Lyon & Healy Style B, “Washburn” Label, Carved Top Mandolin, (SN: 1376) c. 1922/23, EXC++, OHSC…..

…..made in Chicago, serial number 1376, natural top, dark stained back and sides finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

 Overall length is 25 in. (63.5 cm.), 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm.) width, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 1/2 in. (343 mm.). The width of the nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.). This instrument was recently purchased in Germany where, from what I was told, it has been sitting, un-played for decades. Shipping labels on the amazingly clean original case date from the 1920s.

This instrument remains in splendid and complete original condition, with just some very light case wear. There are some tiny dings and dents, but no major finish wear or signs of damage. The only notable mark on the entire instrument is a 22 mm finish top scratch adjacent to the bass side of the bridge most likely caused by movement of the bridge over time, no evidence of cracking or even having pierced through the finish. The large fibre pickguard and elaborate engraved tailpiece cover remain in near-mint condition.

This Style B plays extremely well, with a sweet and somewhat lighter sound compared to similar Gibson's. This is as fine an example of this somewhat rare instrument as I have seen in over forty-years of collecting. It is housed in the original deluxe hardshell case in very clean with minor signs of use. It hardly looks as if 100 years have passed since this wonderful mandolin left Chicago, but this time capsule is truly a survivor of the ups and downs of the last century.

This Washburn Style B Mandolin is one of the elaborate and beautifully crafted mandolin family instruments that Lyon & Healy introduced in 1917 -- the only really serious competition Gibson ever faced in the carved-top 8-string market. Lyon & Healy used the finest materials and an original design for these models. Lyon & Healy carved-top mandolins were fairly successful, although they never came close to matching Gibson's sales. They continued to be built under the Lyon & Healy brand and as the years progressed the Washburn brand into the Depression years with the Washburn brand being purchased by Tonk Bros. in 1928.

This Style B was the middle instrument in a three-model line, and today seems to be the rarest of the three models. It is basically the same design as the top-line Style 'A' but lacks the elaborate violin scroll peghead. This 2-point mandolin is made from a carved tiger maple body and a tight-grained spruce top, fitted with a shaped pickguard and beautiful tailpiece. The 3-piece laminated mahogany neck is fairly chunky with a rounder backed profile than period Gibson's, with a heavy dot-inlaid extended ebony fingerboard.

The sound of these instruments have been considered since the 1920s to be the best instruments ever made for classical mandolin playing, but have found favor with old-time and country musicians as well. I have always been impressed by both the sound and craftsmanship of the Lyon & Healy mandolins, and this Style B -- although the middle of the line model -- is still an extremely fine instrument fully equal to a Style A in sound and playability and worthy of any player's or collector's attention.

Already owning a Model C and an earlier Model B this particular mandolin will just pass briefly through my hands…..

Currently, I am selling only in the EU.

Thank you for looking.