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 (and are far from the only evidence).
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)
- $449 MSRP (1988)
- $595.90 MSRP (1989)
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)
- $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
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)
- Metallic Pink