Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Old Washburn tater bug

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sonoma County, Ca
    Posts
    187

    Default

    A friend of mine was just given an old Washburn tater bug mandolin, a style 225. The word is it belonged to a family member and was built around 1905. On the paper tag inside it has NO. A-6818. Anyone have info on these?

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default

    Sounds like you have lots of info. What else do you need to know?

    Jim
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sonoma County, Ca
    Posts
    187

    Default

    I have name, rank, and serial number. I want stories of these things.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,811

    Default

    Info no; advice yes.

    Don't use BG strings. Martin extra light or GHS Classical are as heavy as you should go without warping the neck and top.

    You like stories about bowlbacks, you should check into the classical threads, where that is the primary instrument style. Perhaps you'll catch BAS.

  5. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default

    Washburn was one of the prime brands made by Lyon & Healy. Other than that, you have the model number and the personal background. 225 is a midrange model, I believe. I don't have my catalogs at hand.

    Is it playable?

    Jim



    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sonoma County, Ca
    Posts
    187

    Default

    The mando is playable. I had to perform surgery on a couple of the tuner gears but it tunes up and plays. Unfortunately, I play left handed and I strung it up northpaw. Sounds quite nice (for a tater). It's really quite beautiful with very nice workmanship. We'll see how well it stays in tune and whether my friend will learn to play it.

  7. #7
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Ann Arbor/Austin
    Posts
    6,277

    Default

    I have a Washburn 225 model that required a little work to make playable again. I like it quite a lot. The woods are very nice-well chosen spruce top and pretty rosewood bowl. It plays well (now) and sounds quite nice, particularly in the mid-range, to my tin-ish ear.

    All in all, it is very playable and a nice instrument. I strongly second BobA's direction on strings. Ultra-lights only, for sure.

    Enjoy playing it.

    Mick
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
    ______________________

    '05 Cuisinart Toaster
    '93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
    '12 Stetson Open Road
    '06 Bialetti expresso maker
    '14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig

Similar Threads

  1. Tater bug picks in. ( mike compton.)
    By Kbone in forum Equipment
    Replies: 26
    Last: Jan-05-2008, 9:01pm
  2. Clarence "tater" tate
    By cooper4205 in forum Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country, Gospel Variants
    Replies: 3
    Last: Oct-19-2007, 1:23am
  3. Tater bugs
    By JeffD in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 3
    Last: Apr-30-2007, 8:53am
  4. Kent tater bug
    By epicentre in forum Looking for Information About Mandolins
    Replies: 6
    Last: Sep-01-2006, 10:30pm
  5. old tater bug /mandolin
    By Dennis Russell in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 6
    Last: Mar-13-2006, 3:10pm

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •