An-Ari

made

A-Ai | Al-Am | Arm-    updated 23/8/2010

Anahola Stringed Instruments

Anahola guitars and violins are made by Mickey Sussman, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

Anboy

Anboy guitars were a brand of Fujigen, Japan - at least during the 1990s.  If you search for "Anboy" on Google - don't get much - so try searching for "Fujigen Anboy". There appears to be both 'Anboy' and F&C Anboy brands.

Examples

http://www.kat-vs.com/gcon.html

Anboy Catalogs

From the Fujigen 2001 internet archive Anboy 1 2 3 4

Andersen

1973 to present

Steven Andersen built his first guitar in 1973 in a guitar shop in Phoenix Arizona.  This shop then became the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery.  Now

Steven Andersen now makes flattops, archtops and mandolins in Seattle, Washington USA.

1999 Andersen Priceguide

Craig Anderson

Craig Anderson guitars , Burlington, Vermont, USA

HS Anderson

1970s

Made famous by Prince who played a HSA Telecaster.  HS Anderson guitars were made by Vestax and or Moridaira (not sure if these are the same) in Japan during the end of the '70s. HS Anderson later sold the rights to Hohner in Germany and continued to make them in Japan but with the Hohner Logo still in HS font. For a time they were available with wither HSA or Hohner logo. Hohner reissued the tele in the 80's with a tortoise red pick guard and Hohner Font logo. Then again in 94 they reissued it calling it the Prinz with a non Fender like headstock due to threats from Fender. [Sources: Telecaster.com,  Airline forum, Vintaxe ]

HS Anderson examples

http://www.sandroliva.com/Anderson175.html

http://www.photopix.ch/guitar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=5

H.S. Anderson catalogs

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/darkend/catalogue.html

1970 http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/HSANDERSON.htm

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_hsanderson.htm

see Hohner

Images eBay:

Tom Anderson

 current

Neck plate has date of manufacture and letters A (morning) N (noon), P (afternoon)

Detailed production specs via this data base: http://www.andersonguitars.com/serial.html

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

http://www.andersonalley.com/

Anderson guitar forum http://www.andersonforum.com/

Tom Anderson Catalogs

1987-1998  http://audiozone.dk/cm/jackson-charvel-guitar-catalog-scans.php?cat=11

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tom+Anderson

Image eBay:

Andona Guitars

1995 to present

Andona electric guitars and archtops are made by Antony Brajdic in Topolovac, Croatia

Andreas Guitars

1995 to ?

Andreas Guitars Production (aluminium necks) Dollach, Austria

2003 interview with Andreas Pilcher - from here it looks like that at that time 30 guitars a month were being hand made in Austria.

It also appears that Aria were the Japanese importer

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Andreas+Guitars

Andrews Creations

1982 to present

"My all hand built guitar manufacturing began in 1982 with solidbody electrics.  These are signed and dated on the back of the headstock.

My acoustic all hand built guitars began manufacture in 1994, and are easy to identify with the tag visible inside the soundhole.

My all hand built amplifiers began manufacture in 2007, and are signed on the chassis, with only heads available at this time.

All of the above are made in my shop in Kasilof, Alaska." [Source and image courtesy of: Andrew Hanrahan, email 6/10/2008]

Andrews Guitars

1993 to present.

The date is on the plate on the back of the guitar. Rick Andrews

Angelica

1967 to 1975

Angelica, a brand name used by UK importers Boosey & Hawkes.  Entry level guitars and basses based on classic American designs. Made in Japan.  [Source: Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Guru's Guitar Guide ]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Angelica

Angella

1975 to present

Randy Angella, classical and flamenco guitars since 1975. Concord California USA

Angus

1976 - present

Mark Angus, flat top guitars made 1976 to 2000s in Laguna Beach, California.  Mark currently makes guitars at the Guitar Shoppe

http://www.coastlinepilot.com/articles/2007/08/24/business/cpt-guitarman17.txt

Anson

Anson guitars ? an Australian brand. Made in Japan. Gibson copies including Melody Maker, Les Paul Special and SG have been reported. [Source: Rob Hoffman, Australia, email 23/8/2010]

Antares

1980s-1990s

Japan/Korean budget instruments imported to US by Vega Music International, Brea, California.

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_antares.htm

http://vintageibanez.tripod.com/antares_iceman_copies.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Antares+Guitars

Image eBay

Anthem

2008 to present

"Anthem Guitars are a proprietary line of guitars of Chesbro Music Co designed for, marketed to and distributed solely to Independent Music Stores." [Source: Benson Taylor, email 29/7/009]

Antigua Casa Nunez

Image Ballabio:

Antique Acoustics

1970s to present

Luthier Rudolph Blazer, Tubingen, Germany

Antique Noel

? current model Japan. Acoustics and metal bodies on various Japanese sites.

Antoria

1950s to present

ANTORIA GUITARS were first introduced into the UK from Japan in the early 1950‘s. The Guitars were originally imported by JT Coppock (Leeds) Ltd and Charles Summerfield Ltd.

Up until the end of 2006, the brand was owned and distributed by the late John Lawson who probably acquired it in the 1980‘s.

In 2007 Adam Hall purchased the Antoria brand from John Lawson and re-introduced these instruments into the World market. The Electric Guitars are now produced in Korea, and arrive at the dealers in the UK after being professionally set up at the Adam Hall facility. The Acoustic and Electro-Acoustic models are produced in China from the best quality woods, bindings and inlays. [Source: Antoria ]
Other Antoria information sources

http://groups.msn.com/antoria/history.msnw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoria

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Antoria

Images eBay:

AO Guitars

current

Andrew Olson, Freeport, Maine USA.

Andrew worked for Spector Basses the Michael Tobias (MTD) before establishing his own shop at home in New York, then moving to Freeport in 2005.

Headstock image courtesy of Andrew Olson, AO

2001 to present

"Mr. Aparicio start making guitars since he was 14 years, he start his business before with partners.  The Aparicio Guitars start on 2001

Manufacture date- by serial number which you can find on the guarantee certified.

The first number are the year the second is the month and the last is the number of each guitar

All guitars are hand made in Valencia Spain and we use the best wood. All our tops are solid.." [Source: Maria Rose, Aparicio Guitars, email 2/4/2008]

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon:

Apitius

1976 to present

Oliver Apitius mandolins, Shellburne, Ontario, Canada

http://www.mandozine.com/resources/MBSS/builders.php

Apollo

1967-1972

Japan. Entry level imported to US by St Louis Music.

Search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Apollo catalogs

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_apollo.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Apollo+Guitars

Images Apollo Guitars

Apollo

current

No relation to above currently made in Canada

http://www.guitarsite.com/database/Guitars/rec/7844/

Applause

1976 to present

Kaman Music value line, Ovation style acoustics and a limited number of solid body electric guitars..

Images ebay

Applegate

2001 to present

Luthier Brian Applegate, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Aquarius

Guitars made in Japan.

Images eBay:

Aquila

Guitars with the name Aquila were imported from Japan by Favilla Guitars, Inc. in the late 1960's to 1973 [Source: http://www.catfish1952.com/favilla.html ]

see Favilla

Aquilla

I came across this guitar on eBay. Centre strip Trade mark is American Conservatory. Advertiser says it is Lyon and Healy.

Images eBay:

Aram

1978 to present

"the guitars have a label and the date is written on the top right hand corner." [Source: Kevin Aram, England - custom classical guitars, email 19/3/2008].

audio samples http://www.guitarw.com/music.asp

Image headstock courtesy Kent Guitar Classics

Label image Trilogy Guitars

Aram

current

Korean company

Arbiter

1960s-1970s

Teiscos imported into the UK [Source: Wikipedia ] Arbiter was a UK importer.

Image courtesy of Wutzdog Guitars

Arbor

1983 to present

Imported to US by Musicorp (MTB)

Arbor guitar catalogs

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_arbor.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Arbor

Images eBay:

Arch Craft

1933-1934

Budget brand (Acoustics) produced by Kay: [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Image from eBay: Specification:

Body length: 20"; Overall length: 41"; width: 15 1/2 "; thickness: 3 3/4"; scale 25"; nut 1 3/4"; frets: 19.

Arconti

Robert Arconti, custom guitars

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Arconti

Arezzi

current

Arezzi guitars are handmade in Australia by Frank Arezzi.

David Argent

1990s to present

Black Forest, South Australia

http://www.classicguitar.com/argent.html

Image courtesy of Classic Guitar:

Argus

1980s

Made in Japan ? Distributor Lyowa Shokai [Source: Music Trade]

The Manufacturer is Chushin Gakki (Jackson manufacturer)  Argus was top model brand of Kyowa in 80's.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Argus

Images eBay:

Aria

Aria Pro II

1958 to present

In 1954 guitar teacher  Shiro Arai began importing guitars, sheet music etc from Europe to Japan. He founded Arai & Co on 2 August 1956 in Nagoya, Japan.  The  first Japanese made guitars with brand name Arai (not Aria) appeared in 1958.  In 1958 Aria imported Fenders to Japan and in 1963 they offered their own electric guitars with the Aria brand.  They then found that the Aria brand was being used by Kawai, so went back to Arai.  Guyatone manufactured the first Aria electrics but from 1964 Matsumoku was used.   [Source:  Paul Alcantara, Guitar Buyer, November 2006 ]

Dating Aria Guitars

http://www.ariaguitars.com/int/00int_main/archives_main.html

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/aria.html

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

http://www.instrumentpro.com/blog/archives/2005/07/23/aria-guitars-now-at-instrumentpro/

http://www.therathole.org/guitar/here/my_guitars.html

http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina9a.html

http://vintageguitarpro.com/aria.shtml

Aria guitar catalogs http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/aria_catalogs.html

Aria Pro II catalogs 1977 - 1985 http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/ap2_catalogs.html

1983 http://brochures.yokochou.com/en_index.html

Aria acoustic catalogs 70, 76 and more including Elecord http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

http://www.oldguitar.jp/catalog/aria.htm

Forum http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/index.php

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Aria

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Aria+

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Aria+Pro+II

see Matsumoku

see Univox

Images courtesy of (1971) eBay,    & Sulger & my son (Pro II Cardinal head)

Aria Diamond

1960s

Brand name used by Aria in 1960s.

Arai Diamond catalog 1978 http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/catalogs/78_diamond.html

see Aria

Images eBay:

Ariana

current

Acoustic and electric guitars made in Indonesia.  There is obviously a relationship between Ariana and Aria (sponsored by).

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Ariana

Images eBay:

Arias

Current

Gustavo Arias

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Gustavo+Arias

Vicente Arias

1870s

Vicente Arias (1840-1913) made guitars around 1870. He lived and worked in Ciudad Real, and at the end of his career he had a workshop in Madrid. [Source and first image courtesy of Raphaella Smits]

Images Classical Guitar forum:

http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina9a.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Arirang

Arita

In the 1960s Aria produced guitars and components for labels for brands including Arita [Source: Big Red Toybox]

Distributed in US by Newark Musical Merchandise Co [Source: Blue Book]

Images 1985 eBay