C-Cb

made

 updated 29/1/2012

CA Guitars

1998 to present

Founded by Ellis Seal, making acoustic guitars with modern technology including carbon fibre. Lafayette, Louisiana, USA.
CA = Composite Acoustics

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images eBay:

CA Guitarworks

United Kingdom

Cachimba

The Cachimba series was made for the Sydney Spanish Guitar Centre by Nito Koykay of Nigoya, Japan. It's probably best described as a small-factory-built guitar. [Source: LNT Guitar forum]

Image eBay:

Cadney guitars

1966 to present

"I finished my first guitars in 1996 and the date is only occasionally on the label. However, I write the date on the inside of the soundboard beneath the part where the fingerboard runs over it and between the neck and one of the upper harmonic bars. I have made guitars in the 100, 200 and 300 series, the 200 and 300 series are current and are not necessarily a guide to the date." [Source: Stephen Cadney, email 17/3/2008]

2004 to present

"I started building guitars as a professional in 2004. Now, my workshop is in Paris at the following address:

Atelier du Sycomore
46, rue de la Rochefoucauld
75009 Paris
Métro Pigalle

Inside my guitars, there is a label with my name, the year of manufacture and the number of the guitar. Until now, I havebuilt 25 gypsy jazz guitars." [Source: Christelle Caillot, email 28/7/2008 ]

Previously based in Ogíjares (Granada), Spain

Calatayud y Gisbert

1970s-??

Calatayud y Gisbert guitars made in Valencia, Spain

Image eBay:

Caldwell Guitars

Jimmy Caldwell, Texas USA

Caledonie

made by Egmond, Netherlands

http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/misc/europe/caledonie.html

Example

Calibre

Limited run guitars from Australia

Califone

1966

Califone 6 and 12 string guitars and basses by Murphy Musical Instruments for Rheem Califone-Roberts, company that also produced reel to reel tapes, amplifiiers. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide]

About 25 prototypes were made by Murph - see Murph Guitars

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Callaham

1989 to present

Bill Callaham, Winchester, Virginia, USA. Also make tube amps.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Vicente Camacho

1960 to ?

Madrid, Spain

http://www.vergaraguitars.com/vicentecamacho.html

Camacho at wikipedia

Image Vergara:

Camel

Japan. Camel is sister brand of Fresher, therefore, Kyowa Shokai distributed [Source: Music Trade]

Image (Les Paul copy) Tokai forum, ebay:

Camelli

Italian solid bodies, 1960s

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/galassiapolverini/misc/carini.html

Cameo

Cameo - Japanese guitars , 1970s. Also made in Korea

Campbell American Guitars

2005 to present

Formerly Greene and Campbell Guitars.

Luthier Dean Campbell, Blackstone Valley, New England, USA.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Image Campbell American Atomic guitar from eBay

Fred W Campbell

1984-1998

Owner FW Campbell & Sons, January 1984 – December 1998 (15 years) .  Fred them moved to C Fox guitars from 198 to 2001 and has been with Ribbecke since 2009.

M. Campellone

1978 to present

Mark Camplellone, custom archtops, Greenville, Rhode Island, USA. Made electrics and basses in 1970s and 1980s

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

http://www.mcampellone.com/

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Camps

1945 to present

Camps Guitars are made in Porqueres, Spain. Founded by Juan Camps Coll in 1945.  His sons, Javier and Jordi and team continue the Spanish tradition.

Images courtesy of Kent Guitar Classics:

Handmade high end model (dated)                            Cheaper model

Canadian Breed

Current at 2011

Telecaster and stratocaster guitars by Bill Scheltema, Palmerston, Ontario Canada.

Thanks to Ben Van Dyk for passing on this brand.

Canda catalog 1973 http://www.sf.airnet.ne.jp/~shake/greco/catalogue/1973/index.html

see Greco

Candelas

Los Angeles, California, USA

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Canopus

1986 to present

Luthier Yas Kamiya worked at the Sho-Bud factory in Nashville in the 1970s for 12 years.  In 1986 he returned to Japan  to make Canopus Hawaiian steel guitars at Shimo Kitazawa,Tokyo.

Canora

Late 1960 - 1970s

Made in Japan. Copies of American classic electrics. Acoustic guitars also.  According to the eBay ad for the Canora acoustic guitar label it may have been made by Suzuki in Nagoya.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images eBay:

Canvas

2004-present

Chinese imported into US by American Sejung Corporation.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Canyon

Made in Japan by Yamaki Gakki, Nagano

Images Yahoo Japan.

Caparison

Caparison Forums
http://www.caparisonforum.com/

http://guitarsatbmusic.com.au/forum/index.php

Image Caparison Angelus22 Vintage Sunburst eBay:

Rod Capper Concert Guitars

Rod Capper makes guitars in Auckland, New Zealand.  Date of manufacture written on label.

Career

Career guitars is a German company.

A Harmony Brand

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

Cargill Custom Guitars

1956 to present

Started in 1956 in Merv Cargill's garage in Seaford, Australia. Still made there by Merv's son, James [Source: Cargill ]

Cariboo Musical Instruments

2006-

Custom made Acoustic and Resophonic Guitars crafted by hand by Rich Kenny, Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada.

"I was an Industrial Education teacher when I was still in the workforce.  I taught mechanics, metalwork and woodwork at the high school level for almost 30 years.

I have been building acoustic and resophonic guitars for about five years now. I am just finishing off my 24th instrument. I much prefer to build resophonic guitars rather than acoustic as that is the instrument that I play myself, having lost an argument with a table saw at one point in my life.

I make all my instruments here in Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada. I have a one person shop and it keeps me busy all the time and out of my wifes' hair.

Dating CMI instruments

Each of my instruments is individually numbered, dated and signed by me. This information is on a label placed inside the body. It is visible thru the soundhole on acoustic guitars but on resophonic guitars, the coverplate and cone assembly must be removed to see the label. There is a small label located underneath one of the sound screens for quick identification. Currently, the serial numbers on acoustic guitars begin with SGD or KOM, while resophonic guitars begin with RSB. This code number doesn't mean anything except to me as it designates the original source of the the body shape.

I have also started making Appalachian Mountain Dulcimers.  they will be up soon too.

[Source: Rich Kenny, email 24/1/2011]

Carl Thompson (CT)

see T for Thompson

Carlino

Carlino guitars, Medford Massachusetts USA

According to Vintage Guitar Carlos were imported acoustic guitars distributed by Coast Wholesale Music from around 1976 to late 80s, but obviously from the photo below the brand was also applied to electrics.

Carlos guitars reference site (Guitar medic)

According to a wikipedia stub Carlos is a Korean brand but I suspect  Japanese origin with later move to Korea.

Carlos acoustic catalogs at Vintaxe

Image Craiglist:

"LP Photos supplied by Paul R Spence"

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Carlson

1999 to present

Guitars and amps

Fred Carlson

see Beyond the Trees

Carmencita

Carmencita ? brand owned by Hofner. This brand made in Spain and Japan. May studio

Carmona Larson

Juan Carmona, Le Beausset, France

Gil Carnal

California, USA

Steve Carr

mid 1970s to 2006

Steve Carr is famous for the work he has done with KISS including Gene Simmon's Axe and Ace Frehley's guitars.  Steve started making guitars in the mid 1970s and passed away in 2006.

Steve Carr interview at Acre Frehley Les Paul

Images Steve Carr UFO #6 of 6 eBay:

James Carrett

430 Stenner St, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350 Australia

Vicente Carrillo

Cuenca, Spain

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

Chris Carrington Guitars

1991 to present

Made since "1991" and "at my house in Rockwall TX, since 2004. On the label on the inside, as seen thru the soundhole.

both date and serial # (uncoded)" [Source and photo courtesy of Chris Carrington, email 4/4/2008]

Carson

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Carson Crickmore

1980 to present

Phil Carson Crickmore is an Australian Luthier, and established a luthier school in Brunswick, Melbourne in 1995.

Carter Steel Guitars

Willie Carter

Santa Cruz, California

Alan Caruth

1970 to present

Newport, New Hampshire, USA

Carvalho

1976-

Carvalho guitars are made in Braga - Portugal since 1976 [Source: Vinci Music]

Samuel Carvalho

2001-

Guitars from Brazil

Samuel Carvalho Biography

Image eBay:

Carvin

1946 to present

Founded in Los Angeles by Lowell C Kiesel as the LC Kiesel Co, making guitar pickups. 1949 Carvin brand introduced.

A press release from San Diego, CA (December 29, 2009) -- Lowell Kiesel, founder of Carvin Guitars, died yesterday. He was 94. Here is a statement from the company:
It is with great sadness that Carvin announces the passing of its founder, Lowell C. Kiesel. Mr. Kiesel was born in Nebraska in 1915, and as a young man, spent time in Wichita, Kansas, where he developed an interest in musical instruments; specifically, Hawaiian steel guitars, resonators and the electronic aspects of these instruments.
He founded the L. C. Kiesel Company in 1946, and began winding pickups on an old sewing machine owned by his wife, Agnes. The company was located in Los Angeles, briefly relocated back to Mr. Kiesel's home state of Nebraska, and then moved back to southern California in 1949, where the name was changed to Carvin, after his two eldest sons, Carson and Gavin. In the following years, the company expanded from pickups to guitars and basses, amplifiers, pro audio equipment and other musical accessories.
Mr. Kiesel's leadership, technical expertise and innovative engineering concepts led the company for decades, and even after handing the reins of the company over to his sons, he maintained an office in Carvin's San Diego headquarters and remained active in company operations.

He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by the Kiesel family and the entire staff of Carvin.
Dating Carvin Guitars and serial numbers

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

Up until 1970 there were no serial numbers issued (2-4,000 guitars in this period).

? model guitar http://www.carvinmuseum.com/whatmodelguitar.html

? model bass http://www.carvinmuseum.com/whatmodelbass.html

http://carvin.electricshockmusic.com/newsite/

http://vintageguitarpro.com/carvin.shtml

search http://www.vintageguitar.com

Carvin ads

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/guitarads.html

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Carvin Forums http://forums.carvinmuseum.com/

http://www.carvintalk.com/

http://www.carvinbbs.com/

Image Carvin headstock and 1978/9 serial number eBay:

Luis Carzoglio

1920s-

Luis Carzoglio, or Luigi Carzoglio, the most common italian name. Luigi born in Italia, in a town of GENOVA, Finalborgo, on 1874. He travel to Argentina, Buenos Aires, on 1898 with 24 years old.

And start with luthery, building Mandolins and Guitars, but in 1910 he was full dedicated to build violins, violas and cellos.
And a few years later he retook the work on finest classical guitars with exported european woods.
He dies on Buenos Aires, at 1944, with 70 years old, after near of 50 years building strings instruments with the best quality.
On 1992, his last guitar was selled on auction at 12.000 usd on Buenos Aires, in the house that he lived, that his family sells too.
Anothers instruments like Violins and Cellos was selled on 15.000 usd and more. [ebay, Aug 2011]'

Guitars made in Buenos Aries, 1930s

Image 1920s label ebay, 1931 label  Fine and Rare Guitars

Casa Montalvo

1987 to present

Made in Mexico for Berkley Musical Instrument Exchange

see K & S

Casa Parramon

Luthier - commenced violin manufacture in 1896. Barcelona, Spain

Jérôme Casanova

2003 to present

Established own shop in Clermont-Ferrand in 2003

Cashimira Guitars

Joan Cashimira's workshop was founded nearly a century ago in Gata de Gorgos, a village near Alicante in Spain. The name Cashimira is an abbreviation of the founder's name, Jose Antonio Caselles Miralles, the grandfather of the present owner, who made his first guitar around 50 years ago. [Source: Promenade Music ]  Make around 2000 guitars a year with 300 luthier models. [Source: Sound Shop ]

Images courtesy of Kent Guitar Classics:

Reviews are at Harmony Central

1960s

I have come across this name before but there is little info available.  Soho Steve of London has sent some images and info as follows:

"As you can see from the pictures, there are a lot of similarities between this guitar and the Valco made Supro/Airline style guitars.
Namely short-scale 'baseball bat' neck held on by two retaining screws, wooden bridge, knobs and pick-guard similarities.
One of the shots, of the headstock shows a ghostly image of 'Casino' 'brand'.
Pickup appears to be the same as the Supro Sahara style though so far I haven't worked out what's holding it to the body. I'm guessing one of the 'pole pieces'.
The seller believed it to be a DeArmond pickup?
It came with the original lightweight hardcase with an alligator style print.  Judging by the pots I'm guessing it's a March 1965 manufacture or close to it.

According to SimonM from Vintaxe Forum. " This looks very much like the Tosca-branded Valco cheapies, but with a different headstock design.   I've also seen one of these with the brand Minuetta. Date would probably be 1960-64. The pickup is the same type that was used on most Supro/ National/ Airline guitars, a Valco-owned patent. Note: An identical guitar was spotted by simonm shortly after with Tosca brandname.

Casino

current

Entry level electric guitars & guitar tuners eg distributed by Jade in Australia.  Suspect this current Casino brand is Australia specific.

Casio

1987-1988

Casio midi guitars were introduced 1987 made in Japan.

2007-8 Casio product catalog

http://jpsongs.com/troubadortech/casmgtr.htm

Images Casio DG20 eBay

Images Matrixsynth Flickr

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Castellucia

France

Castilla

Castilla - Electric and acoustic guitars.

According to Unofficial Ventura Castilla may have been distributed by Kaman following their incorporation of the Ventura label.  From what I have seen on the web Castilla brand covers instruments made in Japan, Korea and China.

Castilla threads

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images of Castilla Hummingbird copy and label from another Castilla model label ebay:

Salvador Castillo

Paracho, Mexico

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Antonion Casajuana

Luthier Antonio Casajuana, Cremona

Catalyst

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Cathedral

Made in China

Images eBay

Cat's Eyes

Acoustic guitars by Tokai. Hamamatsu, Japan

Cat's Eyes catalogs

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

http://jvguitar.com/bbs/zboard.php?id=gallery

http://www.tokairegistry.com/catalogs.html

Acoustic sample http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/photo/guitar.html

Image Yahoo:

CBS

CBS Brand bass guitar.  Found almost no information on this guitar.  The pictues are from a bass guitar for sale on eBay Feb 2010 in Adelaide, Australia.