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 TeagleĀ“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 X12Q Image

WASHBURN X12Q

- offset double cutaway Strat-style solid wood body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, Flushtrem bridge, two Humbuckers, two knobs, five-way switch, chrome hardware, available in Vintage...

WASHBURN XS5 Image

WASHBURN XS5

- similar to XS4, except in 5-string configuration, 4/1-per-side tuners and two J-style Washburn pickups, available in Black, Red, White, Woodstone Blue, Woodstone Brown, or Woodstone Red finish, mfg. 1990-91.

WASHBURN BB15 Bantam Image

WASHBURN BB15 Bantam

- similar to the BB14 Bantam, except in five-string configuration with 3/2-per-side tuners, available in Black or Metallic Red finish, gig bag included, mfg. 2009-2010.

WASHBURN CB14 Image

WASHBURN CB14

- offset double cutaway mahogany body with extreme treble horn cutaway, maple or spalted maple carved top, maple neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with abalone micro dot and 24th fret inlays, black headstock with four-on-one-side tuners, adj....

WASHBURN T14Q Quilt Maple Top Image

WASHBURN T14Q Quilt Maple Top

- similar to the T14, except has a quilted maple top, available in Quilt Trans. Black (2009-present), Quilt Trans. Blue, or Quilt Tobacco Sunburst finish, mfg. 2005-present.

WASHBURN MB5 Image

WASHBURN MB5

- similar to MB4, except in five-string configuration, 4/1 per side tuners, and two J-style pickups, available in Black, Ice Pearl, or Natural Matte (1993 only) finish, mfg. 1992-93.

WASHBURN RB2502 Image

WASHBURN RB2502

- similar to the RB2002, except in five-string configuration and 3/2-per-side tuners, available in Black or Caribbean Blue finish, mfg. 2001-03.

WASHBURN Maya DD60VRF Image

WASHBURN Maya DD60VRF

- similar to the Maya DD60 (Second Version), except has two Randall exposed humbucker pickups (JL Neck, Ultra XL Bridge) and a Washburn licensed 600S Floyd Rose tremolo, available in Red Flame finish, mfg. 2008-2010.

WASHBURN SI81 Image

WASHBURN SI81

- double pointed symmetrical cutaway mahogany body, carved quilted maple top, deep-set V-mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side Sperzel locking tuners, TonePros bridge, Floyd...

WASHBURN HB32 Image

WASHBURN HB32

- symmetrical double cutaway semihollow ES-335-style body, mahogany top, back, and sides, two bound f-holes, single-ply black body binding, set mahogany neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching finish headsto...

WASHBURN HM5 V Image

WASHBURN HM5 V

- single cutaway with extended treble horn and lower bass bout (slight resemblence to the Gibson Explorer), bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black hockey stick-style headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, Won...

WASHBURN FORCE 3 (G-3) Image

WASHBURN FORCE 3 (G-3)

- similar to the Force 2 (G-2), except has three single coil pickups, three knobs, and a five-way switch, available in Black, Burgundy, Tobacco Sunburst, or White finish, mfg. 1984-85.

WASHBURN B10 (ABT SERIES) Image

WASHBURN B10 (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, two J-style pickups, four knobs, chrome hardware, available in various fini...

WASHBURN WM24V Image

WASHBURN WM24V

- similar to the WM24, except has a double locking licensed Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, available in Black or Metallic Silver finish, mfg. 2008-2010.

WASHBURN RX50 Image

WASHBURN RX50

- offset double cutaway carved mahogany body, flame maple veneer top, multi-ply cream binding, set mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, beveled headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridg...

WASHBURN SHBH3 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN SHBH3 (U.S. MFG.)

- offset double cutaway Stu Hamm "Hammer"-style alder body, bolt-on maple neck with radial neck joint, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, two-per-side tuners with "lollipop-style&...

WASHBURN CT4 (CTSTD STANDARD/P4, U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN CT4 (CTSTD STANDARD/P4, U.S. MFG.)

- slightly offset single cutaway bound mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, blackface peghead with three-per-side Schaller locking tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, Schaller fine tuner tailpiece, two Seym...

WASHBURN J7 Image

WASHBURN J7

- single smooth cutaway Super 400 style, solid spruce top, maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone block inlays, bound headstock with old style Washburn lo...

WASHBURN DIME 32  Image

WASHBURN DIME 32

- four pointX style body with shortened bass bout solid wood body, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, two Washburn humbucker pickups, three knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, available in Black finish, mfg. 2004 only.

WASHBURN T-BIRD Image

WASHBURN T-BIRD

- symmetrical double cutaway mahogany body with carved arch top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, STB, two exposed humbucker pickups, three knobs (in a vertical lin...

WASHBURN PT3 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN PT3 (U.S. MFG.)

- heavy offset "V" mahogany body, 1/2 in. maple top, ebony fingerboard with dot position markers, two Seymour Duncan humbucker and one single coil pickup, Grover 18-1 tuners, three-per-side tuners, Buzz Feiten Tuning System, black...

WASHBURN WI24 Image

WASHBURN WI24

- maple body, STB, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, two humbucker pickups, chrome hardware, hard tail bridge, available in Metallic Blue, Metallic Grey, or Black finish, mfg. 2002-03.

WASHBURN KC44 Image

WASHBURN KC44

- similar to KC40, except has two humbucker and one single coil Washburn pickups (HSH), available in Black Rain or White Rain finish, mfg. 1990-91.

WASHBURN MG40 Image

WASHBURN MG40

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, 6-on-a-side tuners, Floyd Rose Pro 600S tremolo, white pickguard, one exposed humbucker and two exposed single coil pickups (H...

WASHBURN N4 (E/A, U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN N4 (E/A, U.S. MFG.)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, reverse headstock with six-on-one-side Grover tuners, Floyd Rose tremolo vibrato with locking nut, two expose...

WASHBURN PS600 Image

WASHBURN PS600

- offset double pointed cutaway mahogany body with bass bout cutout, body binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with leaf and bird inlays, pointed headstock with hook, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, star ta...

WASHBURN A20 Image

WASHBURN A20

- Firebird style cutaway solid ash body with bound flame maple top, three-piece rock maple and rosewood neck-thru body, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with brass target inlay, matching hockey stick-style headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, ST...

WASHBURN SB30 Image

WASHBURN SB30

- symmetrical double cutaway ash body, bookmatched flame maple arched top, multi-ply B/N/H binding, five-piece maple/rosewood neck-thru-body, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with custom wing inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuner...

WASHBURN J8 MEMPHIS Image

WASHBURN J8 MEMPHIS

- single cutaway thin semi-hollow body, bound maple top/back/sides, two bound f-holes, maple neck, 15/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with diagonal split block inlays, bound headstock with three-per-side Grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridg...

WASHBURN T-Bird DL Image

WASHBURN T-Bird DL

- similar to the T-Bird, except has a coil-tap swith in the knobs, availble in Black or Cherry Sunburst finish, mfg. 1983-85.

WASHBURN PT60 Image

WASHBURN PT60

- similar to the PT3, except isn't built in the U.S., has a bolt-on neck and Duncan pickups, available in Black with black hardware or Pearl White with gold hardware finish, mfg. 2001-02.

WASHBURN WI36 Image

WASHBURN WI36

- Idol body style, basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, Tele-style bridge with STB, two single coil pickups Tele-style, two chrome knobs (v, tone) and a...

WASHBURN KC60 Image

WASHBURN KC60

- similar to the KC70, except has one humbucker and one single coil pickup (HS), available in various finishes, mfg. 1989-1990.

WASHBURN MG42 Image

WASHBURN MG42

- similar to MG40, except has two exposed humbucker pickups, available in Metallic Purple and Midnight Blue Metallic finish, mfg 1992-93.

WASHBURN PS800 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN PS800 (U.S. MFG.)

- offset double pointed cutaway mahogany body with bass bout cutout, maple top, body binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with Paul Stanley pearl/ablone block inlays, pointed headstock with hook, three-per-side tuners, To...

WASHBURN A20 PRO (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN A20 PRO (U.S. MFG.)

- Firebird-style cutaway bound one-piece mahogany body, set bound mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black hockey-stick style headstock with six-on-one-side Grover tuners, Schaller Floyd Rose tremolo and locking nut...

WASHBURN SB50 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN SB50 (U.S. MFG.)

- symmetrical double cutaway mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, three-per-side vintage Keystone tuners, black pickguard, two single coil soapbar pickups, thre...

WASHBURN X20/X21 Image

WASHBURN X20/X21

- offset double cutaway Strat-style solid maple body, bolt-on maple neck, maple (X21) or rosewood (X20) fingerboard with offset dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, Flushtrem bridge, WB630 pickups in HSS configuration, two knobs, five-way swi...

WASHBURN XS6 Image

WASHBURN XS6

- similar to XS4, except in six-string configuration, available in Metallic Cherry Black, Pearl White, Woodstone Brown, or Woodstone Silver finish, mfg. 1991 only.

WASHBURN XB100 Image

WASHBURN XB100

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, 2-per-side tuners, fixed bridge, single P-style WB100 pickup, two knobs (v, tone), chrome hardware, available in Blac...

WASHBURN T24 Image

WASHBURN T24

- offset double cutaway stained mahogany body, neck-thru body, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, two Jazz style pickups, four knobs, active electornics, chrome hardware, available in Natural Matte fini...

WASHBURN MB6 Image

WASHBURN MB6

- similar to MB4, except in six-string configuration, 4/2-per-side tuners, and two J-style pickups, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1993 only.

WASHBURN RB2602 Image

WASHBURN RB2602

- similar to the RB2002, except in six-string configuration and three-per-side tuners, available in Black finish, mfg. 2001-02.