The Washburn trademark was originated by the Lyon & Healy company of Chicago, Illinois. George Washburn Lyon and Patrick Joseph Healy were chosen by Oliver Ditson, who had formed the Oliver Ditson Company, Inc. in 1835 as a musical publisher. Ditson was a primary force in music merchandising, distribution, and retail sales on the East Coast. In 1864 the Lyon & Healy music store opened for business. The late 1800s found the company ever expanding from retail, to producer, and finally distributor. The Washburn trademark was formally filed for in 1887, and the name applied to quality stringed instruments produced by a manufacturing department of Lyon & Healy.
Lyon & Healy were part of the Chicago musical instrument production conglomerate that produced musical instruments throughout the early and mid-1900s. As in business, if there is demand, a successful business will supply. Due to their early pioneering of mass production, the Washburn facility averaged up to one hundred instruments a day! Lyon & Healy/Washburn were eventually overtaken by the Tonk Bros. company, and the Washburn trademark was eventually discarded.
When the trademark was revived in 1964, the initial production of acoustic guitars came from Japan. Washburn electric guitars were re-introduced to the American market in 1979, and featured U.S. designs on Japanese-built instruments. Production of the entry level models was switched to Korea during the mid to late 1980s. As the company gained a larger foothold in the guitar market, American production was reintroduced in the late 1980s as well. Grover Jackson (ex-Jackson/Charvel) was instrumental in introducing new designs for Washburn for the Chicago series in 1993.
In 1998, Washburn adopted the Buzz Feiten Tuning System on the American-produced models. The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is a new tempered tuning system that produces a more "in-tune" guitar.
Early company history courtesy of John Teagle in his book Washburn: Over One Hundred Years of Fine Stringed Instruments. The actual history is a lot more involved and convoluted than the above outline suggests, and Teagle´s book does a fine job of unravelling the narrative.
Electric Instruments currently produced in suburban Chicago, IL, China, and Korea. Previously produced in Japan between the late 1970s and 1990s. Acoustic instruments previously produced in Chicago, IL between the 1880s and the 1940s. Washburn is currently a division of and distributed by U.S. Music Corporation in Buffalo Grove, IL.

WASHBURN Electric Guitars Models

WASHBURN SI60 "MURDER WEAPON" Image

WASHBURN SI60 "MURDER WEAPON"

- double pointed symmetrical cutaway mahogany body, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with Scott Ian "anthragram" inlays, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, STB, two Egnater humbucker pickups, two knobs, thr...

WASHBURN AF40 ACE FREHLEY SIGNATURE Image

WASHBURN AF40 ACE FREHLEY SIGNATURE

- axe-shaped solid ash body with pointy ends and large bass bouts and short treble bouts, bolt-on Canadian rock maple neck, 24-fret Carbonite fingerboard, black hockey stick-style headstock with six-on-one-side tuners and lightning bolt, Wo...

WASHBURN SHB30 Image

WASHBURN SHB30

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, two-per-side tuners, hardtail bridge, two passive J-style pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), bla...

WASHBURN X5 Image

WASHBURN X5

- mini offset double cutaway Strat-style basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, black headstock overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, hardtail bridge, two Washburn exposed humbucker pickups, two kn...

WASHBURN S60 Image

WASHBURN S60

- offset double cutaway one piece maple body/neck construction, walnut top/back laminates, 24-fret carbonite fingerboard, no headstock, tunable bridge, brass hardware, two single coil Status pickups, volume/tone control, active electronics...

WASHBURN RB2000 Image

WASHBURN RB2000

- offset double cutaway XB-style maple body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, two-per-side tuners, small pickguard, one Washburn humbucker pickup, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black, Met...

WASHBURN XS2 Image

WASHBURN XS2

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, four-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, P-style Washburn pickup, push/pull volume/tone control, available in Black, Pacifi...

WASHBURN T12 Image

WASHBURN T12

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, two-per-side tuners, single P-style pickup, two knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black, Metallic Blue (2005-2010), Metallic Red, Metallic Silver (2...

WASHBURN XM12 Image

WASHBURN XM12

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, beveled headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, STB, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs...

WASHBURN MB2 Image

WASHBURN MB2

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, single P-style pickup, two knobs (v, tone), chrome hardware, available in Black, Pac...

WASHBURN RX6 Image

WASHBURN RX6

- 3/4-sized offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, beveled headstock, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, STB, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs (v, tone), thre...

WASHBURN B60 BASS Image

WASHBURN B60 BASS

- headless design travel guitar (very similar to a Steinberger), thin body, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, bridge with tuners (not on headstock), two high-output humbucker pickups, three knobs, black hardware, available in BBR...

WASHBURN WI50 Image

WASHBURN WI50

- single cutaway sharp cutaway Idol-style solid mahogany body, multi-ply body binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with star inlays, reverse bound hockey stick-style headstock with Washburn logo, six-on-the-other-s...

WASHBURN IDOL WI63SF DAN DONEGAN Image

WASHBURN IDOL WI63SF DAN DONEGAN

- single sharp cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone circled flame inlays, black headstock overlay with Washburn logo and Disturbed flame inlay, three-per-side Grover Exclusive tuners...

WASHBURN WI26 JOE TROHMAN Image

WASHBURN WI26 JOE TROHMAN

- single cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, single-ply top binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with key hole inlays, bound headstock with matching finish overlay, Washburn logo, and Joe Trohman signature, three-per...

WASHBURN FORCE 30 V Image

WASHBURN FORCE 30 V

- double offset cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, matching headstock with six-on-one side tuners, standard or vibrato bridge, white pickguard, three single coil pickups, three knobs, five-way swi...

WASHBURN NC70 NICK CATANESE IDOL (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN NC70 NICK CATANESE IDOL (USA MFG.)

- Idol body style, mahogany body, AAA flamed maple carved top, one-piece mahogany set neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with ET 12th fret inlay, TonePros bridge and tailpiece, two EMG ZW pickups, four knobs, three-way switch, Buzz Feiten Tuni...

WASHBURN B2 (ABT SERIES) Image

WASHBURN B2 (ABT SERIES)

- offset double cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black pointy headstock with four-on-one-side tuners, standard bridge, single P-style pickup, two knobs, black hardware, available in various fini...

WASHBURN HB15 Image

WASHBURN HB15

- hollow body ES-125-style body, mahogany top, back, and sides, two f-holes, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side tuners, single floating mini humbucker pickup, raised p...

WASHBURN BB4 BANTAM Image

WASHBURN BB4 BANTAM

- offset double cutaway with long bass horn contoured basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, matching/black two-tone headstock with two-per-side tuners, standard bridge, two active soapbar pickups, three knobs, bla...

WASHBURN AB 90 Image

WASHBURN AB 90

- single smooth cutaway hollow bound body, two bound f-holes, bolt-on bound maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with split abalone block inlays, bound headstock with two-per-side tuners, Washburn W tailpiece, two soapbar pickups, four...

WASHBURN KC20 Image

WASHBURN KC20

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, arched top and back, scalloped cutaways, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-a-side tuners, standard vibrato, chrome hardware, one exposed humbucker and two ex...

WASHBURN JB80 Image

WASHBURN JB80

- offset double alder body with flamed maple top, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, three-per-side tuners, Floyd Rose bridge, locking nut, three WB630 pickups, Buzz Feiten Tuning System, two knobs, five-way...

WASHBURN LS93 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN LS93 (U.S. MFG.)

- offset double cutaway ash body, bolt-on Stephen's Extended Cutaway maple neck, 22-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side locking Gotoh tuners, standard Schaller Custom Fulcrum tremolo, pearloid pickguard,...

WASHBURN MR250 Image

WASHBURN MR250

- single Florentine cutaway semi-hollow mahogany body, two small f-holes (near bridge), mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side Grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, 2 exposed coil humb...

WASHBURN SB5 RAVEN Image

WASHBURN SB5 RAVEN

- symmetrical double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side Grover tuners, STB, two Washburn Eliminator humbucker pickups, three knobs (one v, two tone), three-way switch...

WASHBURN J3 Image

WASHBURN J3

- single sharp cutaway ES-175 style, spruce top, maple back and sides, two f-holes, bound body/neck/f-holes, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, three-per-side tuners, adjustable rosewood bridge, W tailpiece, b...

WASHBURN BT2 Image

WASHBURN BT2

- slightly offset double cutaway mahogany body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, three-per-side Grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs (v, tone), thre...

WASHBURN CT2K (P2) Image

WASHBURN CT2K (P2)

- slightly offset single cutaway mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, blackface peghead with three-per-side Grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, small white or black (Black finish)...

WASHBURN MG20 Image

WASHBURN MG20

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, black angled headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, classic style tremolo, one exposed humbucker and two exposed single coil pic...

WASHBURN WI14 Image

WASHBURN WI14

- hard wood body, bolt-on maple neck, no pickguard, hard tail bridge, two humbucker pickups, chrome hardware, available in Black, Metallic Blue, Metallic Gray, or Walnut (2005-2010) finish, mfg. 2004-2010.

WASHBURN N1/N1A Image

WASHBURN N1/N1A

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, matching reverse headstock, six-on-one-side Grover tuners, standard tremolo, two exposed Washburn humbucker pickups, single volume co...

WASHBURN SS40 Image

WASHBURN SS40

- offset double cutaway Strat-style poplar body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with dot inlay, matching headstock with six-on-one-side Grover tuners, 600S Pro Floyd Rose licensed tremolo, two angled humbucker exposed Washbur...

WASHBURN CS780 Image

WASHBURN CS780

- offset double cutaway solid body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with sharkfin position markers, faceted body, jumbo frets, six-on-one-side tuners, Floyd Rose bridge with locking nut, two humbucker and one single coil pickups, two knobs...

WASHBURN EC26 ATLANTIS Image

WASHBURN EC26 ATLANTIS

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on Stephen's Extended Cutaway maple neck, 26-fret extended rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-a-side locking tuners, Kramer vibrato with locking nut, chrome hardware, one exposed hu...

WASHBURN PS80 PACK Image

WASHBURN PS80 PACK

- offset sharp double cutaway with three cutouts around the body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, white headstock with black star, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, black pic...

WASHBURN EAGLE Image

WASHBURN EAGLE

- symmetrical double cutaway contoured ash body, bound carved maple or rosewood top, through-body five-piece maple/rosewood neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with brass circle inlay, STB, matching peghead with screened logo, three-per-s...

WASHBURN CULPRIT CP2003 Image

WASHBURN CULPRIT CP2003

- Flying V style with forward pointing treble bout, slightly enlongated bass bout, and notched below the bridge mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with six-on-one side tuners, Floyd Ro...

WASHBURN A5 Image

WASHBURN A5

- Firebird style cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, matching hockey stick-style headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, standard bridge, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs and a three-way...

WASHBURN CT290K (P2 90) Image

WASHBURN CT290K (P2 90)

- similar to the CT2K (P2), except has two black P-90-style single coil pickups, available in Trans. Blue or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 1997-99.

WASHBURN JB100 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN JB100 (U.S. MFG.)

- offset double cutaway swamp ash or alder body, flame maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, three-per-side tuners, Floyd Rose bridge with locking nut, one Duncan JB Jr. and two Duckbucker pi...

WASHBURN KC30 Image

WASHBURN KC30

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, arched top and back, scalloped cutaways, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, six-on-a-side tuners, standard vibrato, chrome hardware, three exposed single coil Washbu...

WASHBURN MR400 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN MR400 (U.S. MFG.)

- similar to the MR250, except has two P-90-style single coil pickups and the Buzz Feiten tuning system, available in Honey or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 1997-99.

WASHBURN WI15 Image

WASHBURN WI15

- single cutaway Idol-style basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two Washburn exposed humbucker pickups, four k...

WASHBURN MG24 Image

WASHBURN MG24

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret maple fingerboard with offset black dot inlays, black angled headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, classic style tremolo, two exposed humbuckers and one exposed single coil...

WASHBURN N2 Image

WASHBURN N2

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, reverse headstock, 600S Pro Floyd Rose licensed tremolo with locking nut, two Washburn Eliminator humbucker pickups, two knobs, five-way sw...

WASHBURN PS100 Image

WASHBURN PS100

- single reverse cutaway with an extreme extended treble horn (slight resemblance to an Explorer) alder body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay,headstock that resembles the body with three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic...

WASHBURN NX3 Image

WASHBURN NX3

- offset double cutaway solid alder body, bolt-on Stephen´s cutaway neck, rosewood fingerboard, 6-on-a-side tuners, two WB630 HH pickups, Floyd Rose tremolo, two knobs, 3-way switch, Buzz Feiten Tuning System, available in Black, Natural Ma...