1935 Washburn 5257 Solo $4350
This is a rare and very interesting pre-war flat top showing some old repairs but a spectacular sounding instrument nonetheless. The 5257 Solo was made by the Chicago-based Regal Co. who owned the Washburn brand name in the 1930s. In both size and shape it is unique among flat tops, mating 15-1/4” wide with a deep body made of rosewood to a seven ply neck. This Washburn was priced and sold as a premium instrument in the ‘30’s and the construction and materials were not cheap.
It is stamped 597 in ink on the inside block and is a 5257 solo model designation. The Tonk Bros. paper sticker inside is half torn away. This is an X-braced rosewood "large auditorium" Guitar, 15 1/4" inches wide- larger than a 000 Martin size. The back and sides are nicely figured rosewood, bound and with a double line back-strip. The top is made of tight-grained Adirondack spruce with a trimmed celluloid pickguard.
The sound hole edge is multi-bound but there is no rosette ring, another Regal-style feature. The bridge replaced the traditional Washburn "Smile" design appearing to be beefed up to accompany the large tucked replacement bridge plate inside. Amazingly, the deep richness of the sound of this guitar is not compromised at all by these changes. That is why I acquired it despite all the changes. Tone comes first!!! It sounds better than perfect 5257 examples when I pit them against each other. Also, there is no bellying on this guitar.
The neck is made of 7-ply maple, with some heft to it with a round profile and a 25.4" scale length. It is finished in lacquer with an unbound, dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard and the Regal period thin heel design. The Washburn name is inlaid in pearl in the large rosewood-faced headstock, the tuners are replacement modern 12:1 Grovers-.
This Washburn was not a budget brand instrument. It was sold at prices comparable to other high grade guitars. These are all extremely rare, especially the Solo models like this one. The only available figures suggest approximately 35 of the model 5257 were ever made, and how many were rosewood is open to question. This is an extremely well-crafted, high-grade instrument made with the finest materials available at the time.
Overall length is 40-1/4 in, 11-3/8 in at the upper bout, 15-1/4 in wide at lower bout, and 4 5/8 in. depth taken at the end block. Scale length is 25.5 in. (Long scale). Width of the nut is 1-3/4 in.
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