Br-

made

B-BC Rich | Be-Bi  | Bj-Bo   updated 10/10/2011

1960s

Brand used by WT Grant Co in mid 1960s. Made by Guyatone [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Bradley

1970s

Budget Japanese guitars imported to US by Veneman's Music Emporium [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ] or

Tokia while manufacturing the Gibson exotic line began to manufacture "house guitars" under the name of "Bradley" that they imported through a licensing agreement with Mitsubishi, from 1959 through 1963. [Source: The Guitar Files]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/orville-les-paul.htm

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Brahman

1989-

Guitars by Brahman Guak (b 1962)

Brandoni Guitars

"We don't manufacture here Paul - we assemble custom built guitars from bodies and necks purchased from several bankrupt stocks - mainly Eko - so they are all new." [Source: Brandoni, email 26/3/2008]

G.S.Brandt

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/gsbrant.html

Brasilia

Brasilia guitar, Made in Brazil circa 1965 found eBay

Daniel Brauchli

Guitars, mandolins, violins being made in Tasmania, Australia

Tobias Braun

Image of courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

Bravewood Guitars

Vintage replica electric guitars, Cornwall, UK

Brawley

2000-2002

Keith Brawley designed, made in Korea

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Brazen

Brazen guitars, Covina, California USA

Breedlove

1999 to present

Breedlove Guitars are made in Bend, Oregon

Aug 2008: I had a link to the Breedlove site Dating info - but it went dead and I can no longer find it.  The following content is from Wayback Machine :

Breedlove Serial Number System
Instruments built by the Breedlove Custom Shop from early 1999 onward will bear a sequential four digit serial number. We switched to this numbering system 209 instruments into 1999, starting with number 2000.

Prior to that, a five-digit system was utilized, with the first two digits denoting the year of manufacture, and the second three digits assigned sequentially by instrument completion date. For instance, an instrument with serial number 96-040 would have been the 40th instrument to be started in the 1996 calendar year.

2006: 8491* - ????
2005: 7500 - 8490
2004: 6445 - 7499
2003: 5161 - 6444
2002: 4071 - 5160
2001: 3218 - 4070
2000: 2631 - 3217
1999: 2000 - 2630

NOTE: Serial numbers are assigned to instruments at the start of production. Because different types of instruments take different amounts of time to complete, they do not usually emerge from the production process in order of serial number. For this reason, it's hard to pin down the end of the building year to a simple set of ranges as expressed above. To make this resource completely accurate, we would need to list exceptions individually. For instance, there may be a custom Master Class guitar with serial number 6441 that was completed in early January 2004, while a stock Quartz mandolin with serial number 6447 might have been completed in December 2003.

In other words, consider the above ranges somewhat approximate. If you are on the cusp of a year and wish to find out exactly when your instrument was completed and shipped to a Breedlove dealer, please contact us by email. Include your serial number and a brief description of the instrument.

http://www.breedloveguitars.com/resources/support/dating.php

Automated Breedlove serial number decoder

Image Trilogy Guitars: This Breedlove guitar serial number 3322 is from 2001 based on the above list.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Breedlove forum http://breedloveforum.yuku.com/

Brentwood

1970s

Student guitars built by Kay

Briarwood Guitars

Acoustic guitars introduced by Peavey in 2003 [Source: Harmony Central ]. Per the Peavey website this is a starter pack acoustic.

Briarwood Guitars

Hand-made by luthier Brian Goode at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, AZ

? when

Bridgecraft

Reviews are at Harmony Central

2000 to present

"Briggs Guitars started producing under this name in 2000. Briggs Guitars are made in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Dating Jack Briggs guitars

Serializing of Briggs Guitars began with a 6 digit system. The first two digits represented the year of conception; the next two digits represented the month of conception, the last two digits represented the serial order of production.
(ie: 020218 = production #18 conceived Feb. 2002.)

This format has been amended twice. In 2003 the 6 digit system became 5 digits with the first two being the year and the last 3 being  production #. In 2006 the system dropped to 4 digits with the first digit being the year and lst 3 being production #.
Briggs Guitars are made entirely by hand by Jack Briggs alone in his  shop.

All production is analog (no CNC equipment) with all woodworking and finishing done in-house - nothing is sub contracted to outside parties. [Source: Jack Briggs, email 26/7/2008 ]

Image courtesy of Jack Briggs: This serial number is 4 digit, therefore from 2006. The first digit = 6, 2006, 15th for the year.

Briggs Guitar Forum

John Briggs

1990 to present

Hand made acoustic guitars, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada

not Gibson/ Epi

http://www.broadwayguitars.co.uk/history.html

Broadway catalog

http://www.broadwayguitars.co.uk/catalog.html

Images Broadway guitar ebay Oct 2011

Fletcher Brock Stringed Instruments

current

Mandolin Family Instruments, Archtop & Flat top guitars, Citterns & Bouzoukis. Originally made in Ketchum, Idaho, currently made Seattle, Washington, USA

Kenneth Brogger

1975 to present

"Made since 1975 at Ravnsnaesvej 12, 3460 Birkeroed, Denmark.

Dating Kenneth Brogger guitars

Year on the label inside the guitar." [Source: Kenneth Brogger, email 13/7/2008 ]

Kenneth Brogger bio

Images reproduced with permission of  Guitar Salon International:            Brogger Torres copy

Broman was a Harmony Brand ?

Late 30s. A Casa Loma model was used by the Drake Family in a photo in 1942. http://www.shorpy.com/node/2426

http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

Dobro also made guitars under the Broman name according to
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=b-aXLLolVfwC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=broman+guitars+history

Regal built resonators [Source: Vintage  Guitar Price Guide]

Laurent Brondel

2007 to present

USA. Worked with Dana Bourgeois until 2007.

Bronson

1930s-1950s

In the mid 1920's half brothers George Bronson and Harry Stanley founded the Oahu Publishing Company in Flint, Michigan. The two remained partners in Oahu until 1930 when a dispute between the two caused the dissolution of the partnership with Stanley retaining ownership of Oahu. In 1931 Stanley moved Oahu to Cleveland, Ohio and Bronson moved to Detroit where he formed the Bronson Music Company. Both companies sold guitars, lessons and sheet music. [Source: eBay]

George Bronson had his instruments made by other companies. Steel guitars. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Bronson Melody King was a steel guitar. Images Elderly and eBay:

Image eBay

Brook

1995 to present

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Jez Broun

Eric C Brown Custom Guitars

According to Axe to Grind "affordable handcrafted electric guitars built by master craftsman Eric C. Brown, using the tradition of made in Maine quality and work ethic"

In 2006 Eric C Brown joined SPG (Star Power Guitars) as a luthier.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Brown's Guitar Factory

1982 to present

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, USA

Steve Brown

1994 to present

S.B. Brown, (Steven) Fullerton, California

http://www.harpguitarmusic.com/listings/hg-brown.htm

Tad Brown

Laguna Beach, California USA

Wayback Machine

Patrick Brua

Bruand

Quebec, Canada

1998 to present

I started the business officially in 1998 but had been making and selling stuff about 5 years or so prior to that. 

Dating Brubaker guitars

I number all instruments on the back of the headstock and I think in the early days the year came first, then the actual number of the instrument in that year. - like 1999-005- the fifth instrument made in 1999.   From around 2003 the numbering is like this - 001-03, meaning the first instrument built in 2003.   I keep production sheets on all instruments from 2003 to date.  Anything prior to that is sketchy due to the fire back in 2003.  [Source: Kevin Brubaker, email 22/3/2008]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Michel Bruck

1991 to present

Michel Bruck (b. 1965) trained at Lakewood Gutiars. Since 1991, he has been working in his own workshop in Königsberg (Hessen), Germany. 12 Guitars per year. [Source: Michel Bruck bio]

Images reproduced with permission of  Trilogy Guitars                       Guitar Salon International:

Bruckwicki Instruments

Jeff Bruckwicki graduated from Robero-Venn luthiery school in 2005 and apprenticed with John Reuter. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

M. E. Brune

M.E. Brune at myspace

Image Trilogy Guitars:

R.E. Brune Guitars

1966 to present

Richard E Brune. Made in Evanston, Illinois, USA Year of manufacture on the label.

Models 20 and 30 are made in Japan.

http://www.luth.org/downloads/AL79/AL79extra.htm

Image courtesy of Roger Thurman,  Thurman Guitar & Violin Repair, 30/9/2008.

Brunner Guitars

1995 to present

Luke Brunner, Engadin, Switzerland

Bruno and Sons

Bruno guitars

1834 to present

Charles Bruno was primarily a distributor marketing a variety of brands including Bruno.  Now owned by Kaman Music.

http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

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

see Ventura

Brunswicker & Apelt

Bruunari

2003 to present

I started to play guitar when I was 12 which is 50 years ago now.

I started to fix guitars for myself and others 6 years ago but I decided to start my education at the same time because I wanted to know more about guitar building.

It took three years in total to become a master.  A degree I received in April 2008.

In the mean time I had over 500 guitars in my hands of which 250 worldwide were sold.

All my "sellable" instruments have a "Artistic Lutheri Bruunari" label inside with an unique number, the date it was originally built and the date it was restored or repaired.

I have 5 standard photo's of each guitar and if it is a complicated repair or restoration I make a photo report of the whole process.

I live and work in Wervershoof which is a small town 50 km north from Amsterdam." [Source: Bruno Merks, email, 18/4/2009]

BSG Guitars

1999 to present

Jan Šťovíček & Pavel Bureš, Zamberk, Czech Republic

There is not a lot of information about "Buckeye Brand" instruments online.  From my brief search I have found the following tidbits.

Buckeye Brand instruments include parlor guitars and ukuleles.  Pictures included here are from eBay.

According to Mugwumps the probable manufacturer of Buckeye Brand was Schmidt.

This one says Harmony. http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

But this one is made by Richter Mfg Co, Chicago.  According to Mugwumps The Richter Mfg. Co. was founded in Chicago, by Carl H. Richter in 1926 to market instruments under the Sweetheart brand name. They were no longer listed in 1944.

see Richter

Roger Buckmaster Guitars

1980 to present

Guitars, banjos and more

"It is my own name on my  instruments, Buckmaster, they all  have a  serial no  except  some early instruments;. 

I didn't put a date on  the instruments  , but I have been making since about 1980 ----2008 so they will be in that period, banjos  are numbered  from No 1-----No 71 in this period.  ( I  am just finishing 71  now ) with more to  come ..

 start making  about 30 years  ago, I studied  violin  making  in 1982  Loughborough  Uni  U K and  studied  under  Wilfred  Saunders  ( top  British  maker ) prior to this  I  worked  for Maton  Guitars in Melbourne  for 7 years , I have had my own business  for over 30 yrs.  My  shop address  237a Whitehorse  Road, Balwyn  Victoria  Australia." [Source: Roger Buckmaster, email 22/8/2008 ]

Budagov

Israel

Bugs Gear

Bugs Gear guitars

Sample page from archive 2004

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Bull

Allan Bull guitars are handcrafted in Tasmania, Australia. This label is from eBay - Made in Brisbane.

Bunker Guitars

1957 to present

Bunker guitars, Washington, USA

"I built my first guitars in 1957 and since have built around 8,00 , mostly custom guitars, basses and Touch Guitars.
Probably the most notable I've build were the American made Ibanez guitars 1993 to 1997, the Prestige line." [Source: Dave, Bunker Guitars, email 26/3/2008]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

see PBC

Image 1976 Bunker Guitar eBay:

Burch

2003 to present

Josh Burch. Made in Waxhaw, North Carolina, USA. Josh has been making custom guitars for over six years and has been a fine furniture maker for nearly 13.

Made since, "2003, in Waxhaw, North Carolina. USA.

Dating Josh Burch guitars

The Date is stamp on the back of the headstock for most electrics. DD/MM/YY,

The earliest models are signed and dated on the inside of the body at the neck mount.

Acoustics are signed and dated on the inside top" [Source and images: Josh Burch, email 12/8/2009]

Burchette

Gray Burchette,

Jan Burda

current

According to a mudcat thread in 2002 Jan Burda used to live in Toronto and worked at the Folklore Centre.  He was currently making guitars in Berrien Springs, Michigan and at some stage made them under the name "Dove".

Amalio Burguet

Amalio Burguet, guitar maker, Valencia, Spain

Burkett

Images eBay:

Bastien Burlot

2009-

Bastien Burlot, luthier France

" I make my guitars officially since july 2009. My work shop is in Aubazine, France
Dating Bastien Burlot guitars

The year of building is written inside the guitar."  [Source: Bastien Burlot, email 23/10/2010]

Image Classic Guitar

Burns

1950s – bumpy ride to present

Important dates [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

Late 1950s Jim Burns began building guitars

1960  Burns London Ltd established

1965 Baldwin Organ Co buy company and sold Burns guitars until 1970

1991 Barry Gibson revived the brand as Burns London with Jim Burn's involvement

1998 Jim Burns passes away

http://uk.geocities.com/burnsguitarssince1992/index.html

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/burnsgit.html

http://www.burnsguitarmuseum.com/

http://www.excellentleads.com/burns.html

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/misc_europe.html

http://www.burns-guitars.nl/

http://vintageguitarpro.com/burns.shtml

Burns reference books

Burns Book

Burns Flyte search http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Burns-Weill

1959

Jim Burns and Henry Weill produced 3 solid body electric and bass guitars in England.

Burnside

1987-1988

Budget Brand of Guild - Acoustics and solidbodies.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Burny

1980s to present

Solid body electric guitars from Fernandes built in Japan and Korea

http://www.guitarsjapan.com/burnyfernandesinfopage.html

http://www.orangeguitar.com/aboutburny.htm

http://www.japanguitars.co.uk/Page%201%20history.html

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5693&sid=596eacd87e88dc68d2005231576bb2fc

Burny guitar catalogs

1977 http://www.fernandes.co.jp/catalog/catalog_index.html

1980 acoustic http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Forum http://forum.japanaxe.com/phpBB3/

See Fernandes

Burrell Guitars

1984 to present

"I actually invented the Twisted Neck in 1984 and received U.S. Patent No. 4,534,260 in 1985. All my Instruments have a twisted Neck (about 8 degrees) which is easier to play. The 2-level Headstock design you will see on recent Instruments only goes back as far as 2005. They say about a 12-string..."by the time you have tuned it you are too tired to play." In this latest arrangement the upper level - E, A, & D and the lower level - G, B, & E...all Bass-side Grover Mini-locking Tuners.
Every Instrument has it's unique Number stamped in the side of the Neck slightly above where the Neck & Side come together.
I have advertised in the April Issue of GUITAR WORLD - seeking a Buyer for my Business. I am 72 years old - still able to work, but desiring to train somebody who has the Financial strength to carry my inventions to the next level - AUTOMATION. I try to retail an Acoustic for $1,800.00 USD and it takes me 85 yours to do the work on aprox. $180 worth of material includes hardware). They should sell for more, but I am relatively unknown and I don't blame a person for refusing to buy from an internet site a "pig-in-a-poke" so I keep my prices below the comfort level until the world knows!!! Everything I do can be automated. But that takes money...more money than I can afford. It takes me 8 hours to shape a Neck, and it has been estimated by a Government sponsored Agency it would take 20 minutes to do the same job with a CNC controlled 5-spindle Mill. These Instruments could be realistically priced at $800 and sold at a profit...if done by Machine as much as possible." [Source: Leo Burrell, email 24/3/2008]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Burton

1980s to present

Cynthia Burton, classical guitars, Portland Oregon, USA.  Partners with Jeffrey Elliot

http://www.guitarsint.com/read_article.cfm/ArticleID/18

T Burton

current

Poznań, Poland

Busato

1993 to present

Paolo Busato, Lutes and Baroque Guitars.

There is an early luthier with this name also http://www.djangobooks.com/favinoarchive/busatos.htm

"Every single guitar or bass that come out my laboratory has an information card having (DAY/ MONTH / YEAR / OF PRODUCTION ES. 10/03/08 using Italian date (day - month - year) or my signature in internal side of the top of each guitar, made with pencil or pen." [Source: Luciano Buscarini, Italy email 4/4/2008]

Buscarino

1990 to present

John Buscarino makes premium archtops and steel and nylon string acoustic guitars in Franklin, North Carolina, USA

Dating Buscarino Guitars:

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/buscarno.html

Image eBay

P Buss

P Buss luthier Fretted String Instrument Shop Madison Wisconsin

Fund this guitar on ebay October 2011.  Made in 1964 for Mary Lynn Buss. This lady is referred to in this article.

G Butler

George Butler apparently started in Dublin in 1826 and opened a London branch in 1858. [Source: McGee Flutes].

The label G Butler Haymarket London and Dublin seen on a flute and this guitar seen on ebay:

Franz Butscher

David Buttrose

Originally from Adelaide but now based in Tasmania, David Buttrose makes classical guitars based on historical models of the great masters, Torres, Hauser 1, Hernandez Y Aguado, Manuel Ramirez and Romanillos.

Byers Guitars

1984 to present

Gregory Byers makes premium classical and Flamenco guitars in Willits, California.

Images courtesy of Classic Guitar:

Reviews are at Harmony Central