G-Gia

made

updated 15/6/2010

G & L

1980 to present

G&L is for George Fullerton and Leo Fender.  Leo was subject to a restraint of trade provision following the sale of Fender to CBS.  This is his phoenix.

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

http://www.glguitars.com/faq/index.asp

http://www.glguitars.com/chronology/index.asp

http://www.palmguitars.nl/archives/arch-git.html

http://vintageguitarpro.com/gandl.shtml

G&L guitar Registry http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/AUTOREG/interact.php3?registry_id=1

G&L reference book

Guitars From George & Leo: How Leo Fender and I Built G&L Guitars

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/G%26L

Image courtesy of Chris Rice, Rice Custom Guitars

Gaban

1970s

Gaban guitars were distributed by Hukuhara musical instrument company and were probably made by Tokai. [Source: Japan Axe Forum]

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

Gaban Ad ebay, guitar from Yahoo Japan:

Gabriel's Guitar Workshop

see Ochotecho

Gadotti

1997 to present

" It started in 1997. Windermere, Florida USA. 

Dating Gadotti guitars

On the back of the neck there is a serial number. The first 3 digits are the serial number and the 4th and 5th digit stand for the year of production. [Source: Jeanfranco Gadotti, email 17/7/2008 ]

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

Gadow

1999 to present

Ryan Gadow, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Gadow Guitars Forum

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

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/gadow-custom-hollow/Mar-05/4374

Images eBay:

Gage

Chatham, MA, USA

Gagliano

Hopf, Gagliano

http://www.ggjaguar.com/gagliano.htm

Gagnon Guitars

1998 to present

"I started building in 1998 and started Gagnon Guitars in 2000.  My serial numbers are as follows: 08708.   that is my 87th guitar and was finished in 2008." [Source: Bill, Gagnon Guitars, email 30/3/2008]

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

Leszek Gajdzik

Leszek Gajdzik, Vienna. Gajdzik guitars are double-top construction using a Nomex layer in between layers of spruce

Image Kent Guitar Classics

Galanti

1960s

The Galantis were long time accordion makers in Italy. For a few year they tried to enter the explosive guitar market of the mid 60's.  Guitars and amplifiers made in Italy.

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

1967 Galanti Grand Prix guitar http://www.myrareguitars.com/eGalanti.html

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

Image Galanti electric guitar 1965  ebay:

A Galiano guitars.

Some made by Harmony see http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php?id_brand=14. Also made by Oscar Schmidt.

Images (Label 1910 and 1925 made in New York) courtesy of Retrofret:

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

Gallacher Guitars

Joe Gallacher, 255 Kooba Street, North Albury New South Wales, 2640 Australia

Gallagher

1965 to present

Gallagher guitars, Wartrace, Tennessee.

http://www.gallagherguitar.com/Background.html

''We've always maintained a ledger where we've recorded the model number, the serial number, who got the guitar and when it left the shop. All the guitars are documented and the serial numbers are stamped on the neck block, along with the model number.''  Because of this detail, Gallagher actually has helped return some stolen guitars to their original owners.

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

Images eBay:

Gallan

Gallan were distributed by Kyowa-Shokai and probably made by Tokai. [Source: Japan Axe Forum] Acoustic and electric guitars.

Gallan guitar images Yahoo Japan.

Galletta Guitars

1996 to present

Galletta guitars were made since 1996 in Southern California.

Eric J. Galletta started as co-designer and partner of Wayne Charvel and manufactured under the brand name Ritz Guitars and WRC Custom Guitars. He has been building and repairing instruments since 1989 .

Later we developed the WRC Guitar line Wayne Richard Charvel and made Top Ten 1994 MMR Magazine best at NAMM.

Eric went on to study and work with Bernie Rico from BC Rich Guitars and RC Allen also from California. He has been replicating re-issue guitars for Fred Gretsch under the brand name Bigsby and made 12 guitars 1948 Bigsby Re-Issues for Fred Gretsch.

Eric is currently making guitars under his name GALLETTA GUITARS incorporating seashsell, exotic woods and scrimsha by master Scrimshander Bob Hergert.

Eric has made guitars for members of the Beach Boys, Allman Bros, Govt Mule, Hank Williams Jr. , Michael Angelo Batio, Fred Newell, Thom Bresh , Doyle Dykes, Kenny Loggins, Michael O'Dorn , Larry Green , Jimmy Papastathis to name a few . [Source: Eric Gallettaa, email 20/9/2009]

Gallotone

1950s-1960s

John Lennon's first guitar. From South Africa

Gallotone guitars at wikipedia

Images 1957 Gallotone Champion 3/4, Acoustic Guitar. eBay

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

A Harmony Brand

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

Arnie Gamble

1978 to present

Arnie Gamble and wife Erin O'Toole (design and inlay). Sacramento, California, USA

Ganson

made by Kasuga

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

Ganz Guitars

1993 to present

Made since "1993" in "Bellingham, Washington, USA
Date is on label under soundhole. [Source: Steven Henry Horatio Ganz, email 4/4/2008]

Garcia

c1970s to present

Guitars made in Japan for Sherry Brenner, Chicago Illinois.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/2008/5/Value-1973-Garcia-Classical-1.htm

http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=27827&p=280169

http://fuq.encycmet.com/questions/217/

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

Abel Garcia

1985 to present

Abel Garcia Lopez, luthier, classical guitars, Mexico

http://www.monocle.com/sections/edits/Magazine-Articles/Abel-Garcia-Lopez-Paracho/

Images courtesy of: Guitar Salon                                                           Trilogy Guitars

Arnoldo Garcia

Image Arnoldo Garcia:

1895-1922

Enrique Garcia was born in Madrid in 1868. Although he was the son of a guitar maker, Juan Garcia, in 1883 he began an apprenticeship with Manuel Ramirez, and continued to work for him for many years. In 1893, his guitars won first prize at the Chicago World Fair. In 1895, he left the Ramirez shop and moved to Barcelona where he opened a workshop on the calle Aragon No. 309. In 1899, he moved his shop to the calle Aragon No. 455. In 1902, he again moved his shop to its ultimate location on the Paseo de San Juan No 110. Enrique Garcia quickly gained an international reputation, and his guitars were particularly in demand in Latin America. By 1912, he was shipping most of his guitars to Latin America. In Barcelona, he had one disciple Francisco Simplicio. Garcia made some guitars that so closely resembled those of Antonio de Torres that their labels have been removed and passed off as Torres guitars. He died on October, 31, 1922. [Source: Retrofret]
http://www.guitarsofspain.com/Guitar_magazine/2_21.htm

Image ?

Fredrico Garcia

to late 1960s/early 1970s

Fredrico Garcia made guitars until late 1960s/early 1970s when production moved to Japan.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Federico-Garcia-classical-guitar.htm

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

Joaquin Garcia

Spanish classical guitars.

Images Trilogy Guitars                                                                    Hope Street Music

Garrido

Came across this brand on eBay - a purported 1960s classical guitar (Brazilian Rosewood) labelled Garrido with an association with the luthier Modesto Borreguero.   According to Acoustic Guitar Forum Modesto Borreguero set up his own workshop in 1952 and worked exclusively for the dealers Casa Garrido in Madrid. He also taught the now retired maker Vicente Perez Camacho (b.1928).
Borreguero (b.ca.1893 in Madrid) retired from guitar making in 1963 and he died in 1969.

Image eBay

Garrison

2000 to present

Dating information http://www.garrisonguitars.com/faq.asp#6

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

Garz

1986 to present

Mark Garza, Doyle, California, USA

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

Images eBay:

A Harmony Brand

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

Gazer

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

http://www.gazerguitars.com/gazer.htm

2000 to present

Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

early 1960s - 1966

Italian ? Bartolini.

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

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

Bela Gemza

1950s to 1987

Bela Gemza (1909-1987)

http://members.aol.com/Rogluthier/indexclassic.html

Lorenzo German

see Klein Electric Guitars

1970s

According to this forum was a brand of a guitar store Gerritsen in the The Hague, the Netherlands. ? the guitars were built at the Maya plant in Kobe.
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?t=3500&highlight=gerrinez

example http://rock.webbuilder.hostbasket.com/page15465.htm

Gerundino Fernandez

1958 - 1999

Gerundino Fernandez (1931-2006)

The late 'el maestro guitarrero Gerundino Fernández Garcia' (1931-2006) was, perhaps, the finest luthier of all time of the latter half of the twentieth century, along with Arcangel Fernandez and Manuel Reyes. In 1978 and 1988 he was rewarded with his mastery in the art of guitar construction, first Premio IV Concurso Internacional de Maestros Guitarreros, diploma y medalla de la UNESCO, Paris. His guitars are known for their raspy growl and volume, well balanced intonation and "gutsy" percussive sound. Gerundino's bracing system and construction maintain the essence of the true flamenco sound. Players of his instruments include Paco Peña, Paco de Lucia, Tomatito and Eric Clapton. Clapton's 1976 Gerundino sold for $16,730 at his 2004 Christie's auction, believed to be the highest price ever paid for a Gerundino. [Source: Geert Doumen, La Sonata ]

Gerundino at wikipedia
Image courtesy of Guitar Salon:

Gession

1970s-1980s

Japanese Gibson copies. ? 1970s. Examples on web include Les Paul, Firebird. One Les Paul had "Love Power" written on the headstock.

Gession were made by Tokai. [Source: Japan Axe]

Image courtesy of larryshideaway:

Gherson

1970s

Gherson was an Italian brand.  The mark belongs to the company Menghini SNC created by Alfredo Menghini, its factory is with RECATINI close to CASTELFIDARDO in the province of Walk. [Source: Gherson Guitars]
One thing that is not controversial is that the guitars with this brand name are all copies of famous American classics.  They were either made in Italy which seems likely looking at some of the tuners/neck plates or Japan.

The best resource for Gherson is http://gherson-guitars.net/index.html

Reviews on Gherson are available at Harmony Central.

Image from eBay:

G Holiday

1960s-70s

There is a Holiday brand which was for sale in the Alden catalog but at Guitarsite forum there is suggestion that G Holiday was sold from the Sears and Roebuck catalog in 1970 and were available in the 1960s and 70s.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/G+Holiday

Images eBay:

Giannini

1900 to present

Brazilian manufacturer from 1900. Started electric guitars in 1960. [Source: Giannini ]

http://www.bellinati.com/guit_access/guit.html

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

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

see Univox

Images including 1966 label eBay:

G-Gia | Gibson | Gid- Gn | Go-Grel | Gretsch-