EC26: The Atlantis featured the Kahler Spyder tremolo and featured staggered pickups. The bridge pickup was a Seymour Duncan JB and the neck pickup was also a Duncan. It had a 26-fret rosewood fretboard with Sperzel tuners. The Atlantis was the only bolt-on version of the EC series until the Nuno series featured the EC bolted cutaway in 1990 and today. The Atlantis came in two stock colors: red, black or white. A custom option was also available was mostly consisted of flame or quilted maples. The EC26 is the rarest of the Washburn EC line.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an EC26 after years of playing the EC29 and EC36. I was interested in examining the differences and similarities between the three. The 26 was such a mystery to me and everyone else I talked to. No one really knew where it was made, how it came to be, and in some cases - if it actually was produced! Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed at all when I first layed my hands on it.
Features:
26 frets, H-S configuration (staggered) with a five-selector switch, single-coil taps, basswood body (pre-'90 had either maple or alder), maple neck, rosewood fretboard, Sperzel tuners, Seymour Duncan JB in bridge, SD cool rails in neck, Kahler Spyder tremolo - blocked for dive-bombs only.
In general, this was built with great hardware and electronics - no skimping here. The hardware/electronics used on the 26 was much higher quality when compared to the Japanese brothers - the 29/36.
Sound:
The 26 is very versatile.. It has a more smooth creamy sound than a raw bite to it, but the JB could get some nice crunch to it as well. An interesting thing about the EC26 is that Steve Davies made it with single-coil tapping in a 5-selector switch. Guy May, a former Washburn employee, did the wiring for 26/29/36 series. The cool rails made some very nice clean tones with some quacks when coil-tapped - to a degree. In general though, this guitar had a warm, smooth tone to it. Not a particularly bright guitar.
EC26 wiring diagram
Action, Fit, and Finish:
The action on the EC26 was super low - almost too low for my personal preference on a 25.5 scale guitar. A person could vibrato on the thing all day with ease. The frets were in ok condition, but not perfect due to age and wear. The higher notes (12 and up) didn't seem as pristine when playing as they probably would have been when new. The neck is more chunky and wide when compared to the 29/36. It was very comfortable to play on, and my hands never got fatigued during a four-hour gig. I believe the nut-width was an R3 (1-1/16th), but may have been an R4 width. The 29/36s were R2 (1-5/8th). The Spyder Kahler trem, although controversial to some, was absolutely beautiful. It stayed in tune very well and was easy to handle - all solid steel. The Sperzel tuners were also top notch - I never had a problem with them. I have absolutely no complaints regarding the action and feel of the guitar. The finish is another story.
The ugly red color was quite hideous, but I guess there are some people who like flat red because they used this EC26 at a NAMM show, ironically. The cosmetic condition of the guitar body was decent for it's age, but it did have a few scratches on it from years of wear 'n tear. The guitar felt like it was built very well - It resonated better than I thought it would with the woods used. The neck joints on the EC26s were primitive. You can tell some reworking had to be done to make it fit properly - not as pretty as the current N4s. Either way, it worked and sounded very well.
Final Thoughts:
The EC26 is a part of SEC history, and although there are a few "ugly" factors in it, it was a well-built guitar with great playability. Many people think it is similar to the 29/36, but it is a totally different beast when compared to the Japanese siblings. This was indeed the first bolt-on SEC Washburn ever made, and it is more than just a primitive piece of Davies' lore. The superb action, great comfortability, and high versatility of this guitar make it a lost gem with a strong history.
