Posted 14 years ago
valleyboy
(27 items)
I got my first guitar when I was 13, a used axe that my uncle didn't want anymore. It's a 1980s (I think) Washburn copy of the Black Beauty, one of Gibson's most famous (and expensive) models in the Les Paul line.
I don't know much about the history of Washburn, but I imagine that they couldn't get away with such a blatant copy like this one today. I do know, however, that other Japanese companies (like Ibanez) had done similar things (especially with Strat imitations) in the 1960s and '70s.
But as you can see, this is actually a fairly high-quality imitation. The fretboard and headstock inlays are real mother of pearl. And the headstock features the beautiful design so distinctive on the real Gibson model, even with the "Custom" plate underneath. Except for the word Washburn (and the black rhythm pick-up I had installed to replace the broken one it had when I got it), you would hardly know it wasn't original just by looking at it!
I mostly play a Telecaster now (check out my first post or my profile pic), but this guitar will always have a special place in my heart.
Beautiful guitar. I have been looking for one like that for awhile. My grandfather had one. Could you please tell me the model number, so I can look for one? Much Thanks!
This would have been made in the FujiGen factory before 1976, the same factory the Ibanez guitars were made in. They had Maxon pickups and there weren't very many. At the time Washburn wasn't really an active brand, but more a licensed name used by American importers put on acoustics that would otherwise have been branded Ibanez and Penco. My best guess is that Washburn dealers that weren't Ibanez dealers wanted a Les Paul type guitar and the factory offered to throw a Washburn logo on the 2350 or whatever the model numbers were.
I have a Tobacco burst one with cream binding, a cream pickguard, and it audaciously has "Les Paul Model" acually screened on the headstock from the factory. It's pretty wild. Love it. Unless someone makes me a can't say no offer...
I also have a super early Samick burst copy with a proper headstock and binding over frets too (that I only mention because I'm more apt to sell that one).