Description
What makes this guitar special: Very rare, Chicago-made parlor guitar recently acquired from the daughter of the original owner! At the time this instrument was made it was the most deluxe model Washburn offered in the Tonk catalog. Early Washburns were made by Lyon & Healy of Chicago. They sold their guitar manufacturing operation in 1928 after which time the instruments were produced by Tonk Brothers. This gorgeous guitar is constructed of all solid wood - spruce top with Brazilian rosewood back & sides that deliver a warm, rich, organic tone.
Cosmetic Condition: Very good condition for its age, but there are some minor issues. There is a crack down the center of the top, starting from behind the bridge & extending to the edge. This was professionally repaired some time ago & is stable. There is a very small gap between the neck heel & the body with slight movement when pressure is applied. The neck should really be reset which will help bring down the action a bit. The action isn't terribly high at the moment (just under 1/4" at the 12th fret) & the guitar is quite playable. Guitars from this period typically had higher action than modern acoustics anyway & this one plays just fine around the first few frets. There are various minor nicks, chips, dents & dings throughout the guitar, along with scratches, light finish checking & typical play wear. The words Factory Second are pressed into the back of the headstock. Overall the guitar has a great look to it with a gorgeous patina. Many Washburns from this period are in a lot worse shape than this one & I would rate this guitar at least a 7 out of 10.
Neck: Super chunky, soft V-shape mahogany neck with ivoroid binding. Beautiful ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl inlays. Original frets are in great shape with hardly any wear. Slotted headstock with rosewood overlay & pearl Washburn logo. Original tuners are in good working condition. 1 7/8" nut width; 24 3/4" scale length.
Body: Solid spruce top with ivoroid binding & herringbone purfling. The gold stenciling is original. Ebony bridge with pearloid inlays & ivoroid end pins. The bridge is firmly attached to the top with no lifting. Internally the guitar is X-braced with a maple bridge plate. The tortoise pickguard is unoriginal & has been on the guitar for quite some time. Ivoroid-bound soundhole with herringbone & multi-ring rosette. Solid Brazilian rosewood back & sides with ivoroid binding & herringbone center strip. 14 1/4" lower bout width; 10" upper bout width; nearly 4" depth; 19 1/2" body length; 38 1/2" total length. Guitar weighs 3 lbs 9.7 oz.
Case: Included with the guitar is a vintage Guild hardshell case which the guitar fits very snugly into.
