term health of the instrument.

While the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit

Opening the box of the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit is an experience in curated convenience. Often, when you buy a guitar “bundle,” the accessories feel like an afterthought—thin gig bags and picks that snap instantly. Here, we were pleasantly surprised. The Transparent Black Burst finish on the guitar is striking; it has a deep, smoky aesthetic that allows the grain of the Linden wood to peek through, giving it a much more premium look than a standard flat black finish. It feels substantial but not overly heavy, weighing in at a manageable 8 pounds. Before you even strike a chord, you can see its full feature set and user reviews to understand why this specific bundle has gained so much traction lately.

The assembly is non-existent, as the guitar comes fully strung. However, as with any guitar shipped across various climates, a quick tune-up is required. The inclusion of the Austin Bazaar polishing cloth and the instructional DVD adds a touch of “old-school” instructional value that we still appreciate in the digital age. Comparing this to market leaders like Fender’s entry-level packs, the Washburn feels slightly more “boutique” in its visual design, moving away from the generic natural wood look and embracing a more modern, stage-ready vibe.

Deep Dive: Engineering and Playability of the Washburn WA90CE

The Build Quality: Okoume and Linden Wood Synergy

When we examined the construction of the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit, we focused heavily on the choice of tonewoods. Washburn has opted for a Linden wood top, back, and sides, paired with an Okoume neck. In the world of guitar manufacturing, Linden is often undervalued. It is a lightweight wood that provides a very “true” and neutral tone, which is exactly what a beginner needs to hear their notes clearly. During our testing, we found the resonance to be surprisingly punchy. It doesn’t have the booming low-end of a $3,000 Martin, but it has a focused midrange that cuts through a mix beautifully.

The Okoume neck is another highlight. Okoume is a sustainable alternative to Mahogany, sharing many of its tonal properties—specifically, a warm, resonant sustain. The neck profile is a comfortable “C” shape, which we found easy to wrap our hands around, even during extended playing sessions. One thing we noticed, and which was confirmed by user feedback, is that the wood is very responsive to environmental changes. We recommend you check the latest price and availability to ensure you’re getting the most recent production run, as Washburn has been refining their quality control recently to ensure the necks remain stable during shipping.

Playability and the Venetian Cutaway Advantage

For a beginner, the most frustrating part of learning is the physical barrier of the instrument. Many dreadnought guitars are essentially big, wooden boxes that make it impossible to reach the 15th fret. The Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit solves this with a sleek Venetian cutaway. We spent a significant amount of time playing lead lines in the upper register, and the access provided by this curve is seamless. Whether you are practicing scales or venturing into your first acoustic solos, this design choice makes the guitar feel much “faster” than a traditional acoustic.

The fretboard is made of Black Walnut, which is smooth under the fingertips and provides a nice aesthetic contrast to the black body. In our hands, the 25.5-inch scale length felt familiar and standard, offering enough string tension to keep the notes crisp without being so tight that it hurts a beginner’s un-calloused fingers. We did find that a half-turn of the truss rod was necessary to get the action just right—a common task for any new guitar. Once adjusted, the playability soared, making it a feature that really sets it apart in this price bracket.

The Barcus Berry LX4 Preamp: Your Ticket to the Stage

This is where the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit truly earns the “Electric” part of its name. The Barcus Berry LX4 preamp system is not just a cheap add-on; it’s a legitimate piece of performance hardware. It features a 3-band EQ (Bass, Middle, Treble) and a Presence control. When we plugged the guitar into a standard acoustic amplifier, the under-saddle piezo pickup captured the percussive nature of the Linden wood body without that harsh “quack” often associated with cheap electronics.

The built-in digital tuner is a lifesaver. It’s bright, responsive, and mutes the output when engaged, allowing for silent tuning on stage. We found the tuner to be dead-on when compared to our professional pedal tuners. Having this level of control over your sound—sculpting the highs and lows directly on the guitar—is a massive advantage for anyone looking to play live. If you’ve ever struggled with feedback or a muddy sound in a large room, you’ll appreciate how much the LX4 system allows you to “clean up” your tone before it even hits the speakers. You can explore the detailed technical specs of the preamp to see the frequency ranges it covers.

The Complete Ecosystem: Accessory Quality and Value

We often tell our readers that the “hidden costs” of guitar playing are what get you. You buy the guitar, but then you need a stand ($25), a gig bag ($40), a strap ($15), and a tuner ($20). The Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit eliminates these extra expenses. The included stand is a sturdy A-frame design that kept the guitar secure during our breaks. The gig bag, while not a heavy-duty flight case, provides ample protection against dust and minor scratches during transport to lessons or a friend’s house.

The addition of extra strings and picks means you are truly ready to play “out of the box.” We particularly liked the instructional DVD from Austin Bazaar. In a world of infinite YouTube tutorials, having a structured, curated starting point is actually very helpful for staying focused. When you factor in the “Limited Lifetime Warranty” from Washburn, the value proposition becomes even clearer. You aren’t just buying a guitar; you are buying a complete entry point into music. We found the overall package to be cohesive and thoughtfully assembled, making it the best way to start playing without the headache of separate shopping.

What Other Users Are Saying

The general consensus among those who have spent time with the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit is one of pleasant surprise, particularly regarding the price-to-performance ratio. Many users echoed our experience with the setup, with one player noting, “Out of the box I had to turn the truss rod almost half a turn… it was buzzing slightly, but the adjustment fixed that. Now it’s awesome.” This is a common sentiment: with a tiny bit of “TLC,” the guitar punches well above its weight class.

Experienced players have also been won over. One user with 45 years of experience called it the “best acoustic I’ve owned” for the price, praising its ability to stay in tune up and down the neck. However, it’s not all perfect. One user reported receiving a unit with a broken neck, suggesting that while the wood is resonant, it can be vulnerable to rough handling during shipping. This highlights the importance of checking your instrument thoroughly upon arrival. Despite this rare occurrence, the overwhelming majority of feedback highlights the “wonderful sound” when hooked up to an amp and the “dead on” accuracy of the onboard tuner. It’s clear that for most, this is a “great guitar at any price.” You can read more first-hand accounts here to see if their experiences align with your needs.

Comparing the Washburn WA90CE to Top Alternatives

1. Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Bundle

The Fender Dreadnought Bundle is perhaps the closest competitor to the Washburn. It offers a similar “all-in-one” experience. However, the Fender model in this specific bundle is often a purely acoustic model without the cutaway. While Fender has the massive brand recognition and a very comfortable “Easy-to-Play” neck profile, it lacks the stage versatility of the Washburn’s Barcus Berry electronics. We recommend the Fender if you are a traditionalist who strictly wants to play unplugged and prefers a more classic “Natural” aesthetic. If you want the ability to plug in and play with high-fret access, the Washburn is the clear winner.

2. Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The CD-60S is a step up in terms of raw materials, featuring a solid mahogany top rather than laminate. This gives it a richer, darker tone that will actually improve as the wood ages. However, this is not a “kit” in the same sense as the Washburn; you are paying primarily for the guitar itself, and it lacks the cutaway and the electronics. This is the choice for the “purist” beginner who has a bit more money to spend on separate accessories and values acoustic resonance over the convenience of a built-in tuner and preamp. It’s a more “serious” instrument tonally but less “versatile” for a modern performer.

3. Yamaha FG830 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar

Yamaha’s FG series is legendary for its quality control. The FG830 features a solid spruce top and rosewood back/sides, offering a bright, shimmering tone that is objectively superior to the Washburn’s linden wood. That said, the FG830 is significantly more expensive and does not come with a bag, stand, or electronics. It is a “forever guitar” for many, but for a beginner, the high entry price and the lack of a built-in tuner/preamp might be a barrier. If you have the budget to buy a separate pickup and accessories, the Yamaha is a higher-tier instrument, but for the “start today” crowd, the Washburn bundle offers better immediate value.

Final Verdict: Is the Washburn WA90CE the Right Choice for You?

After an exhaustive evaluation, we can confidently say that the Washburn WA90CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit is one of the most balanced entry-level packages on the market. It doesn’t try to be a $2,000 heirloom instrument; instead, it focuses on being a reliable, great-sounding, and incredibly versatile tool for the modern student. The combination of the Venetian cutaway and the Barcus Berry LX4 preamp makes it an instrument that won’t just sit in a bedroom—it’s an instrument that is ready for the stage from day one. While the laminate construction means you’ll miss out on some of the complex overtones of solid wood, the trade-off in durability and price is well worth it for most players.

We recommend this kit to anyone who wants a complete musical “starter pack” without the typical “starter pack” quality compromises. Whether you’re a teenager picking up your first six-string or an adult returning to a long-lost hobby, this bundle provides everything you need to succeed. The striking finish and professional electronics ensure that as your skills grow, your guitar won’t hold you back. If you’re ready to stop dreaming and start playing, we highly suggest you grab the Washburn WA90CE bundle today and begin your journey with a guitar that truly sounds as good as it looks.