|
m |
manufactured |
info
updated 11/10/2008...please email
corrections/info |
|
Maccaferri |
|
http://www.lutherie.net/bckgrnd.html
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 |
|
MacCubbin |
2002 to present |
David MacCubbin,
Baltimore, Maryland |
|
Maestro Gutiars |
|
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] |
|
Magnatone |
1950s-1960s |
http://www.well.com/~wellvis/gitinfo.html#magnatone
Magnaton (Bigsby)
Mark III
http://www.myrareguitars.com/emagnatonemarkiii.html
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Magnatone |
|
Magn-o-tone |
|
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 |
|
Handcrafted guitars from Marina
del Ray, California, USA
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Magnum+Opus |
|
Maingard |
|
South Africa |
|
Maize Guitars |
1992 to present |
"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] |
|
Malapanis |
|
Thomas
Malapanis, |
|
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 |
|
Quite a theory
on the origin of this make. [Source:
Guitar site ]
Mako catalogs
http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_mako.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/MAKO |
|
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 |
|
Mallia Basses |
|
Custom hand made basses, Sydney,
Australia |
|
Mandolintom |
|
see Tom Chippindall |
|
Manea Guitars |
|
"For each acoustic guitar I hand-write the company name and date
of manufacture inside on the soundboard beneath the bridge,
toward the tailblock. They also have a label clearly visible
through the soundhole. The electric guitars have a label
underneath the neck pickup that includes the company name, date
of manufacture and a serial number.
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] |
|
Manhattan |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Manjon guitars |
1990 to present |
I have been making
guitars since 1990 in Barcelona. All my guitars, on the
label, have written a serial number. You can consult with me the
year they were build. In almost all of my guitars, in the inside
face of the soundboard, you can see written the year of
manufacture. Production is limited at maximum 10 guitars per
year." [Source: Antonio Manjon, email 8/4/2008]
 |
|
Manne Guitars |
1986 to
present |
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/manne.html
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Manne |
|
Andy Manson
Guitars |
|
Guitars made in the UK. "The
serial no. is the date backwards'
[Source:
Guestbook Andy Manson Guitars ] |
|
Manzanita |
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 |
"I started building in 1974 and have a serial number system
(stamped on the head block) that only I have a record of - so
they'd have to write me to find out when it was built." [Source:
Linda Manzer, email 21/3/2008]
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Manzer |
|
Marchione Guitars |
1990 to present |
"I started
building my guitars in New York City in 1990.
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] |
|
Antonio Marin Montero |
presently made |
Image:
Guitar Salon
 |
|
Francisco (Paco) Santiago Marin |
|
Nephew of Antonio Marin Montero.
According
Short biography
Image
Danzeff:
 |
|
Luigi
Mariotti |
|
Zurich, Switzerland
Image
Mariotti:
 |
|
Marleaux Basses |
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] |
|
Marler Guitars |
circa 1985 to 2005 |
"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 |
|
Earl S Marsh |
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 |
Bernd
Martin
|
1976 to
present |
"I have been making guitars since 1976. In the meantime my
son Lucas Martin is also making guitars. Our Instruments are all
labeled and dated, on the label and/or on a back- strut in the
interior". [Source: Bernd Martin, Sacromonte , Granada,
Spain. email 30/3/2008]
Soundfiles
http://www.wulfin-lieske.de/english/guitars/nav7_guitars_c_berndmartin.html
http://www.frankbungarten.de/guitars6.html
http://www.frankbungarten.de/cds.html
http://www.wulfin-lieske.de/english/nav6_media_recordings.html |
|
CF
Martin
 |
1839 to present |
Important dates [Source: Gruhn's Guide
to Vintage Guitars, 2nd Ed]
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 dating
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
1941
http://www.maestroantonioplectro.com/vintage_martin_guitar_catalogs.htm
http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm
2002-present
http://www.martinguitar.com/catalog/
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
|
|
Marty Guitars |
1982 to present |
Simon Marty,
Woodburn,
New South Wales,
Australia
Image:
Trilogy Guitars:
 |
|
Andres D.
Marvi |
|
Image courtesy of
Classic Guitar:
 |
|
Mason |
1930s |
Henry L Mason
brand produced by various makers including Gibson in late 1930s.
[Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, 2nd Ed]
|
|
Michihiro Matsuda |
|
Oakland , California, USA |
|
Marvel |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Marwin |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Masetti |
|
http://www.fetishguitars.com/ |
|
Master Arts |
|
A Harmony Brand
http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php |
|
Mastertone |
1920s to 1940s |
Mastertone
brand introduced by Gibson in 1920s for high end (not budget)
banjos ad guitars. 1941 used as budget brand for electrics.
[Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, 2nd Ed] |
|
Matheas Guitars |
1994 to
present |
Jim Matheas,
Melbourne, Australia |
|
Maton
 |
1946 to present |
During the early 1940's, Bill May established a custom guitar
manufacturing and repair business known as "Maton Stringed
Instruments and Repairs". This enterprise was successful and
Bill was joined by his his older brother, Reg, a wood
machinist, to join him as a full time guitar maker. In
March 1946 the "Maton Musical Instruments Company" was born.
[Source: Maton ]
Dating Maton
Guitar
"re
electrics. ..the ‘Serial Number’ for the electric guitars can be
found on the back of the headstock, can be difficult to see as
the guitar gets older. The first four numbers of a not too
old electric represent the date of manufacture, the following
numbers are where that guitar sits in the series." [source:
De'arne, Maton, email 30/1/2007]
Acoustic
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/matongtr.html
Maton
pricelists and product guides
2000 Maton pricelist
2001 Maton specs
2003-4 Maton Product
Guide
2006 Maton Product
Guide
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Maton |
|
Petr
Matousek |
|
Czech Republic
Image:
Matousek
 |
|
Matsumoku |
1950s
– 1987 |
Matsumoku began in Matsumoto,
Japan, as a family owned woodworking business. After WWII, the
Singer Corporation set up Singer Sewing Machine production in
Nagoya and contracted Matsumoku to build cabinets. In 1951
Matsumoku became a partially owned subsidiary of Singer, Japan.
By the mid 1950s, Matsumoku ventured in guitar and violin
production and set out to distinguished itself by producing high
quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars. The Matsumoku
name began appearing on neck bolt plates, headstocks, and sound
hole labels in the late 70s.
Matsumoku produced guitars, or parts of guitars for the
following brands
Guyatone, Greco, Yamaha, Aria, Univox, Westbury, Electra,
Westone, Skylark, Vantage, Westminster, Cutler, Lyle, Fell,
Washburn, Westone [Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoku ]
Some sites suggest Matsumoku was
burnt down in the 80s. According to Shiro Arai, however,
Singer’s depression brought about the plant closure in 1987.
[Source:
Paul Alcantara, Guitar Buyer,
November 2006 ]
The best starting place for people interested in Matsumoku
guitars is
http://www.matsumoku.org/guitars.html This site
includes the Matsumoku forum
Dating Matsumoku guitars
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/serial_no.html
https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Matsumoku
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Matsumuko
see
Aria Pro II, Vantage, Washburn, Westone |
|
Matsuoka
? Matzuoka |
|
Ryoji Matsuoka has been making
guitars in Japan since late 1960s see:
http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3482&hilit=matsuoka
http://orozcoguitars.blogspot.com/ |
|
Matsuda Guitars |
|
"I started to making guitars around 1997. Each guitar I make has
label inside body. And there is date, number on label. (very
early guitars may not have number on label." [Source: Michihiro
Matsuda, email, 25/3/2008]
http://www.guitarnation.com/matsudasteel1.htm
Image courtesy of
Guitar Salon:
 |
|
Mauel
Guitars
 |
|
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/mauel.html
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Mauel
|
|
Mayes |
|
John Mayes
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Mayes |
|
Max |
|
clones
http://www.star69music.com/ |
|
Maxxas |
|
http://www.ibanezregister.com/history/history-maxxas.htm
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Maxxas |
|
Mayfair |
|
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Mayfair-guitar.htm
http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_mayfair.htm
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/MAYFAIR-DELUXE.htm |
|
Maya |
|
"Maya" was a brand named used by a
Japanese Trading Company from Kobe called Rokkoman.
[Source:
EZ Folk ]
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Maya |
|
McAlister Guitars |
|
"I have been building guitars for 30 years, but my current
business was started in 1996, following my exit from the Santa
Cruz Guitar Company.
All of my guitars are dated on the label inside the box. In
addition to this, I also hand write the date and serial number,
as well as my signature, under the top (soundboard) in two
locations....on the treble side of the sound hole and behind the
bridge plate. These hand written dates and serial numbers can be
seen with the use of a small mirror. I write it twice to avoid
alteration of the numbers....the one behind the bridgeplate is
nearly impossible to get to through the soundhole, but the one
near the sound hole is for general identification and/or
clarification." [Source: Roy McAlister, email 21/3/2008]
Reviews
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/McAlister |
|
Michael McBroom |
2004 to present |
Houston, Texas
Forum
http://www.luthierforum.com/ |
|
McCollum Guitars
 |
|
Lance McCollum was a house builder before making his first
guitar from a Martin kit. Made in Colfax, California, USA
Dating
McCollum Guitars
Use mirror to check inside top of guitar for date of manufacture.
Pre 2001 Headstock logo
2001 to present
McCollum
Guitar Pricelists
|
