SOLD - Washburn Mirage Deluxe – Japan 1984

SOLD

This is a very well made thinline electro / acoustic guitar from the historic American builder Washburn.

They didn’t make a whole lot of these and for not very long, but we get the impression that the Mirage Deluxe model was a bit of a big deal back at the time of its launch in the early 1980s.

Our research shows up some pretty serious users including David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Mike Oldfield of Tubular Bells fame.

Here what we think are the specs –

Dreadnought size acoustic cutaway

Thinline depth – 2.0”

Maple top

Mahogany back and sides

Mahogany neck

Rosewood fingerboard

Pearl dot inlays

Rosewood bridge

Three-per-side chrome diecast tuners

Sophisticated pickup system incorporating under saddle piezo

Active volume & tone controls

Weight 6.53 lbs

Roger Waters used his both black and blue sunburst Washburn Mirage guitars during the Radio KAOS tour (1987) for Welcome to the Machine, Wish you were here, Mother, Final Cut and If. A few years later he also used the blue one during Wall Live in Berlin (1990) for Mother, and also Andy Fairwater Low played it during In the Flesh tour (2000) in Each Small Candle.

David Gilmour’s Washburn Mirage Deluxe was supplied directly by Washburn in 1984 for use on the North American leg of his About Face Tour from 9th May to 16th July 1984, in support of his second solo album About Face. The Mirage Deluxe was used on stage by Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, who had joined Gilmour’s touring band as second guitarist.

It was listed in the 2019 Sotheby’s auction of Gilmour’s guitars with a price guide of USD300 - $500.

It was bought at auction for USD$43,750. 

This guitar was bought second hand by its current owner in 2008 and has been used sporadically since then. It shows some minor dings and dents on the top, some pick swirling on the guard, but overall the guitar presents in very good condition.

Only the slightest minor fret wear showing in the lower neck area, and not affecting playability. Original lacquer finish shows off the very attractive wood grain on the top to great effect.

There are a couple of dings on the top towards the outer edges, and some buckle wear on the back but not through the lacquer.

The neck is straight, truss rod works fine, and the original Washburn branded machine heads hold tuning strongly.

This Mirage Deluxe is fun to play in acoustic mode, with a bright top end but not a whole lot of volume. But it really shines when plugged into a good acoustic amplification rig. The pickup system amplifies the natural sound of the guitar, and the active controls allow a player to very finely tune in exactly the tone they wish.

This was a top-of-the-line acoustic/electric instrument when introduced by Washburn in the 80s, and it’s easy to see why. It’s solid and reliable in every way, with a capacity to deliver a great amplified acoustic sound on big stages. And time has not diminished that ability – it still works in exactly the way you would expect, which is very well indeed.

Comes in its original fitted hard case in good condition.