Washburn Mandolins
Washburn has been making stringed instruments for over a 100 years.
The Chicago-based company was started in 1864 by George Washburn Lyon and Patrick Joseph Healy and was called the Lyon & Healy Co.
In the 1870s, they produced high-quality mandolins, guitars, zithers, and later, banjos. They chose Washburn for the company’s top grade instruments. The company grew in reputation and eventually became the world’s largest music firm.
All Washburn mandolins were marketed towards professional musicians. They competed heavily with the Gibson brand, who was marketing mandolin family instruments, and in 1917 introduced new Lyon & Healy mandolins. These came in three groups.
The least expensive was called Style C and most closely resembled Gibson’s Style A mandolins. They featured a symmetrical pear shaped body with carved top and back. Though they were the cheapest grade, they used spruce and curly maple woods, which Gibson typically reserved for its top of the line models.
The Style B had a different body shape, which included two points at the shoulder – which later became imitated by other mandolin makers. They used flamed maple and often bragged that only 1 out of 24 pieces of wook met their requirements.
by 1923 the Style Bs were given the Washburn name. They retained the symmetrical shape
The top of the line was called the Style A. It was much fancier and had a carved scroll headstock and is truly a classic design, and built with quality and attention to detail.
In the early 1920s, the Style A’s body shape was changed from a two-point to an asymmetrical shape, which were named the Washburn “Deluxe.”
From 1928, when Tonk Bros. took over Lyon & Healy, they were referred to as “Washburn by Tonk Bros.” They were discontinued in the 1930s.
ThenWashburn Mandolins
Washburn has been making stringed instruments for over a 100 years. .
The Chicago-based company was started in 1864 by George Washburn Lyon and Patrick Joseph Healy and was called the Lyon & Healy Co.
In the 1870s, they produced high-quality mandolins, guitars, zithers, and later, banjos. They chose Washburn for the company’s top grade instruments. The company grew in reputation and eventually became the world’s largest music firm.
All Washburn mandolins were marketed towards professional musicians. They competed heavily with the Gibson brand, who was marketing mandolin family instruments, and in 1917 introduced new Lyon & Healy mandolins. These came in three groups.
The least expensive was called Style C and most closely resembled Gibson’s Style A mandolins. They featured a symmetrical pear shaped body with carved top and back. Though they were the cheapest grade, they used spruce and curly maple woods, which Gibson typically reserved for its top of the line models.
The Style B had a different body shape, which included two points at the shoulder – which later became imitated by other mandolin makers. They used flamed maple and often bragged that only 1 out of 24 pieces of wook met their requirements.
by 1923 the Style Bs were given the Washburn name. They retained the symmetrical shape
The top of the line was called the Style A. It was much fancier and had a carved scroll headstock and is truly a classic design, and built with quality and attention to detail.
In the early 1920s, the Style A’s body shape was changed from a two-point to an asymmetrical shape, which were named the Washburn “Deluxe.”
From 1928, when Tonk Bros. took over Lyon & Healy, they were referred to as “Washburn by Tonk Bros.” They were discontinued in the 1930s.
Then and now, Washurn instruments have won the admiration of musicians and designers alike for their striking good looks, ease of playing, and beautiful delicate tone.
All three models of “Own Make” or "Washburn" Lyon & Healy mandolins command wide respect and admiration. They are among the favorite American-made instruments for classical mandolinists and are also very popular with players of other musical styles.
They are not well suited to bluegrass because their tonal balance favors clarity and delicacy over volume and percussiveness.
Although these are not everyone’s favorite variety of mandolin, rarely if ever does one hear derisive comments made about them – no small accomplishment in the highly opinionated world of acoustical instruments. Even people whose musical styles lead them in other directions recognize the superb design, craftsmanship, and musicality of these instruments.
and now, Washurn instruments have won the admiration of musicians and designers alike for their striking good looks, ease of playing, and beautiful delicate tone.
All three models of “Own Make” or "Washburn" Lyon & Healy mandolins command wide respect and admiration. They are among the favorite American-made instruments for classical mandolinists and are also very popular with players of other musical styles.
They are not well suited to bluegrass because their tonal balance favors clarity and delicacy over volume and percussiveness.
Although these are not everyone’s favorite variety of mandolin, rarely if ever does one hear derisive comments made about them – no small accomplishment in the highly opinionated world of acoustical instruments. Even people whose musical styles lead them in other directions recognize the superb design, craftsmanship, and musicality of these instruments.