I've owned 2 A-5's and I traded both of them for a Washburn B-5 fully customized bass. It was the best trade of my life in 1986. I was only 16 at the time but I knew that 2 c-list guitars for a nearly new white B-5 bass with a Kahler tremolo system on it. First tremolo I have ever seen on a bass at the time and all of the upgrades were all very high $ and tastefully done. I liked the A-5 guitars because they stay in tune no matter how hard you strum or pluck in my case. I own a A-20 sunburst circa 1984 and it sounds a lot like the A-5. The tones I can get out of both the 5 & 20 are extremely simular and that's why I own only Washburn guitars. It's their trademark sound I'm after and I can get that sound out of every Washburn guitar no matter the price. I think I paid $79 for each A-5 I had and put EMG pickups in both along with a Wonder bar I put on a black one. I paid $20 for the wonder bar and paid $30 to have it installed. Now you can't find a Wonder bar for under $350. I have 17 of them. All different colors and models. Can't go wrong with an 80's Washburn. What a sound and they have cool necks!