L-Li Lo-

made

info    updated 12/2/2010

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 ] 45 prototypes made, displayed at NAMM - no orders so folded. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

http://www.rwkguitars.com/FactsLaBaye.htm

http://www.wurlitzerguitars.com/files/holmanguitars.pdf

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

Image RWK

 see Holman

Famous for pickps they originally built in Huntington California to around 2005. Now an importer. Introduced the Helix in 2000. [Source: Harmony-Central]
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Lace

Lacey

1974 to present

Mark Lacey, archtops and acoustics, Nashville.

Dating Lacey Guitars

http://www.laceyguitars.com/serial_numbers.htm

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

Joe Kovacic, Lindsay, Ontario

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

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

Image Kijiji

Lafayette

1963-1967

Japanese guitars made by Guyatone and possibly Teisco. Distributed in US through Lafayette Electronics catalogs. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Lafayette catalogs

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

Review http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Guyatone/Lafayette/10/1

Images eBay:

Guitares la Fee

2005 to present

Selmer style, solid body, classical and flat top guitars made in Vauréal, France.

"The first guitars on this brand are from 2005 year, but it was really a starting guitar, and we had to wait until 06/2008 to be official as we were waiting for a good workshop. 

We are in the val d'oise department (Vauréal) in France, it's at half an hour from Paris by car by north-west.

Dating la Fee guitars

Usually we put the month and year on the soundboard inside, and on our label the two first numbers of serial number is the year, actually we are changing of form of label, but this number still the same.

We are two guitar makers, and have learnt together in the Newark guitar making school.

There are some additional pics on http://www.flickr.com/photos/lafeeguitars/ " [Source: Vincent and Jonathan Guitares la Fée, email 27/3/2009]

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

Lakeside

1905-1920s

Lakeside guitars first appeared around 1910. Lakeside was one of many brands marketed by Lyon and Healy of Chicago. [Source and more at: Acoustic Guitar]. From 1905 according to Mugwumps.

Image Guitar Seminars:

Lakewood

1986 to present

Martin Seeliger steel and nylon string guitars, Giessen, Germany.

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

Lakewood Pricelist 2007 (Ireland)

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

Images eBay:

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]

La Mancha

1996 to present

Mexican made guitars under supervision of Kenny Hill and Gil Karnal distributed by Jerry Roberts, Nashville [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

http://www.hillguitar.com/scripts/frameit.cgi?/website/news/articles/designing_the_future.html

Image eBay: Note this la mancha guitar appears to be made in Spain - not Mexico. ? different La Mancha brand?

1700s

Image and information eBay:

This guitar is made in Paris by the Lambert Family. The founder (Jean Nicolas Lambert) made guitars until his death in 1759. After his death his widow with seven children took over the workshop, becoming a guitar maker and aided by her nephew continued making guitars until 1790. This guitar judging from the style of the bridge ornaments (the pin bridge is a 19th century modification) was probably built between 1770 and 1785.

The inside label reads

LAMBERT

a PARIS

Nr. 17504

There is mother of pearl and ebony binding and rosette. There is an ebony bridge and ivory pins. The top is unvarnished spruce. The back and sides are rosewood and mahogany.

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

1949-1975

Artur Lang (1909-1975) was famous for archtops. Acoustics also. Most unbranded but some have L.A. on headstock.

http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/lang.html

http://www.lang-gitarren.de/

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

Langcaster

1999 to present

Langcaster guitars are since 1999 handcrafted in Auckland, New Zealand by Joh Lang and 2 associates. Although the body resembles a Stratocaster it is a totally different beast, loaded with numerous innovations and inventions. The body is made of 35000 prehistoric Swamp Kauri wood, which is only found in New Zealand with a wonderful and exotic grain; every guitar body is different. The neck is made of hard rock maple, topped by an ebony fret board and has an all original head stock based on old Maori patterns. It’s provided with a logo, truss rod cover and tuner tops made of New Zealand Paua shell. The hardware: locking tuners, tailpiece and strap locks are made by Schaller.

The electronics of the Langcaster guitars are also unique. These are equipped with 2 or 3 Ultra Lo® pickups, designed and built by Langcaster. With 100 Ohms these are real low impedance and have the following advantages: unsurpassed wide frequency range, high output, absolutely noise free even with cable lengths of 60 metre. The neck pickup has 8 pole pieces to avoid sound losses with heavy string bending. The output of the pickups is so high that a buffer amp was needed. Langcaster has combined this buffer amp with its Ultra-Drive® system, which delivers a warm tube like overdrive, which is operated by a switch and an intensity control.

Langcaster require special manufacturing techniques because the Swamp Kauri wood is very difficult to craft. Therefore the output of Langcaster Inc. is limited to appr. 50 guitars per year. Upon request Swamp Kauri 4 and 5 string bass guitars are also available.

Dating Lancaster guitars

The date of manufacturing is penciled onto to the inner side of the control cavity lid and the serial number is carved at the back of the head stock. [Source: Cees Bakker, emails July 2009]

Langejans

1971 to present

Delwyn Langejans, Holland, Michigan, USA

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

Images courtesy Stirling Guitars, eBay:

"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]

Paul Languedoc

2006 to present

Paul Languedoc at wikipedia

Paul Languedoc interview

LaPatrie

1980s to present

Classical guitars founded by Robert Godin.

La Patire dating and serial numbers same as Godin.

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 ]

Lark

Made in Japan - copies of American classic electric guitars

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

Also a brand of mandolin, tenor guitar - probably of earlier origin made in USA

Image courtesy of Lowell Levinger , Players Vintage Instruments

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

1968 to present

Founded by Jean Larrivee. Guitars are made in Vancouver Canada, and since 2001 Oxnard, California [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide]

Dating Larrivee guitars

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/

Image Folkway Music:, eBay

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/

Larson guitar reference books

The Larsons Creations, Guitars and Mandolins

Guitars and mandolins in America: Featuring the Larsons' creations

see Euphonon, Stetson, Maurer, Prairie State

La Scala

1920s-1930s

La Scala" was the brand name that Oscar Schmidt customarily reserved primarily for their "deluxe' line of instruments. [Source and image: Stella Guitars]

Laskin Guitars

1973 to present

William "Grit" Laskin builds uber quality (with lots of engraved inlay) acoustic, classical and flamenco in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dating Laskin Guitars

"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

Images Laskin web:

Laughlin Guitars

Vancouver, Canada

Launhardt

http://www.archtop-germany.de/-Hersteller/-Launhardt/body_-launhardt.html

Lauren

Images Lauren guitar from eBay:

Bill Lawrence

Dating Bill Lawrence Guitars

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

Bill Lawrence Catalog 1965

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Bill+Lawrence

Kenneth Lawrence

1981 to present

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/

Lazarides

current

Vassilis Lazarides (b April 10th 1963) makes guitars in Athens, Greece

Image eBay:

Lazy Dog Guitars

Andy Zimmerman, La Jolla, California, USA

L'Benito

L'Benito guitars Made in Chile. 3,000-year-old Alerce wood tops from the Chilean mountains

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/L+Benito

HG Leach

1980 to present

Harvey Leach, Cedar Ridge, California

http://www.guitarsessions.com/nov06/guitar_maker.asp

Richard Leach Guitars

Leban

1960s

Leban Imports of Maryland, Baltimore imported musical instruments including Cyclone brand guitars from Japan. Included copies of Vox Phantom, Made in Japan.

Lebeda

1978 to present

Luthier Jiri Lebeda of the Czech Republic.

Leduc

1978 to present

LEDUC GUITAR, made since 1978.
Guitars and basses, mostly electrics, life time guaranteed, hand made in Boulange, France.
Some famous users as Abraham Laboriel, Marcus Miller, Ritchie Blackmore, Frederic Monino, Andre Manga ...
International patent in 1991 for the free-floating soundboard as featured on the U-guitars and U-basses.
Maximum production of a thousand instruments a year during the eighties.
Since 2004 Christophe is working alone, on high-end custom electrics and acoustics.
Other info.
The free-floating sound table :

The process of the "free-floating" sound table and its special asymmetrical bridge has been patented in 1991. The table "manages" energy applied on the strings, limits buzzes, increases the sustain when one needs some. The table acts as an expander that develops subtleties of playing.

The bridge is supported by the table on its bass side and by the body on the treble side. The more the string is on the bass side, the stronger is the interaction with the table. The more the string is on the treble side, the more it has sustain. It gives an incredible equality of tone in the whole register.

[Source: Christophe Leduc, email 11/9/2009]

Hugues Lefort

St-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec, Canada

Legato Lutherie

Jeremy Anderson, builds in Howard Lake, Minnesota, USA

Images of Legato #15 built in 2006 courtesy of lofapco, Acoustic Guitar Forum 2008

Legend Guitars

1988 to present

Lehmann

1971 to present

Bernard Lehmann, Lehmann Stringed Instruments. Rochester, New York, USA

"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]

Bernie Lehmann's blog

Image Lehmann web.

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"

Leilani

1940s-50s

Leilani lap steel guitars were made by Gourley of Hollywood Cal. which was also made by Dickerson/Magnatone. It is from the 1940s or '50s. It is all original and covered in purple pearloid (mother of toilet seat). It has the "concealed" pickup like other Dickerson and Magnatone models and a volume control. [Source and images courtesy of Mark Kesterson 4/09]

First guitar has an early serial number 101 on side of headstock - suggests late 1940s.

Leland

? made by Larson

Image Larson Brothers:

Lentz

1975 to present

Scott Lentz, San Marcos California, USA

"On all early guitars the name Lentz is in blue. Around 2002 we changed to silver. I have made S style guitars since the early 80's, some with Jackson heads, some with slab boards. All the guitars produced from 98, have the maple radiused and fret board glued over i.e. (lam neck)... Early guitars have the zinc block later have the steel block. Hardware was from Gotoh with some machines being Kluson. Every guitar I made, the neck was sent to the buyer for approval and the name of the buyer and date was either printed on the heel or later the bottom. The later guitars have the tone circuit using .01 cap on the neck and middle on the first tone pot and.022 on the rear tone pot" [Source: Scott Lentz, Gear Page Forum ]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Scott+Lentz

Lentz Guitar Forum

Leo Master

1930s

Guitars and banjos.

? Made by Martin and Regal?

Image courtesy Lowell Levinger , Players Vintage Instruments

Levin

1900-1977

Founded by Herman Carlson Levin, Gothenberg, Sweden.  Classical guitars, mandolins and ukuleles. made guitars for other brands including Goya from 1955 to mid 1970s. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Check out Johan Eliasson's Levin Resource page

Levin information pages Sweden

Levin guitar catalogs:

http://goyaguitars.tripod.com/levin_catalogs.htm

1940s-1957 http://www.acousticmusic.org/Instrument-Catalogs-sp-87.html

Levin guitar 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

John Le Voi Guitars

1970 to present

John Le Voi specialises in custom-built fine quality gypsy jazz guitars.  He also makes mandolin family instruments, bouzoukis, selmerzoukis

Made since "1970, John Le Voi Guitars Workshop, West St, Alford, Lincolnshire. LN13 9EZ, UK

All instruments have a label with the date of manufacture  visible through the soundhole.  I have never used a serial number system but no two  instruments have the same date.

I have specialised in Selmer type guitars since 1976 (more than 450 to date) but still make flat tops and the mandolin family instruments." [Source and image courtesy of John Le Voi, email 21/11/2008]

John Le Voi at myspace

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/John+Levoi

? 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

Liberty Guitars

1987 to present

Resophonic guitars, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA

The Liberty Guitar

1930s

By Harmony, made in Chicago

Image eBay

The soundhole label states - "The Liberty Guitar - This instrument is warranted to be made of Selected Seasoned Materials and of the Best Workmanship. Constructed to permit of being played in the Hawaiian Style".

Linc Luthier

1991 to present

Lincoln Hoke, builds basses in Upland, California since early 1990s [Source: American Basses By James H. Roberts, Jim Roberts]

"Established 1991, Upland California.  Have to call or email to verify date originally sold. Serial Number inside guitar in upper F- hole logo." [Source: Linc, email 26/11/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Linc+Luthier

Lincoln

Lincoln guitars were made in Japan late 70s or early 80s. [Source: Vintaxe]

Examples seen include copies of famous Americans (eg Les Paul, Hummingbird acoustic)

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

Lindberg

? Lindbergh

1950s

Produced by Hoyer for Lindberg Music store, Germany, [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

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

see Hoyer

Lindell

example http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1960s_Lindell_(Teisco).htm

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

Lindsay Wilson Guitars

2008 to present

Lindsay Wilson Guitars are made in the UK.

"I only started pro last Xmas 2008. I make them in North Devon in Great Britain in my workshop at the bottom of the garden and can make about six a year, all one off's made one at a time for an individual client, I don't have dating labels as yet but will...they will take the form of a metal badge on the back of the headstock with a serial number that can be traced." [Source: Howard Robinson email 27/9/2009]

Line 6

1996 to present

Modelling guitars

Lion

1960s

by Egmond

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

Example Wietse Guitars

Kim Lissarrague

1991 to present

Kim Lissarrague worked with James Cargill Guitars between 1997 and 2000 and now makes classical guitars in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney, Australia.

"I began making musical instruments at age 13 in 1991. It was in 1997 when I started using a serial number. Initially I traded with the name KRL Guitars. The serial number was then stamped on the back of the headstock. Since 2004 I have been concentrating on classical guitars and just have my name Kim Lissarrague on the label.

The serial number can now be found after the signature, on the bottom right hand corner of the soundhole label, which contains firstly the year, followed by the production number. eg  2007/84, or in some earlier cases, 05-39, where the first two numbers are the year and the second two are the production number.

My workshop is in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, Australia. I work alone, and make about twenty guitars per year." [Source: Kim Lassarrague, email 28/11/2008]

Listerud Bass

current

Custom basses made in Norway.

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

Little Guitar Works

Twisted neck bass guitars. Jerome Little,

Lo-

L continued