Ce-CJ

made

 C-Cb | Cl-Con | Coo- updated 5/1/2012

Robert Cefalu

1998 to present

Buffalo, New York

Celtic Cross

1998 to present

"I started making instruments in 1981 as a hobby. The business slowly grew until about 1998-9 it became full time , and now that is all I do. My shop is in Victoria  British Columbia  Canada. All my instruments have a label with the date of completion and a serial number. A serial number is also stamped on the end of the peghead. I started making all 8 string family  instruments such as Mandolins, Mandolas, Mandocellos and Irish Bouzoukis, but now  I only make slide instruments." [Source: Neil Russell, Celtic Cross Instruments, email 18/9/2008]

Cervantes Guitars

1996 to present

Cervelle

Cervelle guitars and basses are by Luc St-Pierre, Canada

Thanks to Ben van Dyk, Canada for passing on this brand.

CG Winner

There is not a lot around on CG Winner guitars.  Based on Google searches CG Winner appears on electric guitars and basses and also acoustic guitars made in India and Japan.  The neck through model pictured below is from 1971.  The acoustic apparently is from 1989.

According to most mentions of this brand the CG Winner stands for Clarence Griffith Winner a supposed contemporary of Leo Fender. [Source: Matsumoku forum via Talkbass]

Images eBay:

Paul Chabot

Luthier, trained at Roberto-Venn, Arizona and worked for Augustino Lo Prinzi.  Now in Colorado.

Chafin Custom

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=4002421

http://www.bill-lewington.com/Dean/articles/sar_rev.htm

Yukinobu Chai

1970s-1990s

Yukinobu Chai - Luthier from Tokyo, Japan 1970s

http://www.techno-flex.com/guitar-collection.html

Images Guitar Salon Korea, Cozzy Guitar

Image http://tedimadla.multiply.com/market/item/40

Chaki

1947-

Chaki guitars since 1947?

http://www.gakki.com/shop3/chaki_bass.html

Chaki guitar catalog

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

Paul Champagne

Image Bernunzio:

Champion

1894-1897

Brand name used by Chicago's Robert Maurer before switching to 'Maurer' brand in 1897. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]. Probably built by Larson Brothers.

Chandler Guitars

1990 to present

Paul and Adrian Chandler manufacture Lap Steel Guitars, LectraSlide Guitars, Royale 12-String Bass Guitars, Von Franco Taboo Tiki Guitars, Tone-X Mid-sweep effectors, Red Booster Preamps. Chico. California, USA

"Chandler Guitars was founded in 1980 by Paul Chandler. The guitar factory completed tooling up & began shipping production instruments in around 1990.  The guitars are made in our factory in Northern California.
The date of manufacture can be determined by:
Lap Steels, set necks: month & year indicated inside control cavity.
Bolt on Necks: Month & year indicated in neck pocket.
Also, we began a detailed serial nbr. log in 1996 and customers can usually inquire with serial number for details and date of manufacture.

Our websites are:
www.chandlerguitars.com

www.pickguardheaven.com

www.pickguardwizard.com

[Source: Kenny, Chandler Guitars, email 4/9/2008 ]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images Chandler headstock from 1980s eBay:

Chantus

1984 to present

Luthier William King, Austin, Texas, USA.

Classical, Flamenco and ukuleles

Chapin Guitars

Bill Chapin makes Hand-crafted guitars and basses. 

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Chaplin Guitars

http://web.telia.com/~u89404043/chapin/

Chapman

1970 to present

Emmett Chapman, developer of the Stick

Chapman at wikipedia

Chapman Guitars

2009-

Chapman guitars UK.

"Substantially, his guitars are very small production runs made to his specifications in a Chinese factory. Focus is on cheap / value-for-money, but using quality woods - Chapman explicitly states that this is because the owner can always replace the pickups or other hardware themselves later. Both current models feature mahogany bodies and ebony fret boards.

The original Chapman ML-1 run appears to have been distributed by Barnes and Mullins [1], but the second run of those were distributed entirely by the Andertons music store (retail & online), as will be the ML-2 (which arrives any time soon). It looks like initial prototypes of these guitars are made by Jaden Rose (a luthier you list already); Chapman also lists a couple of expensive (£1000+?) specials on his website, which I imagine are also made for him by Jaden. Total production so far (including ML-2) is less than 1000 units." [Source, Stroller, email 30/5/2011]

Charis Guitars

1996 to present

Charis guitars - made since "1996, Bay City, Michigan, USA. The date of manufacture is usually on the label, neck block, or written on the underside of the top. [Source: Bill, Charis Acoustic, email 17/7/2008 ]

The Charlie Christian

This model CCFT -650 appeared in 1990's it was manufactured in Korea and final set up was performed in California at the Valley Arts facility.

Image & info ebay

Charvel

1979 to present

Founded by Wayne Charvel as Charvel manufacturing in 1976 making guitar parts.  1978 moved to San Dimas and in the same year bought by Grover Jackson. Charvel branded guitars appeared 1979-80.

Identifying Charvels

http://www.usacharvels.com/id/body.htm

http://www.sandimascharvel.com/

Dating Charvel Guitars

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

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Charvel-Acoustic-Guitars.htm

http://vintageguitarpro.com/charv.shtml

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

Charvel guitar catalog scans 

1977-2006 http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/CatalogScans.htm

Charvel Model 2,3,4,5 catalog scans http://guitar.servebeer.com/aggressiveguitars/content.html

Charvel price lists

2005 Charvel Pricelist

2006 Charvel Pricelist

2007 Charvel Winter Pricelist

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Charvel forum http://www.jcfonline.com/gallery/

see Jackson

Charvette

1989-1992

Charvel budget line made in Korea 1989 to 1992. [Source: Vintage guitar price guide]

Images eBay:

Alex Chase Guitars

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Chasson Guitars

1995 to present

Bellingham, WA, USA

Checkmate

1970s.

Checkmate guitars - made in Korea,

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images Checkmate guitar headstock and label from eBay:

Chellee Guitars

2003 to present

Peter Taylor studied at Roberto-Venn in 2000. He then opened Chellee Guitars (named after his wife). [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

"I've been building since 1998. The first instrument to bear the Chellee name was build in 2003. I build them in my house in Orange City, Florida. I moved my operation back home this past March in order to be able to get more done. Since I began applying serial numbers, the first two digits are the year (i.e. 08xxx is built this year). I am a one man shop and so there is very little else to report. I do not produce many instruments each year and so there have not been too many horribly confusing details. Most of what you might want to know can be found on my site. Outside of that, it may be worth reiterating that each instrument is a one-of-a-kind piece. I do not do runs of guitars, but instead build individual guitars for individual players. If anyone needs any information about any instrument I've built they can feel free to contact me directly. This is likely the only way to get good info about an instrument aside from asking the player the guitar was built for." [Source: Peter Taylor, Chellee Guitars LLC, email 29/7/2008 ]

Cheri

Chery

Chevy

1990s

"Chevy brand was used until around 1993, then for a short period during 1993/94 Chery, then Cheri in 1994 finally.
Owners were one American and one Korean. They were using American and Canadian woods, handmade finish and polishing. The later Cheri Basis models were real low cost instruments, while the earlier Chevy and Chery guitars were high quality copies." [Source: Frank: Greenbuddha]
Cheri guitar catalogs (paid sorry)

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Image eBay:

Chesbro

1970s to current

Chesbro is a musical retailer based in Idaho Falls, Idaho USA. This example is courtesy of Andrew. The label says "Imported and Distributed by Chesbro Music Co."  It is made in Korea, its model number is F301 and its serial number is 09003.  ? manufactured in the late 70's.

Chester

2000 to present

Chester guitars are middle range and low cost guitars (and other instruments) made in China, Indonesia, Korea and sold by a German distributor. Models include acoustic and electric solid body guitars.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images and info courtesy of Frank, Green Buddha

Cheval Guitars

Frank Cheval, France

Chiavi Guitars

1985 to present

"My manufacture starts 1985
My workshop is in Zürich ( Zuerich) Switzerland
On the guitar label inside of the guitar is the number of the instrument progressively dated, the year of construction, and my my original signature.
Buyers of second hand instrument can ask me about details of each of my instruments. All Chiavi guitars are listed in my computer.
[Source: Ermanno Chiavi, email 7/4/2008]

Chicago Musical Instruments

(CMI Electronics)

See amps for some history.

Logo is a curly CMI script  truncated "C" and a star dots the i.

Image 1935 CMI letter eBay:

Chiesa

Daniele Chiesa (b.1973), Granada, Spain.

In 1994 enrolled in the International Violin-making school of Cremona, learning traditional violin-making and repairing and building guitars in his own shop; he graduated in 1998. One year after, he moved to Santa Cruz, California, working for guitar maker Kenny Hill, where he was first exposed to traditional Spanish guitar construction. After almost a year, he went back to his hometown in Italy, where he worked with classical guitarist and guitar maker Paolo Viscardi, making more classical guitars. At the end of 2000 he was offered a position in Tom Ribbecke's workshop in Healdsburg, CA, where he stayed for a year making archtop, semi-hollow and steel string guitars, and working for local luthier's supply company Luthier's Mercantile, doing custom work. A full time position followed at Allied Lutherie, cutting precious Brazilian rosewood, grading wood and basically gaining a lot of hands-on experience on many different guitar-making materials. In April 2002 he went back to Europe, this time to Spain, where he took a guitar making class in Cordoba with master guitar maker Francisco Santiago Marin. He now resides in Granada, and continues to make fine concert classical guitars.  [Source: Brazilianguitar Forum]

Douglas Ching

1976 to present

Solid body guitars, lutes, ukes and mandolins made in Chester Vriginia, previously in Hawaii (1976-1989), Michigan (1989-1993). [Source: Vintage guitar price guide]

Chinook Guitars

Coleman, Alberta, Canada

Tom Chippindall

I started making under the name 'mandolintom' in 2006, and was working with Daniel Brauchli, under his Label before that. I started making them in Tasmania (with Daniel Brauchli) but moved to Chewton, Victoria late in2007.
My instruments are numbered with the year of completion( abbreviated) followed by the total number of instruments I have made under the mandolintom label eg. 0822 = the twenty-second instrument I have made, and it was completed in 2008. Some of my earlier instruments just have a completion date-eg 26-11-06, and even earlier ones use Daniel Brauchli's Label with "built by Tom Chippindall" handwritten on the label." [Source: Tom Chippindall, email 5/8/2008 ]

Chiquita

1979 to present

Travel guitar made by Erlewine Guitars, Austin Texas. ? Built by Hondo

Jon Chowning

John Chowning, classical guitars Kansas City, MI, USA

Chris

Chris guitars Made by Jackson-Guldan Inc. Columbus, Ohio. Image: Image and info Zeigler Music Company

see Jackson-Guldan

Images eBay:

Chrysalis Guitars

1998 to present

Luthier Tim White builds guitars with interchangeable components.

Churchill Guitars

current

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

http://www.jefflang.com.au/equipment.php

Cilia Custom Guitars

current

Charles Cilia makes electric guitars in Moorebank, New South Wales, Australia.

Some info on the luthier

Image Reynolds

Cimar

1970s

Cimar acoustic and electric guitars are by Ibanez.  In the 1970s they were made in Japan and later Korea.

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

Cimar catalogs

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/list.php?era=70&p=3

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images eBay:

Cimarron Guitars

1978 to present

Luthiers John and Clayton Walsh.

"Cimarron Guitars was started in 1978. They are made in Ridgway Colorado, U.S.A. All Cimarron guitars leave our shop with a label in them visible through the sound hole showing serial # and date of manufacture." [Source: John Walsh, email 28/7/2008 ]

Cipher

1960s

Cipher guitars were distributed in the U.S. by Inter-Mark, and featured oddly-shaped body designs. They were made in Japan circa 1960. [Source: Michael Wright, referenced in Blue Book]

Images Cipher Model s-2T guitar eBay:

see Intermark

Circa Guitars

John Slobod, USA

Citation

Citation guitars.  The image below is from a Citation guitar made in 1973. Imported by US distributor the Grossman Co. of Cleveland Ohio.

Robert Godin president of Godin guitars reports that some Citation guitars were were manufactured by Norman guitars in the early 80's.He was a partner in the company. He says it was a contract for a distributor from Montreal called Louis Musical LTD. This distributor has been long since gone. [Source: Guitars Canada]

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images eBay: Label says: Citation - Guitar of Quality, Serial Number 73073102, Model CIT 9000 - Made in Japan.

Citron

 1975 to present

In 1975 Harvey Citron and Joe Veillette founded Veillette-Citron which closed in 1983.  Citron since 1995.

http://www.promusicfind.com/new/dating.shtml#Citron

http://www.citron-guitars.com/about.html

Milan Ciz

1993 to present

After studying at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in 1993, Milan Ciz established his shop in Slovakia. Each year he builds around eight to ten guitars and basses and repairs approximately two hundred instruments. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

" I started my brand with name “C.M.’s Guitars” (which was abbreviation of Ciz Milan Guitars) in 1993 till 1997. After  that period I change my brand name to “Milan Ciz Guitars co.” which is used up to the present time .

My shop is in town call Prievidza, Lucna 1 street, Slovakia, Europe.

Dating Milan Ciz Guitars

My dating of the guitars is simple. Each guitar has own number without regard to type of instrument. First twenty or more guitars don’t have numbers in order and some don’t have serial number at all (you can find some details at my web page http://www.cizguitars.com/index.php?str=historia&lang=en .  

Usually a solo necks and bodies I don’t mark with serial number some may have a company logo. I building approximately 8 to 10 guitars per year.

Most electric guitars have their serial number in the neck pocket or pickup cavity and acoustic/archtop guitars have they label in the traditional place and each is sign on the back of the top board (near the sound hole)." [Source: Milan Ciz, email 30/7/2008 ]

Image courtesy of Milan Ciz:

CJM

Handmade guitars by Christopher Murray, British Luther.

CJM

Chinese made guitars.

Images Frank Perrey