Mo-

made

M-Mar | Mas-MD | Me-MJ    updated 20/1/2010

Mobius Megatar

2000 to present

Tapping guitars made in Mount Shasta, California.  Founded 1997 by Reg Thompson, Henri Dupony and Traktor Topaz and first guitars produced 2000. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Mocetti

Stefano Mocetti,

Images: Guitar Salon

Modulus guitars

1978 to present

Founded by Geoff Gould in San Francisco. Currently made in Novato, California.

Dating Modulus instruments information

http://www.modulusguitars.com/v2/faq.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulus_Guitars

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

Moll

1996 to present

Moll Custom Instruments made by Bill Moll, Springfield, Missouri.

Molonator Guitars

2000 to present

Made since "2000 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Date written in neck pocket" [Source: Peter Moles, Molinator, email 24/7/2008]

Pedro Maldonado

Monarch

Carl Fischer Musical Instrument Company, est. in 1872, and they bought the York  Band Instrument Company, est in 1882. They went out of business in 1959. Carl Fischer was a distributor of musical instruments, in New York, Boston and Philadelphia areas. [Source: All experts]

Monarch guitars - Made in Italy. Well at least some were.

Image Monarch by Carl Fischer label eBay:

Monch Guitars

Edgar Monch was a renowned classical guitar maker from Germany and trained Jean Larrivee in Canada [Source: wikipedia ]

http://www.brucewestinstruments.com/Monch.htm

http://www.guitar-toronto.on.ca/history-personal.shtml

Images Hill Guitar : ebay

Moncloa Guitars

1980 to present

"We started making guitars in 1980.
We make our guitars at home where we have a specially conditioned workshop.

All our guitars bear a serial number and date of manufacture, on the lower left corner of the label. The guitar I am building now is number 459.
We only make a few guitars in a year and most of them by special order. Very seldom we have a finished guitar ready for sale. We have exported our guitars mainly to England, France, Switzerland, USA and Japan.
We, is yours truly and my wife Micheline who is a great help in some of the processes of manufacture and takes care of most of the purchasing and administration work.
I was born in 1940 so I am now 68." [Source: Daniel Moncloa, daniel@moncloaguitars.com Lima, PERU, email 12/4/2008]

Monica's Guitars

San Clemente, California, USA

Making since 1970s, nylon since 1992.

Healdsburg, California, USA

Montana

Basic line imported to USA from Korea in early 1990 by Kaman Corporation. Also made in Romania. Image courtesy of Sue Blow, Canada.

Montano

1960s

Montano guitars made in Japan.

Images eBay:

Montaya

1970s-80s

Korean made acoustics and electrics. Montaya Hyosung America Inc.

Montaya catalog

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

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

image eBay

Monteleone

1976 to present

John Monteleone, Islip, New York, USA. Archtops

Monterey

Image eBay

Monterey

current

Image eBay

A Harmony Brand

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

Montuoro Guitar Company

Frank Montuoro makes guitars in the tradition of the Larson Brothers in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Moon

1979 to present

Japan. Electric Guitars made in Japan. Parent Company is PGM [Source: Guitars Japan]

Picture gallery Moon Japan Guitars

Moon

1979 to present

Scotland "Hi Paul, They would have to contact us directly. There is no other way of dating our guitars." [Source: Joan, Moon Guitars Ltd, email 17/3/2008]

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

Moondog Guitars

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

Moonstone

1972 to present

Moonstone guitars are built by luthier Steve Helgeson, in Eureka, California USA

Dating Moonstone Guitars

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

Other Moonstone info

http://www.guitargal.com/moonstone.html

2005 Moonstone Guitar pricelist

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

Images Moonstone guitar eBay:

Brian Moore

1992 to present

Founded by Patrick Cummings, Brian Moore and Kevin Kalagher in Brewster, New  York

http://www.iguitar.com/

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

1976 to present

John Monteleone restored guitars for Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island New York in 1973.  He opened his own shop in in Bayshore, NY in 1976, relocating to Islip, New York, in 1990. Most instruments were either dated on label or stamped inside back of instrument. [Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Instruments 2nd Ed] See Gruhn's guide for detailed serial number range.

http://www.mandozine.com/resources/CGOW/monteleone.php

Morales

1967-68

Morales are Japanese guitars made by Zen-On Music Co

Morales catalog

http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

see Zenon

Images Yahoo:

Morch guitars

1970 to present

Built by Orsted, Denmark

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

More Harmony

1930s

Not a brand of the Harmony Co.

More Harmony was a private brand of Dobro for Dailey's More Harmony Music Studio. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Morgaine guitars

1994 to present

Made by Jorg Tandler, in Boppard, Germany.

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

David Iannone was Jean Larrivee's apprentice. In 1986 he formed Morgan Guitars. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

According to the 2000 specification all Morgan Guitars has the following features:

One piece mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerbound, ebony bridge, wood binding and purfling, wood marquetry or abalone rosette, hand fitted dovetail neck joint, adjustable truss rod, transparent or tortoiseshell pickguard, Morgan engraved machine heads.
Backs and sides are made from Indian Rosewood, Figured Maple, Koa or Mahogany.
Tops are constructed from Sitka Spruce, Englemann Spruce or Red Cedar.
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Morgan

Morgan Monroe

1999 to present

Acoustic/electric and resonators from Korea. Distributed SHS International, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Images eBay

Eduardo Moreno Moore

1992 to present

"Because at the moment we are making instruments for the Suzuki programs, I have being using the following code, Ex. 58041206, first 2 number 58 are the size (string length) for the instrument,  04 is the number of instruments made of this size, 12 is the month and 07 is the year. I am using the code since 2006, guitars build before march 2006 have the month abbreviated in words and year, all written with my hand and signed, there was also a wax seal, brown, crystal and gold. Brown seal is simple construction, crystal seal has good quality materials and gold seal represents the best materials and dedication." [Source: Eduardo Moore, email 29/3/2008]

Moreschi

Moreschi guitars, made in Italy.

Morris

1967 to present

Morris guitars made in Japan by Terada Musical Instrument Co. Currently in Korea also.

1975 Morris Custom http://www.myrareguitars.com/eMorris.html

Morris acoustic guitar catalogs

http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

http://jvguitar.com/bbs/zboard.php?id=gallery

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

Images eBay: Oval label appears to be from the late 1970s/early 1980s

Colin Morison Guitars

Charles F Morrison

1974 to present

Charles F Morrison has been making classical guitars since 1974.

1974-79 - Boulder, Colorado
1979-80 - Bozeman, Montana
1981-1992 East Burke & Sutton, Vermont
2009 - Barnesville, Colorado

Early influences included Max Krimmel, NBN Guitars and Dave Goodrich, to whom I give full credit for instilling in me the drive for quality craftsmanship that enhances my instruments. [Source: Charles F Morrison, email Nov 2009]

Mortoro guitars

1991 to present

Gary Mortoro, Miami Florida, USA

http://www.promusicfind.com/new/dating.shtml#Mortoro

http://www.mortoroguitars.com/pages/main.html

Moser

1986 to present

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Moser+Custom+Shop

Images eBay:

Mosrite guitars

1963 to 1969 and beyond

Important dates [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars and Tym from Tym Guitars 13/10/2008]

1950s Semi Moseley worked for bigsby before starting to build Moseley guitar part time in Bakersfield, California.

1955 Semie Moseley works for Rickenbacker (less than a year)

1958 Semie starts making guitars full time.

1963 Mosrite guitars full time, endorsed by the Ventures who had distribution rights.

1965 Moseley acquires rights to Dobro and makes resonators in Bakersfield.

1969 Ventures arrangement ends and short lived deal with the Thomas Organ Company (which distributed Vox in the USA) before Mosrite shuts down.

1972 - 1975 Brief resurrection of Mosrite with Kustom as a distributor.

1975 Moseley signs agreement with Pacific Music Supply, but few instruments made.

1977 Moseley builds some Original Ventures models for Japan market

1988 Moseley was building guitars in Jonas Ridge, NC

1992 Moseley dies - production is now Booneville, AR

1994 his wife Loretta resumes production in Jonas Ridge

2000 Ed Roman, Las Vegas buys Mosrite name.

Dating Mosrite Guitars

http://www.tymguitars.com.au/mosriteinfo_serials.html

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyoshi/kiyoshi/mosriteowner/ownerlist.html

Jedistar opinion

Tym is probably the world authority on Mosrite Guitars.  If you are looking for a lovingly crafted remake then I would definitely check out Tym Guitars (see T).  If your pilgrimage ever brings you to Brisbane then you must visit Tym's workshop.  I have been to a lot of guitar shops on three continents and this one is unique. (Note jedistar has no affiliation with Tym).

Other Mosrite info

http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/mosrite/counterfeit_mos.htm for the rant

http://home.exetel.com.au/mosrite/links.php?brand=Mosrite

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

http://marksma.home.insightbb.com/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosrite

Mosrite Gallery http://home.exetel.com.au/mosrite/Jimi%20Hendrix.php

Mosrite catalogs http://www.tymguitars.com.au/mosriteinfo_flyers.htm

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

Images Chicago Music Exchange:

Mossman

1965 to present

Stuart Mossman (d 1999) began making guitars in 1961 or 5 depending on the article you read.  He spent four years building 40 or 50 prototypes in his garage at home. By the end of the decade he had incorporated S. L. Mossman Guitars in Winfield, Kansas and moved into facilities at Strother's Field outside of town.  A devastating partnership with Conn in the late 1970s saw a lot of guitars damaged due to incompetent storage at the Conn warehouse.  The company limped on until 1986 (The original Mossman company produced about 7,500 guitars) when it was bought by Scott Baxendale. Baxendale sold the company to John Kinsey and Bob Casey in 1989. In 1991 Mossman Guitars was moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas where it continues to this day.  [Source: Mossman Guitars]

The SL Mossman Story - Article in Guitar Player Magazine

http://vintageguitarpro.com/moss.shtml

http://www.colfaxguitarshop.com/mossman.htm

http://www.usd.edu/smm/Tours/LillibridgeGallery/MossmanGuitarOConnor.html

http://mysite.verizon.net/sortascending/index.htm

See a 1973 Mossman guitar price list and beautiful examples

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

Images eBay:

Motor Ave Guitars

2002 to present

"MotorAve has been on the headstock of my guitars since 2002.
Right now I build them in my home shop in Durham NC, but the bulk of the guitars I've made (so far) were built in LA.
MotorAve guitars are numbered consecutively, regardless of model, in the order they were built. The number is on either the front or back of the headstock, in the form of a decal under the lacquer.
Starting in around 2005 I began engraving on the underside of the pickguard the name and location of the company; the serial number; the date of completion; and the name of the customer the guitar was made for. Smaller parts, truss-rod covers, jackplates, etc..  are also engraved with the serial number. (all parts are handmade, and not interchangable from one guitar to the next)  Guitars made earlier than this have no date code." [Source: Mark Fuqua, email, 2/8/2008]

Durham North Carolina since July 2007. Before that Hollywood, California

Mottola

Liutaio Mottola,

CF Mountain

CF Mountain guitars were 1970s copies of US Martin, Gibson etc guitars.  Says established 1948 on the headstock. ? Made by Headway - I saw the word Headway on a Japanese Yahoo page for this brand of guitar.

One C F Mountain guitar has "Mountain Folk" Stamped inside, and in Large Mother of Pearl  Letters it has "Hayashi down the center of the headstock, the way high end Martins have "Martin" on the headstock. and

The name of company was Hayashi musical instrument Ltd. They produced mainly the copy of Martin and Guild to early 80's from the middle of 70's. The builder that produces many of them was Mr.Yasuo Momose. Now, Mr.Momose is most famous guitar builder in Japan. He produces the original handmade guitar on the high end guitar brand named Headway.  [Source: Mudcat forum]

CF Mountain Catalog

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

Images eBay:

Mowry

2004 to present

"I believe I built my first numbered instrument in 1993, but I didn't start building full time until 2004. I build in my home shop in Bend, Oregon. All of my instruments have an interior label with the date. I keep a detailed record of all my instruments based on the serial number, so folks can contact me if they would like more information about a particular instrument." [Source: Andrew Mowry, email 21/7/2008]

Cambewarra West, New South Wales, Australia

Mozzani

Luigi Mozzani - harp guitars

http://www.harpguitars.net/iconography/icon-mozzani.htm

MP

Michael Payne Hand Crafted Guitars

MTD (Michael Tobias Design)

1994 to present

Luthier Michael Tobias started making Tobias bass guitars in the 1970s. In 1990 Gibson Guitar Corporation purchased Tobias and moved production to Nashville. Michael Tobias left the company in 1992 to found Michael Tobias Design (MTD) (hand made basses) in 1994.

Dating Tobias

Basses below the serial number 2044 were built in the California factory headed-up by Michael Tobias; serial numbers after that were produced by Gibson with a transition period in which Tobias worked with Gibson and continued to produce basses. [Source: wikipedia]

The first serial number was 0178 - January 1978. After 578, I went back to 179…All I got from:  http://www.mtdbass.com/

current

Robert Mazzullo was a cabinet maker before studying at Roberto-Venn in 1995. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

Fritz Mueller

current

Makes 8 instruments  per year. British Columbia, Canada

Composite construction

Images courtesy Classic Guitar:

Dieter Muller

current

German builder.

Images courtesy Classic Guitar:

Mumbo Jumbo

Solid acoustic guitars from Camden, South Carolina, USA

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

Carlos Murillo

Image eBay:

Murph

1965-1967

February 1965 Murph Industries started producing guitars in San Fernando, California and filed for bankruptcy, April 1967. Murph guitars were built by Pat Murphy.[Source: Murph guitar tribute site]

Images eBay:

Murphy Shaw

1973-1977

Les Paul style guitars made by Tom Murphy and Tim Shaw formerly of Gibson. “There were about 107 of these made in total, from about 1973 to late ’76 or early ’77. The original partners were Patrick Murphy and me; by 1975, we’d added Chuck Burge, who later worked with me in R&D at Gibson, and a guy named Loring Janes. Our shop was over a music store in Kalamazoo called The Sound Factory, which later became Pro-Co Sound. The last plaque was put in the back of guitar #26, I think; after that, they were called Sunrise guitars.

“The earlier guitars, used Gibson components, but I rewound the pickups. Later on, we made the pickups entirely ourselves. The controls are master volume, master tone, a 5-way rotary (series, fingerboard pickup, parallel, bridge pickup, and series out-of-phase,) and two series/parallel switches. Bill Lawrence had been a consultant at Gibson in the early 1970’s, and I learned a lot about pickups and controls from him. The original tuners were Gotohs.

“By and large, we used Michigan maple, walnut, and cherry for the body woods. There was no big fire that drove us out of business; we weren’t very fast or very profitable, and it quietly sputtered out in 1977. I left and moved to California in January of that year.

“Most of these were sold direct; others were sold through a small network of music stores in the Midwest.”   [Source: My Les Paul ]

Images http://myworld.ebay.com/chainsawturnpaugh/ eBay:

Music Man / EVH

1972 to present

General info

http://www.wolfgangguitars.com/MusicManEVH.htm

http://home.swbell.net/mellis99/musicman.html

Dating Musicman guitars

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

http://www.vintage-guitars.co.uk/serial.html#MUSIC

Music Man guitar ads

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/music%20man

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

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Music+Man

see Ernie Ball

Headstock image left courtesy of Chris Rice, Rice Custom Guitars. Below 1976 Music Man Sting Ray bass head from ebay

Musicvox

1996 to present

Korean made guitars.

Images eBay:

Musikalia

Musikalia is a manufacturer for Weissenborn-style Acoustic Hawaiians and folk instruments like Bouzoukis, Mandolins made in Sicily

Musima

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

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

http://www.vintaxe.com/cgi-bin/eboard30/index2.pl?frames=no&board=vintaxe&mode=Cur&message=778

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

Russian site http://sovietguitar.narod.ru/

Yngwie Malmsteen's first guitar  http://www.yngwie.org/news/Answers3.html

Deluxe 25 http://www.theguitarcollection.org.uk/gallery2/musima.html

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

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

Image Musima Delux eBay:

Don Musser

1976 to present

Classical and flat top guitars made by Don Musser in Cotopaxi, Colorado

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

Mustapick

2003 to present

"Mustapick Guitars started in 2003. The best way to find out a year for one of my guitars is to call or email me." [Source: Matt, Mustapick Guitars, email 30/3/2008]

RS Muth

2004 to present

I started building guitars in 2004.

I make them in Hamilton, NY.

I have the month and year of completion on my label inside the guitar.  I also hand sign the inside of the soundboard with the date of the actual signature (not the completion date). [Source: Randy S Muth, email 23/7/2008]

Oren Myers

Oxfordshire, England

Images Kent Guitar Classic:

Myka Guitars

2003 to present

David Myka, handmade electrics, Seattle Washington, USA

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