Washburn Model 5238 Deluxe Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930)
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Washburn Model 5238 Deluxe Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930), made in Chicago, serial # 1803, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
The Washburn "Deluxe" was the finest standard guitar Lyon & Healy offered in the 1920s, the height of the Chicago-based company's accomplishment in 6-string design. This Model 5238 is its direct descendant, dating to the period just as the 1920s were ending and the Depression kicking in. After decades at the forefront of the fretted instrument business, in 1928 Lyon & Healy (perhaps seeing the stock market crash in a crystal ball!) sold their manufacturing operation to the J.R. Stewart company, and gave distribution of the Washburn line to up-and-coming Chicago jobber Tonk Bros.
Soon enough when the Depression hit, Tonk stopped ordering instruments and Stewart's over-extended factory operation went under fairly quickly, allowing the Regal company to sweep in to buy the factory and its contents at pennies on the dollar. This instrument has the DNA of all these folks in it; the 19 fret fingerboard suggests it was made shortly before the time Regal assumed control from Stewart; Those made by Regal are generally considered to be identified by a change to a 20-fret layout.
This Model 5238 is a 12-fret, X-braced rosewood Grand Concert Guitar generally similar to the Martin 00-28. It was the top of the Tonk/Washburn line and expertly made with the finest materials available. This is an extremely well-crafted, high-grade instrument, quite different from both J.R. Stewart and Regal's more common bargain basement fare. It was made in the same factory, by the same folks who built the high-end Washburns for Lyon & Healy -- just with a different name on their paycheck!
It features a 14 3/16" wide rosewood body carrying a fairly lightly built X-braced red spruce top bound in ivoroid, with six alternating B&W purfling lines around the top and back. Continued from Lyon & Healy practice, the back and sides are of 3-ply laminated rosewood rather than the solid Brazilian Rosewood Martin used; although frowned on today, this was touted as a deluxe feature at the time. The top is solid spruce with very finely crafted X bracing and a small maple bridgeplate.
The comfortable round-backed mahogany 12-fret neck is topped with an ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard inlaid with delicate shaped pearl snowflakes and slotted diamonds. The tuners are beautiful engraved plate strips with genuine pearl buttons. The bound soundhole has a multiple ply double-ring rosette. Other distinctive Washburn features are the unique ebony "Smile" bridge, fluted crown headstock shape and the trademark delicate gold leaf filigree designs on the top, something that kicked around Chicago makers from the early '20s up into the late '30s.
This is quite a rare guitar and one of the best steel-string flat tops of the period -- a worthy competitor to Martin and the Larson Brothers' similar products. It was priced at $120 in 1930 (without case) which was a full $40 MORE than a Martin 00-28; for that you could have gotten a pearl-trimmed 00-42 and $10 change! The sound is powerful and round but crisp; it fingerpicks beautifully but also has muscle in reserve, with plenty of volume. It makes a fine flat-picked strummer as well. This guitar is a beautiful example of this rare and lovely pre-war rosewood flat-top, about the best of this model we have seen.
Overall length is 38 7/8 in. (98.7 cm.), 14 3/16 in. (36 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 15/16 in. (10 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This Washburn is a superb example overall. It shows some play wear but far less restoration than most and remains an extremely fine-playing and sounding instrument. There is some typical general finish wear with checking, dings, dents and scuffs. The top shows some moderately heavy pick wear mostly below the soundhole with a smaller area above, as well as smaller dings and dents. There are a number of small soft dings in the back of the neck, but none of the heavy capo wear often found on older flat tops.
The ebony "Smile" bridge and small maple bridge plate are exact correct reproductions, with a more slanted saddle for improved intonation. There is some very slight finish marring around the bridge, but this is quite subtle. The top center seam has been neatly resealed between the bridge and the top edge of the decal without any added finish. One check on the rosewood back just below the center seam that does not go through to the inside. A center seam repair under the fingerboard extension visible inside the soundhole, the hidden scar of an otherwise very clean neck reset.
The tuners are the correct gold plated, engraved and pearl buttoned originals; even the bridgepins and endpin appear original. The frets are the original small fretwire, they have been lightly dressed and they have plenty of life left. This guitar plays and sounds magnificent, with a powerful attack and a lot of sustain for a flat top guitar. We are always thrilled when nice examples of these high-end Washburns arrive; they are uniquely attractive guitars both sonically and visually. Excellent Condition.
The Washburn "Deluxe" was the finest standard guitar Lyon & Healy offered in the 1920s, the height of the Chicago-based company's accomplishment in 6-string design. This Model 5238 is its direct descendant, dating to the period just as the 1920s were ending and the Depression kicking in. After decades at the forefront of the fretted instrument business, in 1928 Lyon & Healy (perhaps seeing the stock market crash in a crystal ball!) sold their manufacturing operation to the J.R. Stewart company, and gave distribution of the Washburn line to up-and-coming Chicago jobber Tonk Bros.
Soon enough when the Depression hit, Tonk stopped ordering instruments and Stewart's over-extended factory operation went under fairly quickly, allowing the Regal company to sweep in to buy the factory and its contents at pennies on the dollar. This instrument has the DNA of all these folks in it; the 19 fret fingerboard suggests it was made shortly before the time Regal assumed control from Stewart; Those made by Regal are generally considered to be identified by a change to a 20-fret layout.
This Model 5238 is a 12-fret, X-braced rosewood Grand Concert Guitar generally similar to the Martin 00-28. It was the top of the Tonk/Washburn line and expertly made with the finest materials available. This is an extremely well-crafted, high-grade instrument, quite different from both J.R. Stewart and Regal's more common bargain basement fare. It was made in the same factory, by the same folks who built the high-end Washburns for Lyon & Healy -- just with a different name on their paycheck!
It features a 14 3/16" wide rosewood body carrying a fairly lightly built X-braced red spruce top bound in ivoroid, with six alternating B&W purfling lines around the top and back. Continued from Lyon & Healy practice, the back and sides are of 3-ply laminated rosewood rather than the solid Brazilian Rosewood Martin used; although frowned on today, this was touted as a deluxe feature at the time. The top is solid spruce with very finely crafted X bracing and a small maple bridgeplate.
The comfortable round-backed mahogany 12-fret neck is topped with an ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard inlaid with delicate shaped pearl snowflakes and slotted diamonds. The tuners are beautiful engraved plate strips with genuine pearl buttons. The bound soundhole has a multiple ply double-ring rosette. Other distinctive Washburn features are the unique ebony "Smile" bridge, fluted crown headstock shape and the trademark delicate gold leaf filigree designs on the top, something that kicked around Chicago makers from the early '20s up into the late '30s.
This is quite a rare guitar and one of the best steel-string flat tops of the period -- a worthy competitor to Martin and the Larson Brothers' similar products. It was priced at $120 in 1930 (without case) which was a full $40 MORE than a Martin 00-28; for that you could have gotten a pearl-trimmed 00-42 and $10 change! The sound is powerful and round but crisp; it fingerpicks beautifully but also has muscle in reserve, with plenty of volume. It makes a fine flat-picked strummer as well. This guitar is a beautiful example of this rare and lovely pre-war rosewood flat-top, about the best of this model we have seen.
Overall length is 38 7/8 in. (98.7 cm.), 14 3/16 in. (36 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 15/16 in. (10 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This Washburn is a superb example overall. It shows some play wear but far less restoration than most and remains an extremely fine-playing and sounding instrument. There is some typical general finish wear with checking, dings, dents and scuffs. The top shows some moderately heavy pick wear mostly below the soundhole with a smaller area above, as well as smaller dings and dents. There are a number of small soft dings in the back of the neck, but none of the heavy capo wear often found on older flat tops.
The ebony "Smile" bridge and small maple bridge plate are exact correct reproductions, with a more slanted saddle for improved intonation. There is some very slight finish marring around the bridge, but this is quite subtle. The top center seam has been neatly resealed between the bridge and the top edge of the decal without any added finish. One check on the rosewood back just below the center seam that does not go through to the inside. A center seam repair under the fingerboard extension visible inside the soundhole, the hidden scar of an otherwise very clean neck reset.
The tuners are the correct gold plated, engraved and pearl buttoned originals; even the bridgepins and endpin appear original. The frets are the original small fretwire, they have been lightly dressed and they have plenty of life left. This guitar plays and sounds magnificent, with a powerful attack and a lot of sustain for a flat top guitar. We are always thrilled when nice examples of these high-end Washburns arrive; they are uniquely attractive guitars both sonically and visually. Excellent Condition.