Chicago, IL, April 2008. Washburn will be launching a new line of guitars specifically aimed at shredders called the HM Series. There are a total of 9 guitars in the series and they feature three different body shapes, all targeted towards the heavy metal player. The three body shapes include a V for the WV548, WV40 and WV40V, the Idol body for the WI550, WI50 and WI50V, and a strat style body for the WM526, WM24V and WM24.

The WV540, WM520 and WI550 are all made in the USA and feature a mahogany body with a mahogany/set neck and Original Floyd Rose® bridge. These three guitars proudly boast an extremely fast fingerboard and neck using the Parker Guitars® perfected carbon glass composite fingerboard and stainless steel frets to create a silky smooth fingerboard and unparalleled playability. All three guitars come with Grover® Exclusive tuners, EMG® pickups and the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.

The WV40, WV40V, WM24V, WM24, WI50 and WI50V will all feature the newly introduced Randall® Amplifiers humbucking pickups. These pickups have been created to sonically match and enhance the performance of any guitar amp tone and were developed by Randall Amplifiers during the R&D process of their revolutionary Modular Tube System™ products. This humbucking pickup line was developed by the engineers at Randall to compliment specific solidbody electric guitars in tandem with a premium amplifier.

The WM526 will be available in Metallic Green, Metallic Red and Black, the
WV548 will be available in Red with Black, White with Black and Gray with Black, and the WI556 will be available in Metallic Green, Metallic Red and Black (retail $2,399.90). The WV548 will also be available in Taxi (retail $2,599.90). The WI50V will be available in Black (retail $1,099.90). The WV40V will be available in Metallic Silver, White and Black, the WM24 will be available in Metallic Silver and Black, and the WI50 will be available in Black (retail $999.90). The WV40 will be available in White, Metallic Red and Black and the WM24 in White and Metallic Red (retail $899.90).

Washburn Guitars is owned by US Music Corp., located just north of Chicago.  US Music Corp. is a uniquely positioned, fully integrated musical instrument company that manufactures and markets instruments, accessories and audio equipment for professionals, aspiring professionals, collectors, hobbyists and beginner musicians.  Also owned by US Music Corp. are Parker Guitars, Randall Amplifiers, Eden Amplifiers and Oscar Schmidt.