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LiteKamper | Please send instrument catalog scans .pdf 

  luthiers and guitar brands  M-Mar | Mas-MD | Me-MJ | Mo-Mor | Mos-  updated 22/7/2010

Me-MJ

made

   

Mean Gene

1988-1990

30 custom guitars.

http://finetunedinstruments.com/Site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27

Mean Street Custom Guitars

1998 to present

Michael Floyd makes reasonable priced custom guitars channeling the spirit of Eddie van Halen in Pensacola, Florida USA.

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

Meazzi

Meazzi Brothers = FRAtelli MEaZzi. Meazzi was a popular label based in Milan, Italy, producing and distributing a range of instruments and drums.  Four phases of production:

Post WWII production in Sicily a Framez brand.

From around 1957 production of guitars and double basses like Framez and Meazzi, with and without Wandrè.

1962 - guitars by Panati in Stradella (PV)

1963 - 1969 Hollywood series.

After 1969 Meazzi continues to distribute entry-level acoustic guitars using Asian ? Japan manufacture. [Source: Fetish Guitars ]

Image eBay:

Megas Guitars

1989 to present

Luthier Ted Megas, date of manufacture on label inside. Portland, Oregon (formerly San Francisco).

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

Meinel & Herold

 

1893-?

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/misc_de.html

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

Image of page from 1910 Meinel & Herold logo eBay - [click thumbnail for large version]:

Melancon

 

http://www.melanconguitars.com/db_query.shtml

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Melancon+Guitars

Image courtesy of Lucidology - the Gear Page:

Melancon guitar headstock

Mello

current

John F Mello, Kensington, California, USA

http://www.johnfmello.com/interview_main.html

Melo

current

Josep Melo, luthier, Sabadell, Spain

Images eBay:

Melobar

MelOBar Smith Guitars

1967 to present

In 1967 Walt Smith, one of the original patent holders on the Steel guitar,  teamed up with Semie Mosely of Mosrite guitars to build his patented tilt-neck Melobar stand-up steel guitar. The Smith family make slide and steel guitars.  ? around 2007 Melobar was purchased by Black Canyon Guitar which specialised in selling small luthier instruments.

Images 1965 Mosrite Melobar, designed by Walt Smith and built by Semie Mosely. Serial No. 022 North Coast Guitars Australia

1965 Melobar guitar by mosrite

MeloDuende

2009 to present

The MeloDuende (Aluminium guitars) project is born in a studio/workshop into a precision engine shop, located near Dijon in Burgundy. [Source: Jeremy Sachoux et Sebastien Dreyer. MeloDuende Guitars, 6 rue Fevret. 21140 Semur en Auxoisemail, email 19/4/2010]

Dating MeloDuende guitars.

The serial number is engrave inside the body.  Example:

The serial number is M37D112009.
M =model
D= day

followed by month and year.
The first Meloduende number is M01D041996.

 

Melody  

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/melody70.html

European

Melody

 

Japan

Images eBay:

Melody brand guitar

Melody King

 

Images eBay:

Melody King guitar

Melofonic

Melofonic guitar headstock

 

Melofonic guitars - Made in USA 1930s,40s

Image eBay

Melophonic 1960s Resonators built by Valco. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Melville Guitars

1988 to present

"I have been building guitars under my own name since 1988. I worked with Chris Kinman for about 6 years (91 to 97) doing repairs and, under C.K's instruction, made the occasional electric under the Kinman name. The acoustics were my own thing and were not connected to Chris Kinman in any way. Naturally working with C.K doing repairs enabled me to refine my skills as a builder. I built a few 'Melville's' each year for various people astime permitted.

I worked from home until 2002 when I moved into the premises at Milton.

Each one will have a label inside the sound-hole which has the serial number, date of completion and the name of who it was built for if it was a custom order.

My most popular model is my 000/OM style.

A friend of mine recently did a rough calculation that over the last 20 years I have probably repaired, handled and inspected well over 9000 guitars.

To date there has only ever been one available second hand ( a dreadnought) which was to make way for a more 'up-spec' model (a 000/OM) for the same owner. The trade in was sold almost immediately." [Source:  Chris Melville, email 12/8/2008 ]
Custom hand made acoustics. Milton, Queensland, Australia

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

Memphis

Memphis guitar headstock

 

1970s-80s. Imported to US by Kaman?

Memphis catalogs

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

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

Claudio Meneghelli

current

Switzerland

Images courtesy of Classic Guitar:

Claudio Meneghelli guitar label

Menestrel

 

"The Menestrel was a separate line, built in the same factory where Seagulls are built. Serial# 8938 was made in 1985" [Source: Michel, Godin Guitars, email 23/10/2008]

Michael Menkevich

1970 to present

Etkins Park, Pennsylvania. USA

http://www.maui.net/~rtadaki/menkevich.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Menkevich+Classical+Guitars

Mensfeld

 

Apparently Mensfeld worked for Parker at some stage.

http://meatexz.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=809

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

Image USA Mensfeld Iron Cross guitar eBay:

Terje Mentyjærvi

1999 to present

Electric guitars. Nøtterøy, near Tønsberg, Norway

Gilles Mercier   Photo courtesy of MERCIER Gilles, 3 Rue du Bon Pasteur, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, FRANCE

Mercurio

2003-2005

Luthier Peter Mercurio. Electric guitars featuring interchangeable pick up system. Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA

Mercurio bio at Musicians Hotline

Images Boston Guitar Works:

Merlin

 

Merlin brand. Made in Japan. ? made by Teisco

Images 1960s Merlin electric guitar eBay:

Merlin electric guitar 1960s

Mermer Guitars
1983 to present

Luthier Richard Mermer, Sebastian, Florida, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Mermer%20Guitars

Merrill and Company

1998 to present

Merrill Brothers are Jim and Dave Merrill. Williamsburg, Virgnia.

Image Folkway Music, Merrill

David Merrin

current

David Merrin Bio

Images courtesy of Classic Guitar:

David Merrin guitar label

Merson

 

see Univox

Mesrobian

Mesrobian guitar headstock

1995 to present

Carl Mesrobian, premium archtops. Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Image Archtop.com

Messenger

Messenger guitar head stock

1968-1971

Musicraft Inc. started in 1967 by Bert Casey and Arnold Curtis, at 156 Montgomery Street, San FranciscoIntending to expand Messenger production, Casey and Curtis relocated to Astoria, Oregon, in 1968, but the company quickly disappeared.  Aluminium neck guitars and also some amplifiers have the Messenger brand.

Messenger Guitars story at Guitar Player

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/misc/usa/messenger.html

http://www.myrareguitars.com/emessenger.html

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

Tribute models are being released by Eastwood Guitars.

Image Messenger Guy Flickr

Metcalf Guitars

2004 to present

Luthier Tim Metcalf, makes guitars in his home workshop, Greeneville TN USA. Tim is a 45 year old Engineer turned self-taught part-time Luthier. My first guitar was built loosely on the William C book and was such a hit with other musicians I just could not stop. Main interest is building bold dreadnought bluegrass guitars but dab into OM's, 00's, MJ's and whatever strikes a fancy. Building about 8 to 10 guitars a year for the last 4 years and loving every minute of it!

Dating Metcalf Guitars

Serial Number includes date code and are consecutive with the year followed by the sequence no. (example 0855 would be 2008 55th guitar)

[Source: Tim Metcalf, email Aug 2008]

Metoro

 

Metoro Ukuleles and guitars. Nagoya Gakki Seisakusho, Made in Japan

Images Yahoo:

Metoro guitar label Metoro guitar label

Metropolitan 1995 to present Retro stye electrics.

Mewburn

1972 to present

"First made1972. First dated 1995. No guitars of mine between those dates are in the market since I own them all.

All guitars since 1995 have a label with a printed date which is hand signed. They are also signed on the inside.

To 2008 all guitars have been made in Forest Hill, London, England." [Source: Stuart Mewburn, email 13/4/2008]

Image Mewburn:

Mewburn guitar label

Meyrick Guitars

2007 -

Richard Meyrick guitars, South Wales, United Kingdom

"I have been making guitars under 'Richard Meyrick Guitars' since 2007. I have a workshop just outside Usk, a town in South East Wales, UK.

Dating Meyrick guitars

I sign and date the underside of the soundboard as well as having the month of manufacture on the label. I don't use serial numbers as I find it simple enough to use the date and model name to identify guitars; so far I haven't made two of the same model guitar in one month.

I've attached a picture of the label I use and my headstock logo; not all my guitars have logos, but they do all have labels." [Source: Richard Meyrick, email 22/7/2010]

Miami

1920s

? Distributor Miami was a brand name used by distributor Henry Stadlmair c1925

see Stadlmair

Michas Custom Guitars

 

Chris Michas studied at the Roberto-Venn lutherie school in 2003. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

Micheletti

 

Rick Micheletti, Millets, California, USA

Micro Frets

Micro Frets guitar headstock

1967-1974

2004-5

Micro-Frets logo

Founded by Ralph S Jones in Frederick. Produced less than 3,000 guitars and basses (20 different models) in Myersville, Maryland USA from 1967 to 1974. Brand was revived again in Frederick in 2004-5 by Will Meadors and Paul Rose.

http://microfrets.homestead.com/guitars.html

http://www.toneshed.com/documents/serialarchives.html

http://www.audiogrid.com/guitar/index.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Micro+Frets

Images eBay:

Micro Frets guitar

Rik Middleton

1994 to present

Image  Middleton:

Rik Middleton guitar label

L. MIDTTØMME

 

Norway

http://www.steinnes.net/gitar/index.html

Mid West Company

 

Image Mid West guitar from eBay:  Reportdly 1930s, faux painted to look like patterned wood. Tuning pegs made by Kluson Mfg Co, Chicago.

Migma guitars

 

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

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

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/misc_de.html

Migma Hollowbody http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina5.html

Mighty Mite Mighty Mite component catalog
Mike Lull see L for Lull

Milburn

1990 to present

Luthiers Orville and Robert Limburn make custom classical guitars Sweet Home, Oregon, USA

Miles 2000

 

??

Images Miles 2000 guitar eBay:

Miles 2000 guitar label Miles 2000 guitar

Miller

1960s

by Egmond, The Netherlands

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

Alastair Miller

 

Made in Canada

Ken Miller 1962 to present Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Ian Milne

 

Tauranga , New Zealand

Milton

 

Image Sakura

Milton guitars label

Minarik Guitars

current

Luthier M.E. Minarik solid and chamber bodies, Van Nuys, California, USA

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

Forum http://theguitarwall.com/forum/index.php?board=22.0

Minarik Red Medusa guitar

Minerva

Minerva guitar headstock

1930s-1940s

Minerva guitars were distributed by T Eaton Co in Winnipeg Mb. Canada in the mid 1930's. Some appear to be made by Harmony per  http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php  [Image source]. This brand, however, also appeared to have models made by Arthur Hensel and the American Guitar Company [Guitarsite].

Mirabella

1997 to present

Cristian Mirabella, custom archtops, flat tops, hollow and solid electrics, Babylon, New York, USA

Mirada

 

Nothing known about this brand, Help needed

Images eBay:

Mitchell

1963-?

Images Mitchell Jet guitar eBay:

Jet by Mitchell

Mitchell

current

Guitar Center house brand. [Source: WikiAnswers]

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

Image eBay:

Bill Mitchell

1979 to present

Riegelsville, Pennsylvania, USA since 2002. Not sure where before that.

1996 Bill Mitchell guitar label

Mitre

1983-1985

Solid guitars made in Aldenville or East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, USA from 1983 to 1985. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide ]

Mitre catalog

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

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

1985 Mitre gutiar ad fr0m eBay

MJ Guitar Engineering

1993 to present

Mark Johnson. MJ Guitar Engineering is located in Belgrade, MT about 90 miles north of beautiful Yellowstone Park

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