Washburn guitar identification serial number#
Washburn guitar identification full#

Stewart Company to purchase and operate the massive factory, but this transition proved problematic and Stewart went bankrupt in 1930. Tonk Brothers turned to manufacturer J.R. Lyon & Healy gradually shifted manufacturing chores onto wholesaler Tonk Brothers, to whom they sold the guitar portion of the business in 1928, continuing to produce their own lines of harps, pianos, and organs. Healy died 1905.Д«y the 1920s, Lyon & Healy faced growing competition from other instrument manufacturers as well as from the rise of other forms of entertainment, particularly film and the gramophone. Their 1892 catalog claimed to manufacture 100,000 instruments annually. Patrick Healy then led the company into a period of major expansion, beginning with a larger new factory and improved mass-production techniques, and soon dominated the domestic market. George Lyon retired from the company in 1889 (died 1894). It bridged the gap between smaller-bodied 'parlor' guitars of the late 19th and early 20th century and modern-day dreadnought and jumbo acoustic guitars. In 1912, Washburn introduced the Lakeside Jumbo guitar, which some consider the first dreadnought-sized guitar.

As well, they built instruments for other retailers and distributors under various house brands, and outsourced construction of some models. Not only did the Lyon & Healy company often change designs to follow the rapidly evolving consumer demand, but the company also repaired instruments, and offered engraving services, including decorating instruments that it retailed but did not actually manufacture. Tracing the history of any particular instrument of this period presents many obstacles. Under the 'Washburn' brand, which happened to be Lyon's middle name. The company achieved independence by 1880, and around 1888 the company launched fully into fretted and plucked instruments ( guitars, mandolins, banjos, and zithers) By 1865, Lyon & Healy had expanded into reed organs and some small instruments. Healy, acting as the Chicago outlet for Boston sheet music publisher Oliver Ditson and Company. Lyon & Healy began in 1864 as a partnership of businessmen George W. Script error: No such module 'Multiple image'. Sure a minor fret level/dress would help it and sure a neck reset would give it better oomph - but clearly that's not an option at this thing's price-point and it plays bang-on at the moment, anyhow - 3/32' EA and 1/16' DGBE at the 12th fret.Corporate history 1864-1940 File:Wasburn 1892 cat.jpg I did the minimum effort required to get this going for its owner (these are, afterall, $100 instruments these days) which included shaving the bridge, ramping the string-slots behind the saddle, compensating the saddle, and setting it up. It has a lot better bass response and mids than you'd expect.

Washburn guitar identification full#

Still, it's an average-looking dreadnought with a very average neck (25 1/2' scale, medium C shape, 14' or so radius to the board), but the sound is miraculously full on account of decent bracing under the hood.

It's somewhat ugly, truth be told - I've never been a fan of black pickguards and the cherry-red stain over the mystery-wood back and sides is not the best look.

Washburn guitar identification serial number#

It dates to 1990 per its serial number and I've confirmed that build from Washburn's own catalogs. While you might expect this guitar to be filed under my 'don't bother to buy' category of flea-market adventuring, I have to say that it actually sounds really good for an all-ply, budget box.