Serial # 1885. The Style A was Lyon & Healy's most ornate and most expensive offering in their Washburn guitar line during the early to mid 1920's. The guitar is ornamented with the finest tuners of the day, a delicate hand engraved pearl floral inlay on the headstock, and the classic flowery gold filigree top ornamentation that we associate with the high-end Washburns built in the 1920's and 30's. The Style A's body is bound and purfled with black and white celluloid on all sides, and matching grained celluloid binds the soundhole, fingerboard and headstock. It's a particularly exciting guitar for us vintage enthusiasts, as there just aren't too many of this model in existence. The level of craftsmanship that is shown in all facets of this guitar's construction is of the highest caliber; from the nut that's fit inside the headstock binding, to the gracefully carved volute, intricate inlay work, and top brace carving. The Waverly tuning machines are hand-engraved and gold-plated, and are fitted with exquisite solid mother of pearl buttons. At $127 in 1925, this Washburn Style A had a price comparable to a Style 42 Martin, and it's not hard to see why.

A smaller guitar with a lower bout that measures 13" across (somewhere between a Martin size 0 and size 1), the X-braced Style A has a very lightly constructed top and a tone that is surprisingly open and resonant given the instrument's petite size. It has a strong midrange presence as well, which makes for a very welcoming fingerstyle voice. Treble response is full and thick, and the guitar reacts quickly to your right hand. The neck has a full, deep feel, a radiussed fingerboard and a round-sided V carve with a width of 1-3/4" at the nut. It's a very comfortable shape, and easy to play. String spread at the bridge is just about 2-5/16". The guitar's action is set 5-6 64ths. Red spruce top, two-ply Indian rosewood back and sides; mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle.

This Style A has been given the full spa treatment in our repair-shop. Its neck has been reset, a ruined original spruce bridgeplate has been replaced with a similarly-sized one of hard maple, and the bridge is a replacement. The top required French-polish touch-up around the bridge to correct damaged original finish. The headstock's inlay has been partially replaced (you simply wouldn't know this if we didn't tell you about it - but the work of pearl-inlay specialist Mark Kett is far too awe-inspiring to be lost to time). One top crack has been glued, the frets dressed, and the original grained celluloid bridge pins reinstalled. The guitar plays perfectly, and has been restored to our high standards.

This instrument isn't built with any CITES-listed materials, and can be shipped internationally without any hurdles.



Shipping into the USA?

Sending this guitar to a US address is easy to do, and there are no import fees, taxes, or duties to pay when it arrives. We take care of everything involved in shipping -- all you have to do unpackage the instrument when it arrives and play!

Questions? Email us anytime, or call us toll-free at 1-855-772-0424. With period / original hardshell case