After more than 25 years, a favorite old friend comes home with a little help from Facebook!
We have a love/hate relationship with Facebook around Chicago Fret Works. But one of the great things about the site is how it helps old friends reconnect. In this case, the two old friends are a 1978 Washburn Falcon and its original owner. It’s one of those “I never should have sold that guitar” stories that actually has a happy ending.
The Falcon was one of Washburn’s best electric guitar models with a neck-through-body design and a very comfortable back contour that helps for playing notes up high on the fretboard.The owner of this guitar bought it new in 1978 (looking something like the one below,) but sold it a few years later -a move he came to regret. It wound up in the hands of a touring professional who traveled the world with it for many years.
Fast forward to 2010, and the age of online social networking. The two men found each other on Facebook and decided the guitar needed to be back in the hands of its original owner. It arrived in our shop with a new candy-apple red finish job, missing some of its old parts, and in need of some TLC. But there was no mistaking that it was the same guitar in the same original case!
We installed a set of Lollar Imperial humbuckers, a set of Graphtech string saver saddles, a Black Tusq nut, and put it all back together.
Note that previously mentioned back contour above, along with a custom made clear plexiglass cavity cover (a removable protective film makes it looks a little cloudy.) The owner wanted to be able to see the ‘guts’ of his guitar.
This old Falcon looks and sounds terrific, but the best part for us was helping reunite a player and his favorite guitar after so many years.
A heart-warming story! My ’79 rosewood capped Falcon, known ’round here as the “Fat Lady,” has been with me since early 1980. A Kahler flat-mount trem was shelved into the dished top–gearing up for the whammy era you know–and the PU’s replaced with a matched set of SD 59’s. Further mods include stainless frets to replace the originals that I’d worn down to the board by ’96, a bone nut, and a new finish in clear nitro. “Fat Lady” was inlaid with mother-o-pearl to replace the gold-leaf Washburn Wing-series logo lost in the refinish. The “Fat Lady” continues to sing boldly!
Ric H
I have the exact 1978 Falcon in your above picture, same sunburst model. It’s been in its case for since the late 80’s. I bought it in a small guitar shop in the West suburbs of Chicago. It is a great guitar. The phased pickups give it a unique sound. Is there any value to it?
Gary, those are such underrated guitars. I just glanced at eBay and saw several that sold for between $350 and $700, so they do have some value – but I recommend playing it!