Washburn Style 1222 c 1917 | SOLD | (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 skilled craftsmanship and quality materials, and a good number of the instruments 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 1222, made about 1917, according to information from Pleijsier. It appears that the style 1222 was offered from 1915-1922, and like most Lyon & Healy products, it was well constructed from quality materials. The 1222 is described as a 'size 2', concert size, being a tad larger than the 'standard size'. Old Washburn catalog advertising explains the concert size is, "The favorite size for a gentleman's instrument...the tone is rich and powerful."
The body is made from solid Brazilian rosewood. The ladder-braced top is spruce and is bound in w/b/w celluloid with inlaid purfling rings around the sound hole. The back sports an inlaid strip of purfling. The neck is either cedar or mahognay, and is carved in a 'V' shape common to the period. The head stock has a Brazilian overlay. The fingerboard is ebony with four pearl position markers. The original tuners are three-on-a-side strip tuners. The bridge is ebony (exact replica). The bridge pins are not original to the guitar.
The body measures 13 1/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 23 3/4". The neck is 1 13/16" across at the nut and 2 3/8" across at the saddle. Action is set at 5/64"
The guitar appears to have had no prior repairs, and is crack free. The original finish is in excellent condition, and the guitar is very clean both inside and out. We recently reset the neck, dressed and leveled the frets, and glued a few back braces.
The guitar plays easily with accurate intonation and is very responsive to the touch. The tone is more bright than warm, likely due to the Brazilian, is full and projects well with good sustain. Very fun guitar to finger pick old parlor tunes.
Comes with a new hard case.
Check out the sound clip.
This example appears to be a Style 1222, made about 1917, according to information from Pleijsier. It appears that the style 1222 was offered from 1915-1922, and like most Lyon & Healy products, it was well constructed from quality materials. The 1222 is described as a 'size 2', concert size, being a tad larger than the 'standard size'. Old Washburn catalog advertising explains the concert size is, "The favorite size for a gentleman's instrument...the tone is rich and powerful."
The body is made from solid Brazilian rosewood. The ladder-braced top is spruce and is bound in w/b/w celluloid with inlaid purfling rings around the sound hole. The back sports an inlaid strip of purfling. The neck is either cedar or mahognay, and is carved in a 'V' shape common to the period. The head stock has a Brazilian overlay. The fingerboard is ebony with four pearl position markers. The original tuners are three-on-a-side strip tuners. The bridge is ebony (exact replica). The bridge pins are not original to the guitar.
The body measures 13 1/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 23 3/4". The neck is 1 13/16" across at the nut and 2 3/8" across at the saddle. Action is set at 5/64"
The guitar appears to have had no prior repairs, and is crack free. The original finish is in excellent condition, and the guitar is very clean both inside and out. We recently reset the neck, dressed and leveled the frets, and glued a few back braces.
The guitar plays easily with accurate intonation and is very responsive to the touch. The tone is more bright than warm, likely due to the Brazilian, is full and projects well with good sustain. Very fun guitar to finger pick old parlor tunes.
Comes with a new hard case.
Check out the sound clip.