Nuno Bettencourt and Washburn Launch N5 and N6 Guitars

Washburn Guitars and Nuno Bettencourt launched the first new N series guitar in 20 years at this winter's NAMM show in Anaheim.

Nuno's newly designed N5 and N6 will be made available in various body and pick-guard finishes. Both body shapes are based on Nuno's previous models but features unique anodized aluminum pick-guards.

Nuno has always been on the cusp of innovative guitar design. Nuno states: "The one constant is change, and although the N4 remains my main "workhorse," I needed guitars that could express my change and growth in "tone," as well as a player and songwriter -- the N5 and N6 evolved from those needs."

The N5 and N6 are both built in Washburn's USA production facility and features a solid alder body, birds eye maple neck and fingerboard, Schaller Floyd Rose locking tremolo, Grover 18:1 tuners, anodized aluminum pick guard, Stephen's cutaway and the Buzz Feiten tuning system. The N5 features Seymour Duncan SSL1 pickups. The N6 features Seymour Duncan SSL1 pickups and a Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup. Both models are available in black, military green, tobacco sunburst, and cr me finishes. Both the N5 and N6 have a retail price of $2,699.90.

Nuno Bettencourt is guitarist/vocalist/songwriter for the rock group Population 1 (www.population-1.com) and former guitarist for the multi-platinum group Extreme. Population 1 are currently in the studio recording their first full length release.

For more information, visit the Washburn web site at www.washburn.com.