Washburn Serial Number Formats
YY + MM + digits(1980s-present)Year and month encoding with production sequence.
Where to Find Your Washburn Serial Number
- ▶On the back of the headstock
- ▶On the neck plate
Tips
- ▶Washburn guitars have been made in various countries. Check the headstock label.
Spotting Counterfeit Washburn Guitars
Washburn counterfeits are rare, but some fakes of artist signature models and vintage Washburns do appear.
Serial Number & Origin▼
- ▶Verify the serial number format matches known Washburn patterns. Inconsistent formats or impossible dates are a red flag.
- ▶Check the "Made in" label against the serial number prefix — these should be consistent.
General Authentication▼
- ▶Washburn headstock logos should be clean and properly positioned. Poor logo quality is the easiest way to spot a fake.
- ▶Compare the guitar's features against the Washburn catalog for that model and year. Incorrect pickups, bridge types, or finishes for the claimed model are suspicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a Washburn guitar by serial number?▼
Most modern Washburn serials follow a YYMMXXXX format where the first two digits represent the year and the next two represent the month of manufacture. For example, a serial beginning with 9203 was made in March 1992. Older and vintage models may use different numbering systems.
Where was my Washburn guitar made?▼
Washburn guitars have been produced in several countries over the years, including the USA, Japan, Korea, and China. The country of origin is usually printed on the headstock or on a label inside the body. Earlier USA-made Washburns were built in Chicago, Illinois.
Washburn Links & Resources
Washburn Gallery
More About Washburn
The Washburn name dates to 1883, when Lyon & Healy, a Chicago music retailer and instrument manufacturer, introduced a line of guitars under the Washburn brand — named after their business partner George Washburn. The brand became one of the most popular American guitar makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, producing parlour guitars and mandolins at a time when the guitar was becoming a fixture of American domestic music making. Original pre-1920s Washburn guitars are now collectable antiques.
The Washburn brand was revived in 1974 by Rudy Schlacher, who licensed the name and began importing guitars from Japan. The revived Washburn quickly built a reputation in the 1980s for well-made mid-range electrics and acoustics at competitive prices. The Stage series electrics and the Hawk, Eagle, and Falcon models from the 1980s USA production era are considered the most desirable modern Washburns. Artist associations with Nuno Bettencourt (whose signature N4 model was highly influential), Paul Stanley, and Bob Marley helped raise the brand's profile.
Modern Washburn guitars are owned by US Music Corporation (part of JAM Industries) and are made primarily in China, with the USA Custom Shop producing limited runs. The Heritage series acoustics and the Parallaxe metal guitars represent the current flagship lines. Despite the corporate changes, the Washburn name retains recognition, particularly among players who came up during the brand's 1980s peak.