Dating a vintage Washburn acoustic - FRETS.NET2024-03-29T13:43:59Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/dating-a-vintage-washburn-acoustic?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A284280&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI love old Washburn's and hav…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-05-23:2177249:Comment:2844972022-05-23T04:22:14.032ZChris Vallillohttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChrisVallillo
<p>I love old Washburn's and have been restoring them for a few years now (I've got about 10 in the shop in line for work) I'd guess this to be an earlier Washburn and agree with Paul's dating. The small label inside does appear to be a vendor label, I can make out a Capital W on the top line, 25 Union... in the middle and New York on the bottom line.</p>
<p>I'd further suggest that the "2" stamp on the brace might indicate a size 2 guitar, an earlier model identification before they went to…</p>
<p>I love old Washburn's and have been restoring them for a few years now (I've got about 10 in the shop in line for work) I'd guess this to be an earlier Washburn and agree with Paul's dating. The small label inside does appear to be a vendor label, I can make out a Capital W on the top line, 25 Union... in the middle and New York on the bottom line.</p>
<p>I'd further suggest that the "2" stamp on the brace might indicate a size 2 guitar, an earlier model identification before they went to the 100, 200 300 etc designations. I'm currently restoring an Auditorium Model (size 4) from the same era. Here's a shot of the heel from that guitar and I have to say, it looks similar in size. I do have a solid head Washburn from the 1880s that has an even smaller heel yet.</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10508350876?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10508350876?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>While this guitar clearly has been modified (and I also agree it has been refinished) the work looks like very good quality and it appears that the guitar is steel strung and doesn't look to be excessively stressed. The flattened pyramid bridge looks to be an excellent reproduction. I've strung up ladder braced Washburn's with extra light gauge strings with very good results assuming everything is solid.</p>
<p>RE value, the asking price of Washburn's is all over the place these days. I'm not a professional appraiser, but based on several similar sized and similar era guitars I have sold over the past few years, assuming it's ladder braced, I'd guess between 1,000 and 1,500 in terms of street value (what you'd pay on Ebay or Reverb, not a music store). I'm regularly buying guitars like this for anywhere between 250 and 500 in rough shape. I've seen excellent original versions of guitars like this go for between 800 and 1400 if condition is very good, but that's a rarity and prices have been fluctuating a lot recently. If it's originally X braced (as some Washburn's are) the value would go up.</p> When this thread re-surfaced,…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-05-14:2177249:Comment:2842802022-05-14T15:40:26.649ZGeorge Robertshttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/GeorgeRoberts
<p>When this thread re-surfaced, I looked back at the pictures of Washburn bridges that I had posted. The first one has uneven spacing of the bridge pins, and I should have mentioned that it was a Durkee patent bridge. Durkee was employed by the Washburn company, and apparently worked his was up to plant manager. The reason that the pins are unevenly spaced, is that the strings wrap around the pins. The three treble strings wrap around the bass side of their pins, while the three bass…</p>
<p>When this thread re-surfaced, I looked back at the pictures of Washburn bridges that I had posted. The first one has uneven spacing of the bridge pins, and I should have mentioned that it was a Durkee patent bridge. Durkee was employed by the Washburn company, and apparently worked his was up to plant manager. The reason that the pins are unevenly spaced, is that the strings wrap around the pins. The three treble strings wrap around the bass side of their pins, while the three bass strings wrap around the treble side of their pins. The strings all end up evenly spaced. It was very cleverly conceived, but difficult to achieve, and I'm not sure there was a significant advantage. Probably a long run for a short slide.</p>
<p></p> I see a picture of a Levin ma…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-05-13:2177249:Comment:2844432022-05-13T22:23:40.880ZRoger Häggströmhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>I see a picture of a Levin mandolinguitar on the wall! Very rare.</p>
<p>I see a picture of a Levin mandolinguitar on the wall! Very rare.</p> Any idea when this was made?I…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-05-13:2177249:Comment:2844862022-05-13T21:53:43.803ZPaul Yeatonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulYeaton
<p>Any idea when this was made?<br/>It's pretty rough but I think I will get it back out and work on it some</p>
<p>Any idea when this was made?<br/>It's pretty rough but I think I will get it back out and work on it some</p> tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-05-13:2177249:Comment:2842752022-05-13T21:51:56.383ZPaul Yeatonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulYeaton
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485171260?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485171260?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485169881?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485171260?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485171260?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10485169881?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p> Thanks Paul,
The serial numb…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-11-16:2177249:Comment:1644892016-11-16T08:42:58.203Ztrevor moylehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/trevormoyle
<p>Thanks Paul,</p>
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<p>The serial number is inside on the neck block. No fretb<b>o</b>ard markers. The previous owner told me at was 1904.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167764789?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167764789?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a></p>
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<p>Thanks Paul,</p>
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<p>The serial number is inside on the neck block. No fretb<b>o</b>ard markers. The previous owner told me at was 1904.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167764789?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167764789?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a></p>
<p></p> Where was the serial number?…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-11-15:2177249:Comment:1642872016-11-15T20:17:27.123ZPaul Breenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulBreen
<p>Where was the serial number? Stamped numbers inside of the guitar began about 1887. If it was on top of the headstock, then there should also be a model or style stamp. Serial numbers without an "A" prefix (which would be on a Washburn label) where around 10,000 by 1888/89. Very hard to make out the small paper label in the image but it appears to be a retailer's label.</p>
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<p>The bridge is modified or replaced, it has a compensated saddle. Has it been re-braced as well? Rosewood…</p>
<p>Where was the serial number? Stamped numbers inside of the guitar began about 1887. If it was on top of the headstock, then there should also be a model or style stamp. Serial numbers without an "A" prefix (which would be on a Washburn label) where around 10,000 by 1888/89. Very hard to make out the small paper label in the image but it appears to be a retailer's label.</p>
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<p>The bridge is modified or replaced, it has a compensated saddle. Has it been re-braced as well? Rosewood bridges and no dot markers in the fingerboard would range from 1883/4 - 1889. You don't show the entire fingerboard but I don't see any markers at 12, 10 or 9. Hard to tell for sure but the neck heel appears to be the enlarged version that was changed from a smaller, lower version. This change happened in 1887. The New Model stamp was used from 1886/7 - 1905. From what can be seen in your images, I would date your guitar to 1887.</p>
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<p>Re-finishes tend to hurt value but may appeal to a player. Not an appraiser though, so I can only guess.</p>
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<p></p> Can anyone give me some infor…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-11-15:2177249:Comment:1644822016-11-15T17:54:51.591Ztrevor moylehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/trevormoyle
<p>Can anyone give me some information on this one. SN 9476. And value? Thanks.…</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765807?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765807?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766136?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766136?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767033?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767033?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>Can anyone give me some information on this one. SN 9476. And value? Thanks.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765807?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167765807?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766136?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167766136?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767033?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767033?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767484?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167767484?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a></p>
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<p></p> Your welcome John. I really e…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-10-26:2177249:Comment:1631492016-10-26T18:33:08.971ZPaul Breenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/PaulBreen
<p>Your welcome John. I really enjoyed seeing the images you posted, looks like a wonderful example. It may be fun to contact Pleijsier Hubert, he may like to include images of this guitar if he is planning on printing another addition of his book.</p>
<p>Your welcome John. I really enjoyed seeing the images you posted, looks like a wonderful example. It may be fun to contact Pleijsier Hubert, he may like to include images of this guitar if he is planning on printing another addition of his book.</p> Thank you Paul, this is very…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2016-10-26:2177249:Comment:1631482016-10-26T18:08:00.194ZJohn Thayerhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/JohnThayer
<p>Thank you Paul, this is very helpful. I was confused by the belt logo, I thought maybe it was saying the style was 1896 rather than 299.</p>
<p>I think we will definitely be contacting the Gruhn shop.</p>
<p>Thanks again, I really appreciate it</p>
<p>Thank you Paul, this is very helpful. I was confused by the belt logo, I thought maybe it was saying the style was 1896 rather than 299.</p>
<p>I think we will definitely be contacting the Gruhn shop.</p>
<p>Thanks again, I really appreciate it</p>