Fl-

made

info    updated 27/11/2009

Flammang Guitars

1990 to present

David Flammang, Greene, Iowa, USA. Steel string guitars.

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

Flat Earth Guitars

Flat Earth Guitars are made by Doug Ritterling in Anderson, South Carolina, USA.

Flaxwood Guitars

2004 to present

Eastern Finland, Electric guitars. Flaxwood is a composite wood based material

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

1974 to present

Guitars made by Harry Fleishman in Sebastapool, California. Custom flattops, basses and electric uprights.

"I am sorry to say that I kept, and keep, terrible records. I wish I could be more help." [Source: Harry Fleishman, Fleishman Instruments, email 22/3/2008]

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

Ignacio Fleta

Ignacio Fleta (b. 1897, d 1977). Opened own workshop in 1927, initially making violins.  Guitar production started around 1930. His son Gabriel Jr continue the tradition. [Source: Guitar Salon]

Image 1968 Fleta eBay

Image: Guitar Salon                                                                            Classic Guitar

Flowers Guitars

1993 to present

Archtops, Baltimore, Maryland

Fodera

current

Brooklyn Guitars

myspace

Foggy Mountain

2005 to present

Chinese made steel and nylon string acoustic guitars.

"My first guitar was made in 1988. The first guitar SE # is 12. Which I still have. I had made a few Banjos from 1972-1976. I do have the first banjo I ever made SE # 1. I also have four custom Banjo necks I carved in 1976. One has a Golden Eagle on the headstock with a Buffalo head heal. I have a carved Rattle Snake resonator. It is not finished as of this date. The SE # is 3. I also have a Plectrum Banjo neck with a Bald Eagle headstock & Buffalo head heal SE # 4. I also still have an uncompleted Banjo neck with a Snake headstock and a Elephant head Heal. The SE # is 5.

But my first guitar was made as I said in 1988. The date the top & back were joined to the sides is written under the top. Also under the top is the SE #, the wood used for the top-sides & back, & my signature. A mirror is needed to see them. The SE # is also carved into the back. This can be seen through the sound hole. It is located even with the sound hole on the bass side. The actual finish date of the guitar is not on the guitar. I usually have that written on the spec sheet that accompanies the guitar when it leaves here. I do keep a copy of every guitar I make. If someone needs info on any Foley guitar all they need to do is ask. I will be more then happy to give them any info I can. The warrantee on a Foley is fully transferable to anyone, no matter how many times it changes hands, for five years from first purchase date." [Source: Ed Foley, FOley Guitars, email 20/3/2008]

Reviews http://foleyguitars.com/articles/index.php

Fontanilla

1987 to present

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

Josef Forg

Munich

Image 1930 Bernuzio:

Formanta

Russian guitars

http://cheesyguitars.com/formanta.html

http://www.meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/formanta.html

Formestar

Image Yahoo:

Fouilleul

1983 to present

"In 1979, Jean-Marie made his first guitar with tools available at home. After four years of pratice ,in 1983, he settled down in Rennes.  In 1989, he was awarded "Best Craftsman of France". The chair of the panel was legendary French luthier, Daniel Friederich.  In 2005 Jean-Marie took over as head of the panel.

Since 2000, Jean-Marie has been working with the acoustic laloratory of the University of Le Mans (LAUM). The goal of this research is to create some data tools (coming from acoustic laboratory and adapted to a workshop) to understand and characterize the acoustic of the guitar during the making, and so complementing static measures like weight, top and back frequencies, flexion on top and neck ...etc . This has led to the development of the "Helmholtz System", a tool of guitar characterization ( top, back, inside air volume) in the low frequencies.

Parallel to these research, since 1997, he teaches at the European Institut of Music Trade, ITEMM.

Since 1998 he is located in his native Brittany. [Source: Jean-Marie Fouilleul, email 17/7/2008]

Interview Classical Guitar Store

Images courtesy of J Fouilleul: The "Helmholtz System"

Fouquet

Claude Fouquet, France

Charles Fox

GRD

C Fox

Charles Fox

1968 to present

Charles Fox (Born 1943) began building guitars in 1968. [Source: Internet Archive]

1973 founded the first school for guitar builders in North America, the Guitar Research and Design Center.

GRD Guitars

1978-1982. High end acoustic and electric by Charles Fox 's Guitar Research and Design Centre, Vermont USA

Late 1970's to 1980 GRD Guitars - high end electrics.

GRD Guitar catalogs

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

GRD Brochure 1978 from eBay

Image GRD guitar with 6band EQ. eBay:

C Fox

1997-2001 made in Healdsburg, California

General model specs:

Napa Series

Hand selected solid Sitka spruce soundboard, hand selected solid Indian rosewood back & sides, grained ivoroid binding with colored soundboard purfling and rosette. Chrome Schaller tuners.

Sonoma Series

Master grade Sitka spruce soundboard, hand selected solid Indian rosewood back & sides, grained ivoroid binding with wide colored soundboard purfling, abalone rosette, ebony bridge with ebony bridge pins and end pin with abalone dots. Bound neck and peghead, chrome Schaller tuners.
Sierra Series

Master grade Sitka spruce soundboard, master grade Indian rosewood back & sides, figured maple wood binding with colored purfling on soundboard, back & sides, abalone rosette, ebony bridge with ebony bridge pins and end pin with abalone dots, figured maple end graft. Bound neck and peghead, gold Schaller tuners with Ebony buttons.

1998 C Fox Price list

Press release announcing end of C Fox 2001

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

Charles Fox Guitars

started in 2002 in Portland, Oregon

Dating Fox Guitars

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

Foxxe

see Barrington Guitar Werks

Frame Works

1995 to present

German luthier Frank Krocker, compact guitars

Framus

1940s to 1970s then 1996 to present

In 1946 Alfred Andreas founded the "Framus" works... the name being an acronym of FRAnconian MUSical instruments.  The first workshops were established in a disused community work camp in Möhrendorf near Erlangen. The firm soon grew out of these premises, and Framus moved to a sometime brewery building in Baiersdorf. 1955 saw the official opening of new works in Bubenreuth. By this time there were some 300 employees on the payroll.  In addition  to guitars Framus made zithers, basses and banjos.  In 1966, a second factory was established in Pretzfeld in the area known as Fränkische Schweiz.  100 people were employed in this facility.

In the Seventies, price dumping by companies from the Far East began seriously undercutting the established brands and Framus went bankrupt in 1975.

[Source: Warwick ]

awesome http://www.framus-vintage.de/

Dating Framus guitars

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

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=5183&cl=EN

http://www.vintaxe.com/cgi-bin/eboard30/index2.pl?frames=no&board=vintaxe&mode=Cur&message=965

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

http://vintageguitarpro.com/framus.shtml

1954 Framus Black Rose http://www.blackguitars.com/gallery.htm

Framus Star bass http://members.lycos.nl/sijmonsters/Framus.htm

Framus Melody strato http://www.greenbuddha.de/guitars/index_b.php?mod=melody&lang=de

Framus strato deluxe http://www.greenbuddha.de/guitars/index_b.php?mod=strato&lang=de

1963 Framus Television http://www.myrareguitars.com/eframustv.html

Framus guitar catalogs

1960s http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/framus.html

mid 60s http://www.stromgitarren.net/English/documents.htm#hoefner

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

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

? can be confused with Tellson

Image eBay:

Tony Francis

Tony Francis makes old school Hawaiin style guitars in Waikanae Beach, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Franciscan

"The Franciscan brand, and the guitar in your picture, actually came from Japan in the sixties and seventies.  They're not selling for much more than $100 from what I can tell" [Source: Jay, email 19/6/2009]

Image: eBay

Franciscan

2003 to present

Franciscan guitars are custom made by Sam Grosvenor, Syracuse, NY

Frankie

Made in Canada.  At least Jazz Bazz copy.

Frankinstein

2001 to present

Frankinstein Guitar works . Seppo O. 

" First Frankinstein built in 2001 under this brand name.  I make them in a home based shop in Woodstock, Ontario. All my instruments have sequential serial numbers starting from #1 in 2001 located in various locations on the body. About three years ago I started date stamping and initialling them.
I am an army of one; all aspects of Frankinstein are performed by me, and me alone. I have over 48 years experience working on predominately guitars and basses.
Here's pix of a cigar box guitar I recently completed showing serial
number, date stamp, initials, logo. Of course in this case I did not build the body; it's a genuine cigar box from the Philippines (as shown).
I received training from a professional luthier (who apprenticed with Hofner) during the 1970's. [Source: Seppo O Valjakka, email 15/9/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Frankinstein+Guitar+Works

Franklin

current

Luthier Nick Kukich, handmade in Missouri, USA

Ken Franklin

2003 to present

Acoustic guitars, Ukiah, California, USA

"I made a few guitars and dulcimers in 1973, which had my signature and date inside.

Since 2003 I have made guitars under the Ken Franklin label in Ukiah, California.  They are signed and dated on the underside of the soundboard. Since 2005, each guitar has been given a name.  The label has my signature but not always the date." [Source and images: Ken Franklin, email 23/11/2008]

Paul Franklin

1964

Pedal Steel Guitars.

Paul Franklin Snr built the first Franklin Pedal Steel in 1964 and worked for Sho Bud building customs from 1972 to 1978 when he went back to continuing the Franklin line.

Franklin Music House

According to eBay this Franklin guitar was made in Chicago, by Kay Kraft (Kay Musical Instrument Company), Franklin was a brand name out of New Jersey, and the guitars they sold were often made by Kay, Regal, Harmony (Supertone) and many other makers of the time. The headstock and bridge shapes are Kay Kraft. Pobably late 1920's to early thirties, but maybe late thirties. Unlikely to be after World War II.

Freedom

This brand appears in a number of contexts and has been used in Japan and Australia (presumable by different companies) and is associated with electrics and acoustics.

http://toguitars.com/gallery-japan/freedom-guitars.html

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

Image eBay

Freedom Custom Guitar Research

current

Japan

Scott French

Scott French trained at Roberto-Venn in 2003. He is building in Auburn, California, USA.

Fresher

1973-1985

Japanese made Gibson and Fender copies.

Fresher started as 2nd class brand of Kyowa sales network (their first class is Gallan). Fresher used 4 different logo marks from the 1970s-80s.  [Source and examples of logos Music Trade Japan]

http://www.sk.aitai.ne.jp/~luesan/AI13.htm

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

Images Yahoo Japan:

Freshman Guitars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshman_Guitars
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Freshman

Freshwater

current

Fretted instruments, mandolins etc.Scotland

Daniel Friederich

1955 to present

Legendary French luthier, custom classical guitars from Paris France.

http://creativeguitar.org/blog/daniel-friederich-classical-guitars/7171

Images courtesy of: Guitar Salon

Frima

by Egmond, Netherlands

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

Stephen Frith

1979 to present

http://vzone.virgin.net/marc_g_ashly-salter.guitars_cool_guitars/frith/frith.html

Image Kent Guitar Classic:

Fritz Brothers

1988 to present

Acoustic, electric guitars built by Roger Frit, in albion, California.  Previously made in Mobile, Alabama

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fritz+Brothers

1978 to present

John Garcia, aka Johnny Frog. Made famous by the Skull and Crossbones guitar be made for John Lynch of Dokken. Since 1999 made in conjunction with Ed Roman.  Ed Roman on fakes

http://www.usacharvels.com/noncharvels/jfrogww.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/J+Frog

Froggy Bottom

1970 to present

Luthier Michael Millard, flat-tops.

"Serial numbers on our guitars are stamped on the neck block (visible through the soundhole). Early guitars have no such stamped number. All instruments have been personally signed on the inside of the top on the lower bout by myself and, since sometime in 1995, by my partner Andrew Mueller, This is the most certain and accurate way to date the guitar. With a mirror you will find written:
Michael Millard
Froggy Bottom Guitars
Richmond, NewHampshire (or, after April, 1985 Newfane , Vermont)
Date of assembly (eg. January, 2007)
Although written in a cursive hand (usually in ballpoint pen) and backwards, due to the mirror, all this information is there.  Since my partnership with Andrew began in 1995, there has been a rare guitar which does not have my signature. These are few and far between, however, and these would still be signed by Andrew and accurately dated by him." [source: Michael Millard, Froggy Bottom, email 24/1/2007]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Froggy+Bottom

Images eBay:

Frye Guitars

1987 to late 1990s

Frye Guitars were built by Ben Frye in a shop with his father Lawrence in Green Bay, WI USA.  {Source: Blue Book] Today (2008) Lawrence runs a repair business String Instrument Workshop in Green Bay.  Ben currently works for Rock n Roll Vintage in Chicago doing restorations.

Fryer Guitars

1980s

Luthier Greg Fryer made guitars in Australia and is one of few people to be allowed to repair Brian May's guitar.  He also made 3 copies of that guitar for use on tour.

Image 1985 Greg Frey bass with Alembic pickups eBay:

Fukuoka Musical Instruments

1993 to present

Custom nylon, steel flat-tops and archtops made in Japan.

Fuji Gen

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

http://jimshine.com/fuji/

http://toguitars.com/gallery-japan/fujigen-gakki-guitars.html

Fuji Roland

Fuji Roland Synth Guitar http://www.joness.com/gr300/G-303.htm

Catalog http://brochures.yokochou.com/en_index.html

See Roland

Fullerton

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

"Label is Signed and dated by Narciso Fumero. He writes model by total of instrument he has made for example 24C-IRC is the 24th Classical Guitar he as made, IRC stand for Indian Rosewood with Cedar top." [Source: Omar Fernadez, Direct Sales & Design, Inc., www.directguitar.com Fort Lauderdale]

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

Furch

1981 to present

Made since" 1981 as a private person, 1990 as a manufactory, in Czech Republic (Czechia) member of European Community, Central Europe (former Czechoslovakia)
An inside-body heel-positioned label shows the day of production, model code and the Prod.No." [Source:

Frantisek Furch, email, 23/7/2008]

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

Fury Guitars

1962 - present

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

Fury guitars model history http://www.furyguitar.com/vintage.html

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

Futurama

1958-

Originally made (1958) in Czechoslovakia by Resonet (Graziosa), imported by Selmer to UK, then Sweden and Japan until 1967. [Source: Blue Book, Junk Guitars ]

http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/futurama/fut.html

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

http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/star1.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/charlottecooper/guitarsite/docs/Kent.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/charlottecooper/guitarsite/docs/FutIII.html

Futurama guitar catalogs

1964 (Selmer) http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/images/CatSelm64/P13selm64.htm

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

See Hagstrom, Selmer

Image eBay:

Fredrico Garcia

Fylde Guitars

1973 to present

"I started Fylde in 1973, first of all in Kirkham , Lancashire, and since 1996, in Penrith, Cumbria.
The serial number is on the label inside the guitar.

That serial number is sequential, and would allow me to date it, but Id rather that people mailed me when there is a query- it allows me to keep in touch with instruments, and sometimes helps me track the whereabouts of unusual instruments, and even stolen ones!" [Source: Roger Bucknall, Fylde Guitars, email 4/4/2008]

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

Images eBay: