The History of Washburn Guitars
Some stories demand to be told. Others are simply content on being heard. Heard through music, through lyrics, through a cultural revolution. This is the story of Washburn Guitars.
Steeped in the tradition of fine instrument making, Washburn Guitar's dynamic 120-history began in Chicago in 1883. The original guitar factory was located just blocks away from Maxwell Street.
In the early 1920s, Maxwell Street itself would emerge as the epicenter of a musical movement. Often considered the first entry point for thousands of African-Americans arriving from the Mississippi Delta, Maxwell Street became a hotbed for Delta Blues in its most raw and dramatic form. Newcomers and established musicians alike would listen and jam with one and other in an atmosphere void of commercial influence. Once recorded, this powerful, emotional style of music would not only become the dominant form of blues but would radically change the emerging sound of rock and roll.
There, on Maxwell Street, as well as in alleyways, city sidewalks, bars, and honky-tonks around the country, Washburn guitars were embraced as the very embodiment and reflective spirit of the hard-working musicians who played them as well as the employees who designed and crafted them. It is the same spirit that guides Washburn to this day.
The history of Washburn Guitars is the history of a wide range of musicians. From blues players who shaped rock 'n roll to multi-platinum recording artists to emerging guitar virtuosos. It is a history that can be heard and experienced every time you turn on the radio or listen to a live performance. It is a history built by skilled craftsmen and musicians who share one common love–a passion for the guitar.
Washburn continues to be a consistent leader in combining design, innovation, and technology to deliver the rich, bold sounds for a vast musical landscape.
About Your Washburn Guitar
If you own a Washburn guitar, current or discontinued*, and are looking for information on it, you can simply check here for all of the specs and key information. We currently have listings going back to 1990. The 1980's are currently being archived.
This archive is very simple to use. If you look at the serial number on your guitar, in the sound hole of the acoustic or on the back of the headstock on electrics, you will see that in most cases** the first two numbers of the serial number are the year of manufacture. For example, if your guitar's serial number is 94000000, your guitar was made in 1994.
You can look up the 1994 page, and locate your model number. All of the specs and information such as materials used, list price, scale length, nut width and finish are included.
Archive pages are presented in Adobe Acrobat format. If you don't have the Acrobat Reader program on your computer, go to the
Adobe Website now and get it. It's free!
*Some information was not available for some models. Limited Edition guitars are not listed in the Guitar Archive.
**Some serial numbers have been printed with just a single number to identify the year. If your guitar begins with 240000, it most likely is a 1982 or 1992 model.
