Washburn Davies N4 experts in here

[nevusofota]

Common knowledge is that Stephen Davies N4's were made in 1991. However, not all 1991 N4 serial numbers have the same code order. It seems that early 91 N4's have numbers with the year at the end of the number code (i.e. xxxx91) and later 1991 models have the year at the beginning (i.e. 91xxxx). Recently, someone extremely knowledgeable and respected in the N4 world recently implied that 1991 models with the year at the beginning of the number chain were not built by Davies in the Seattle shop but were built in the Washburn Chicago factory.

The reason I bring this up is because I see many 91 N4's, with the year at the beginning of the SS#, yielding top dollar because they are advertised as Davies models, when in fact they may not be. Any thoughts or further info?

 

[nevusofota]

 

[messenger]

I "think" I remember reading somewhere that Davies worked in the Chicago factory for a short while so maybe they still are. FYI I could be COMPLETELY wrong

 

[nevusofota]

I "think" I remember reading somewhere that Davies worked in the Chicago factory for a short while so maybe they still are. FYI I could be COMPLETELY wrong

Hmmm. I have never heard this. Interesting. I have heard that Grover Jackson became head of the Washburn Custom Shop in the mid 90's though.

 

[BackCrack]

nevu, get ahold of Richard here: http://www.rjwguitarrepair.com/index.html.
He would know anything and everything about the N4's since he helped build the
prototypes and the initial production run in Davies' shop.

 

[nevusofota]

nevu, get ahold of Richard here: http://www.rjwguitarrepair.com/index.html.
He would know anything and everything about the N4's since he helped build the
prototypes and the initial production run in Davies' shop.

Thanks for that recommendation . I've known about Richard for a few years, spoke with him via email a few times. Recently, I haven't been able to get a hold of him. He hasn't updated that website for a while now.

 

[sgill72]

Try here: http://www.armleg.com/funkymunkymusic/

 

[rcm78]

I recently bought a '91 N4 and believe it to be a Davies. I thought there were clear physical differences between the two different models.
Mine has a Kahler Steeler bridge, barrel style output jack, and the neck joint looks exactly like the Davies models I've seen online.
I cant remember the serial #. I'll check it after work...

 

[nevusofota]

Try here: http://www.armleg.com/funkymunkymusic/

Thanks for the response. I have been a member of that forum for years. However, it is officially dead. Ever since Jon from FunkyMunky Music sold the business there has been very little, if any action on that page.

 

[nevusofota]

I recently bought a '91 N4 and believe it to be a Davies. I thought there were clear physical differences between the two different models.
Mine has a Kahler Steeler bridge, barrel style output jack, and the neck joint looks exactly like the Davies models I've seen online.
I cant remember the serial #. I'll check it after work...

Congrats on the recent acquisition!

You are correct. It is believed that all of those attributes make up what N4 owners believe to be a "Davies". However, I have seen N4's with everything you stated in both forms of the serial#. Jon, ex-owner of Funky Munky Music started me questioning things when he made a statement recently on Facebook, "The serial dating system didn't happen until production moved to Chicago".

 

[nevusofota]

bump

 

[sgill72]

I am EdHead on the N4rum. I was selling N4's to Funky Munky...all the special runs were Jon and I.

Anyway...this is the thread I was referring too. Not sure why just the forum came up.

http://www.armleg.com/funkymunkymusic/v ... munkymusic

 

[nevusofota]

I am EdHead on the N4rum. I was selling N4's to Funky Munky...all the special runs were Jon and I.

Anyway...this is the thread I was referring too. Not sure why just the forum came up.

http://www.armleg.com/funkymunkymusic/v ... munkymusic

Thanks for posting!!! I remember reading that thread as it was coming to light a few years ago.

However, my reading comprehension may not be that great but I don't see where it states the difference in serial #s. Jon states that if you have a 91 with a serial # below about 600 than it is a purely built Davies. What I don't understand is how do you know what number you have if the 91 is at the beginning?
Example: #910742. Does this mean it was the 42nd guitar built in July of 91 or that it is the 742nd guitar built in that year?

And still, why do some have the 91 in front and some at the end?

 

[nevusofota]

 

[rcm78]

Mine is 910644. Whether it was built by Steven or not it gets played everyday!!! Great guitar.

 

[nevusofota]

Mine is 910644. Whether it was built by Steven or not it gets played everyday!!! Great guitar.

I know it doesn't really matter, especially if the guitar plays well. I just like the 91's over later models (at least the 2 I have). The problem is, everyone is holding on to or sell them for crazy amounts because they believe Davies hand made and assembled them.

 

[sgill72]

91 would be the year, next two is the month, last two is the number guitar made that month.

If I had to guess...those with 91 in the front are probably Washburn stamped. I don't recall Washburn doing anything different through the years.

 

[nevusofota]

91 would be the year, next two is the month, last two is the number guitar made that month.

This is true for late 91 models, not for the early guitars. Apparently, the dating system of numbers occurred once guitars were made in Chicago, according to Jon K. (former owner of Funky Munky). Which would mean not all 91's were made by Stephen Davies. The early guitars had numbers like xxxx91. You can then deduce that all these "Davies" being sold are not really "Davies".

 

[sgill72]

In the discussion with Terry Atkins, he said Davies made some himself, some we're made by both, then Washburn took over. All of which were Davies era because of the scoop up to the fretboard on the shark fin.

Washburn long considers Davies era N4's up to the scoop up left. Purists think otherwise.

 

[nevusofota]

In the discussion with Terry Atkins, he said Davies made some himself, some we're made by both, then Washburn took over. All of which were Davies era because of the scoop up to the fretboard on the shark fin.

Washburn long considers Davies era N4's up to the scoop up left. Purists think otherwise.

I think I may be a purist, or better yet, a realist . I feel that if Davies didn't build it completely than it isn't a Davies, scoop or no scoop. There seems to be 3 different type of serial #'s from my research, here they are:

1)#00000 (just production #, no year or month)
2)#00091 (production #, followed by year)
3)#910000 (year, month, production number in that month)

I would like to figure out why the serial #'s changed through production. For example, does a SS# like #3 above indicate that it was built completely at the Chicago factory and not Stephen Davies' Seattle shop?