Washburn Style E Concert Size 1923-28 / Rare Special Order!

Here is a rare model, a Washburn Style E “X” in Excellent Restored Condition.  This model was made by Lyon & Healy for Washburn and was typically sold as a Parlor Sized guitar with a 13” Lower Bout width.  It was also made as a Concert Sized model with a 14 3/16” Lower Bout width, which is what this example is, available as a special order only.

This is a delightful guitar with a snappy tone, and very well made.  It has a lovely, book matched back of solid Mahogany, a Spruce Top and a Mahogany V Profile Neck.  The fretboard and the “Smile” bridge, are both Brazilian Rosewood.  It sounds great either fingerstyle or flatpicked, and will certainly convey that special “old-timey” feel.

The Center Cleat is marked as Lyon & Healy, Chicago and the neck block bears a serial number of 8219.  The back of the headstock is imprinted with Style E, X, 1165, and Washburn.  These markings, along with the timeline of Lyon and Healy production of Washburn guitars, place its manufacture as post WWI (when Washburn guitars became less ornate), probably between 1923 and 1928.

Here are the important Specs:

Adirondack Spruce Top

Mahogany Sides and Book Matched Mahogany Back

Mahogany V Profile Neck

Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard and “Smile” Bridge

Total Length: 38”

Scale: 24 3/4”

12 Frets to the Body

Lower Bout Width: 14 3/16”

Upper Bout Width: 10”

Body Length: 18 3/4”

Body Depth: 3 3/4”

Nut Width: 1 3/4”

String Spacing at Bridge: 2 5/16”

Fretboard Radius: 16”

Bracing: Canted Ladder Bracing

Celluloid Ring around sound hole

Action at 12th fret: 5/64”, both sides

The guitar came into the shop having had a number of modifications made, which we have undone in an effort to return it to its original specs.  At some point, a prior owner added a floating style of pickguard (the original guitars had no pickguard) and fashioned a bracket to hold a DeArmond Guitar Mic and volume control, the mic mounted inside the sound hole. It was a somewhat poorly executed job and the wrong choice of pickup for the guitar. We removed everything and filled the holes which had been drilled into the top for the pickguard and the pickup mounting bracket.  The neck heel was also broken and the guitar needed a reset.

Here is a list of the work we performed on this guitar:

Cleaned and Lubricated the tuners (they are original)

Cleaned the body and fretboard

Removed an added pickguard and pickup

Filled holes in top from pickguard and pickup

Seated loose frets

Repaired some minor headstock damage (a chip on the back side)

Removed neck, repaired broken heel and reset neck for optimized action

Leveled and Crowned frets

Made new Bone Saddle

Set up with D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Extra Light Gauge Strings (.010-.047)

The guitar has about 100 years worth of play under its belt, so there are plenty of minor nicks, dings and scratches, but structurally, she is absolutely sound.  There is only a slight amount of relief in the neck, so playing up and down the fretboard is entirely comfortable.  I like playing this finger style for old country blues, but put a flatpick to it and the sound just jumps off the box.

It comes in a rather beat up (but marginally serviceable) Gibson Chipboard case.

Please be sure to check out the photographs, as we have tried to capture the guitar from all angles.

This Washburn Style E Concert Guitar is sold AS IS, and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed, here.

Price: $2450.00 plus $145 Shipping (Lower 48 USA, Only)