The Washburn WP model was introduced in 1988 as a copy of the Gibson Les Paul, but was quickly redesigned to avoid lawsuits. Like the Epiphone Les Paul and Samick LS/LC it was based on, the design was changed in 1990 (in Epiphone's case, just the headstock). These simultaneous changes bolster evidence of the guitars' relations (but are far from the only evidence). The model was discontinued in early 1991.
It is commonly claimed and believed that all WP models were made in Japan before the design change, but in reality, only the WP-90 and WP-100 were ever made in Japan. The WP-50 and WP-80 were (always) made in Korea by Samick.
Related:
WP-50 (1988-1989)[]
1989 WP-50 CS
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Silk-screened Washburn logo
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Green Key style tuning machines
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Vintage Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (TS)
- Honey Sunburst (HS)
WP-80 (1988-1989)[]
1989 WP-80 W
- $529 MSRP (1988)
- $649.90 MSRP (1989)
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic block inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Mother of Pearl Washburn inlay
- Mother of Pearl Diamond inlay
- Some examples omitted Diamond inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body (front and back) and headstock
- Single-ply neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Pearl Pink
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (WH)
- Pearl Pink (PP)
WP-50 (1990-1991)[]
- $599.90 MSRP
Body:
- Solid Nato body
- Arched Maple top & "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic reverse-trapezoid inlays
- Washburn headstock
- Silk-screened Washburn logo
- Mother of Pearl Washburn inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Green Key style tuning machines
- Crayon-tip shaped truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Vintage Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (TS)
WP-80 (1990-1991)[]
- $679.90 MSRP
Body:
- Solid Nato body with arched top
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- "Ebonized" Rosewood fretboard
- Acrylic reverse-trapezoid inlays (1990)
- Acrylic block inlays (1991)
- Washburn headstock
- Mother of Pearl Washburn inlay
- Mother of Pearl Diamond inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body (front and back) and headstock
- Single-ply neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- Gotoh tuning machines
- Crayon-tip shaped truss rod cover
- Black Speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (WH)