|
l |
manufactured |
info
updated 11/10/2008...please email
corrections/info |
|
La Baye |
1967 |
Dave Helland a
guitar teacher from Green Bay, Wisconsin commissioned the
Holman-Woodell guitar factory in Neodesha, KS, to
make a run of La Baye guitars and basses in 1967. [ Source:
My Rare
Guitars ]
http://www.wurlitzerguitars.com/files/holmanguitars.pdf
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/LaBaye
see
Holman |
Lace
 |
1979 to present |
Famous for pickps they originally
built in Huntington California to around 2005. Now an importer.
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Lace |
|
Lacey |
1974 to present |
http://www.laceyguitars.com/serial_numbers.htm
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/lacey.html |
La Croix
 |
2002 to present |
Started making in "2002.
Year and number are written
on the label visible through the sound hole. The numbers are
sequential and are not reset by year." [Source: John LaCroix,
email 30/3/2008] |
|
Lado
 |
1973 to present |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lado_Guitars |
|
Lag
 |
2004- |
"Lag started always with
serial 100 so 101 is the first guitar in a range for example rockline, hardline, collection. The new series always go by
date. year, month guitar. But don't know for sure if they
still do that." [source: Denis - lag fan - see below
for link, email 31/1/2007]
http://www.lagguitars.com.au/HISTORY/HISTORY.htm
Careful ! -
there is a pop up here but once you are past it there are some
catalogs and useful info for the lag lover.
http://www.lag-fan.tk/
http://members.home.nl/denisweening/Lag%20Fanclub%202005/Lagfanclub2005.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/LAG |
|
Lake |
|
http://tix.gozaru.jp/other.html |
|
Lakewood |
|
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/lakewood.html
Lakewood Pricelist 2007 (Ireland)
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Lakewood |
Lakland
 |
1994 to present |
We began production in 1994. We
introduced our Skyline series in 2001.
Our US series basses are made in Chicago, Illinois. Our Skyline
series basses are made in Korea with final assembly in Chicago.
The serial numbers on our US series basses do not reflect the
date of manufacture. Anyone interested in dating their bass
should contact us. The first two digits in the serial number on
our Skyline series basses indicates the year of manufacture. It
is located on the side of the headstock near the E or B string
tuning key." [Source: Kirk Hunter , Lakland Musical Instruments
, Chicago, email, 17/4/2008] |
|
Lame Horse |
|
see J for Jenkins
(Chris) Guitars |
|
Instruments Lamour |
2002 to present |
Made since "2002, on the Cote
d'Azure France.
As I only make
4 to 5 instruments a year, the month and year is written on the
label inside the guitar."
[Source:
Cédric Verglas,
Instruments Lamour,
l'eau vive, rd558, 83680 la
garde freinet, France,
email 12/7/2008 ] |
|
Landola |
1942 to present |
http://www.landola.fi/dating_your_guitar.html
http://www.landolaguitars.co.uk/datinglandola.htm
Landola Guitar
Brochures
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Landola |
|
Lang |
|
http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/lang.html
http://www.lang-gitarren.de/
http://www.musikkeller.com/d/lang.html |
|
Langejans |
1971 to present |
date of manufacture on label inside sound hole
http://www.langejansguitars.com/about_del.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Langejans |
|
Langenbacher Guitars |
1999 to
present |
"I
started making Guitars in 1992 and worked for the Violin maker
Pierre Chaubert in Fuessen, these instruments are labeled " Urs
Langenbacher aus der Werkstatt von Pierre Chaubert", since 1999
I am running my own workshop. I use a printed label, always hand
signed, with date and information about humidity situation when
closing the instrument.
The Top is always signed inside with pencil signature in the
soundhole area." [Source: Urs Langenbacher, email 3/4/2008] |
|
LaPatrie
 |
1980s to
present |
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/La+Patrie
see
Godin |
|
Joel Laplane |
1976 to present |
I began building guitars in 1976 in Marseille
(France) , following Arthur Carbonell-Torres who taught me his
craft
The number and date are written on the label inside (my name is
a registered trademark). I'm finishing
the guitar number 255.
[Source: Joel Laplane, email 16/7/2008 ] |
|
Chris Larkin
Guitars |
1977 to present |
"I started making in 1977 but
the first guitars with my current numbering system were from
1984 when I became a full time maker. I use a 6 digit numerical
code which is stamped into the wood on the back of the
headstock. First two digits are the year (eg 08 or 91), the next
two are the month in that year (eg 03 or 12) and the final two
denote the position in that month (usually 01 to 03 - never more
than 06). So 920903 would be the third guitar made in September
1992. I usually have complete records of the materials used and
the ordering customer for each instrument which I can find from
the number." [Source: Chris Larkin Custom Guitars, Castlegregory,
Co Kerry, email 24/3/2008] |
|
Larrivee
 |
|
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/larrivee.html
http://www.larrivee.com/html/customerservice/faq.html#13
http://vintageguitarpro.com/lar.shtml
http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=22267
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Larrivee
Larivee
Forum
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/ |
|
Larson |
1934 - |
The Larson Brothers of Chicago
made a stringed instruments under a variety of brand names
including Prairie State, WM Stahl, Euphonon, C Bruno, HF Meyer,
Southern California Music Co, Stetson, Dyer in the 1930s
[Source:
Larson
site ]
http://www.larsonbrothersguitars.com/
http://www.larsonscreations.com/
see
Euphonon |
|
La Scala |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Laskin Guitars |
1973 to present |
"Year on the label. Plus serial
number stamped onto the inside neck block. The number is the
numerical date the frame was assembled, Day/ Month/Year. Eg.
02/10/99 is Oct. 2/1999." [Source: W. "Grit" Laskin, email
20/3/2008]
One snippet I came across suggests
The Museum of Civilization, Canada's equivalent to the
Smithsonian, has four Laskin guitars in its permanent
collection.
http://www.12fret.com/new/laskin_guitars_the_kiss_pg.html
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Laskin |
|
Launhardt |
|
http://www.archtop-germany.de/-Hersteller/-Launhardt/body_-launhardt.html |
|
Laughlin Guitars |
|
Vancouver, Canada |
|
Bill Lawrence |
|
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/blawrenc.html
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Bill+Lawrence |
|
Kenneth
Lawrence |
1981 to
present |
In the last several years, I've been putting the completion date
of the instruments on the inside of the control cavity cover
along with the serial number (which is also stamped into a wood
ledge of the control cavity in the body), and I sign the cover
as well.
I've also kept a ledger of serial numbers along with details of
each instrument in my shop/studio. I'm happy to send that info
to anyone who requests it. Some early dates are not as exact as
I have now, but I can give a pretty good ballpark of when it was
built.
There is no code with my numbering, it's all been sequential.
Basses, Guitars..., whenever they're finished, that's the next
number in line. [Source: Kenneth Lawrence, Arcata, California
email 11 Mar 2008]
Formerly of
Moonstone Guitars, now building in California, USA
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/brand/Ken+Lawrence |
|
Michael F Lazar
 |
1981 to present |
St Albert, Alberta Canada.
"Both serial number and date
appear on my label which is attached to the inside of the back
and is visible through the sound hole. My guitars go back to
1981. I currently produce about 8 per year but earlier it was
much less so I presently have only 70 guitars out there."
[Source and images courtesy of: Mick
Lazar, email 19/8/2008 ]
Forum
http://www.luthierforum.com/ |
|
Lazy Dog Guitars |
|
Andy Zimmerman, La Jolla,
California, USA |
|
HG Leach |
|
Harvey Leach,
Cedar Ridge, California |
|
Richard Leach
Guitars |
|
|
|
Leamy |
|
Anthony Leamy,
Florence, Italy |
|
Hugues Lefort |
|
St-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec,
Canada |
|
Legato Lutherie |
|
|
|
Legend Guitars |
1988 to
present |
|
|
Lehmann |
1971 to present |
"Bernie
Lehmann started building instruments in 1971. Labels are all
either handwritten in India ink or printed with handwritten date
and serial number. There is usually a signature and date on the
top inside the instrument. As of March, 2008 he has made 416
instruments. He has made many kinds of instruments including:
steel string, classical, gypsy, arch top, tenor, plectrum, solid
body, and bass guitar; dulcimer; lute; vihuela; vielle; rebec;
viola da gamba; hammered dulcimer; plucked and bowed psaltry;
banjo; mandolin, Renaissance and Irish cittern; and requinto.'
[Source: Bernie Lehmann, email 20/3/2008] |
|
Lehtela
Guitars |
1997 to present |
"I have built to the public since
1993 although the official launch date was 1997 with the
inception of LA Guitar Factory which I still operate. It
functions as home to Lehtela Guitar Craft ( custom guitars and
luthiery school) as well as a guitar repair center where I
employ a small staff of apprentices.
2) The guitars are all built at the shop mentioned above in
Charlotte, North Carolina
USA. The instruments are either signed or bear my logo with an A
and an L. I market them under both my name as well as business
name Lehtela Guitar Craft.
3) All of my instruments have been serialized with first two
numbers representing the year ( 99, 02,etc.) and the the last
two numbers representing the chronological succession (
01,02...). In some years the year will follow the numbered
succession, so this part has not always been consistent."
[Source: Ari Lehtela, email 4/4/2008" |
|
Levin
 |
1900-1977 |
Check out Johan Eliasson's Levin
Resource page
Levin guitar
catalogs:
http://goyaguitars.tripod.com/levin_catalogs.htm
serial numbers:
http://www.whitetreeaz.com/vintage/goya.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Levin
Image courtesy
of Johan Eliasson:
see
Goya |
|
Bill Lewis
Guitars |
? to 1978 |
There is very little on Bill Lewis Guitars on the web. Best I
can find is that he sold one to David Gilmour in 1970 and that
in 1978 the inventory and mailing list of Bill Lewis' company,
Lewis Luthier Supplies of Vancouver, Canada was sold to group
now trading as Allied Lutherie [Source:
Allied
Lutherie ]
http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=89
http://www.raincoast.bc.ca/lewisguitar.htm |
|
Michael Lewis Guitars |
1981 to present |
"I keep a information sheet for
each instrument I make, which includes the date started and date
finished. Other than that some of my instruments have the date
written on the label, but not all of them. The D'Angelico series
I make 5 digit serial numbers stamped near the center of the
back on the inside. For specific information just notify me and
I will do my best to supply the information.
I started making instruments in 1981 (banjos and mandolins) and
doing repair work. In 1993 I was invited to make a replica
D'Angelico guitar for the GHS String Co., to be exhibited at the
NAMM show in January of 1994. I had been making flat top steel
string guitars previously, but stopped making them in 2000 to
focus on the carved plate instruments. For the guitars I have
focused mostly on the D'Angelico archtops as well as absorbing
elements from Gibson and Epiphone repair work I have done over
the years. For the mandolins I have focused on the Lloyd Loar
signed Gibson F models, D'Angelico mandolins, and instruments
from other modern makers." [Source: Michael Lewis, email
23/3/2008] |
|
Liberty Guitars |
1987 to present |
Resophonic
guitars, New
Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA |
|
Liddy Guitars |
|
John Liddy, Mt Barker, South
Australia |
|
Lindberg
? Lindbergh |
|
Lindberg
jazzbox
http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina5.html
see Hoyer |
|
Lindert
 |
1986 - 2002 |
Established by Charles Lindert in
1986, producing hand made guitars out of Chelan Falls in
Washington. Production moved to Korea in the early 2000s, and
the company shut down in 2002. [Source:
Wikipedia]
According to the Lindert website
on the internet archive 2002 " Lindert Guitars started out as
one-off custom made instruments for discriminating musicians.
These musicians didn't like what
they found in the "Big Two" line up and all the resulting
knockoffs, so we built what they were looking for.
A unique kind of guitar that
played like a dream and just oozed tone, tone, tone. The result
of this real-world R&D? Lindert Guitars."
Images from internet archive:
Lindert catalog
http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_american_lindert.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Lindert |
|
James Lister |
|
Sheffield,
England |
|
Little Guitar Works |
|
Jerome Little, |
|
Lo Bue Guitars |
1968-1985 |
"The guitars made by Charles LoBue
were made between the years of 1968 and 1985 when he passed
away. His associates, Ralph Novak (Novax Guitars), Woody Phifer
(Phifer Designs), and Larry DiMarzio (Dimarzio Pickups) carry on
the tradition. I can pretty much tell from just looking at the
guitars by styling when they were made. They will often have a
date stamped into the fretboard at the highest fret." [Source:
Barry at lobueguitars.com, email 29/3/2008]
http://lobueguitars.com/ |
|
Loef Guitars |
2000 to present |
Olav Löf, started making "Loef"
guitars in the early 2000. But I started making guitars in
1978.
Loef Guitars are made in Pedersore in Finland.
2000 - 2004 the guitars
were dated date-month-year-nr.
From 2004 every single guitar has its own name."
[Source: Olav Löf,
email 16/8/2008 ] |
|
Lombardi |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Lootnick Guitars |
200 to present |
We started in 2000 and the idea is
to do only custom guitars so every single guitar is different
and its push for quality not quantity. At the moment we don't
mark our guitars using any coding systems." [Source: Lootnick,
email 30/3/2008] |
|
Long Guitars |
1996 to present |
"The
first Long Guitar was made in 1996. Long
Guitars is located in Waterloo, Iowa, USA, and has been the
source of many unique and one-of-a-kind heirloom instruments.
The guitars are built one at a time by luthier Bob Long. The
guitars often feature rare and exotic materials including wood
from unusual sources such as old pianos, wood reclaimed from old
barns and houses, and "sinker wood". Long builds several models
of acoustic, steel string guitars and an acoustic bass guitar.
Long guitars each
have a serial number written inside the guitar. Also written
inside the guitars is the date that their tops went on."
[Source:
Bob Long,
email 1/8/2008 ]
Image courtesy
of Bob Long:
 |
|
Marcelino
Lopez |
1947 to
present |
Established his own workshop in
Madrid in 1947
http://www.zavaletas-guitarras.com/files/lopez.htm
Image:
Kent Guitar Classics
see Hernandez y Aguado |
|
Rafael
Lopez |
1985 to present |
"The first
guitar was in 1985. All are numbered, dated and signed. In the
first period, beside the serial number is the letter A or B. A
indicates first quality, with all solid woods; B indicates
second quality, with plywood. For some years now, this is no
longer the case, as there are only first quality guitars, so
there is no letter. I teach how to construct
guitars: see
http://www.rafaellopezehijo.com/cursos.htm. Also I am
moderator of the forum
http://guitarra.artelinkado.com/index.php" [Source: Rafael, email 6/4/2008] |
|
Augustino LoPrinzi |
1972 to
present |
The
LoPrinzi Guitar Company was founded in
New Jersey in 1972. Maark Corporation
(a subsidiary of AMF) acquired a controlling
interest in 1973. By 1976 LoPrinzi Guitars,
Inc. was producing 80 guitars a month for customers in five
countries. Concerned about mass
production, Augustino sold his interest to Maark
Corporation.
Refusing to sign a "non-compete" clause with
Maark, he opened "Augustino Guitars" two weeks later—and
literally moved next door to his original plant,
producing guitars until 1978 when he moved "Augustino Guitars" to Florida
and continued making guitars under that brand.
The AMF-owned LoPrinzi company
produced guitars until 1980.
Augustino eventually had his trademark
returned by AMF/Maark Corporation
around 1990.
Guitars and ukuleles are currently made by Augustino Lo Prinzi
and daughter Donna in
Clearwater, Florida.
[Source:
LoPrinzi ]
Dating Lo
Prinzi Guitars
"If
the label says made in Plainsboro, NJ. or any serial # in the
high 3000's-4000's with a NJ label would have been during the
AMF period which would have been between 1975-1980 and we do not
have the records for that time period. All others would go by
serial # and we keep records of when an instrument was built.
They would have to contact us with serial # and we could check
records to see when built." [Source:
Augustino Lo Prinzi, email 29/7/2008 ] |
|
Loreto |
|
Italy, more
info needed
 |
|
Loriente |
|
Image courtesy of
Guitar Salon:
 |
|
Luciano
Lovadina |
1980 to
present |
Treviso, Italy
Image
Lovadina:
 |
|
Lowden
 |
1976 to present |
http://www.georgelowden.com/ site under maintenance late Jan
2006. A cached page contained the following:
“We know from the frequent requests we receive for the history
of individual instruments, either from their latest owners or
those considering a vintage purchase, that this service will be
most welcomed… and, that it will also provide increased security
of authenticity. We are presently compiling a historical website
|
