{"product_id":"washburn-usa-custom-shop-nuno-bettencourt-signature-n4e-swamp-ash-2003-used","title":"Washburn USA Custom Shop Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4E Swamp Ash (2003)  [USED]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4, like this 2003 N4E Swamp Ash (SA) model, was built from 1990 to 2025 at Washburn's Chicago Custom Shop, and was Nuno's main guitar for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4E SA is a fairly straightforward solidbody electric guitar, it has a number of features that set it apart.  One of the most noticeable is the use of the patented Stephen's Extended Cutaway, allowing a very stable neck joint and full access to all the frets.  The guitar is also built for the patented Buzz Feiten tuning system, which is explained below.   The 'N4' sticker was in the case from the factory, and applied by the owner.  The factory applied the sticker on 'Vintage' models. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis very good condition example dates to September of 2003 and was built at Washburn's Custom Shop in Chicago, Illinois.  It has vanishingly little wear of any kind and plays well.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original aluminum rectangular flight case case is included, containing the trem arm, Floyd Rose allen keys, hang tags and strap attachments. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWashburn Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4E SA Materials and Construction \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4E SA uses three woods:  Swamp Ash for the S-style body, Maple for the reverse-headstock neck, and Ebony for the fingerboard.  The body-neck joint makes use of the Stephen's Extended Cutaway, patented by Stephen's Stringed Instruments in Seattle, Washington.  It definitely meets its design objectives!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor hardware, tuners are a set of left-handed chrome plated Grover mini Roto-Matics marked as 18:1 ratio, paired with an Original Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridge set.  A Tele-style dome knob covers the volume control.  There is no backplate, as Bettencourt kept his off to ease trem adjustments.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElectronics are also straight ahead, with a Seymour Duncan 59 (SH-1N) at the neck and a Bill Lawrence L-500XL humbucker at the bridge.  A three-way toggle switch is on the lower cutaway. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs marked on the back of the headstock, this model is built for the patented Buzz Feiten tuning system, designed to bring more notes into tune with each other. While there is no specific hardware, it does incorporate several alterations to nut and saddle placement and defined tuning offsets.  Many electronic tuners come with Feiten presets. \u003cbr\u003eStephen's Stringed Instruments describes their Extended Cutaway (EC) system: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The EC is a set of design elements which allow a guitar neck to be attached to the instrument body in a way that substantially reduces the interference of the heel with the player's hand. The primary goal of the EC design is to remove the heel from beneath the portion of the neck which lies on or near the body of the instrument, thereby allowing a guitar player to maintain proper hand position, with the thumb behind the neck. A secondary goal is to achieve this unprecedented access while improving the structural stability and the tone of the instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe EC is most commonly configured so that the heel of the neck extends outward from the bass side of the neck, instead of below the neck as on conventional designs. This position allows a guitar with a cutaway to have a \"pocket\" under the heel end of the neck for the palm and thumb of the players fretting hand, thereby \"extending the cutaway. \"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eAbout Washburn\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWashburn is one of the older names in North American music industry history, launching in 1883 as an upmarket brand for Lyon \u0026amp; Healy, producing parlor guitars, mandolins and banjos.  During WW2, the company essentially ceased production, though the name continued to exist as corporate property.  In 1977, new ownership brought it out of its dormant state with new products.  It changed hands in 2002 and 2009, and the current owner is Exertis USA by way of acquiring Jam industries.  Exertis UK was restructured in early 2026 but the US division is currently unaffected. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; height: 94.5938px;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 26.1993%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e \u003cimg style=\"float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/No-Refunds-No-Returns-On-Used-or-Consignment-Items-TheTweflthFret.jpg?v=1717033061\" alt=\"No Returns or Refunds on Used or Consignments - The Twelfth Fret\"\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 73.4317%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThere are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.12fret.com\/the-twelfth-fret-terms-and-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView Our Full Terms Here\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDETAILS\u003c\/span\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Model:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Nuno Bettencourt Signature N4E SA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Washburn USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument year:\u003c\/strong\u003e  2003\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Oil and Wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Class:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Solidbody Electric Guitars\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument serial number:\u003c\/strong\u003e  0309007, Made during September 2003 at Washburn's Chicago Custom Shop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of Origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e  USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.12fret.com\/pages\/the-twelfth-fret-used-instrument-and-amplifier-rating-guide\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eInstrument Condition\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Very Good\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRight-handed\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Weight Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e  7.48  lbs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstrument Weight Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e   3.5 kgs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale Length Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e    24.75 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale Length Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e    647.7 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNut Width Imperial:\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003cspan\u003e  1.631 in\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNut Width Metric:\u003c\/strong\u003e  41.45 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCITIES Documentation Required:\u003c\/strong\u003e  es\/No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase included:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase original:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eItems in Case:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trem Arm, Hang tags, strap attachments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original Aluminum Flight Case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsignment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduct ID:\u003c\/strong\u003e 191133\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; height: 94.5938px;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 26.1993%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e \u003cimg style=\"float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/No-Refunds-No-Returns-On-Used-or-Consignment-Items-TheTweflthFret.jpg?v=1717033061\" alt=\"No Returns or Refunds on Used or Consignments - The Twelfth Fret\"\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 73.4317%; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); height: 94.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThere are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.12fret.com\/the-twelfth-fret-terms-and-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView Our Full Terms Here\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Washburn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67380357759225,"sku":"Washburn N4 Swamp","price":3000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2091\/5497\/files\/washburn-nunobettencourt-sig-n4E-SA-2003-cons-full-front.jpg?v=1792102553","url":"https:\/\/shop.12fret.com\/products\/washburn-usa-custom-shop-nuno-bettencourt-signature-n4e-swamp-ash-2003-used","provider":"The Twelfth Fret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}