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 WI460 Image

WASHBURN WI460

- single cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, multi-ply body binding, set two-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, multi-ply bound headstock with black overlay with Washburn logo, three-per-side Grover...

WASHBURN MG200 SPECIAL (FIRST VERSION) Image

WASHBURN MG200 SPECIAL (FIRST VERSION)

- offset double cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, standard tremolo, Washburn Eliminator one exposed humbucker pickup and two exposed single coil pickups, two knobs, five-w...

WASHBURN XB920 (U.S. MFG., SECOND VERSION) Image

WASHBURN XB920 (U.S. MFG., SECOND VERSION)

- offset double cutaway swamp ash body, Bubinga or Zebrawood top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, matching headstock with two-per-side Grover tuners, fixed bridge, two Bartolini Custom pickups, four k...

WASHBURN WI566 (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN WI566 (USA MFG.)

- single cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with side abalone pearl block inlays, black headstock overlay with Washburn logo and Custom Shop USA logo inlay, three-per-side Grover Exclusive tune...

WASHBURN MG200 SPECIAL (SECOND VERSION) Image

WASHBURN MG200 SPECIAL (SECOND VERSION)

- offset double cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, standard tremolo, white pickguard, one exposed humbucker pickup and two exposed single coil pickups, two knobs, five-way swi...

WASHBURN WI570 (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN WI570 (USA MFG.)

- single cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, maple top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP half block inlays, black headstock overlay with Washburn logo and Custom Shop USA logo inlay, three-per-side Grover Exclusive tun...

WASHBURN MG230 SPECIAL Image

WASHBURN MG230 SPECIAL

- similar to the second version of the MG200 Special, except has three single coil pickups, available in Black, Pearl Blue, or Tobacco Sunburst finish, mfg. 1996 only.

WASHBURN XB926 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN XB926 (U.S. MFG.)

- similar to the XB925, except in six-string configuration and three-per-side tuners, available in Bubinga, Natural Matte, or Zebra finish, mfg. 2001-06.

WASHBURN WI595 (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN WI595 (USA MFG.)

- single cutaway mahogany body, carved flame maple top, multi-ply body binding, one-piece mahogany set neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, bound headstock with black overlay and Washburn logo, three-per-side Grove...

WASHBURN MG300 Image

WASHBURN MG300

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay,six-on-one-side tuners, Floyd Rose licensed tremolo with lock nut, one exposed humbucker and two exposed single coil Washbur...

WASHBURN WIN14 Image

WASHBURN WIN14

- single cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock overlay with pearl logo and design inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two exposed humbuc...

WASHBURN MG340 STANDARD Image

WASHBURN MG340 STANDARD

- similar to the MG300, except has two exposed humbucker and one exposed single coil Washburn Eliminator pickups (HSH), available in Black, Metallic Dark Blue, Metallic Red, Pearl Blue, or Purple Rain finish, mfg. 1994-96.

WASHBURN XB928 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN XB928 (U.S. MFG.)

- similar to the XB925, except in eight-string configuration (two four strings an octave apart) and four-per-side tuners, available in Blueburst, Natural Matte, Trans. Blue (2000 only), Trans. Green (2000 only), or Zebra finish, mfg. 2000-0...

WASHBURN XB1000 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN XB1000 (U.S. MFG.)

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical swamp ash body, maple NTB, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, blackface peghead with screened logo with two-per-side Gotoh tuners, fixed Wilkinson bridge, humbucker Bartolini pickup, thre...

WASHBURN MG401 DELUXE Image

WASHBURN MG401 DELUXE

- offset double cutaway alder body, figured ash top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, standard Schaller vibrato, white pickguard, one exposed humbucker and two exposed sin...

WASHBURN WINDLX Image

WASHBURN WINDLX

- single cutaway mahogany body, maple top with flame maple veneer, five-ply body binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl wing inlays, bound headstock with black overlay and pearl logo/design inlay, three-pe...

WASHBURN MG522 Image

WASHBURN MG522

- offset double cutaway alder bound body, book matched figured ash top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two exposed humbucker Washbur...

WASHBURN WINSTD Image

WASHBURN WINSTD

- single cutaway mahogany body, maple top, single-ply body binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl wing inlays, bound headstock with black overlay and pearl logo/design inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-...

WASHBURN MG700 Image

WASHBURN MG700

- offset double cutaway alder body, figured sycamore top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, six-on-one-side Grover tuners, Floyd Rose 800S licensed tremolo, one exposed humbucker and two single co...

WASHBURN MG701 DELUXE PLUS Image

WASHBURN MG701 DELUXE PLUS

- similar to MG700, except features a Wilkinson tremolo, locking Schaller tuners, and chrome hardware, available in Antique Natural, Trans. Blue, or Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. 1994-95.

WASHBURN MG810 HAGAR Image

WASHBURN MG810 HAGAR

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with offset dot inlay and 12th fret Cabo Wabo inlay, six-per-side tuners, Washburn 600S tremolo with locking nut, two exposed humbucker pickups, single kno...

WASHBURN MG821 Image

WASHBURN MG821

- offset double cutaway alder body, bound flamed sycamore top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlay, matching six-on-one-side locking Schaller tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, two exposed humbucker Washburn...