Hey Zach, It’s hard to believe this instrument is nearly 20 years old now, but time flies when you’re playing guitar. I have a Washburn acoustic-electric, serial number S9201XXX, that I absolutely love to play. Washburn guitar serial numbers are located on the back of the headstock on electric guitars and in the sound hole on acoustic guitars. In most Washburn guitars. Washburn has used many serial number formats over the years, ranging from 4-12 characters long. The year of manufacture can be deduced from the first few numerical characters in the serial number. Either the first 2 digits, or the first digit, are typically used to identify the year of manufacture.

1. Washburn Guitar Serial Number Decoder
2. Washburn Electric Guitar Serial Numbers

What Are Peavey Guitar Serial Numbers? A Peavey guitar serial number is a unique number that identifies each individual guitar manufactured at the Peavey factory. The serial number usually appears on the back of the headstock of the guitar. Washburn Frequently Asked Questions - Washburn Guitars.

Washburn Guitars is an American manufacturer and importer of guitars, mandolins, and other string instruments. The original company was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. The modern Washburn is a division of US Music Corp., in turn now owned by JAM Industries USA.

• 1Corporate history
• 5Past and present models
• 7Product lineup

Corporate history[edit]

1864-1940[edit]

Lyon & Healy began in 1864 as a partnership of businessmen George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy, acting as the Chicago outlet for Bostonsheet music publisher Oliver Ditson and Company. By 1865, Lyon & Healy had expanded into reed organs and some small instruments. The company achieved independence by 1880, and around 1888 the company launched fully into fretted and plucked instruments (guitars, mandolins, banjos, and zithers)^[1]under the 'Washburn' brand, which happened to be Lyon's middle name.^{[2][better source needed]}

Tracing the history of any particular instrument of this period presents many obstacles. Not only did the Lyon & Healy company often change designs to follow the rapidly evolving consumer demand, but the company also repaired instruments, and offered engraving services, including decorating instruments that it retailed but did not actually manufacture. As well, they built instruments for other retailers and distributors under various house brands, and outsourced construction of some models.

In 1912, Washburn introduced the Lakeside Jumbo guitar, which some consider the first dreadnought-sized guitar.^[3] It bridged the gap between smaller-bodied 'parlor' guitars of the late 19th and early 20th century and modern-day dreadnought and jumbo acoustic guitars.

George Lyon retired from the company in 1889 (died 1894). Patrick Healy then led the company into a period of major expansion, beginning with a larger new factory and improved mass-production techniques, and soon dominated the domestic market.^[4] Their 1892 catalog claimed to manufacture 100,000 instruments annually. Healy died 1905.

By the 1920s, Lyon & Healy faced growing competition from other instrument manufacturers as well as from the rise of other forms of entertainment, particularly film and the gramophone. Lyon & Healy gradually shifted manufacturing chores onto wholesaler Tonk Brothers, to whom they sold the guitar portion of the business in 1928, continuing to produce their own lines of harps, pianos, and organs.

Tonk Brothers turned to manufacturer J.R. Stewart Company to purchase and operate the massive factory, but this transition proved problematic and Stewart went bankrupt in 1930. Some of the Stewart assets were acquired by the Regal Musical Instrument Company, which had purchased the 'Regal' brand name in 1908 from Lyon & Healy (who acquired it in 1905). Regal was chosen to reopen the Washburn factory (producing Regal instruments as well). Though the Washburn brand was preserved, it never regained its preeminence, and by the early 1940s had declined to nothing.

Modern era[edit]

An unbroken lineage is often alluded to by Washburn International, in press releases and advertising materials, and on the company website:

Washburn has been building stringed instruments since 1883. … 130 years of history is at the root of our strong foundation building high quality instruments.^[5]

There is no direct connection between the original Washburn brand and the modern Washburn International.

In the early 1960s, retail store The Chicago Guitar Gallery hired Rudolf 'Rudy' Schlacher, a young German violin builder, as a repair technician. A few years later, Schlacher opened The Sound Post^[6][7] (in Evanston, Illinois) to focus on guitars. He soon realized the sales potential for lower-cost quality instruments.

Tom Beckmen and his wife Judy Fink Beckmen in 1972 left careers as music salesman and teacher (respectively) to launch a wholesale music business in Los Angeles, Beckmen Musical Instruments. It was Beckmen Music that resurrected the Washburn name, and beginning in 1974 applied it to a series of quality imported acoustic guitars, made in Japan by Terada, as well as a selection of mandolins and banjos.

Schlacher and Rick Johnstone, as Fretted Industries, Inc., acquired the Washburn name in 1977 (for $13,000) when the Beckmens took their business a different direction,^[8] and so the Washburn name was returned to Chicago. With assistance from Ikutaro Kakehashi (founder of Roland Corporation), Schlacher was able to find instrument factories in Japan that could meet the desired standards.^[9]

Fretted Industries acquired other lines as well, such as Oscar Schmidtautoharps.

Schlacher bought out Johnstone in 1987, and changed the company name to Washburn International. A stateside manufacturing operation was opened in 1991 for higher-end, short-run, and one-off instruments, as well as development and prototyping. That year, a Chicago Tribune article^[10] confidently places Washburn 'among the top three guitar manufacturers in the world,' behind only Fender and Gibson.

On December 15, 2002, Washburn International announced that it had completed acquisition of U.S. Music Corporation,^[11] and would be rolling its assets into that company in a reverse merger.^[12] Schlacher remained as CFO, appointing Gary Gryczan to COO; Gryczan had been Washburn's CFO from 1995 through 1998. The new USM's headquarters were in Mundelein (440 E. Courtland Street), which also housed the stateside Washburn luthiery, often referred to as 'the USA Custom Shop.'

Schlacher announced completion of selling USM to JAM Industries on August 24, 2009, and that he would be stepping away from his company after fully four decades.^[13]

We are pleased to join forces with a strategic partner like Jam Industries, that has a long, successful history in the music industry and has been a long-term business partner with U.S. Music for more than 20 years. It has been a thrilling and rewarding 40-year ride that has allowed me to realize my dreams and goals.^[14]

As R S Consulting he remained a consultant to the musical-instrument industry^[15] and was an executive producer for a small-budget film^[16]

The corporate offices of U.S. Music were relocated to Buffalo Grove in 2012.

Production[edit]

Very few modern Washburn instruments have been built by the company itself. It has relied on outside factories and luthiers to fulfill their designs and meet public demand.

The first modern Washburn instruments were full-size acoustic guitars imported from Japan by Beckmen Music. The 1974 range included one folk-style guitar (W-200) and eight dreadnoughts of increasing quality and decoration: W-240-12, W-250, W-260, W-280, W-300, W-300-12, W-500, W-600.

Under Rudy Schlacher, most Washburn models were ordered in runs of 200 units, rather than ongoing production; if sales went well, a further run might be ordered. This application of just-in-time manufacturing (or lean manufacturing) kept the company from needing to warehouse and liquidate overproduction, improving profitability. As a result, many Washburn instruments (acoustic or electric) are difficult to locate once out of production, and are scarcer than the 'limited editions' of other manufacturers.

The first Washburn electric guitars were the Wing Series models, offered 1978-1984. These instruments featured innovative push-pull split humbuckers, brass hardware and inlays, and neck-through construction. Most of the Wing Series models were produced by Yamaki, a Japanese manufacturer of Washburn acoustic guitars as well as their own Daion brand (late 1970s to early 1980s).

By 1991, production of Washburn instruments had shifted almost entirely to Korea, built by Samick. When Samick opened their Cileungsi, Indonesia, facility in 1992, this factory also began to produce Washburn-branded instruments, generally identifiable by an 'SI-' serial number prefix.

Between 1994 and 2001, ten models of acoustic guitar were built for Washburn in the United States, five by Tacoma Guitars (Tacoma, Washington) and five by Bourgeois Guitars (Lewiston, Maine).

Washburn brought out a line of four USA-made dreadnoughts, available from 2002 to 2008. These were the D-78, D-80, D-82, and D-84. (All had the '-SW' suffix, for 'solid wood,' indicating that no laminate wood was employed.)

In 2012, when JAM Industries declined to renew the lease on the Mundelein facility, the Washburn luthiery closed. At the time, the Washburn facility was the ninth-largest employer in the village (the third-largest business), providing 180 jobs.^[17] The stated intent was to reopen at a smaller building in Buffalo Grove (1000 Corporate Grove Drive)^[18] but this did not materialize. A few Washburn models (particularly the N4) are produced in Cincinnati.

As of 2017, primary production has largely shifted from Korea to factories in Indonesia and China.

Innovation and success[edit]

Most widely known for its guitars (both electric and acoustic), Washburn also makes electric basses, acoustic basses, banjos, mandolins, travel guitars, ukuleles, and amplifiers, as well as accessories including guitar cases, clothing, tuners, and straps.^[19]

In the 1980s, Washburn introduced the Festival Series of acoustic/electric guitars (the EA series, for 'electrified acoustic'). They were thinner than standard acoustic guitars and less acoustically resonant by design, thereby reducing susceptibility to feedback, a significant problem using acoustic or electrified acoustic guitars in large-venue performances. The addition in later models of sound slots (rather than the traditional round soundhole), a patented innovation, further reduced the possibility of feedback, and the guitars quickly became the go-to stage acoustic for artists such as Jimmy Page, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan. In the early 1990s when MTV introduced their Unplugged series, hardly a show went by without seeing a Festival Series guitar. The design also lent itself well to acoustic basses, and Washburn's AB Series quickly became popular both for its look and its tone, whether amplified or unplugged.

In recent years, Washburn licensed several notable guitar construction features:

• the Buzz Feiten Tuning System — a corrected-temperation tuning formula, using a compensated nut and saddle to minimize the inherent intonation problems of the Western tuning formula. The BFTS was first used by Washburn in 1995 on a very few models, then increasingly with the introduction of the WI-64 (1999), and was entirely phased out after the 2010 production year. At its peak, this system came standard on U.S.-made Washburn guitars and basses and the better imports.^[20]
• Stephen's Extended Cutaway — a unique bolt-on neck joint invented by luthier Stephen Davies to allow greater unrestricted access for a guitarist's fretting hand. Used primarily with the Nuno Bettencourt signature models, the SEC has also been employed with acoustic guitars, and remains on some current (2017) models of the Parallaxe line.^[21]
• Voice Contour Control (VCC) — a special potentiometer and wiring, intended to allow access to the entire range of tones 'between' the one-coil ('single-coil' mode) and two-coil sounds of a humbuckingpickup, rather than one or the other.^[22] Designed by Trevor Wilkinson, the VCC is no longer in use by Washburn, but is available in various models of Vintage (UK) guitar as the Roll Control knob.

VCC is similar to coil splitting, in that it changes the tone of a humbucking pick-up to that of a single coil, but it does it by turning the tone knob … without the hum normally associated with single coils.

Model number suffixes[edit]

Over the past 40 years, Washburn has accreted a system of identifying some of the most pertinent features in many of its acoustic instruments and some of the electric. Additional letters may be used to indicate the instrument's finish. While imperfectly applied, and sometimes awkwardly long, this can often be useful in identifying a given guitar.

suffix —

• C - cutaway
• DL - deluxe (generally, a standard model with a few upgraded features)
• E - electric (i.e., built-in pickup)
• K - kit (i.e., includes case or gig bag)
• LH - left-handed
• M - mahogany top
• Q - quilt maple top
• R - rosewood
• S - solid-wood top (rather than laminate)
• SP - spalt maple top
• SW - solid wood used throughout
• V - vibrato (on electric guitars)

This often combines with the prefix to tell a guitar's story. For example, the WLG110SWCEK indicates that it's part of the Woodline series (WL-), likely top of the line (110), Grand Auditorium (G) size, all solid wood, cutaway, piezo pickup, and originally included a case.

Past and present models[edit]

Any given series may have as few as only one model.

electric guitars[edit]

basses[edit]

acoustic guitars[edit]

mandolins[edit]

banjos[edit]

resonator guitars[edit]

amplifiers[edit]

effects[edit]

Endorsers[edit]

Washburn uses the mechanism of endorsements, where:

• Manufacturer provides custom-shop instrument that suits the artist best, for free (or even paying artist).
• Artists promotes his or her usage of that instrument and advertises manufacturer company.

The current list of Washburn Signature endorsers.
Standard Washburn Endorsers.

Product lineup[edit]

2017 Signature Lines[edit]

• Nuno Bettencourt models are flagshipped by the American hand-made N4. The N4 is a small reverse-headstock'super-strat' that features the Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck joint for easy access to the higher frets. It is outfitted with a Bill Lawrence^® and a Seymour Duncan pickup, and a licensed Floyd Rose-type tremolo. The N1 and N2 are production (budget) models of this line, factory-built in Korea, and feature standard bolt-on necks and lower-grade pickups and tremolo systems. The N3 (discontinued) was also produced in Korea and sported the Stephen's Extended Cutaway but used lower-grade pickups.
  Bettencourt has endorsed several Washburn acoustic models as well. There is the N7 7-string model, and an acoustic/electric based on the Festival Series, the EA20SNB.
• Ola Englund Solar (2013/2014): Signature model announced by Washburn in 2013 for Swedish guitarist Ola Englund of Six Feet Under, Feared, and The Haunted.^[23]

• Warren Haynes - vocalist and guitarist, Gov't Mule, The Allman Brothers, and the Warren Haynes Band. The Washburn WSD5249 acoustic guitar is based on the original Washburn Solo Deluxe from 1937, which is similar in size to the popular OM shaped guitars on the market today. Adirondack Spruce top with period-correct vintage sunburst finish. Hand-shaped scalloped Adirondack Spruce bracing, solid rosewood sides, 2-piece back with vintage-inspired 1930s zipper-style inlaid herringbone stripe. The top has 3-ply ivoroid binding and the sound hole is finished by a ringed herringbone rosette.^[24]

Previous signature instruments[edit]

• 'Dimebag Darrell' Abbott Washburn's Dean-ML-style Dime 333 and radical Explorer-like Dime Culprit models were the most popular. The Dime 333 had a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo; the 332 variant featured a stop-tail bridge. The Culprit, with its sliced-up Explorer-style body, featured a Floyd Rose tremolo, a mirror pickguard and a pair of hot ceramic humbucking pickups with chrome cover.

• Paul Stanley Models for 2014were the PS2014, PS2012, PS 12 and PS10.^[25] Previous models have been the PS600 and PS800 (extensively used while touring with KISS), as well as the 'Preacher' PS7000/PS7200/PS9000/PS9200 (used during the 2006-2007 tour to promote his solo album Live to Win). Stanley's line also includes the PS9 and PS11E acoustic guitars that feature his image on the front and come bundled with a custom gig bag.
• Jennifer Batten — three guitars based on the WM (the USA version of the Maverick BT Series guitars). All had three single-coil pickups: JB-80 (Korea), JB-100 (USA), JB-100 MIDI (USA) with installed Roland GK-2A divided pickup system.
• Steve Stevens Signature Model (1993) — SS80 and SS100 models made at Washburn's Chicago custom shop, the SS40 mass-produced in Korea. The SS80 was produced in black with gold hardware, a Schaller-licensed Floyd Rose tremolo, and Seymour Duncan JB humbucking pickups. The SS100 featured black hardware and Frankenstein monster graphics.
• George Washburn / Stephens Extended Cutaway electric models — introduced in 1987, designed entirely by Stephen Davies. The series comprised the EC-26 Atlantis, the EC-29 Challenger, and the EC-36 Spitfire. The EC-29 and EC-36 were the first mass-produced guitars that had over 27 frets. The 26-fret EC-26 was made in the United States and is a very rare model.
• Nick Catanese Signature Model (1999) — Idol Series (WI) models for Nick Catanese.
• Stu Hamm - signature electric basses designed with Stu Hamm.^[26]

• Dan Donegan Signature Model/Maya Series (2003) — six-string electric guitar series for Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan and named after his daughter Maya: the Maya Standard (DD-70) and the Maya Pro (DD-75). Both use Seymour Duncan pickups.
• Bootsy Collins Space Bass (2006): model for Bootsy Collins. Features Fender Jazz Bass pickups.

References[edit]

1. ^Hubert Pleijsier (2008). Washburn Prewar Instrument Styles. Anaheim Hills, CA: Hal Leonard. p. 3. ISBN978-1-57424-227-0.
2. ^'History of Lyon & Healy - origin of Washburn name'. Lyon & Healy, Inc.
3. ^John Teagle, U.S. Music Corp. (1996). Washburn, Over One Hundred Years of Fine Stringed Instruments (1st ed.). New York: Amsco Publications. p. 73. ISBN0-8256-1435-X.
4. ^Bacon, Tony (1 September 2001). The history of the American guitar: 1833 to the present day (1st ed.). Hal Leonard. ISBN9781617130335.
5. ^http://www.washburn.com/community/ 'The History of Washburn Guitars'
6. ^[1], heading of 'Rudy Schlacher' video in NAMM Oral History video project.
7. ^'Grand Piano Haus: The history of Grand Piano Haus'
8. ^[2]:Beckmen Music became Roland's distributor for the western United States in 1976, and in 1978 a 50% partner in founding Roland USA. The Beckmens sold their share back to Roland in 1993 and bought a vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley.
9. ^Di Perna, Alan (July 2009). 'Burning for you'(PDF). Guitar World. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
10. ^'Guitar-maker Strikes Comeback Chord: Washburn Hits The Top 3 On 15 Years Of Growth', February 17, 1991
11. ^[3] Hoovers.com, entry: U.S. MUSIC CORPORATION Company Profile
12. ^U.S. Music press release, 12/15/2002
13. ^'Schlacher Says Farewell'
14. ^U.S. Music press release, 08/24/2009, in Music Inc Magazine
15. ^LinkedIn entry 'Rudy Schlacher'
16. ^IMDB entry: Steel Panther: The British Invasion
17. ^Village of Mundelein 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
18. ^[4], Guitar maker leaves Mundelein.
19. ^'Washburn History'. Washburn Guitars / U.S. Music Corp., a division of JAM Industries, LTD.
20. ^'Buzz Feiten Tuning System'. Washburn Guitars. Archived from the original on 2011-12-21.
21. ^'The Washburn Days'. Stephen's Extended Cutaway. 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17.
22. ^'Washburn Voics Contour Control (VCC)'. Washburn Guitars. Archived from the original on 2011-12-29.
23. ^'Ola Englund Signs With Washburn Guitars'. Guitar Noize. July 1, 2013. Ola Englund recently posted an announcement that he wouldn’t be renewing his contract with S7 Guitars and I also recently mentioned that S7G are no longer manufacturing the Strandberg Boden and Washburn have taken over those duties. Well it seems Washburn are making a big move back into the Metal guitar community as Ola Englund … has just signed with Washburn to create a new Solar Series guitar, which will be part of the new Parallaxe series.
24. ^'Washburn WSD5249 Acoustic Guitar'. Washburn Guitars.
25. ^'Washburn Paul Stanley Series Electric Guitars'. Washburn Guitars. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. PS10BK / PS10WHK / PS12BK / PS12WHK / PS2012B / PS2012WH / PS2014TS
26. ^'Washburn Stu Hamm Series Bass Guitars'. Washburn Guitars. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. SHB30B / SHB30SVS / SHB40RS / SHB40TNG / SHB60NM / SHB60TSS / SHBH3N / SHBH3TNG

External links[edit]

Electronics Maintenance & Technical Warranty Older Models

GENERAL FAQ

Are standard Washburn models available with custom options?
No, standard models are only produced to catalog specs and custom options are not presently available.

Can I buy an instrument from Washburn directly?
Washburn Guitars are available only through our authorized dealer network. For a complete list of our authorized Washburn dealers, please visit our dealer locator.

Are any Washburn instruments available in left-hand versions?
Some models are produced in a left-handed configuration. Please contact a Washburn dealer for availability.

What is my Washburn worth?
Washburn does not evaluate or appraise pre-owned instruments, as there are many considerations in pricing that our beyond our references or control. Local market conditions, condition, etc, can all play major factors. Because Washburn does not purchase used instruments, we do not track this information and are unable to answer this type of request. To have an instrument professionally appraised, we would suggest the fine folks at Gruhn (Gruhn.com) or any retailer that is in the market of purchasing/trading pre-owned instruments.

How can I get a catalog?
Our website is a great (and environmentally friendly) way to view our current offerings. If you would like a printed copy of a catalog, please write us at:

U.S. Music
1649 Barclay Blvd.
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

I didn’t get an owners manual for my instrument. How can I get one?
Presently, there are no specific manuals for Washburn instruments. Proper care and maintenance details can be found here or on your warranty paperwork. Instrument learning materials are also available where instruments are sold, and cover more care and maintenance details in depth.

Where can I get a case for my Washburn instrument?
Washburn only offers cases for select instruments currently in production. See them here. They are available via special order from your local Washburn dealer. There are also a great variety of 3rd party instrument case manufacturers. We recommend bringing your guitar to your favorite local music store for a proper case fitting.

If dimension measurements are required, we recommend measuring the instrument. Washburn cannot provide specific dimension measurements on older instruments.

How can I date/identify my Washburn instrument?
Washburn has used many serial number formats over the years, ranging from 4-12 characters long. The year of manufacture can be deduced from the first few numerical characters in the serial number.

Either the first 2 digits, or the first digit, are typically used to identify the year of manufacture.

For example, 8901827 indicate the instrument was made in 1989, 1988, or 1998. You can confirm the year of manufacture by visiting our guitar archives reference pricelists/ catalogs.

Instruments with serial numbers that have 5 or more characters are from the late 1980’s-2000’s.
Instruments with serial numbers that have 5 characters or less are typically from the 1980’s.
Instruments with serial numbers that have 4 characters are from the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
For instruments produced after 2010, usually the first 4 digits can indicate the year of manufacture.

There is no serial number information or tracking capability for pre-1978 models.

If the instrument does not have a serial number, it is likely a factory prototype or sample, and it is impossible to gauge its exact age. We recommend visiting our guitar archives and viewing the annual catalogs to find the closest match.

Essentials Bukkit Plugins. Download Latest File. There is no official Essentials for Minecraft 1.8. Due to the restraints of DBO, we are unable to offer our old download links, including the link for GroupManager. Visit our wiki to find our CI server and how to become a beta tester. A plugin from the idea of Essentials. Adds in additional commands that will just make managing your server a tad bit easier. Essentials protect download bukkit. Essentials Protect is no longer in emergency mode. [INFO] [EssentialsAntiBuild] Enabling EssentialsAntiBuild v2.16.0.31 [ERROR] §4Unknown item 10 in protect.alert.on-placement list. [ERROR] §4Unknown item 11 in protect.alert.on-placement list. [ERROR] §4Unknown item 46.

Washburn maintains limited production records. Washburn can only identify instruments via email, and with a clear digital photograph and serial number. We cannot guarantee that we are able to date your instrument.

How can I find out prices on new guitars?
For pricing, please contact your dealer or the international distributor for your country.

How do I get replacement parts for my instrument?
Washburn tries to use as many standardized instrument parts as possible, to make field-service easier. Most technicians capable of performing repair work have easy access to them, via a variety of instrument parts dealers/suppliers.

For do-it-yourselfers, we highly recommend any of the following aftermarket guitar parts dealers, as they offer the most variety and stock.

Stewmac.com
Guitarfetish.com
Wdmusicproducts.com

Please note that they cannot identify a part by the guitar model, just the style/measurement of the part you are looking for. Most service technicians in the field have standardized parts readily available from the above suppliers. In the event that the part you are looking for is specialized and unique to Washburn Guitars, please contact Washburn Customer Support. We may require a picture of the defective part to ensure availability.

How can I find out the status of my order that was placed through an authorized Washburn Dealer?
Only your authorized Washburn dealer can provide you with the status of your order. Please contact your authorized dealer, as Washburn cannot advise the status of individual’s instrument orders or shipments.

I live in the U.S. How can I find the nearest Washburn dealer?
To find the authorized retailer nearest you, please check our dealer locator.

I am an instrument dealer and would love to carry your product!
Great! Send us a request from our Customer Service page and tell us about your store.

How can I get a Washburn Endorsement?
There are very specific requirements to be considered for endorsement. Email an electronic press kit to us here.

ELECTRONICS

I get a buzzing/humming sound but it goes away when I touch the volume. Is this normal?
Yes. When you touch the strings or bridge on an electric guitar, your body acts as the ground and the circuit will be quieter.

What Are Duncan USM pick-ups?
Duncan USM Pickups are designed by Seymour Duncan’s Santa Barbara-based engineers to USM’s requirements and are only available on select Washburn and Parker guitars. Currently, Duncan USM pickups are available in two voices, the HB-103 and HB-102. The HB-103 is a high output humbucker aimed at heavy rock, metal, thrash and punk players. It’s an extremely aggressive pickup with powerful coil winding’s and ceramic magnets, but it will maintain string-to-string clarity even under the punishing picking assault heavy music players subject their guitars to gig after gig. More info is available here.

What was the V.C.C. system?
A unique coil tapping system that allows players to incrementally blend between a hum bucking sound and a single coil sound without the hum normally associated with single coils, similar to the concept of a dimmer switch but related to the tone of a guitar. Turn the VCC knob up for a traditional humbucker sound; turn it down for the character of a single coil. It does not require a pre-amp or batteries. It was available on select Original Idol models, and is available on the new Idol models.

MAINTENANCE & TECHNICAL

What is the best way to take care of my acoustic Washburn instrument?
Acoustic guitars are sensitive to humidity and temperature conditions. Excessive dryness, heat and cold will cause severe damage to an acoustic instrument.

Excessive dryness will cause an instrument to shrink/contract and crack. For Washburn owners that reside in a dry climate, we recommend storing the instrument in a good quality hard shell case with a small guitar case humidifier. Guitar humidifiers are relatively inexpensive accessories, and can be purchased through your local musical instrument shop or online.

Your acoustic guitar is ideally stored in an environment with constant 45-55 % relative humidity, and 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not expose the instrument to a rapid temperature change, as this may cause the finish and wood to crack.

Do not hang or store your guitar by windows, under direct sunlight, or in your car.

Cracking and warping caused by dryness and excessive temperature exposure is not covered under warranty.

What strings do you use at the factory?

All Washburn instruments ship from the factory with light gauge strings. Current models proudly feature D’Addario strings. A guide for the string gauges we use at the factory is below:

I need general maintenance on my guitar. Where can I get information?
There are lots of free resources on the web that can assist you in setting up and maintaining your instruments. Most guitar shops also have technicians on hand that are more than capable of general instrument set-up/maintenance.

Can I send my guitar to Washburn for maintenance, repair, or upgrades?
No, the Washburn shop does not perform any aftermarket work. The Washburn shop only performs warranty repairs (provided there is no factory authorized service center in your region).

Where can I get my Washburn instrument repaired?
If your Washburn requires a warranty repair, we recommend contacting the place of purchase (if your instrument was purchased locally). If your instrument is not under warranty, then we recommend contacting a local instrument repair shop.

How often should I change strings?
Washburn recommends changing strings every 3-4 months, to maintain the best tone and playability. Excessive playing may require more frequent string changing, in the event of breakage or oxidization.

Can I get a wiring diagram?
Most Washburn models use standardized wiring concepts. A great resource for wiring diagrams can be found at guitarelectronics.com. Washburn has limited references for older models, and unfortunately cannot provide specific wiring diagrams for some older models.

How do I know if my neck needs adjustment?
Generally, if a neck is out of adjustment, string buzz will be more noticeable in either the center of the neck or near the first few frets. There are many factors that can be the source of string buzz, but this is a good place to look first.

Truss rod adjustment is generally recommended to only be performed by a qualified repair technician. Minimal tweaking is key to adjusting an instruments neck. Breaking the truss rod, (applying too much force) and/or stripping the truss rod (using an improperly sized Allen wrench, and/or applying too much force) is not considered a manufacturers defect and is not covered under any warranty. Breaking and/or stripping your instruments truss rod will void the warranty.

I broke my neck. Can you fix it or sell me a new neck? Where do I get it fixed?
Washburn does not offer replacement necks at this time. If your neck has cracked due to a non-warranty issue (impact damage, or damage due to improper tuning and/or inappropriate storage of the instrument) we recommend finding a qualified repair technician in your area to fix the existing neck.

WARRANTY

What does my warranty cover?
The Washburn warranty provides coverage against defects in manufacturing for the lifetime of the original purchaser. Please note, that most imperfections or problems attributed to the manufacture of your instrument will generally occur or become apparent early on. If you detect or suspect any problems with your instrument, please contact either the dealer it was purchased from or us as soon as possible. If you are an international customer, please contact your dealer or the Washburn distributor for your country. For a list of our international distributors, see our dealer locator.

Tuning machines, hardware and electronics are covered for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Washburn reserves the right to use or offer currently available replacement parts at the time of service request.

A proof of purchase is required for all Warranty service. Damage caused by dropping, scratching, smashing, stage diving, and damage due to improper storage or care of the instrument is not covered under warranty.

Washburn reserves the right to repair or replace the instrument, at our sole discretion. If your specific model is no longer in production, Washburn will offer a currently available similar model as a replacement option.

Where can I obtain warranty service?
If your Washburn instrument was purchased locally and is under warranty, we recommend contacting the dealership it was purchased from. If your instrument cannot be repaired under warranty locally, contact us from our Customer Service page.

A return authorization number is required for any repairs performed at Washburn. To obtain a return authorization number, please contact Washburn at our Customer Service page.

I am a non-US resident and require instrument service or repair.
Please contact the Washburn distributor for your region for all warranty requests.

Instruments not purchased through the Washburn distributor network are not covered under warranty in your region.

OLDER MODELS NOT IN CURRENT PRODUCTION

What is my instrument, and what is it worth?
Washburn can only provide the current MSRP of new instruments currently in production. The current market value of an older instrument is subject to a variety of market conditions. We cannot estimate this type of value for an older instrument.

Washburn Guitar Serial Number Decoder

To identify your Washburn instrument, we recommend visiting our guitar archives. If you do not find your instrument there, please email a few clear digital photographs of your instrument, along with the serial number to us here. Please allow 7 business days for instrument identification requests. Due to limited historical references, Washburn cannot guarantee an instrument identification request.

If your instrument does not have a serial number, the instrument can not be dated or identified.

What year was my instrument manufactured?

Washburn has used many serial number formats over the years, ranging from 4-12 characters long. The year of manufacture can always be deduced from the first few numerical characters in the serial number.

Either the first 2 digits, or the first digit, are typically used to identify the year of manufacture.

Washburn Electric Guitar Serial Numbers

For example, 8901827 indicate the instrument was made in 1989, 1988, or 1998. You can confirm the year of manufacture by visiting our guitar archives reference pricelists/ catalogs.

Instruments with serial numbers that have 5 or more characters are from the late 1980’s-2000’s.
Instruments with serial numbers that have 5 characters or less are typically from the 1980’s.
Instruments with serial numbers that have 4 characters are from the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
For instruments produced after 2010, usually the first 4 digits can indicate the year of manufacture.
There is no serial number information or tracking capability for pre-1978 models.

If the instrument does not have a serial number, it is likely a factory prototype or sample, and it is impossible to gauge its exact age. We recommend visiting our guitar archives and viewing the annual catalogs to find the closest match.

I have a vintage Washburn, (1880’s-1978). What can you tell me about it?
There are no records or references of this early era of Washburn for our customer support staff. We cannot identify or appraise instruments of this early era.

How can I find out if you make a certain guitar anymore?
Only the guitars in our current catalog and website are still in production.