Washburn USA - what's the scoop?

[LanierP]

I heard a while back that the Washburn USA shop in Chicago had closed its doors. To my knowledge, this is the place where the N4's were made, among others. My question is are N4's still being made? I'm talking the USA versions like the Padauk, Vintage, etc..???? I have a N4 Padauk from 2010. I'm being told that it's only worth 1000$ because Washburn is tooling up to make N4's in Ohio, all the Nuno USA models for 1799$ out the door. Just wondering if the guy telling me this is full of shit or is this really the case. Not sure why Washburn would restart their USA N4 models at 1799$, when the had them at or around 3k new in 2010. Can't find anything on the net to confirm any of this. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

The new, Ohio made N4's will be around 1.9-2k street according to latest NAMM pricing.

 

[LanierP]

The new, Ohio made N4's will be around 1.9-2k street according to latest NAMM pricing.

Ok, so assuming that they are made to the same specs,German Floyd's, and same versions of woods and such, this will kill the value of versions made in USA like mine, which New listed for north of 3k.
Ouch man!

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

No German Floyds. Even the Washburn Custom Shop made N4's haven't used German OFRs for the longest time. MIK Floyds.

Any N4 you see with a Floyd Rose tremolo, it's a MIK, 1000 series trem.

The new, lower pricing kinda makes sense to me. The pre-2016 N4's were made in the Washburn Custom Shop thus commanding custom shop prices. The shop in Ohio is not a custom shop.

 

[cecilbag]

What else are they going to be making at this new shop? It's the first I've heard about it

 

[engage757]

I heard scuttlebutt Parker was coming back too? Same shop. Anyone heard anything about this?

 

[mooncobra]

My friend had a white N4 and it was a great guitar, played amazing, sounded great. I doubt all will start selling for a grand. if they did I would be very surprised. I just checked reverb. there is a purple burst n4 for $1099. I have never seen a burst n4. all the other n4's are around 1800 and up. I doubt all of a sudden they will all start selling for a grand.

 

[zewango]

No German Floyds. Even the Washburn Custom Shop made N4's haven't used German OFRs for the longest time. MIK Floyds.

Any N4 you see with a Floyd Rose tremolo, it's a MIK, 1000 series trem.

The new, lower pricing kinda makes sense to me. The pre-2016 N4's were made in the Washburn Custom Shop thus commanding custom shop prices. The shop in Ohio is not a custom shop.

Pretty sure the Relic and new 2.0 versions all had OFR Trems.

 

[LanierP]

Ok guys, my 2010 N4 Padauk (neck and body are Padauk) has never been messed with or tampered with. It's as it came in 2010, and I just checked and it has an OFR 'made in Germany Floyd on it. No 1000 series Korean made version on it. So, I guess I'm still looking to know more. Mine is up on Reverb right now for 1800$ and I'm getting messages that I have it grossly overpriced, that Washburn USA is going to be making these or is already making them in a new Ohio shop and they will be priced at 1799$ with harshell case. Something just doesn't seem to add up here!

 

[Bluplirst]

Just hype up that it's from the original factory before they moved and started cost cutting production etc...

 

[maddnotez]

Just hype up that it's from the original factory before they moved and started cost cutting production etc...

This, use to your advantage.

I'm guessing the people messaging you are just trying to get a good deal so they can do the same thing later and make a dollar.

 

[cecilbag]

Just hype up that it's from the original factory before they moved and started cost cutting production etc...

This, use to your advantage.

I'm guessing the people messaging you are just trying to get a good deal so they can do the same thing later and make a dollar.

Truth here. People will tell you anything to get the price lower. I can see the hand built ones being big money but that's only the first year or two I believe.

 

[mooncobra]

Ok guys, my 2010 N4 Padauk (neck and body are Padauk) has never been messed with or tampered with. It's as it came in 2010, and I just checked and it has an OFR 'made in Germany Floyd on it. No 1000 series Korean made version on it. So, I guess I'm still looking to know more. Mine is up on Reverb right now for 1800$ and I'm getting messages that I have it grossly overpriced, that Washburn USA is going to be making these or is already making them in a new Ohio shop and they will be priced at 1799$ with harshell case. Something just doesn't seem to add up here!

Talked to my friend, his is an 08 or 09 and has original Floyd.

 

[nevusofota]

What I've learned about the "new" shop that's building the N4's. It's info that I've pieced together. I am in no way stating this as fact but it comes from legit sources.

-The shop is in Cincinnati, Ohio.

-The guy who builds them is named Chris and had/has a shop by the name Voodoo Guitar Works, which may also be linked to Intensity Design, Inc. It's also the shop that builds the USA BC Rich guitars.
https://www.facebook.com/Intensity-Design-Inc-312543815609828/




I like that the N4 is now once again being made by a small US builder, as that is the origin of the N4. Remember, Stephen Davis' small independent shop in Seattle in the early 90's began building the first year N4's. They are arguably the best playing and built N4's ever made. Surpassing the later Washburn "custom shop" models that followed, IMO.

 

[engage757]

WIll he be building Parker too? Any news on that front?

 

[nevusofota]

Ok guys, my 2010 N4 Padauk (neck and body are Padauk) has never been messed with or tampered with. It's as it came in 2010, and I just checked and it has an OFR 'made in Germany Floyd on it. No 1000 series Korean made version on it. So, I guess I'm still looking to know more. Mine is up on Reverb right now for 1800$ and I'm getting messages that I have it grossly overpriced, that Washburn USA is going to be making these or is already making them in a new Ohio shop and they will be priced at 1799$ with harshell case. Something just doesn't seem to add up here!

Talked to my friend, his is an 08 or 09 and has original Floyd.

OFR's were standard for a long time on N4's then they switched around the last year of the Washburn Chicago Custom Shop, which was around 2014/2015. The shop closed August 2015.

 

[Hardvalve]

What I've learned about the "new" shop that's building the N4's. It's info that I've pieced together. I am in no way stating this as fact but it comes from legit sources.

-The shop is in Cincinnati, Ohio.

-The guy who builds them is named Chris and had/has a shop by the name Voodoo Guitar Works, which may also be linked to Intensity Design, Inc. It's also the shop that builds the USA BC Rich guitars.
https://www.facebook.com/Intensity-Design-Inc-312543815609828/





I like that the N4 is now once again being made by a small US builder, as that is the origin of the N4. Remember, Stephen Davis' small independent shop in Seattle in the early 90's began building the first year N4's. They are arguably the best playing and built N4's ever made. Surpassing the later Washburn "custom shop" models that followed, IMO.

They were outstanding, his personal builds as well. When I owned a store, we were a dealer, and was blown away by the quality. Sadly they were very hard to move, and one of the best of that style anywhere at the time.

 

[nevusofota]

What I've learned about the "new" shop that's building the N4's. It's info that I've pieced together. I am in no way stating this as fact but it comes from legit sources.

-The shop is in Cincinnati, Ohio.

-The guy who builds them is named Chris and had/has a shop by the name Voodoo Guitar Works, which may also be linked to Intensity Design, Inc. It's also the shop that builds the USA BC Rich guitars.
https://www.facebook.com/Intensity-Design-Inc-312543815609828/





I like that the N4 is now once again being made by a small US builder, as that is the origin of the N4. Remember, Stephen Davis' small independent shop in Seattle in the early 90's began building the first year N4's. They are arguably the best playing and built N4's ever made. Surpassing the later Washburn "custom shop" models that followed, IMO.

They were outstanding, his personal builds as well. When I owned a store, we were a dealer, and was blown away by the quality. Sadly they were very hard to move, and one of the best of that style anywhere at the time.

I'm a big fan of Stephen's Stringed Instruments. I have 2 Davie's N4's and a Stephen's Extended Cutaway Tele from 1992. I agree, extremely well built guitars. It's the best Tele I've ever played.

 

[nevusofota]

WIll he be building Parker too? Any news on that front?

Good question. Haven't heard who's going to build Parker. I don't see how this small shop could take on anything else.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

No German Floyds. Even the Washburn Custom Shop made N4's haven't used German OFRs for the longest time. MIK Floyds.

Any N4 you see with a Floyd Rose tremolo, it's a MIK, 1000 series trem.

The new, lower pricing kinda makes sense to me. The pre-2016 N4's were made in the Washburn Custom Shop thus commanding custom shop prices. The shop in Ohio is not a custom shop.

Pretty sure the Relic and new 2.0 versions all had OFR Trems.

I bought my Alder and Padauk 2.0 N4's in 2011 and both of them came with 1000 series OFRs.

Washburn has never been known for consistency.