Tour Series (HM)

The HM (Heavy Metal) series featured radical designed gears towards the 80s rock/metal era where stage and tour presence was required. The Tour series is a later adaption from the Stage (A series), and Washburn sold some of these prototypes, called the HM-6 and HM-80, in a very small abundance, as Washburn did with some of their prototypes. The main two models was of the Tour series was the HM-5 and the HM-20, as seen above in the catalog ads.

HM-5: The HM-5 was the lower end version of the HM series and featured an H-S-S passive pickup configuration. The 5s featured either the Washburn Wonderbar tremolo or a cheaper version of a floyd copy. Colors were black, red, black/red, black/white, or "splatter blood." The 5s were had bolt-on necks and featured a rosewood fretboard. The HM-5 retailed for around $500 new.

HM-20: The HM-20 was the higher end version of the HM series and featured a neck-through design and the Washburn Wonderbar Tremolo. The pickup configuration in the 20s were a H-H and three selector switch. Most of the 20s came in either a black/white or red/black color. The HM-20 retailed for about $900 new.

The Rare Prototypes

The HM-6 is an ultra-rare prototype for the HM-5 series. Not much information is known about these. Thanks for Jambones for the picture.

Ultra Rare HM-80

Along with the A-23K, the HM-80 was the prototype for the HM-20 series featuring an ebony fretboard and 24.75 in scale. The HM-80 shows a clear resemblance of a mixture between the A-20 and the HM-20 with the ebony fretboard and hockey headstock design. There were perhaps less than 50-100 of these made. Sources claim that it either came with a Kahler Flyer trem (pictured above) or a Washburn Wonderbar. The HM-80 is a bolt-on and no serial number was placed on any of the HM-80s, or any of the prototypes for that matter. Someone once told me that these guitars were given to a few washburn dealers and some artists for marketing reasons. I emailed washburn about these guitars, and they don't know much about them. It wasn't listed in any catalog. The only thing they have existing of this guitar is the retail from which ranged from $850-$1100 depending on who I talked to. They did confirm it was definitely a prototype and not information is known about it.

The HM-80 can be seen in Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" video. A woman is playing the 80 thoughout the entire video: