Founded in 1965, Alvarez is a US-based guitar brand headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Guild notes on their website that their Westerly collection is made in China and their Newark St. electric guitar is made in either South Korea, Indonesia, or China depending on the model that you have. Washburn XB400 Fretless Bass Guitar (Made in Korea - MIK) They made all kinds of stringed instruments: guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, zithers, and Autoharps. My guitar was made in China, and the serial starts with a G so it was made at their Chinese "Grand Rewards" factory which I found out that they are known for inferior workmanship from improperly set necks, to using improperly aged woods.. all the way thru to shipping guitars in the wrong sized cases! WebOpen Box Washburn C5CE-A-U Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Natural. Here is a list of other guitar companies that are making some of their guitars in China. Free shipping for many products! Identifying a Washburn guitar can be quite challenging, due to the vast range of models and variations that have been produced over the years. The Loar LH-500 Archtop | Reverb Washburn Guitars is an American manufacturer and importer of guitars, mandolins, and other string instruments. As one of the oldest instrument manufacturers, Epiphone has been producing instruments since 1873. Fender Guitars has been manufacturing guitars since 1946. Washburn was originally founded in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois, but did not make guitars until the early 1900s. Washburn The late guitar great called his favorite instrument Number One. The original company was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. WebWashburn Guitars is an American brand and importer of guitars, As of 2017, primary production has largely shifted from Korea to factories in Indonesia and China. Washburn earned themselves a stellar reputation for amazing electric guitars throughout their production runs in Japan, Korea, and the US, and these guitars are often sought after fetching good prices today. The Subscribe to get insider information, product updates, and more. Manufacturer provides custom-shop instrument that suits the artist best, for free (or even paying artist). GuitarTopReview.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. sound. How do you lower the action saddle on an acoustic guitar? As of today, some of the top-line instruments are still produced at the Yairi factory in Japan and are sent to the guitar shop in St. Louis, Missouri for final inspection before they are sold to customers. But needless to say, if you want good sound and arent worried about space, then you should just go for a full-size guitar you will get fuller tones. However, like most large guitar manufacturers, they have moved some of their production overseas. 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. Made in Fender USA Made in 1984 Stratocaster Plus (#275375391133) k***e (297) - Feedback left by buyer k***e (297). The original company was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. The compact form factor will limit the tonal range of the guitar. Older guitars often sound better than newer ones as they dry out over time which causes them to become harder leading to a more resonant tone with better sustain. The first modern Washburn instruments were full-size acoustic guitars imported from Japan by Beckmen Music. However, throughout its long history, some of the brands manufacturing has been moved to China. With that said, the compact form factor of this guitar affects not only the dimensions it also affects the sound. Washburn is owned by US Music Corporation, a US-based musical instrument and accessory manufacturer. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In 1912, the factory had about 150 employees. Although they have a custom shop and design factory in New Hartford, Connecticut, Ovation Guitar has also outsourced their guitars to factories in Indonesia, South Korea, and China. These guitars were based on C.F. The website would lead you to belive that they are made in Chicagobut their prices are more in line with PacRim instruments. The Washburn Rover travel guitars are the latest addition to the Washburn lineup, and these unique guitars are designed for players who need a small, portable guitar that can be taken anywhere. That year, a Chicago Tribune article[11] confidently places Washburn "among the top three guitar manufacturers in the world," behind only Fender and Gibson. For instance, Gibson USA, Fender, and Martin all utilize serial numbers for their guitars which can be tracked through their websites or through independent resources to find out when and where the guitar was produced, as well as its history. American manufacturer and importer of string instruments, "JAM Industries Rebrands as Exertis JAM and Reaffirms Commitment to Core Values", "Grand Piano Haus: The history of Grand Piano Haus", "Guitar-maker Strikes Comeback Chord: Washburn Hits The Top 3 On 15 Years Of Growth", Village of Mundelein 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, "Ola Englund Signs With Washburn Guitars", "Washburn Paul Stanley Series Electric Guitars", The Guitar Collection includes an example of a Washburn A15, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washburn_Guitars&oldid=1142187564, Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States, Musical instrument manufacturing companies based in Chicago, Wikipedia articles incorporating the Cite Grove template, Wikipedia articles incorporating the Cite Grove template with an id parameter, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, DL - deluxe (generally, a standard model with a few upgraded features), S - solid-wood top (rather than laminate). Are Washburn Guitars Made In China? - Caniry The company also makes accessories including if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'remodelormove_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_21',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Today, Washburn is widely recognized as a major factor in the music industry and has earned a reputation for excellence in quality and craftsmanship. The main difference between an acoustic and classical guitar is the type of strings they use. As of 2017, primary production has largely shifted from Korea to factories in Indonesia and China. Many notable musicians use Washburn guitars, including Albert Lee, Homer Pinnell, Larry McCray, and Tony Craver. The high end acoustics were USA made as well but i don't remember just where. The brand offers plenty of pocket-friendly guitar options, and its models have universally good feedback online. It is also played without an amplifier but is usually associated with a specific style of playing: classical, flamenco, jazz, etc. WASHBURN The serial number can also be stamped or printed on a paper label and can contain a combination of alphanumeric numbers. This isnt an issue in terms of quality, but buyers who prefer to buy American-made products may find this problematic. Is Ibanez a Good Brand? I looked it up and the USA Washburn's are now made just north of Chicago, in the town of Mundelein, IL. You are using an out of date browser. [14], 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. #2. They still make Guitars in the US (but you don't see many of them in the wild at GC/SA stores), they are the domain of independant shops. Review / Submit Request For Quote; My Account; 0 Items. You can definitely learn on an electric guitar, but overall, acoustic guitar wins out every time. Does fender own Washburn Guitars? WebChinese guitars aren't necessarily synonymous with "junk" anymore. Formed in Chicago, Illinois, Washburn has been building stringed instruments since 1883. Classical guitars are also typically made from lighter materials to make them feel easier to play for the fingers. All are manufactured in North America. The company produces instruments for pros, aspiring pros, and hobby players, and is based in Buffalo Grove, IL. Use the serial number on your guitar to determine the year of manufacture. Washburn has gone through several changes in ownership over the years, and it is currently owned by JAM Industries, a Canadian-based distributor. In 1889, Washburn becomes the largest mandolin maker in America. The company achieved independence by 1880, and around 1888 the company launched fully into fretted and plucked instruments (guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and zithers)[2] The serial number can be found in the sound hole of the acoustic or on the back of the headstock on electrics. WebAN AMERICAN ORIGINAL 1883, Chicago. However, there is very limited information online about these companies. Known as one of the biggest musical instrument companies in the world, Yamaha has been producing instruments for over 135 years. Washburn Guitars Washburn/Lyons brand is multi-tiered like most US based luthiers. WebWashburn has been around since 1883 and is one of the oldest brands in the industry. Mahogany neck AND Body. Solid top will sound better as you play more. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Washburn has been more of a quality instrument importer than a producer. If you have plenty of cash to splash, then go for a US-made Washburn and you will get the best quality. Most of them are Samick guitars. The company has many factories worldwide, with locations in the US, China, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. While imperfectly applied, and sometimes awkwardly long, this can often be useful in identifying a given guitar. The Washburn pickups have very good clarity, especially at low gain. I worked for them in the 90s at the Vernon Hills, Illinois plant. I believe that the issue with foreign made confusion was a result of the MIK guitars being stickered as such. From 1992 to 2000 Washburn housed the USA Custom Shop in a factory at Elston and Springfield avenues. Grover Jackson worked for them back then and the USA customs were made in Chicago. 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.