F-Fi Fl-

made

info    updated 2/2/2010

Fabreques Basses

Pepe Fabreques, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Pepe Fábregues was born in Spain, and from early on he combined his academic studies with learning the craft of making musical instruments. The familiarity with the sound of Spanish Guitars, the sonority of unamplified instruments, the Flamenco influence, centuries of European musical traditions, and the fact that his parents are both professional performers established the platform from where these finely crafted instruments would be launched.

Early on, the Fábregues Family moved to Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean and there Pepe , a bass player himself, adopted very different, exotic rhythms and influences. Because Puerto Rico is an American Commonwealth he was also exposed to rhythms such as  Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues and the later version aptly named Pop Music.

As time passed, Pepe was determined to find a bass sound that was flexible enough to cross play though all these genres, but to be serious enough to make a statement wherever he played; his search was futile. Some instruments had this, some had that, but none had it all. Determined to change that and attain his unique sound, he decided to create his own  instrument!  [Source: internet archive]

Factor bass

see Kubicki

Faith

current

Made by Patrick James Eggle (not associated with Patrick Eggle guitars)

http://www.acousticmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=290&Itemid=52

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Faith

Falcon

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Falcon

Falk

current

Dave Falk, builds archtops, mandolins and dulcimers. Originally in Kansas City, Missouri now in Amarillo, Texas, USA

http://falkguitars.blogspot.com/

Famos

? by Venlonia

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

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

http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/famos_velonia.html

Fano

Dennis Fano, Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA. Following info and image from internet archive:

Fano Guitars article 2000 Guitar Magazine

Fano guitars models options and prices 2004

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

Olivier Fanton D'Andon

1978 to present

Fanton D'Andon biography from Guitars International

Image: Fana

Farida

2008 to present

Farida guitars are made by Grand Reward Education & Entertainment (GREE) which was established in October 1995 Guang Dong province, in southern China.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Farida

Farnell Guitars

1988 to present

Al Farnell builds guitars in Ontario, California, USA

"I started manufacturing in 1988 and currently have three patents and a Patent Pending on my new Electra-lite series. I usually wrote serial numbers in the neck pocket and in the pickup cavity. All guitars prior to 1995 were made of PVC Body, 95-98 were Fiberglass shell body, 98-2002 were fiberglass wrapped (like a surfboard) and now my current ones are molded from High Impact Polystyrene." [Source: Al Farnell, email 24/3/2008]

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

Fasan

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

http://rock.webbuilder.hostbasket.com/page133079.htm

http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina5.html

http://www.andreas-polte.de/-Hersteller/-Vintage/-Fasan/body_-fasan.html

http://www.blackguitars.com/gallery.htm

http://www.archtop-germany.de/-Hersteller/-Vintage/-Fasan/body_-fasan.html

see Klira

Fascinator

by Tonk Brothers, made in Chicago, 1930s

Favilla

1890-1986

The Favilla guitar history is very involved and we are fortunate that Thomas A Favilla, fourth generation luthier left a detailed history at AOL Hometown. On 11/11/2008 when I came across this important document it was no longer available from that source but good old Google had cached the page which I have copied for posterity. The definitive Favilla Guitar History.

Some early model (1890-1910 approx) instruments bore the label Marca Aquila were built in America.
In the late 1960's the name Aquila was used briefly on Guitars imported from Japan by Favilla Guitars Inc. This took place from the late 1960's to 1973.

http://www.catfish1952.com/favilla.html

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

Images eBay:

Jacques Favino

1946-

Father of  Jean Pierre Favino, France

http://www.djangobooks.com/favinoarchive/jacquesfavinos.htm

http://www.djangobooks.com/favinoarchive/index.html

1973? to present

http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1990_Favino_Selmer-copy_1024.htm

http://www.romanticguitars.com/makers.php?id=6&status_id=5

Simon Fay

2003 to present

"I started building January 2003 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  More specifically, in a small shop attached to my house.  The label inside the soundhole.  I provide the date and serial number.  I do have a number of "Prototype" guitars in existence and they are designated with either a "Pr" or "Prototype" before the number.  My prototype guitars were sold at material cost during my "learning" phase.  These instruments should not be used to gauge the quality of my current work." [Source: Simon Fay, email 12/7/2008 ]

F Bass

1978 to present

F Guitars was founded by George Furlanetto (luthier/bassist) and Froc Filipetti (musician) in 1978, Hamilton, Ontario (Canada).

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/brand/F-Bass

Feeling

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

Feline

1997 to present

Feline guitars, Surrey, England

Fender Japan

1982 to present

Important dates

1982: Fender Japan starts production (Fujigen Gakki factory) "Made in Japan" (MIJ) logo.

1984: CBS sells Fender to current owners (without Plant) so all Fender production in Japan for a while.

1992: The first "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) models start appearing (Dyna Gakki factory).

1996/1997: "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) is used instead of "Made in Japan" (MIJ). Tokai and Dyna Gakki took over the manufacturing contract from Fujigen Gakki. [Source: Music Trade Japan ]

Dating Japanese Fender Guitars / serial numbers

http://www.fender.com/support/japanese_instruments.php

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

More Japanese Fender History resources

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

Fender Japan 2007 parts catalog

Fender Mexico

1990 to present

http://www.fender.com/support/mexican_instruments.php

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

Fender Guitars USA

1945 to present

There is an enormous amount of Fender guitar information available but here are some important dates from Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars:

Fender timeline

1945 Leo Fender and Doc Kaufman begin making amps, lap steels Fullerton CA

1947 Kaufman leaves and Leo continues as Fender Electric Instrument Co

1950 Esquire and Broadcaster (Tele) introduced

1951 Precision Bass

1954 Stratocaster

4 January 1965 Fender bought by CBS - so when someone tries to sell you a 1967 pre CBS Fender you should smell a rat!

1981 Bill Shultz of Yamaha becomes President and quality starts to return.

1982 Fender Japan established

1983 Fender Squier low price brand established

1985 CBS sells Fender to Schultz and others formed as Fender Musical Instruments Corp.   Sale did not include equipment so 1985 ish Fenders made in Japan.  Late 1985 US production recommenced at Corona CA for guitars and Lake Oswego, Oregon USA for amps.

Fenders are now made in USA, Mexico, Japan, China and Korea.

Fender reference books

The Fender Electric Guitar Book

Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar

The Fender Bass: An Illustrated History

Fender: The Inside Story

Guitar Identification A Reference for Dating Guitars Made by Fender 4th Edition

60 Years of Fender: Six Decades of the Greatest Electric Guitars

Fender history

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/fender/7345-history-fender.html

Dating Fender guitar serial numbers:

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

USA made Fender guitars

Acoustic Fender guitars

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

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

Fenderholic Guitar dater

3/4 scale http://www.marcelroy.com/Fender.html

Strat stats: http://www.roryon.com/stratattack235.html

Strat plus and Ultra info http://xhefriguitars.com/index.html

Images Telecaster neck dates from eBay:

Fender guitar catalogs/photos

1955-1982 awesome site with manuals http://www.21frets.com/catalogs.html

1968-72 http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/catalogues.php

1975 Japan http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/fender.htm

1979, 1982 http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html

1954 on http://www.stratcollector.com/scn/base.html

2005, 2006, 2007 Fender catalogs http://www.fender.com/resources/catalogs.php

Fender ad scans 1953-1963 http://www.mojocaster.com/images/ads/phpslideshow.php

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

Fender string catalogs http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/guitar/equip-strings.html

Fender price lists

2001 Fender pricelist

2002 Fender pricelist

2003 Fender pricelist

2004 Fender Custom Shop pricelist

2005 Fender pricelist

2005 Fender Custom Shop pricelist

2006 Fender pricelist  | 2006 Fender Wholesale pricelist

2006 Fender Custom Shop pricelist

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

Fender forums

The Fender Forum 

Strat Talk

Telecaster forum

Fender club in Hungary

Fender Squier (JV series Japan only)

1982-1984

http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/jvstratocaster.htm

JV Squier Strat http://wietsesguitars.nl/page40.html

Image source: Strat-Central

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Fender/Squier+JV-Series+'57+Reissue+Strat/10/1

Fendson

1999 to present

Rick Fendson and Fendson® Guitars - based in Tahlequah Oklahoma, USA

http://fendson-guitars-usa.blogspot.com/

Fenix

1980s-1990s

Made in Japan according to some sources.  But versions with "by YoungChang" seem to be made in Korea. Copies of Fender/Gibson guitars.

Fenix guitar catalogs

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

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

Founded by Henry Weill in 1960 after the demise of Burns-Weill founded in 1959.
Starting from home in London in 1963 a factory location employing up to 15 people made guitars and amps inlcuding for Hohner and the early Futurama range for Selmer. The company wound down in 1965.  Source: Gitbox wiki]

http://www.burnsguitarmuseum.com/burnsweill.html

http://britamps.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/fenton/guitars/fentonguitars.html

http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/britamps/fenton/guitars/fentonguitars.html

Image of front cover of Fenton Weill catalog eBay:

Fernandes

1972 to present

The company was founded in Japan,  1969 as Saito Musical Instruments and registered as Fernandes in 1972. [Source:  music trade ]

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

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

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

Dating Fernandes Guitars

By headstock shape and logo Chuck Evans eBay guide

Fernandes guitar catalogs

1977 - 85 http://www.fernandes.co.jp/others/catalog.html

1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 http://brochures.yokochou.com/index.html

1982- 1992 http://audiozone.dk/cm/jackson-charvel-guitar-catalog-scans.php?cat=11

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

2007 Fernandes catalog

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

Fernandes forum http://fernandesforums.com/phpbb2/

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

See Burny

Arcángel Fernandez

1956 to present

Arcángel Fernández (b1932)  began his apprenticeship in 1954 with Marcelo Barbero. Following Barbero's death in 1956, Arcángel and Manuel Rodríguez set up shop on the calle Jesús y María where Arcangel Fernandez made guitars under his own label. [Source: Zavaletas]

Image Classic Guitar                                                                     Image Kent Guitar Classics

Jeronimo Pena Fernandez

1967 to present

Jeronimo Pena Fernandez, Spanish maker of classical guitars.

Jeronimo Pena Fernandez was born in Marmolejo, Jaen in 1933. Self taught, he began making guitars in the 1950s, full time from 1967, now retired.  [Source: Zavaletas]

Image: eBay                                                                                                     Danzeff

Juan Fernandez

Juan M Garcia Fernandez guitars made in La Zubia, Granada

Images: Guitar Salon

Eduardo Ferrer

1925 - ?

Eduardo Ferrer - Born in 1905. In 1915 or 1917 he began working in his uncle Benito's shop. In 1925 when Benito died, he took charge of his uncle's shop. He taught every guitar maker in Granada. [Source: Fine Fretted]

Eduardo Ferrer was a famous luthier of his time .  In 1966 he was taken to Japan to work with Yamaha custom shop luthiers to teach them the trade secrets of Spanish guitar making. [Source: Classic Rocks 2009]  His son

Image Eduardo Ferrer 1978 guitar eBay:

Danny Ferrington

Danny Ferington appears to have made guitars for some famous people including Ry Cooder.

In 1985-86 Kramer began a relationship with Danny Ferrington. [Source: Vintage Kamer]

Ferrington reference books at Amazon

Ferrington Guitars: Featuring the Custom-Made Guitars of Master Luthier Danny Ferrington/Book, Cd and Guitar Picks in Leather Case/Signed Deluxe Lim

Fiama

At least in the 1950s and 60s. Japan

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

Images eBay:

Dominique Field

Builds with Daniel Friederich in Paris.

Images: Guitar Salon

Fiesta

Fiesta Les Paul Clone was purchased in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada approximately 25 years ago.

Image and info courtesy of Sue Blow, Canada, 2009

Fina

current

Acoustic guitars

KWO HSIAO MUSIC WOODEN FACTORY, Guang Dong Province, Mainland China

Fine Resophonic

1991 to present

"We started making  guitars  In 1991 they are  all hand made in my work shop , which is  about 10 minutes from Paris, France .
All my guitars  have the  date hand  written  on the  inside  of the instrument normally  with the owners  name  . 

See also www.michaelmesser.co.uk  - His   Koa  and   triplate  are made   by me  (as  are  the  ones  of  Clapton and  Louisiana  Red."

[Source: Mike Lewis, email 16/7/2008 ]

Fingerbone Guitars

1980s

Brand is associated with Paul Richardson who made guitars for Fingerbone until 1989.  The Fingerbone name was then taken over by Mark Hammock. [Source: Guitarsite ]

Fingerbone Catalog (pay site sorry)

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

First Act

1995 to present

First Act guitars are made in Boston (Custom) and China.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/First-Act.htm

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

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/First+Act

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/First+Act

Images eBay:

First Fret

From google cache...

First Fret Guitar Shoppe was founded by Frank Beatrice. "Frankie B" is a seasoned Pro in the Music Business for many years now in many phases of the Music community, as an Artist, Broker, and Master Luthier.

Dating First Fret Guitars

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

First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music

1920s

First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music New York was a brand made by the Oscar Schmidt Co. in Jersey City, NJ, and sold through mail order. [Source: Vintage Blues ]

The Oscar Schmidt Company of Jersey City NJ made First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music guitars sometime around 1925-1930.  There are no record available to determine the exact year of manufacture. [Source: Weenie  Campbell ]

Image Vintage Blues

First Man

1960s

First Man was a Japanese manufacturer that produced guitars during the boom of the 1960's. [Source: Vintaxe ]

First Man guitar catalog (Mosrite)

http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/firstman.htm

Firth, Pond & Company

1850s

Guitars, pianos and sheet music.  The guitars under the Firth, Pond and Company brand were built by James Ashborn and Martin. [Source: Wikipedia]

A Harmony Brand according to http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

Instruments built by scar Schmidt Co and others [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Paul Fischer

1956 to present

Paul Fischer guitars are made in Oxfordshire, England

Image Hill Guitar:

Five Star

Five Star guitars, Made in USA.  More info needed.