E-Ek | El | Em-

made

info    updated 31/10/2011

Emerald

Emerald Guitars , Ireland

Images eBay:

Emperador

1966 - 1992

Emperador was the entry level brand to the Cort line of Westheimer Musical Instruments, Chicago, Illinois [source: Harmony Central ]. Japanese made guitars from the 1960s. Later models may have been made in Korea [Source: WikiAnswers ]

Emperador catalogs

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

See Cort, Cortez

Images eBay:  Round label is from 1968.

Empire

see GMW Guitars

Encore

1965 to present

Encore is a brand of the UK importer John Hornby Skewes

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images eBay:

Endres

Endres guitars, Made in Japan

Image eBay:

English

1993 to present

Date label inside guitar

http://www.englishguitars.com/

Reviews are at Harmony Central

English Electronics

1960s

By Valco

Have seen classical and steel string acoustics with Ensenada brand.  Apparently date from at least 1972. One eBay seller claimed this was an Ibanez brand.  Fender currently use this name (as Ensenada is the name of the town where the Mexican factory is located) as a model type on steel string acoustics but these have Fender logo on the headstock. According to Experts Espenada guitars were made in China, Japan and also Mexico from 1960s-1970s.

Ensenada catalogs

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Image eBay:

Epiphone

1928 to present

Anastasios Stathopolou made instruments in Greece then Turkey in the late 19th century and moved to New York in 1903 to escape persecution.  His sons carried on the business following his death in 1915 and using the House of Stathopolou brand from 1917. They incorporated in 1923 focussing in banjos and introduced the Epiphone Recording Series banjo in 1924 (named after one of the sons Epaminondas or Epi for short).

1928 the company name was changed to Epiphone Banjo Corporation.

1930s production switched to guitars and some also made under Sorrentino and Howard brands.

1935 name changed to Epiphone Inc.

After Epi's death in 1943 CG Conn Company at some stage gained control over distribution and in 1953 moved some production to Philadelphia (labels still said New York).

1955 Another brother Orphie regained control.

1957 Chicago Musical Instrument Co (CMI) bought Epiphone and production was moved to Kalamazoo near the Gibson factory (also owned by CMI).  In 1960 production moved to the new Gibson factory and continued in USA until the companies were sold to  ECL (Norlin) in1970 when all Epiphone production was moved to  Japan and 1979 Korea.

Limited USA production only since then.   [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

Dating Epiphone guitars

TRY THIS FIRST http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx

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

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/epiphone.html

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

Image courtesy of M Tandy:

Epiphone reference books

Epiphone: The House of Stathopoulo

Epiphone: The Complete History

Epiphone Recording Banjos

Epiphone guitar catalogs

1928-1954 Vintage Epiphone catalogs

1961, 1962, 1964,1966 http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/catalogues.php

1974 http://www.matsumoku.org/models/epiphone/catalogs/catalogs.html

2002 Epiphone Catalog

2003 Epiphone Elite Catalog

Epiphone guitar advertisements

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/epiphone

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Epiphone Forums

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

http://www.guitardogs.com/message-board-forum/viewforum.php?f=27

Ebay images: Image 1951 Epiphone archtop, 1970s acoustic.

Erika

Erika banjos by Charles Eriksen (b. 1942) The Duke of Pearl

Modern guitars article

Ergo

Ergo guitars are uber high end. $15,000 starting point guitars

see Charles Fox

1991 to present

Gary Erickson and Steve Wolff partnered and applied for several patents in the field of Acoustic/Electric Transference Materials and Tremolo Action/Reaction Physics. Erickson Design Associates
 (EDA) offers Tone Hound Acoustic Sensor Systems, Erickson Guitars, and Theory "Z" component parts for musical instruments from its manufacturing center in Fountain Valley, California, USA. [Source: Erickson ]

Erlewine

Austin, Texas.

Some guitars made in Japan. This logo is from a 1981 Automatic.

Ernie Ball Music Man

Key dates: Source: Funding Universe

1958: Ernie Ball opens his music shop in Tarzana, California.
1967: The sale of the retail store marks the company's transition into a string manufacturing enterprise.
1984: The company acquires the Music Man Company.
2002: The company announces it is leaving San Luis Obispo

http://www.wolfgangregistry.com/evh-guitar-info/evh-guitar-info.html

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

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/210-musicman-guitar-dating.html

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Forum

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/

Eros

1960s-70s

Italian made guitars imported from Italy by Rosetti in the 70s. ? Eros used to make guitars for Eko. [ 6string heaven ]

Eros guitar catalog

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

ES Guitars

2003-

ES guitars established 2003, New Haven Connecticut, USA. Now made in New York.

"We are a custom guitar manufacturer from the USA, located in New York.

Dating ES Guitars

Regarding our serial numbers , the terminology is the following:

ES – company

MD – model

XXXX- YR/MM

XXXX – guitar number

Some of the early guitars had hand etched numbers. The logo has been the same from the beginning. Ultimately if someone needs to know if a guitar is original contact us; we do not sell millions so we know what is out there." [Source: Giuseppe Coppola, ES Guitars, Long Island City, NY, email 30/10/2011]

ESP, LTD, XTONE

1980s to present Japan

Hisatake Shibuya founded Electronic Sound Products a retail chain in 1975. In 1983 they began to make guitar parts, then started producing custom guitars in 1985 and a factory opened in 1987. [Source: Vintage guitar price guide]

Dating ESP Guitars

from the ESP web site “ESP maintains limited production records. Send an e-mail to techinfo including serial number, description, & pictures (make sure to include close-up shots of headstock front & back, back of neck plate & top of body) to help with the dating process. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to date your instrument, but we will at least try and help! (Please note: If you do not send pictures, chances are we will not be able to assist you with your request.)

http://p222.ezboard.com/FAQs/fespguitarsmessageboardfrm14.showMessage?topicID=6.topic

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

ESP guitar catalogs

1981-1997 http://audiozone.dk/cm/jackson-charvel-guitar-catalog-scans.php?cat=11

2005 ESP Catalog

2007 ESP Catalog

2010 ESP Catalog

ESP guitar pricelists

2004 ESP Pricelist

2005 USA ESP Pricelist

Reviews are at Harmony Central

ESP Forum http://bbs.espguitars.com/index.php

Espana

1960s to present ?

Espana guitars- made in Swweden.

http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/hagstromhub.htm

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/general/espana.html

Espana guitar catalog 1965 http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/Catalogues2/CatEsp1.htm

See Hagstrom

Images eBay:

Monica Esparza

current

Spanish guitars made in San Clemente, California USA

Image Trilogy Guitars:

Espinosa

Image Hope Street Music:

Esquier - A Harmony Brand

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

Esquire

Esquire brand are Japanese made guitars from the early 1970s at least.   Copies of Gibson ? others

Apparently in the 1930s the Esquire name was used on a line of guitars by Selmer [Source: Harmony Database]

Images in this section courtesy of M Flack, Australia.

1909-1939

Luthier Felix Staerke, Este Factory, Hamburg Germany.

http://www.musikkeller.com/d/este.html

Esteban

current at 2010

Esteban Guitar is an instrument designed and marketed by Pittsburgh’s Stephen Paul. The name “Esteban” came from the time he spent studying under the famous classical guitar giant, Andre Segovia.

Reviews http://www.guitarreviewsonline.com/index2.php?item_id=42

Domingo Esteso

1917 - 1937

Domingo Esteso (1882 - 1937). Apprenticed with Manuel Ramirez, opening his own shop in 1917. The shop eventually became Conde Hermanos in the 1960s. [Source: Zavaletas ]

Domingo Esteso at wikepedia

Images courtesy of Guitar Salon International

Nephews of Esteso (Conde brothers) 1973 label Trilogy guitars:

see Conde Hermanos

1957 to present

"Esteve Guitars started in 1957 in Alboraya, Province of Valencia, Spain. Presently the date of manufacture is on the label. I believe this practice was started in the early 1990's." [Source: Ron Fernandez, Fernandez Music, Authorized Import and Distributor of Esteve Guitars Irvine, California,  www.fernandezmusic.com, email 22/3/2008]

http://www.fernandezmusic.com/EsteveGuitars.html

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images Francisco Esteve labels are from  ebay: First one undated - others are obvious.

Eston

1970s

Eston guitars were made in Italy by Eko.

Eko acoustic guitars Rangers, 100 series and Classical series were imported into Australia by Lamberti Brothers of Melbourne under there own brand Eston not as Eko. The "TON" part of ESTON is named after Tony Lamberti. [Source: Fetish Guitars]

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/eko/index/eston.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/eko-guitars

Images 1978 Eston acoustic bass eBay:

see Eko

Estrella

Estrella guitars - made in Spain

Image courtesy of guitar2thestars collection email 1/12/2010, ebay

Estruch Guitars

1880 to present

The labels signed by Juan Estruch Pipó were personally made by him. The ones that were not signed, were made by his employees."  [Source: Rafael Montes ESTRUCH LUTHIERS, email 31/3/2008]

ET Guitars

2007 to present

Australian made electric guitars.

Made since "Feb 2007, Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia

Dating ET guitars

We have either a written or stamped label saying
"ET Guitars"
"Month-Yr"
"www.etguitars.com"

At this stage our output is relatively low, and highly custom or made- to-order work. But we will have higher number of units during next year and will need to start a numbering system." [Source: Ernie Taylor, ET Guitars Australia email 12/11/2008]

Ethereal

Ethereal Guitars are by guitar builder, Jon Ward made are made in Ballarat, Victoria. Australia

Eugen

1979 to present

Crafted by hand in Bergen, Norway

1934-1944

Euphonon guitars were made by the Larson Brothers in Chicago.  Other brands Prarie State, Symphony Harp Guitar [Source: Classic Guitars]

Euphonon examples

http://www.larsonscreations.com/euphononguitar.htm

Image Larson Brothers

see Larson

EVD Guitars

1976 to present

Edward Victor Dick, Denver, Colorado, USA

EVD String Instruments
Victor Guitars
Victor Banjolas
Manufactured since "1976
1995 - present - Denver Colorado USA
1983 - 1995 - Ottawa Ontario Canada
1976 - 1983 - Peterborough Ontario Canada
Everything is numbered chronologically from 001 to present (#369) and serial number is usually stamped on heel block and handwritten on the inside of the top (along with signature)." [Source: Edward Victor Dick, email, 16/7/2008 ]

http://www.banjola.org/

http://www.coloradoluthiers.org/publications/GAL72EVD/GAL_72_EVD.htm

Everett Guitars

1977 to present

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Evergreen Mountain

1971 to present

Evergreen Mountain Instruments, owned and operated by luthier and repairman, Jerry Nolte, has been producing hand crafted stringed instruments since 1971.

Everly Guitars

1982-2001

Luthier Robert Steinegger

Reviews are at Harmony Central

EVH

2009 EVH Pricelist

Excelsior

1924-early 70s

Excelsior are Italian made guitars. http://www.fetishguitars.com/

The same brand name is also associated with guitars from Norway http://www.steinnes.net/gitar/index.html

Image 1941 Excelsior guitar.

EYB Guitars

1984 to present

"The 6 digit ID number is on the back of the headstock. The first 2 digits are the month the second two are the year the last 2 indicate the number of the instrument in the month. For example: 030201 means the first instrument in March 2002." [Source: EYB Guitars, email 24/3/2008]