Stage Series / A-Series

Washburn Stage Series / A-Series

Most catalogs list these guitars as being part of the “Stage Series,” though the Japanese price list pictured below they are referred to simply as “A-SERIES.” This was a popular model line for Washburn. Bands such as UFO, Quite Riot, and Heart were known to play Stage Series guitars. The “hockey stick” style headstock and explorer inspired body screams 1980s rock!

Colors and Pricing:

In the Japanese Price list, the A-SERIES has the A-10 listing for ¥50,000 and available in B (Black), or C (Cream). The A-20 is listed at ¥70,000 and available in B (Black), M (Natural Maple), CS (Cherry Sunburst), R/N (Rosewood top, Natural back), and R/BR (Rosewood Top, Brown Black). Other colors listed below in the 1983(?) catalog and magazine ads were Candy Apple (Red), Black with Gold Trim, Blue, Ivory, and Maroon.

There were additional colors available other than those listed in catalog out in the wild. For example, yellow and our transparent blue A-20V pictured below. Also, the A-10-12 model (twelve string) is not listed in the catalogs, but it certainly exists. Pink is also a rare color, made famous by Howard Lesse of Heart (seen in period advertising with heart shaped fret markers).

A price list from 1985 shows that only vibrato models are available (no hardtail). The A-20V was $749 and available in BBR (Black/Black/Red) and WHBB (White/Black/Black). The A-10V was $549 and was available in B (Black), WH (White), or SR (Red). The A-5V listed for $399 in B (Black) and WH (White).

Specifications:

A20 specs per the 1980 US catalog were three piece necks, ash bodies and a flamed maple top, string through body, ebony fingerboard, “Power Sustain” humbucking pickups with push/pull coil taps, chrome hardware, “Harmonic Lock” bridge system, brass nut and bridge saddles, bound body and fingerboard, and brass ring fret position markers.

The A-15, A-10, A-5 specs below are from the 1982 US Catalog:

A-15 has a solid ash body with single edge binding, set 3 ply rock maple neck, rosewood finger board, string through body, “Harmonic Lock” bridge system, and single coil pickups with two volume, one tone, and five way selector switch. A fender style vibrato was available.

A-10 specifications were an ash body with single edge binding, set 3-ply rock maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, string through body, “Power Sustain” humbucking pickups, “Harmonic Lock” bridge system, and deluxe machine heads. Though coil splits are not mentioned, the A-10-12 below seems to be an exception.

A-5 specs are a solid mahogany body, bolt on 3 ply rock maple neck, maple fingerboard, string through body, “Harmonic Lock” bridge system, and single coil pickups with single volume, tone, and three way selector switch.

Construction Changes:

From our limited sample size, guitars in 1980-81 look to be made by Yamaki, and have wood cavity control covers and 5mm barrel truss rod nut. Around 1983 manufacturing seems to change to someone else and we see metal or plastic control covers on the back of the guitars and a Gibson style acorn truss rod nut.

The 1980 catalog does show a A20-V with a Fender Strat style tremolo. The 1983 catalog introduces the “Dive Bomber” vibrato. In the 1985 Catalog we see that the “Wonderbar” replaces the “Dive Bomber” vibrato, and humbucker pickups now have EMG style covers.