Map-Mar 

made

Maple Lake

2003 to present

Budget line acoustic / electric guitars imported by Wechter

Reviews are at Harmony Central

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

J Marcario

Current at 2011

J Marcario French brand - possible made in China [Source: Classical guitar Delcamp]

Image ebay

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 ]

Rafael Mardones

Guitars from Chile

Alexandru Marian

Alexandru Marian, luthier Bucharest

Antonio Marin Montero

presently made

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

Dating Antonio Marin Montero guitars

Some labels have the year of manufacture of them.  For guitars with labels that do not have a date - have a look towards the neck heel inside as per photo below.

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. There is also some discussion of Marina Bass guitars that may have been made in Korea in the 1980s. Both acoustic and electric guitars were made under the Marina brand.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Marinucci

Founded in Recanati, Italy in 1922. Active till the early 80's. Produces included accordions and electric fan assisted reed organs. ? Guitars made in 1960s. [Source: Fetish Guitars]

Image Marinucci logo from accordion on ebay Oct 2011

Marinucci Guitars

2004 to present

"My name is Mauro Marinucci.

I started making electric guitars and basses with my surname as a brand in 2004.

I live and build instruments in Rome, Italy, for international and local customers.

Actually I build circa 10 instruments per year, some are replicas and some are original in design and solutions, completely by hand on a one at time process.

Dating Marinucci guitars

On bolt on instruments I sign every body in the neck heel cavity and every neck on the heel, on neck through I sign behind the headstock under the finish: there you can find my sign and the date of completion. No serial number because each instrument is unique on its own, as for the particular stock of wood and customization.

I engrave with MOP/Abalone/wood or glue the metal casted logo on the headstock and/or at the 12th fret.

[Source and images: Mauro Marinucci, email 21/10/2011]

Luigi Mariotti

Zurich, Switzerland

Image Mariotti:

Dean Markley

1984-?

Dean Markley offered some guitars from 1984

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Marlboro

Marlboro guitars and amps. See Harmony Central for reviews

1990 to present

"I started to built basses 1990.

Dating Marleaux basses

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]

Marlique

Marlique guitars. Made in Indonesia.

Image eBay:

Marlow Guitars

Marlow guitars, Dewsbury, W. Yorks

"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:

Alessandro Marseglia

Italian luthier

1995 to present

 Manufactured since " 1995. Made in the town of Boston in Lincolnshire, England.

Dating Earl S Marsh guitars
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]

Andres Martin

Image Guitar Salon Korea

Antonio Lopez Martin

Antonio Lopez Martin guitar from 1969 Made in Spain - ebay March 2012

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.

Martin Shenandoah guitars reference site by No Picks

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 and pricelists

1898-1983 Vintage CF Martin Guitar catalogs

1918 Martin Pricelist

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

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

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

2008 martin guitar pricelist

2009 CF Martin Guitar pricelist

Martin Shenandoah catalog

2010 Martin guitar catalog

2010 Martin pricelist | 2010 Summary pricelist

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 are at Harmony Central

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)

Image courtesy of NoPicks Acoustic Guitar Forum

Chris Martin

current

Handmade guitars, Avoca Beach, New South Wales, Australia

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

Lucas Martin

Lucas Martin (b1984) , luthier Granada,

Image Guitar Salon International

Ellio Martina

Ellio Martina, more than 30 years experience as a luthier, Eefde - the Netherlands

Martinez

Australian brand.

Martinez

1978-

UK, Made in China.

Martinez Musical Instrument Ltd (MMI) is an international joint venture located in Guangzhou, China, specializing in high quality, handmade classical guitars. First established in 1978, Martinez Guitars now have almost three decades' experience of making quality instruments. Not sure if same as above.

Carlos Martinez

Not much know about this brand.  Label says Carlos Martinez Master maker of Lutes and Guitars  [Source: John,  email, 6/10/2010 ]

Joaquin Martinez

Paracho, Mexico

Image eBay:

Marty Guitars

1982 to present

Simon Marty, Woodburn, New South Wales,  Australia

Image: Trilogy Guitars:

Godefroy Maruejouls

2005-

London, UK

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]

Guitar Research Blog examples

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images left and below courtesy of Nicolas Dussart, image right Guitar Museum

Marvel

1950s-1970s

Marvel brand were budget guitars marketed by Peter Sorkin Company, New York, USA [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide] Some (earlier ones) 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

Jesus Marzal

Guitars made in Spain 1980s.

Image eBay: