Washburn Guitars

Washburn Guitars, established in 1883 in Chicago, is an American brand known for its guitars, mandolins, and string instruments. The company originated from Lyon & Healy, which began as a sheet music outlet in 1864. By 1888, under the brand name of George Washburn, it had fully committed to producing fretted instruments, achieving notable success with the introduction of the Lakeside Jumbo guitar in 1912, considered one of the first dreadnought-sized guitars. However, by the 1920s, increased competition and changing consumer interests led to a decline, culminating in the sale of its guitar business to Tonk Brothers in 1928. Although the Washburn brand persisted, it struggled to regain its former prominence, fading into obscurity by the early 1940s.

The modern incarnation of Washburn emerged in the 1970s, spearheaded by Beckmen Musical Instruments, which began importing quality guitars from Japan. Fretted Industries acquired the Washburn name in 1977, revitalizing the brand and establishing a manufacturing operation in the U.S. by 1991. Under the leadership of Fritz Tasch and Rudy Schlacher, Washburn grew to become one of the leading guitar manufacturers in the world. In 2002, Washburn International merged with U.S. Music Corporation, later becoming part of JAM Industries in 2009.