Washburn guitar info

[Kim Kolenchuk]

Hello and thank you for approving my sign in, I am trying to find some information on a guitar for a friend of mine. This guitar was owned by his father who has passed. Any info would be appreciated. I have more pictures of the outside of the guitar as well.

[George Roberts]

Hi Kim,

Sorry there hasn't been more response to your question.  I have a couple of Washburn guitars with the same label.  I have always thought that they were in the 1905 to 1915 time period.  I have another guitar that is almost identical in shape and size, but it has the burned in logo that says "Made for Lyon and Healey  Chicago, Ill." That guitar also has faux graining, rather than rosewood.  There is a book about Washburn guitars that provides more information about dating.  I don't own one, but maybe someone who does will chime in.  Send more pictures.

George   

[Kim Kolenchuk]

Hi George,

Thanks for the info. I will try to get more pictures. Any specific areas to get? Also any other websires with more info? The guitar also had steel strings on it when I first looked at it. Would it be better to have nylon strings for less stress on the neck?

Thanks, KIM

[George Roberts]

Hi Kim,

Maybe some pictures of the peghead, sound hole and rosette, and bridge, (I think that almost all of the Washburn / Lyon & Healey guitars of this period had bridges with truncated pyramids on either end .)

My guitars handle steel strings without problems, but I do use Extra Light strings.

Frets.net had a lot more activity when Frank Ford was still alive.  I'm still hoping that somebody with the Washburn book will check in.

George

[Mark McLean]

Hi Kim. I don’t have the information that you are seeking but you might want to try posting at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (UMGF.com) in the Vintage Corner section.  They welcome postings about all brands, not just Martin, and it is a busy forum with a lot of people with knowledge and expertise in old instruments of the American tradition.

[Kim Kolenchuk]

Thanks . I will try that.