Fendson-Fi

made

info    updated 30/12/2011

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

Fenton Weill was 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 including 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]

Famous Ferrington guitars

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

Domonique Field builds guitars 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

Fina acoustic guitars are made in the 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 .

Dating Fine Resophonic Gutiars

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

Finocchio

Finocchio Guitar Works.

Frank Finocchio has been building fine guitars for over 25 years, specializing in acoustic flat top, classical and arch top instruments. Frank is also nationally and internationally known as a teacher in the art of lutherie and restoration. During the past 10 years, well over 400 students have passed through his 7-day, hands-on workshop. He hosts hands-on workshops four times a year in his fully equipped studio/workshop.

Frank began his career as a machinist for 25 years. He was asked to bring expertise to Martin Guitar. He was employed there for 9 years. He was a process engineer at the Martin Guitar company, where he streamlined many of the now used steps in the making of Martin Guitars, as well as being the major contributor in the development of the patented process for the making of the DXM Guitar. He was a very active participant in the research and development team. During his employ he procured exotic woods for resale and production guitars; he managed Guitar Makers Connection and tutored countless customers on the art of Guitar Making.

His workshop/studio is tucked away in the heart of historic Easton, Pennsylvania, in a restored 19th Century carriage house with two large studio work areas.

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

Images Firstman bass

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 Magazine Price Guide ]

Paul Fischer

1956 to present

Paul Fischer guitars are made in Oxfordshire, England

Paul Fischer is England's most experienced and respected guitar maker, beginning his instrument making career fifty years ago as a student of the world famous harpsichord maker Robert Goble. After military service, he joined David Rubio, another well known master luthier of guitars and lutes.

For over fifty years Paul Fischer has been an inspired artistic influence in the evolution of the modern concert guitar. To help further his contributions in this area, he was awarded in the mid 1980s a Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Southern Arts research bursary. His instruments have been featured in many publications including the best selling book "The Complete Guitarist" by Richard Chapman, and "The Classical Guitar" (Balafon 1997) (Dorling Kindersley 1993). Source: eBay:
Image Hill Guitar:

Fishbone

1993-

Fishbone Bass Guitars was founded in 1993 by John Piskulic and Thom Kieffer. [Source: Fishbone website]

They make basses here in Brantford Ontario and import 6 string guitars from Asia. [Source: Ben van Dyk, Canada email 29/12/2011]

Five Star

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

Images eBay: