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 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 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 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 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 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 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 XS4 Image

WASHBURN XS4

- offset double cutaway alder body, maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, one P-style and one J-style Washburn pickups, three knobs, three-way switch, active electronics, chrom...

WASHBURN T14 Image

WASHBURN T14

- offset double cutaway basswood body, figured top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, two-per-side tuners, one J-style and one P-style pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black (2005-2010), Cognac, Natural Sa...

WASHBURN MB4 Image

WASHBURN MB4

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, fixed bridge, one P-style and one J-style Washburn pickups, three knobs (v, b, t), three-way switc...

WASHBURN RB2002 Image

WASHBURN RB2002

- similar to the RB2000, except has one single coil and one humbucker MPB500 Washburn pickups, four knobs, and Buzz Feiten Tuning System, available in Black, Caribbean Blue, Gray Pewter, Mahogany Satin oil, or Pearl White finish, mfg. 2001-...

WASHBURN S70 Image

WASHBURN S70

- Status-style bass, walnut back and top, maple neck-through-body, 24-fret ebonized fingerboard with no inlays, on headstock, tunable bridge, two Special Status single coil pickups, three knobs, black hardware, available in Natural, Trans....

WASHBURN IDOL WI91 DAN DONEGAN (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN IDOL WI91 DAN DONEGAN (USA MFG.)

- single sharp cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, carved maple top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with custom abalone inlays, matching finish headstock with three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, one Seymo...

WASHBURN FV2 V Image

WASHBURN FV2 V

- Flying V-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, available in BB...

WASHBURN B62 DOUBLENECK BASS Image

WASHBURN B62 DOUBLENECK BASS

- headless design travel guitar (very similar to a Steinberger), thin body, two necks (one fretted, one fretless), two 24-fret rosewood fingerboards (fretted with dot inlay), two bridges with tuners (not on headstock), four high-output humb...

WASHBURN FORCE 31 V Image

WASHBURN FORCE 31 V

- similar to the Force 30 V, except has a single humbucker pickup, available in Black or Candy Apple Red finish, mfg. 1983-84.

WASHBURN B4 (FORCE SERIES) Image

WASHBURN B4 (FORCE SERIES)

- offset double cutaway P-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, standard bridge, white P-style pickguard, single P-style pickup, two knobs, chrome hardware, available in...

WASHBURN WI64ANC NICK CATANESE Image

WASHBURN WI64ANC NICK CATANESE

- single sharp cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret red ET inlay, black headstock overlay with Washburn logo and skull inlay, three-per-side Grover Exclusive tuners, tune-o-matic bridg...

WASHBURN WV40JM JAMES MALONE Image

WASHBURN WV40JM JAMES MALONE

- offset Flying V-style solid mahogany body with a shortened treble wing, set mahogany neck, 24-fret Phenolic fingerboard with no inlays, reverse hockey stick-style headstock with matching finish overlay, six-on-the-other side Grover tuners...

WASHBURN WI50V Image

WASHBURN WI50V

- similar to the WI50, except has a double locking licensed Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, available in Black finish, mfg. 2008-2010.

WASHBURN RX10 Image

WASHBURN RX10

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, beveled headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, Fulcrum tremolo bridge, two single coil pickups (bridge, mid) and one hum...

WASHBURN XMSTD2 Image

WASHBURN XMSTD2

- offset double cutaway carved 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, stop tailpiece, two exposed Duncan USM...

WASHBURN SHB40 Image

WASHBURN SHB40

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with yin-yang/bass clef inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, two-per-side tuners, hardtail bridge, one active J-style pickup (bridge) and one MM-s...

WASHBURN X10SJ Graphic Image

WASHBURN X10SJ Graphic

- similar to the X10, except has a custom Stephen Jensen skulls and crossbones graphic finish with matching headstock and 12th fret inlay, mfg. 2009-2010.

WASHBURN B200 Image

WASHBURN B200

- single cutaway alder body, bound carved maple top, three-piece maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, fixed bridge, two Washburn Eliminator pickups, three knobs, three-way switch, active...

WASHBURN RB2005 Image

WASHBURN RB2005

- similar to the RB2000, except in five-string configuration and 3/2-per-side tuners, available in Black, Metallic Gray, Metallic Satin Oil, or Natural Satin finish, mfg. 1999-2000.

WASHBURN MAYA DD60 (FIRST VERSION) Image

WASHBURN MAYA DD60 (FIRST VERSION)

- offset double pointed cutaway with lower end pointed on treble bout and rounded on bass bout, manhogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic brid...

WASHBURN IAN STANDARD SI70 (U.S. MFG.) Image

WASHBURN IAN STANDARD SI70 (U.S. MFG.)

- double pointed cutaway body, poplar body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, TonePros bridge, STB, two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way swit...

WASHBURN HB17C Image

WASHBURN HB17C

- single cutaway hollow body, mahogany top, back, and sides, two bound f-holes, six-ply cream body binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay with pearl logo/design inlay, three-per-...

WASHBURN FV10 V Image

WASHBURN FV10 V

- Flying V-style bound body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black headstock with three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, two exposed humbucker pickups, three knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, availab...

WASHBURN GB63 DOUBLENECK GUITAR/BASS Image

WASHBURN GB63 DOUBLENECK GUITAR/BASS

- headless design travel guitar (very similar to a Steinberger), thin body, two necks (one guitar, one bass), two 24-fret rosewood fingerboards with dot inlay, two bridges with tuners (not on headstock), four high-output humbucker pickups (...

WASHBURN FORCE 32 V Image

WASHBURN FORCE 32 V

- similar to the Force 30 V, except has two humbucker pickups, two chrome knobs, and a three-way switch, available in Black, Blue, or Candy Apple Red finish, mfg. 1983-84.

WASHBURN B5 (STAGE SERIES) Image

WASHBURN B5 (STAGE SERIES)

- similar to the B20, except has a single P-style pickup, white pickguard, two knobs, and no binding, available in various finishes, mfg. early 1980s-mid 1980s.

WASHBURN WI66ANC NICK CATANESE Image

WASHBURN WI66ANC NICK CATANESE

- single sharp cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, quilt maple top, multi-ply body binding, mahogany set neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with no inlays, multi-ply bound headstock with black overlay, Washburn logo, and skull inlay, three...

WASHBURN WV66GT GREG TRIBBETT Image

WASHBURN WV66GT GREG TRIBBETT

- Flying V-style mahogany body, single-ply top oppposite color binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret opposite color-bound ebony fingerboard with no inlays, opposite color bound headstock with matching finish overlay, opposite color truss rod...

WASHBURN WI556 (USA MFG.) Image

WASHBURN WI556 (USA MFG.)

- single cutaway sharp cutaway Idol-style mahogany body, carved mahogany top, set mahogany neck, 24-fret carbon glass epoxy composite fingerboard with no inlays, reverse hockey stick-style matching finish headstock with Washburn logo, six-o...

WASHBURN RX20 Image

WASHBURN RX20

- offset double cutaway basswood body, flame maple veneer top, single-ply cream binding, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, beveled headstock with matching finish overlay, six-on-one-side tuners, Fulcrum tremo...

WASHBURN XMSTD2FR Image

WASHBURN XMSTD2FR

- similar to the XMSTD2, except has a double locking Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, available in Pearl Black or Tangerine finish, mfg. 2011-present.

WASHBURN SHB60 Image

WASHBURN SHB60

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with yin-yang/bass clef inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, two-per-side tuners, hardtail bridge with piezo saddles, one active J-style pickup (brid...

WASHBURN J5 Image

WASHBURN J5

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