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Lot 52 WASHBURN
The brand name Washburn was launched by the Chicago music merchandisers Lyon & Healy in 1888 and gained a reputation for affordable fretted instruments of good quality. The Washburn name became synonymous with the small body “parlor” guitars of the period. In 1928 the name and manufacturing facilities were sold by Lyon & Healy to the wholesalers Tonk Brothers who found it challenging to manage the quality and production demands of a large fretted instrument factory. By 1940 the name had lost its luster in the market place and by the end of World War II no longer existed.
The Washburn name was resurrected by the Los Angeles company Beckmen Musical Instruments in 1972, who had Washburn instruments produced under contract in Japan. In 1977 the brand was sold again to Chicago based Fretted Instruments Incorporated. Ownership changed hands yet again in 1987 and was renamed Washburn International. By 1991 Washburn Inc. were producing higher quality and limited-edition instruments in the United States as well as their imported products.
The brand name Washburn was launched by the Chicago music merchandisers Lyon & Healy in 1888 and gained a reputation for affordable fretted instruments of good quality. The Washburn name became synonymous with the small body “parlor” guitars of the period. In 1928 the name and manufacturing facilities were sold by Lyon & Healy to the wholesalers Tonk Brothers who found it challenging to manage the quality and production demands of a large fretted instrument factory. By 1940 the name had lost its luster in the market place and by the end of World War II no longer existed.
The Washburn name was resurrected by the Los Angeles company Beckmen Musical Instruments in 1972, who had Washburn instruments produced under contract in Japan. In 1977 the brand was sold again to Chicago based Fretted Instruments Incorporated. Ownership changed hands yet again in 1987 and was renamed Washburn International. By 1991 Washburn Inc. were producing higher quality and limited-edition instruments in the United States as well as their imported products.
GEORGE WASHBURN, CIRCA 1982
A DREADNOUGHT-FORM SOLID-BODY ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITAR, SBF-26
Closed20 June 2019
Price Realised
USD 75,000
More Information
Specialist note
This guitar was supplied directly by Washburn in 1984 for use on the North American leg of David Gilmour’s About Face Tour from 9th May to 16th July 1984, in support of his second solo album About Face. Gilmour used the guitar for performances of Near the End, the final track on the album. Photographs by Paul Natkin show Gilmour playing the guitar at the UIC Pavilion, Chicago on 8th June 1984.