The back of the neck is somewhat worn as well, mostly along the spine and then headstock edges. There is general wear to the finish all over the guitar, with the most severe being some considerable pickwear to the top below the strings and some scrapes behind the bridge. It has recently been restored to excellent playing condition with a neck set, period correct refret, and fingerboard rebind. This guitar is in nicely original condition but shows some moderately heavy wear overall. (10 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. This is a very delicate and responsive guitar, quite suitable for fingerpicking styles and offering a surprising volume when strummed. This rare guitar is very well-made of high quality materials as with period Martins, it was intended for gut strings originally, but performs well with modern silk & steel stringing. In addition, this Style B is the larger Grand Concert model with a body 14' wide at the lower bout, which was listed as available on special order only in 1922-3. Martin's prices - indeed, that amount would also have secured a similar Martin.

The spruce top is very lightly built with quite delicate X-bracing, which Lyon & Healey used only on the top models of this period.ĭespite its relatively austere appearance, the next-to-top-of-the-line Style B was a very expensive guitar in its time, retailing at $92. The elegantly carved curved 'smile' bridge is a unique novel feature introduced with this new Washburn line, as is the grained ivoroid ring set around the sound hole edge in place of any conventional inlay. The decorative appointments are subtle but distinctive the headstock and fingerboard are bound in white celluloid, the body edges (top 7 side) bound in 3-ply celluloid with a dark outer edge. The Style 'B' was the second model down the line and features a laminated Brazilian rosewood body, a mahogany neck with a solid ebony fingerboard, and a fine grained spruce top. In the early 1920s the long-successful Washburn brand did an aesthetic about-face previously their guitars had been known for having very elaborate inlay and decoration, but the completely new 1922 line was suddenly sleek and mostly unadorned with a very timely early Deco look.

This lovely and elegant guitar is a most distinctive product of Chicago's Lyon & Healy factory, and carries their premium Washburn brand. Washburn Style B Grand Concert Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Lyon & Healy (1922), made in Chicago, serial # 199, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.

Lyon and healy washburn parlor guitar