~1915 Washburn style 115 Natural/Brazilian

Washburn Style 115 c 1915 | $1350 | (v1919) In the first part of the twentieth century Lyon & Healy was one of the largest of the musical instrument manufacturers in the US. The bulk of their output was made with craftsmanship and quality materials, and a good number of them survive today. With such a large output and a very wide range of models produced, it can be difficult identifying and dating these instruments. The book, Washburn: Prewar Instruments Styles by Hubert Pleijsier, is an in-depth look at these guitars and a big help in sorting things out.

This example appears to be a Style 115, made about 1915, according to information from Pleijsier. It appears the style 115 was offered from 1910-1915, and like most Lyon & Healy products, were well constructed from quality materials. The 115 is describes as a 'size 1', standard size, being a tad larger than the 'size 3/4', aka 'ladies size', although an old Washburn catalog goes on to describe the size 1 as 'a great favorite as a ladies instrument'.

The back and sides are made from beautiful book-matched Brazilian rosewood. The top is what L&H called 'white spruce'. The top, back and sound hole are bound in very attractive wood marquetry and white celluloid. The top is ladder-braced, with the brace just south of the sound hole at a bias, commonly seen in Washburn guitars. The neck is mahogany, carved in a full 'V'-shape, and painted black. The fingerboard is ebony, with about a 16" radius. The bridge is ebony, and a replacement.

The overall length of the guitar is about 36 1/2". The lower bout measures 12 7/16". Scale length is 24 5/16", a short scale. The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 1/8" across at the saddle. The end pin appears to be bone or ivory, and the bridge pins are replacements.

The guitar is in remarkably excellent and original condition except for the replaced bridge. The bridge was the only repair we noted when we acquired the guitar, and was made slightly smaller than the original, and in a less-skilled fashion than the original, but is very accurately intonated. We recently reset the neck and leveled and dressed the frets. Action is set at 6/64". There is a very thin grain crack on the lower back. The heel cap was split and re-glued. Otherwise, a very neat-and-tidy little guitar.

With its petite size, quality materials and comfortable set-up, the guitar is a pleasure to play. It produces a full sound despite its size, and is perfect for finger picking blues, old-timey or parlor music.

Comes with a soft case.

Check out the sound clip