Washburn SB-40 Bass

There are multiple variations of the Washburn SB-40. As you can see in the Washburn Japanese catalog below, the “Vulture” Bass (Wing Series) was also referred to as a SB-40. The single pickup Vulture was the SB-40-1 and SB-40-2 was the two pickup model. In the United States, from what we can tell, the model was simply known as the Vulture II. This variation ran from 1978 to 1981 and was manufactured by Yamaki.

As a side note, the Yamaki branded PowerSERIES Mark XX-B from 1979-80 is basically a more refined Vulture II with an slight attempt to offset the horns for better balance.

The next version of the SB-40 (pictured in the photo gallery below), was available in 1981 and was also made by Yamaki. Beneath the wood control cover on the back you will find a metal box shielding control pots mounted to a circuit board. Like the Vulture Wing Series before it, bridges are similar to Daion basses, with individual block brass bridge saddles and a brass nut. The extended upper horn corrects the balance issue inherent with the earlier Wing Series design.

In 1982 there is a transition to the SB-40EQ, which were likely not made by Yamaki. On this version there are two plastic control covers on the back, SB-40EQ printed on a plastic truss rod cover, a “Select Track” bridge, and the electronics are a completely different design (parametric graphic EQ with band selector and band sweep control).

If you want to include it, there is a final version when the SB-40EQ merges into the “Force” Series. The model name is shortened to “B-40EQ” or “Force 40 EQ,” and gets a new headstock design with four inline tuners to match the rest of the Force Series.

A couple famous Washburn SB-40 bass players come to mind. Bakithi Kumalo played a fretless SB-40 on Paul Simon’s Graceland album. Bakithi can be seen in this YouTube video in action with his Washburn SB-40. Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot played a custom SB-40EQ (pictured in the advertisement below with Bartoloni pickups).