M-Mar 

made

Mas-MD | Me-MJ | Mo-     updated 9/3/2010

M&M Merchandisers

"We have several brands of guitars:

Kona Guitars - Started in 2001 - our main line of guitars - Acoustics and electrics.

Trinity River Guitars - 2003 - named after the Trinity River that runs through Fort Worth and near our headquarters here in Ft. Worth. High quality acoustic guitars.

Main Street Guitars - 2008 - The original address that our founders 1st store was on Main street.

Barraza - 2007 - Named after a family member - nice instruments

GP Percussion - 2001 - drums

ZZ Ryder Guitars - 2003 - Higher quality electric guitars, suspended production in late 2008; may be back in the future.

All guitars are made in China as of 2008 and are imported to Fort Worth where they are each gone over and QCed and set-up. Some are completely rebuilt with fret levels, etc. Guitars can be made here in Fort Worth at request, but very few have been made in the USA; very high quality guitars; may see more in the future.

Guitar Dating

Our serial number has the date made in it: K0612t0516 - this one was built in the 12th month of 2006." [Source: Mark W. Jabben, M&M Merchandisers, Inc, email 6/1/2009]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selmer-Maccaferri_guitar

http://www.hotclub.co.uk/html/charle.html

http://www.grouseguitars.com.au/sold/maccaferri.htm

see Selmer

Images Maccaferri G30 guitar eBay

MacCubbin

2002 to present

MacCubbin Guitars - David MacCubbin, Baltimore, Maryland

"I started building in 2002. All of my guitars have a label inside the soundhole, with the model number and date. Each guitar is also signed and dated on the inside of the soundboard, either down at the lower bout bass side, or the upper bout bass side. I have been through several versions of labels and have included photos of them with this message. 

I have studied with Bill Cumpiano and Ervin Somogyi. I build a number of different sizes and body styles, including OM styles and dreadnoughts, using various tonewoods, and with various scale lengths and nut widths." [Source and images courtesy of  David MacCubbin, email 6/11/2008]

Madeira

1970s-80s

Madeira Guitars used to be Guild's import brand. They were first made in Japan with USA parts then were made in Korea with USA parts by Samick. (which also still makes Sigma for Martin, Epiphone for Gibson, and Squire for Fender but not with USA parts anymore). The letters in the model numbers do mean R=rosewood, M=mahogony, S=spruce, H-herringbone, and A=abalone altho the abalone was fake [Source: Guitarsite]

1972 Madeira Guitars advertisement

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

Images eBay:

Andrew Maer

current

Andrew  C  Maer of Alhaurin de la Torre near Malaga

Image Kent Guitar Classics:

Maestro Guitars

Singapore

"All our Serial numbers include the year of manufacture: For example guitars made in year 2007 have the serial number: 2007-XXXX and guitars made in year 2008 have the serial number: 2008-XXXX

Pre 2005 Maestro Guitars starts with APXXXXXX AP = Alpha Production [ Source: HOZEN, Maestro Guitars, email 18/3/2008]

Maestro by Gibson

Magic

by Venlonia

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

Lord Bizarre examples

Magnatone

1937-1971

Founded as Dickerson Brothers in Los Angeles. Known as Magna Electronics from 1947. In 1959 Magna and Este merged and in 1966 relocated to Pennsylvania.  1971 brand taken over by toy company. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide ]

Rise and fall of Magnatone article

http://www.well.com/~wellvis/gitinfo.html#magnatone

Magnatone (Bigsby) Mark III http://www.myrareguitars.com/emagnatonemarkiii.html

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

Image 1960s Magnatone Typhoon eBay:

Magneto

2009 - present

"Our workshop is in Matsumoto, Japan
Dating Magneto guitars

Serial start with 000001 and Magneto Guitars started in 2009 so it is simple so far. There will be a book with the serials.
Serials are stamped on the back of the headstock up until now. [Source: Christian Hatstatt, www.magnetoguitars.com email 28/1/2010]

Magn-o-tone

1930s

Magn-o-tone was made by both Regal and Dobro. [Source:  The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians By Lorene Ruymar ]

Magnum Opus

current

Handcrafted guitars from Marina del Ray, California, USA

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

Image eBay.

Mai Kai

1940s

Built in Los Angeles by Shireson Borthers in the 1940s. [Source: Uke Database]

Maier

1960s

Maier guitars. Made in Japan 1960s.

Reviews Maier Guitar Reviews- Harmony Central® - User Reviews

Images eBay:

Maingard

current

South Africa

Main Street Guitars

2008 to present.

A brand of M&M Merchandising. Fort Worth, Texas. Made in China.

Main Street Guitars - 2008 - The original address that our founders 1st store was on Main street.

Dating Main Street Guitars

Our serial number has the date made in it: K0612t0516 - this one was built in the 12th month of 2006." [Source: Mark W. Jabben, M&M Merchandisers, Inc, email 6/1/2009]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Main+Street

see M&M Merchandisers

Maison

Korean

Maison catalogs

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

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

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Data4/Maison/

Images eBay:

Maize Guitars

1992 to present

Premium grade acoustic guitars and basses made in Cave Junction, Oregon.

"I began manufacturing guitars in 1992. The label visible through the soundhole has a year and number such as 96-03, which would have been the third guitar built in 1996." [Source: Dave, Maize Guitars email 24/3/2008]

Majesty

2000 to present

Brand established by Yasuke Kawakami in Japan 2000. Ukeleles made until 2002, when he migrated to Canada and now makes guitars under his own name. [Source: Y Kawakami ]

see Y Kawakami

Mako

1985-1989

Quite a theory on the origin of this make. [Source: Guitar site ] According to Vintage Guitar Price Guide - a budget line by Kaman.

Mako catalogs

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

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

Image JC Guitars

Malapanis

current

Thomas Malapanis,

Image Fine and Rare Guitars:

Malden guitars

2002 to present

" We started in 2002. - First series had no serial numbering system. Afterwards we used first two digits/year, second two digits/month, and last four digits/serial number. Serial number are written on headstocks." [ Source: Victor, malden guitars, email 18/3/2008]

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

Images eBay:

Pedro Maldonado

Pedro Maldonado, Luthier, Torremolinos, Spain

Image eBay:

Stewart Male

? to 2004

Stewart Male Guitars, Lilydale Victoria, Australia, Stewart passed away Dec 2004.

He was famous for strats.

Mallia Basses

current

Custom hand made basses, Sydney, Australia

Miquel Malo

1993 to present

Miquel Malo (b 1943) , classical guitars from Mardrid, Spain.  Set up own shop in 1993. [Source: Zavaletas]

Image Trilogy Guitars:

Mandolintom

see Tom Chippindall

All of my guitars are hand-made by me and will include the company logo of an eagle's claw piercing a musical note (Freedom Indo Music) wither inlaid or hand carved on the headstock, either inlaid or hand-carved." [Source: Dumitru Manea, Manea Guitars, email 22/3/2008]

A Harmony Brand according to http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

Made by Egmond according to http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/misc/europe/cheap_lb.html

According to the Harmony Central reviews there is also a made in China Manhattan brand made in the late 1990s and 2000s - possibly the same US importer?

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

1990 to present

Mann

Dating Mann guitars

Same letter, then number serial system as Ibanez

Image eBay:

Manne Guitars

1986 to present

Dating Manne Guitars

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

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

Andy Manson Guitars

Guitars made in the UK.

Dating Andy Manson Guitars

"The serial no. is the date backwards' [Source: Guestbook Andy Manson Guitars ]

Manuel & Patterson

1990 to present

Phil Patterson & Joe Manuel designing and building guitars since 1990. Abita Springs Guitar Company LLC., Abita Springs, Louisiana, USA

Felix Manzanero

current

Felix Manzanero (b 1937). Felix Manzanero began his apprenticeship under José Ramirez II (1885-1957). After 12 years there, Felix started his own business and workshop. [Source: Zavaletas]

Image eBay:

1985 to present

Manfred Pietrzok first used the Manzanita (for the California Manzanita tree) label in 1985. In 1993 M.Pietrzok and Moritz Sattler founded Manzanita Guitars. Jörg Driesner joined in 1997.

Manzer

1974 to present

Maple Lake

2003 to present

Budget line acoustic / electric guitars imported by Wechter

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Maple+Lake

Image eBay.

Mapson

1995 to present

Luthier James L Mapson, archtops, Santa Ana, California USA

Files from internet archive

Mapson archtops pricelist 1999

Mapson archtops pricelist 2001

Mapson pricelist 2005

March compact guitars, ideal for travel, are made in Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Jean Lamarche.

"I started to commercialize the March Guitars and J-Walker brands in 2007.

You could say the guitars are manufactured in Montreal, Canada. To be exact, the final assembly and finishing is done in Beaconsfield, which is a small city in the suburb of Montreal.

As mentioned on my website, I built my first guitar - you could say it was the J-Walker ancestor - in 1981. The guitar was made out of composite material, and the tuning keys at the end of the body like on the J-Walker. The string tensioning system was quite primitive though and the guitar shape less than ergonomic. Interestingly enough the guitar had a built in battery powered amp and a speaker. It was truly intended to be a traveling guitar and I actually used it around Europe and North Africa, carrying it in my back pack.

The J-Walker are "headless", there is no headstock. The logo is on the top horn on the body.

Dating March guitars

There is a sticker with the model name and serial number is at the back of the end of the neck - what would normally be the headstock on regular guitar. The serial number has three fields, the first one being the year of manufacturing i.e. 08 means the guitar was manufactured in 2008. The serial number is also written on one of the control cavity wall.

To continue on the serial number topic, the second field a single letter serie ID (has to do with small differences in the guitar design). Serie A were the first commercial J-Walker guitars I made - 100% by hand. There 10 of these guitars around, if you ever see one in Australia let me know! " [Source: Jean Lamarche, email 9 March 2010]

Marchione Guitars

1990 to present

"I started building my guitars in New York City in 1990.

Dating Marchione Guitars

My guitars all dated the day they are prepared for lacquer and this becomes the serial number. For example, a guitar completed today would receive the serial number of 032408. Depending on the model it's written on different parts of the guitar under the lacquer and on Acoustics on the internal wood as well as the label."  [Source: Stephen Raphael Marchione, email 24/3/2008]

Marcia

1920s

Oscar Schmidt Stellas with the "Marcia" peghead stamp means they were made for distribution in Canada

Images 1925 Marcia guitar eBay:

Marco Polo

1960-1964

Japanese imports by Harry Stewart and the Marco Polo Co, Santa Ana, California, USA. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide ]

Antonio Marin Montero

presently made

Classical guitars by Antonio Marin Montero are made in Granada, Spain

Image: Guitar Salon                                                                                          Image (& headstock Classic Guitar)

Francisco (Paco) Santiago Marin

Nephew of Antonio Marin Montero.  See bio at Zavaletas

Image Danzeff:

Marina

Found this Marina brand guitar on eBay. Made by the Chuan Yin Musical Instruments Co Ltd in Taiwan.  This factory only produced guitars from 1971-1996.

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

Luigi Mariotti

Zurich, Switzerland

Image Mariotti:

Dean Markley

1984-?

Dean Markley offered some guitars from 1984

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Dean+Markley

1990 to present

"I started to built basses 1990.
On headstock we sign the serial Nr on each instrument.
So you can contact us and ask for date of manufacture. [Source: Gerald, Marleaux Bass Guitars, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany, email 26/3/2008]

"Start date: The beginning manufacture date is hard to pinpoint. Mike Marler made his first electric guitar out of a toilet seat as a joke around 1977.
Approximately 1985 he started to get serious about making acoustic guitars and started numbering some of his guitars. He began accumulating so many around his house he started giving them away to his friends as he did not feel they were worthy of sale to the public.

At Ser. #25 (made in 1999 - which I own) he decided to go public. He started selling his work in 2000.
End Date: May 2005 upon Mike passing away.

All Marler guitars were made in Portales, NM where Mike lived his entire life. They were made at his home at first on his kitchen table and later in the shop that he built.

Most of his guitars were dated on an interior tag.
There really is no such thing as a used Marler. People just don't sell them and if they did the price would be astronomical. The last one sold was a demo unit that was out on consignment when Mike passed away.

Ironically that went to a man in Australia that paid $4000.00 and flew here to get it. One owner that had multiple Marler's traded another Marler owner.
Those are the only movements I know of.

I maintain a registry of Marler's here:
http://marlerguitars.com/new/dox/guild/registry.htm

Info the the numbering sequence and early days are here:
http://marlerguitars.com/new/dox/guild/intro.htm

[Source: Mike Davidson, webmaster, marlerguitars.com, email 4/4/2008]

Marlow Guitars

"I've been making guitars for over 22 years now." [Source: John Marlow, email 30/3/2008]

Marma

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

http://www.meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/marma2.html

Marquis

?1960s

Marquis brand guitar ? made by Teisco.

Images eBay:

1995 to present

 Manufactured since " 1995. Made in the town of Boston in Lincolnshire, England.
The date is on the label inside the guitar.
The date and signature of the maker is also written with pencil inside the upper bout of the top table of the guitar. (Can be seen with a mirror)

Each guitar is named individually with a female name written on the T-shirt of the cartoon (copyright) on the guitar label.  Coding system is:
ie C626: C = classical, 6 = 6 strings, 26= 26th guitar made.
F626: F = flamenco, 626 is as above.
DSC626: DSC = double skin concert, 626 is as above.
DST626: DST = double skin Torres, 626 is as above. " [Source: Earl S Marsh, email 17/4/2008]

Alan Marshall

see Northworthy

John Marshall

1993 to present

Custom guitars, USA

Martelle

1934

Made by Gibson for a Mid-West distributor in 1934. After 1934, the Martelle brand continued to be produced by Regal of Chicago. [Source and image: Buffalo Brothers]

1976 to present

http://www.wulfin-lieske.de/english/nav6_media_recordings.html

CF Martin

1839 to present

Important dates for CF Martin guitars [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

1833 Christian Frederick Martin opens music store in Hudson St, New York.  Some instruments are made.

1839 Martin moved to Nazareth, PA to take up full time guitar making.  Labels and stamps continued to say "New York" until 1898.

Unlike most guitar manufacturers CF Martin remains in family hands.

CF Martin guitar serial numbers and  dating info

TRY THIS ONE FIRST: http://www.guitardating.com/martin.php

http://martinguitar.com/history/dating.html

If you have a Martin that does not have a serial number and was manufactured prior to 1898, it may only be identifiable by measurements, appointments and stampings. Contact Martin direct – photos will help

http://www.musictrader.com/martguit.html

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/martin.html

Martin guitar catalogs

1898-1983 Vintage CF Martin Guitar catalogs

1941 http://www.maestroantonioplectro.com/vintage_martin_guitar_catalogs.htm

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

2002-present http://www.martinguitar.com/catalog/

Martin reference books at Amazon

C. F. Martin and His Guitars, 1796-1873 (H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman Series)

Martin Guitars A Technical Reference Revised and Updated Book 2

Martin Guitars: Illustrated History

Martin Guitars A History Revised and Updated Book 1

Martin Guitars: An Illustrated Celebration of America's Premier Guitarmaker

Martin Guitar Book (Softcover)

Martin Guitar Masterpieces: A Showcase of Artists' Editions, Limited Editions, and Custom Guitars

C. F. Martin & Co.: Guitars Mandolins Ukuleles

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

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Martin

The unofficial Martin forum http://p082.ezboard.com/btheunofficialmartinguitarforum

Image Dearmond made  1966 Martin GT-75 Archtop electric guitar eBay. These guitars were only built for a very short period of time (1966-1968)

Chris Martin

current

Handmade guitars, Avoca Beach, New South Wales, Australia

Image courtesy of Marco. This guitar serial number 10 was completed 2005:

Joaquin Martinez

Paracho, Mexico

Image eBay:

Marty Guitars

1982 to present

Simon Marty, Woodburn, New South Wales,  Australia

Image: Trilogy Guitars:

Maruha

1960s-1970s

Japanese acoustic guitars and ukuleles Made in Japan between the 1950's-1980's by the Gakki Seizo Company. [Source: Tiki King]

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

Marvel

1950s-1970s

Budget guitars marketed by Peter Sorkin Company, New York, USA [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide] Some made in Japan possibly USA also.

Harmony http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php?id_brand=22

The Marvel

Image eBay label reads "The Marvel" Howard W. Foote and Co. Chicago

:

Marveltone

1920s? -

Marveltone was a brand of Chicago based distributor, Targ & Dinner.  Based on examples on the interweb Marveltone guitars were made in USA in 1920s through to Japan later on.

Images eBay, GBase:

Andres D. Marvi

current at 2010

Andres D Marvi guitars are made in Granada, Spain.

Andrés D. Marvi, born in 1956 in Germany, devoted himself to designing his traditional handmade guitars with the aim of creating his own sounds. In 1984 till 1992, Marvi took part in guitar courses guided by José Luis Romanillos. Soon his talent as a craftsman was confirmed as well as his manual dexterity and capability. Since 1988, Andrés Marvi is living in a small Spanish village near Granada where he currently is making his instruments.

In 2003 during a master class in Munich, Flamenco phenomenon Gerardo Núñez first saw and played a Marvi guitar. The admiration and astonishment of Gerardo towards its sound and easiness when played, were so obvious to him that he now owns a Marvi blanca and a Marvi negra.

Gerardo Núñez used his Marvi guitars on his newest CD as well as his well known instructional DVD "La Guitarra Flamenca" by Encuentro, please have a look at our production pages. Other top players like Aniello Desiderio, Goran Krivokapic, Graham Anthony Devine… all play and record with these amazing instruments. Led by his goal of creating his own sound, Marvi was able to blend the influences of several building styles into a thoroughly modern version of the Spanish Guitar, resulting in a very exceptional, differing and personal construction setup: the sides are doubled for strength, the elevated fingerboard makes it very easy to play, his necks go all the way to the sound hole. Marvi’s personal setup not only adds strength, but also improves sustain, timbre and responsiveness. [Source: Geert Doumen, email 12/2009 La Sonata

Images courtesy of Classic Guitar:

A Harmony Brand

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