Cryo - Posted - 05/12/2011:  20:07:17

As I ask around, it turns out that Washburn banjos have a storied history. Some very nice instruments can be found. I would love to see photos of old Washburn banjos. Please post yours and any information about your banjo here. Also, if it is OK, I would like tomput in a shameless plug for any Washburn banjo owners to join the Washburn banjo group on this Hangout.

Granada 22 - Posted - 05/12/2011:  20:43:57

When I first started learning to play I borrowed a washburn from a friend until I decided that I was going to stick with playing the banjo and buy my own. From what I remember it was a great sounding banjo and the quality was as good as any other brand. It was a great banjo. I don't know what model it was or what year but I believe the wood was mapel with nickel hardware. I'll see if I can dig up some pics.


,Judd

PickaFive - Posted - 05/12/2011:  21:38:24

I have my grandfather's George Washburn 5-string that he as a boy earned around the turn of the 20th century selling tins of Cloverine brand salve. Anybody remember Cloverine salve? The Washburns were made by Lyon & Healy in Chicago. My guess is that it sold new for about $2.00 which was more than it sounds like in 1900, but still one of their plainer instruments. It's very well made and has what appears to be an ebony fingerboard and headstock facing. It has a 10 5/8" dia. rim and skin head. The headstock is smaller but is a fancy shape very much like the much later Gibson double cut design. The neck also has a scolloped fingerboard and fairly narrow frets. The neck appears to be cherry but may be something else that has been stained. It's a great little banjo!

All of the more recent Washburns that I have seen are imports having nothing in common with the originals except for the name. Many of them are, however, well made and are good value for the money. Jethro Burns played a Washburn mandolin for a while for the same reason he played Gibson mandolins. Jethro said that he much preferred the new shiny Gibson mandolins over the older ones made in the 1920's that many others liked because he got them free from Gibson.

ColdFingers-alaska - Posted - 05/12/2011:  22:14:43

This is the head stock for a B-19, 5 string made in small numbers around 1980. The fret board was inlayed with various animals. The Washburns made in Japan were decent.

beegee - Posted - 05/13/2011:  04:19:13

Don't confuse the Washburn line that has been made in Asia for several decades for the ones that were made by Chicago-based Lyon & Healy in the 20th century.

The name is the same,but nothing else.

mralston - Posted - 05/13/2011:  04:21:09

Here's a Improved 5100 and a link to some more pictures:

yellowstone-jewelry.com/Banjos...05100.htm

dculgan - Posted - 05/13/2011:  04:38:37

I always pipe up when Chicago made Washburns are mentioned. Pic on homepage of mine, well played (as opposed to played well). Mine's pretty plain, a working man's banjo. Similar to S.S.S. but better! Strung for the 40 years I've had it with steel to no ill effect, and sounding so good, that's the way it will stay. I've set it up differently over the years, no-knot, hide head, etc, but always return to the way I got it.  D. Culgan

LNP - Posted - 05/13/2011:  05:04:45

Hey pickafive I remember cloverine salve I sold it when I was a kid  Hey I'm still a kid.    I wish       Larry

Cryo - Posted - 05/13/2011:  17:07:44

I know my new Washburn is made in China, but there is a connection, however tenuous to the old Washburns, even if in name only. It would be great to see these in historical context. Really nice posts of the old Washburns so far. The newer ones are not shabby. They do play nice and are good value for the money. Lets put them side by side. Just like grand dads and the newest foreignborn grandkids.

Robxx - Posted - 05/14/2011:  00:53:22

I have a 1925 Style C  having a 5 string neck made at the moment, It's in really top condition, I'm looking forward to getting it back, aint gonna be for a while yet though.

Bernunzio has an original Style A  5 string, (very similar to the C but with added extras)  with a video of it being played, sounds good to me.

Cryo - Posted - 05/14/2011:  18:35:55

You will definitely have to post photos when you get it back. When they make the new neck, are you having the old tuning head replicated? Or are they modifying the old neck to accomodate the 5th string? A conversion in other words.

Robxx - Posted - 05/14/2011:  23:11:45

It will be a few months before I get it back, but I will post pictures for sure.  The headstock  will be the same as the Style a that Bernunzio had.  That is presumably sold now. I wonder if it has been bought by someone here on the Hangout...

Rob

Wasburn - Posted - 08/07/2011:  14:59:10

Im a beginner banjo player and I just picked up a Washburn B9. The serial number is 5?077.
i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35...00002.jpg
i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35...00003.jpg
i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35...00004.jpg

Wasburn - Posted - 08/07/2011:  15:49:42

correction, serial number is DC04050077

BigWhisnantFan - Posted - 08/12/2011:  14:32:09

I purchased this Washburn B-16 last year. I like it. Heavy, and good tone.

Washburn B-16

banjocollector - Posted - 08/12/2011:  14:48:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by BigWhisnantFan

I purchased this Washburn B-16 last year. I like it. Heavy, and good tone.

---

That sure is a good axe !!

Derek

gary schattl - Posted - 08/12/2011:  18:56:00

banjohangout.org/classified/22830#       Check out this old 1925 style c washburn 5 string

Bart McNeil - Posted - 09/15/2011:  08:54:43

I own a Washburn plectrum from pre- Chinese manufacture era. It was heavily modified at one time but the owner before me returned it as best he could to roughly original condition. I bought it at a reasonable price and love it.... Really loud. It is a style E which I believe was their least fancy model but really is a nice sounding instrument. My favorite among seven old banjos

gary schattl - Posted - 09/15/2011:  11:32:56

I have a vintage american  1920-25 washburn for sale?

JIMBO53 - Posted - 09/15/2011:  12:31:28

I have a 1925 Washburn Healy plectrum that I love to play 20's jazz on.

Here's a link for some more pictures.  imageevent.com/banjoman/1925wa...eaplectru

gary schattl - Posted - 09/15/2011:  18:33:02

Outstanding Washburn!!! I have one just like it but it is a tenor.I will be building a conversion neck for it soon but have been taking my time to do it right..Your banjo is very inspirational.Because I don't see this model sold very often,may I ask what you think the value would be if it were for sale?I can tell that you must have a better knowledge of its value.I have found a few of these in the past and I believe they are one of the best values around for a true american made vintage open back banjo.That tone ring is so beautiful and really rings true.

JRushing - Posted - 09/15/2011:  21:33:28

I played the new Sonny Smith model Wasburn awhile back. It was a nice looking, great sounding banjo, also fairly priced.

beegee - Posted - 09/16/2011:  04:23:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by beegee

Don't confuse the Washburn line that has been made in Asia for several decades for the ones that were made by Chicago-based Lyon & Healy in the 20th century.

The name is the same,but nothing else.

---

I reiterate....

JIMBO53 - Posted - 09/16/2011:  07:12:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by gary schattl

Outstanding Washburn!!! I have one just like it but it is a tenor.I will be building a conversion neck for it soon but have been taking my time to do it right..Your banjo is very inspirational.Because I don't see this model sold very often,may I ask what you think the value would be if it were for sale?I can tell that you must have a better knowledge of its value.I have found a few of these in the past and I believe they are one of the best values around for a true american made vintage open back banjo.That tone ring is so beautiful and really rings true.

---

 I got my Washburn several years from Texas banjo dealer Vinnie Mondello. He specializes in 4 string banjo, tenors and plectrums. You might want to check out his site, if you haven't already : 4stringbanjos.com. From your profile pictures, I see your open back tenor-pot looks identical.

I saw a model like mine at Bernunzio's last year that had a strange repair to the pie wedge resonator-a section was missing, so they replaced it with  a leather strap and a silver plate (?) It was listed for sale at $1,195.00-no mention of a case.  Mine is totally original except for the repro wire armrest-even has original Washburn hard case in good shape. I would peg the value of mine in the $1500-1750.00 range, but in this economy who knows.

Cryo - Posted - 02/20/2012:  12:46:24

It is nice to see these historical Washburns. They are approaching the Century mark.
Great to see the newest ones, albeit Washburns in name side by side with the old ones on this thread.
I have played both. The newest ones from Asia sound really nice. The do hold their own at Jams.

Nashvillesugapie - Posted - 04/01/2012:  16:34:26

I'm very new to playing the banjo, but I have a Washburn, and for an inexpensive banjo, I think it sounds really nice. It seems to stay in tune pretty well, and has a nice tone.