In the 80’s and 90’s the Washburn Festival series revitalizes the art of acoustic performance, contributing to the rise of “unplugged” performances. Washburn brought out a line of four USA-made dreadnoughts, available from 2002 to 2008. The '89 revival model had covered humbuckers and block inlays. History Edit. [2] Lyon & Healy 1898 catalog listed 28 different styles of "Washburn" guitars, ranging from $15 to $145.[2]. That year, a Chicago Tribune article[10] confidently places Washburn "among the top three guitar manufacturers in the world," behind only Fender and Gibson. In recent years, Washburn licensed several guitar construction features: Over the past 40 years, Washburn has accreted a system of identifying some of the most pertinent features in many of its acoustic instruments and some of the electric. He soon realized the sales potential for lower-cost quality instruments. Lyon & Healy began in 1864 as a partnership of businessmen George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy, acting as the Chicago outlet for Boston sheet music publisher Oliver Ditson and Company. [4] Their 1892 catalog claimed to manufacture 100,000 instruments annually. For over 135 years, Washburn has been committed to providing the highest quality instruments. Formed in Chicago, Illinois, Washburn has been building stringed instruments since 1883. Sep 01, 2009 How Can We Check Serial Numbers On Washburns? The movement was a “Delta Blues” movement, which came as a result of an influx of African Americans to the area. Archive pages are presented in Adobe Acrobat format. With the onset of the 1970’s, Washburn releases the Wing series, our first electric models. The 1974 range included one folk-style guitar (W-200) and eight dreadnoughts of increasing quality and decoration: W-240-12, W-250, W-260, W-280, W-300, W-300-12, W-500, W-600. From 1992 to 2000 Washburn housed the USA Custom Shop in a factory at Elston Ave. and Springfield Ave. Grover Jackson ran production for the first half of the 90’s and Larry English ran production for the second half of the 90’s. [17] The stated intent was to reopen at a smaller building in Buffalo Grove (1000 Corporate Grove Drive)[18] but this did not materialize. You can look up the 1994 page, and locate your model number. This guitar is a Washburn HB35 based on the Gibson 335 believed to be made in Japan in the 80's. Manufacturer provides custom-shop instrument that suits the artist best, for free (or even paying artist). Tonk Brothers turned to manufacturer J.R. Stewart Company to purchase and operate the massive factory, but this transition proved problematic and Stewart went bankrupt in 1930. Center block keeps feedback to almost nill. Understanding these numbers can be difficult, because they seem to hold no information about the guitar. Improv. George Washburn begins a legacy of greatness with the first Washburn stringed instruments, bringing quality instruments priced for home musicians. The original company was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. From early blues, to the inspiration behind the MTV Unplugged revival, to the modern day, Washburn has been a choice among the song-smiths of the day. Each type of Washburn guitar has a model number, which is used to identify the guitar on websites and in catalogs. At least two guitar heists occurred there when thieves backed a box truck through a wall and loaded the truck with guitars getting away cleanly. THE FULL HISTORY OF WASHBURN GUITARS With roots going back before the Civil War, Washburn began as a partnership between George Washburn Lyon and Patrick Healy. In 1889, Washburn becomes the largest mandolin maker in America. The Wing series continues the Washburn standard by delivering a show quality instrument at a home artist price. Though our roots are firmly planted through providing some of history’s most well known, best valued and best selling acoustic and Americana instruments, your dreams have remained an important part of fulfilling our mission- to provide you with the perfect tool to achieve them. An American institution, Washburn has built guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and more throughout the years. In the 1980s, Washburn introduced the Festival Series of acoustic/electric guitars (the EA series, for "electrified acoustic"). The HB35 is a take on the classic Gibson style semi-hollow guitar. 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. 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