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L-L'B |
made |
info
updated 20/12/2011 |
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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 are at Harmony Central
Image
RWK
Images below and left La Baye 21st
Century 2 by 4 ebay.
see
Holman |
Lace
 |
1979 to present |
Famous for pickps they originally
built in Huntington California to around 2005. Now an importer.
Introduced the Helix in 2000. [Source:
Harmony-Central]
Reviews are at Harmony Central
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Lacey
 |
1974 to present |
Mark Lacey,
archtops and acoustics, Nashville.
Dating Lacey
Guitars
http://www.laceyguitars.com/serial_numbers.htm
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La Croix
 |
2002 to present |
Started making in "2002.
Dating
LaCroix guitars 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] |
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Lado
 |
1973 to present |
Joe Kovacic, Lindsay, Ontario
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lado_Guitars
Reviews are at Harmony Central
Image Kijiji
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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
Reviews are at Harmony Central
Images eBay:
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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]
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|
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 are at Harmony Central
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|
M Laghus |
|
M Laghus custom
bass. Made in Brazil |
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Lake |
|
http://tix.gozaru.jp/other.html |
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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:
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Lakewood
 |
1986 to present |
Martin Seeliger steel and nylon
string guitars,
Giessen, Germany.
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/lakewood.html
Lakewood Pricelist 2007 (Ireland)
Reviews are at Harmony Central
Images eBay:
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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.
Dating Lakland bass guitars
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?
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Lambert |
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.
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Lame Horse |
|
see J for Jenkins
(Chris) Guitars |
|
Instruments Lamour |
2002 to present |
Made since "2002, on the Cote
d'Azure France.
Dating
Instruments Lamour guitars
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 ] |
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Lancer
 |
|
Lancer brand guitar - found on
ebay. Made in Germany.
The label reads Lancer Finest
Quality and Craftsmanship Model No. blank Serial No.2947 made in
W. Germany
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Landola |
1942 to present |
http://www.landola.fi/dating_your_guitar.html
http://www.landolaguitars.co.uk/datinglandola.htm
Landola Guitar
Brochures
Reviews are at Harmony Central |
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Landric
 |
|
Landric Custom Guitars - made in
the USA
Interview with luthier Rick Land |
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Lane Poor
 |
-2000 |
A very rare
bass, made by famous pickup-designer, Lane Poor. These basses
were made in very small numbers in Lane Poor's shop in Fall
River, Mass. in the early 1990's. Features
a headless design with the tuners being at the bottom of the
bass. The volume knob is a cylinder that you roll with your
fingers to adjust volume. The frets on this bass are very
unique, using Lane's "step fret" design, which has somewhat of a
"scalloped" layout. Each fret is actually made of a special
epoxy that is 5-times harder than standard nickel / metal frets,
and it was said that these frets will "never wear down". A very
unique design, and a very rare bass. At the time, these basses
were used, and endorsed by bassists Jack Cassidy of Jefferson
Airplane, and Allen Woody of the Allman Brothers. Case is
included, which is actually a rifle-case, retro-fitted to hold
the Minima bass. [Source and images eBay]
The Lane Poor
Music Company ceased operation in the year 2000
Reviews
|
|
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]
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|
Langdon |
1997 to present |
Luthier Jeff
Langdon specializes in using woods from recycled, and
salvage sources, and water born finishes in
Eureka, California, USA |
|
Langejans
 |
1971 to present |
Delwyn Langejans, Holland,
Michigan, USA
Dating Langejans guitars
Date of manufacture on label inside sound hole
Early versions such as this
1974 headstock have a DELS logo on the headtock
http://www.langejansguitars.com/about_del.htm
Reviews are at Harmony Centrals
Images courtesy
Stirling Guitars,
eBay:
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|
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.
Dating Langenbacher guitars
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 |
|
Lanzi
Luthier |
1960s - |
San Juan, Argentina. Founded
by Alfredo Lanzi as a hobby by the father of Gabriel (the
current luthier) in the 1960s |
|
LaPatrie
 |
1980s to
present |
Classical guitars founded by
Robert Godin.
La Patrie
dating and serial numbers same as Godin.
Reviews are at Harmony Central
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 .
Dating Joel Laplane guitars
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 ] |
|
Lapstick |
|
Travel guitars.
The Lapstick is managed by TONE ENGINEERING ENTERPRISE, located
in Singapore because of it’s excellent transport links and
business friendly environment. |
|
Paul Larait |
|
Paul Larait, French luthier
Biography
 |
|
Lark
 |
|
Made in Japan
- copies of American classic electric guitars
Reviews are at Harmony Central
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.
Dating
Chris Larkin guitars
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
http://vintageguitarpro.com/lar.shtml
http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=22267
Reviews are at Harmony Central
Larivee
Forum
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/
Image
Folkway Music:, eBay, 1981 Larivee electric guitar courtesy of Ben
van Dyk, Canada
 |
|
Larson
|
late 1890s to
1944 |
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 are at Harmony Central
Images Laskin
web:
 |
|
Laughlin Guitars |
|
Bob Laughlin, Vancouver, Canada
 |
|
Launhardt |
|
http://www.archtop-germany.de/-Hersteller/-Launhardt/body_-launhardt.html |
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Lauren
 |
|
Images Lauren guitar from eBay:
 |
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Bill Lawrence |
|
Dating Bill
Lawrence Guitars
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/blawrenc.html
Bill
Lawrence Catalog 1965
Reviews are at Harmony Central |
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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.
Dating Kenneth Lawrence guitars
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 are at Harmony Central |
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Michael F Lazar
 |
1981 to present |
St Albert, Alberta Canada.
Dating
Michael F Lazar guitars
"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:
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Lazy Dog Guitars |
|
Andy Zimmerman, La Jolla,
California, USA |
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L'Benito |
|
L'Benito guitars Made in Chile. 3,000-year-old Alerce wood
tops from the Chilean mountains
Reviews are at Harmony Central
 |
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L-L'B |
Le-Li |
Ll- |
|
L
continued |
