N

made

info    updated 22/12/2009

Nady

1976 to present

Wireless sound systems. Guitars and basses 1985-87 and currently make a wireless guitar starter pack.

Nagoya

1970s

Nagoya was the house brand acoustic guitar of Veneman Music based in Rockville, Maryland with a store in Springfield,VA. Their electric line was called Bradley.  Bradley were sourced from  Matsumoku and Fuji Gen Gakki.

Also had a mail-order division called Music Emporium. [Source: Harmony-Central]

Images eBay:

Sakazo Nakade

Sakazo Nakade apprenticed with Ramirez and Auado & Hernandez in Mid Fifties. [Source: Guitarsite] Guitars made in Tokyo, Japan in the 1960s-70s.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Sakazo+Nakade

Napolitano

1993 to present

Luthier Arthur Napolitano, Allentown, New Jersey, USA

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

Image eBay:

Nash guitars

2001 to present

Luthier Bill Nash. Olympia, Washington. USA

Dating Nash Guitars

Bill Nash dates the reverse headstock. see image

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

Nashville Guitar Company

1985 to present

Luthier Marty Lanham, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

National

1927 to present

http://www.notecannons.com/

http://www.nationalguitars.com/part1.html

Dating National Guitars

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

National reference books

The History and Artistry of National Resonator Instruments

National examples

http://www.jefflang.com.au/equipment.php

old National catalog http://www.resoguit.com/national.html

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

Michael Messer National Forum

see Valco

Images courtesy of Nicolas Dussart, France:

1948 badge Folkway Music

"All my instruments have the date written on the label. I also sign and date the inside of the soundboard. I also keep a register of the original owners." [Source: Gary Nava, email 30/3/2008]

Francisco Navarro

Francisco Navarro, Mexican luthier.

Image Navarro:

Navigator

Navigator are the highest end ESP guitars.

http://www.japanguitars.co.uk/Page%201%20history.html

http://guitarsjapan.com/ESPinfopage.html

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

see ESP

NBN

1968-1976

Founded in 1967, Longmonth, Colorado after ODE Banjos was bought by Baldwin.  Ex ODE employees Monty Novotny and R.E. Bennett. Making flat top guitars the company closed in 1976. [Source: The History and Development of the American Guitar  By Ken Achard ]

NBN and Novotny Tribute Site

Wikipedia

Dating NBN Guitars

Guitars are well labeled and stamped NBN guitars, Inc on neck block and back strip. Fleur de lis logo on headstock. 

William Nesse

Colorado, USA

Image Guitar Sessions:

Nettuno

Signor Giuseppe Nettuno a guitar and mandolin Maker in New York City. [Source: Andrius Violins] and Nettuno a famous N.Y. luthier who worked for Galliano Guitars  I believe and went on his own during the depression as most did due to the 30's economy. [Source: ebay]

Images eBay:

Neubauer (Helmuth)

1950s - 60s

Bubenreuth, Germany

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

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

Neubauer Guitars

1987 to present

How can someone tell the date of manufacture for your guitars." ..no datings, no Serial Nr. actually...we build around _10 to 25 different instruments each year plus all types of repair and restoration. The Neubauer Archtop Guitars from the 50' and the 60' are not maked by my company. We started in 1987! Helmuth Neubauer was German, my company is based in Vienna/Austria."  " [Source: Neubauer Andreas, Vienna,  Austria, EC, email 17/3/2008]

Another brand by Neubauer Guitars is http://www.madaguitars.com/

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

Richard Neutschmann

Leipzeg. ? late 1800s early 1900s

Lute maker

Images eBay:

Nevborn Guitars

1996 to present

Made since "1996, in Sweden.  Every guitar handbuilt by me.  I don´t use serial numbers. Usually I name the guitars. I keep information on what I have built so anyone could get in touch with me and I can can tell them what they need to know. Furthermore: I have actually only made 2 guitars that are identical. Since I have quite a few options customers seem to personalize their guitar.  All my guitars have my "Tiwaz" ? T inlayed. [Source: Fredrik Tornkvist, email, 14/9/2008]

Richard Newman

Berkshire, England

Image Kent Guitar Classic:

New Orleans Guitar Company

1992 to present

Luthier Vincent Guidroz.

New World

Hill Guitar budget line, made in Mexico?.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/New+World+Guitar+Co.

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

David Newton

1976 to present

David Newton, hand made guitars, Beaumont, Texas, USA

"I built my first several instruments in 1976-78, then did repairs for 25 years. I no longer do repairs, only build. I build size 2, 00, 000, L-00, and Dread. I specialize in Honduras Mahogany guitars. I also build a Army-Navy style flat-top mandolin.

 I do a different label for every style. They all say "David Newton, builder" and the month and year made, and signed." [Source: David Newton, email 18/4/2009]
 

Nielsen

2004 to present

Nielsen Guitars, archtops by Dale Nielsen, Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Nik Huber

see H for Huber

Nikko

Could not find much on this brand.  The images are from a classical guitar on eBay. Also came across an Ovation multiple sound hole style, a steel string acoustic signed by Willie Nelson

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

Ninety nine  Guitar

NNG

Guitars made by hand in Thailand.  First acoustic model made in 2004 according to a Harmony Central review.

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

Nioma

1930s

Instruments probably made for distributor. ? by Regal. Included resonators and steel guitars.

Image Greg Boyd

NKForster

2004 to present

"Made in  Newcastle upon Tyne England since 2004.  Date and Model is on label. No serial number apart from the first dozen or so which were numbered.  I keep a list of all instruments made as well as the cut out of every soundhole with the date, model and decoration so owners are always welcome to ask me whatever they like." [Source: Nigel Forster, email 9/7/2008 ]

The Noble Guitar

1963 to ?

The Noble Guitar were imported by Don Noble of Chicago into USA around 1963. Made by Wandre. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine ]

Also made by EKO.  By 1965-66 the brand is owned by Chicago importer Strum'n'Drum and was used mainly on Japanese solid bodies.

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

Images Noble Thunderball 007 guitar  Made in Japan eBay:

Duane Noble

Richland, WA, USA

Roy Noble

1956 to present

[Source : Roy Noble, email 21/3/2008]

Tony Nobles

1990 to present

Tony Nobles , Wimberley, Texas.

http://hillcountryguitars.com/nobles/index.htm

A Harmony Brand

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

Nolan

1989 to present

"I began making guitars in the mid 80's, but I didn't start building to sell until 1989. For acoustics, each guitar is hand signed on the underside of the soundboard, with the inscription, Musae Expectos. The serial number can be found along with the date, and model on the neck block inside the guitar. This is also done by hand.

Norma

1965-1970

Japan
http://www.vintaxe.com/faq.htm but according to this forum

http://www.guitarsite.com/discussion/messages/26777.shtml

They were made from 1957 to 1970 by Tomono in Japan and were distributed by Sprum & Drum in the USA. Later around the 70's National bought them out.

http://roroor.com/index_files/Page541.htm

http://www.hard-rock-cafe.de/html/hrc_new_york_47.html

http://www.theguitarcollection.org.uk/gallery6/prestige.html

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

http://www.minegitarer.com/vintageguitars.htm

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

Images eBay:

Norman

early 1970s

Taken over by Godin 1988 (Source Email: Michel, Godin 25 Jan 07)

 " Here's how you can decode our serial numbers :
first 2 digits : production year, 3rd and 4th digits : production week, 5th digit : production day (1=monday, 2=tuesday, etc...), last 3 digits : weekly production rank. Our production year begins on August 1st.
As an example, a guitar with serial number 06053168 was built in september 2005, on a wednesday, and it was the 168th guitar built during that production week.
If your guitar's serial number has 7 digits, the guitar was built in the 90's and only the 1st digit indicates the production year.
If your guitar's serial number has less than 7 digits, you'll have to email me it's serial number so I can look it up in our serial number lists.
On post 1993 guitars, the serial number is engraved behind the headstock.
On pre 1993 guitars, the serial number is stamped on the sound hole label.

The same system goes for Godin, Seagull, Norman, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie and La Patrie guitars. [source: Michel, Godin, email 23 Jan 2007]

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

See Godin

2007 to present

Jim Normandy. Aluminium hollow body electric guitars. Manufactured and hand riveted in Salem, Oregon USA.

I actually have a 4 digit serial number going right  now...started with 0001.  The serial number is stamped into the metal under  the neck and is also stamped (with a rubber stamp) on a label inside the guitar that can be seen through the top F hole.  I'll have the years listed
by serial number after we get into 2009 on my website." [Source: Jim Normandy, email 15/8/2008 ]

Jim Noris

Luthier Jim Norris ( 1926 - 2000) was a proponent of the classical guitar in Chicago.

Schramm Guitars Tribute to Jim Norris

In Memoriam by R.E. Brune

"We first began building solid body electric guitars in Millington Tennessee in 1962. The company was first called "The Guitar Shop" . . . Then "American Guitar Shop".
The first prototypes were single cut-away, solid cherrywood, blues guitars and were called "American Eagles". The very first successful instrument of this style was nicknamed "Big Bossman" and was made for the late, great, Jimmy Reed.
After a while, - sometime around 1966, the operation was moved to a barn in Imperial Missouri and guitars made there actually incorporated some elements of race car parts and hardware, obtained from a company called "Top Performance". These limited production guitars - called "Hot Rod Performance Models" - were started in about 1968 or 1969 and were made for about 4 or 5 years, changing when the supply of surplus racecar hardware ran out. The "Eagle" portion of the brand was dropped to avoid a lawsuit which would have been necessary to contest the right to use it. The brand then became simply "American Instrument Company".
The next generation utilized both motorcycle hardware and some other custom made parts and were sold by ABC Choppers, in St. Louis, Missouri. Most of these guitars were in shapes, styles, and colors that appealed to hard rocking bikers and the musicians that followed them. Production of these "Chopper" models stopped in about the middle of 1976 and were never made again.
The more conventional and best quality to that point were guitars that the company built after movine, once again, about the middle of 1980, to San Francisco, California. Association with people from Alymbic Guitars, Stars Guitars, Guitar Player Magazine, The Grateful Dead, and other factions from that area and time period had a strong effect on the direction of the company. Even greater emphasis on quality and detail became the focus for every instrument. Fewer repairs and restorations were done during this period.
The guitars made in California had various shapes and styles but were all hand made to order. No standard model production was ever done in the California shop. Michael Tobias and Ron Armstrong had teamed up to create Sierra Guitars of California and the magnificent mastery of wood selection and joinery expertise that Tobias had perfected was a very strong influence on us, as we observed him working his magic for his and Armstrong's company. We had never seen such expertise in joining and shaping wood and we were determined to learn to achieve that high degree of quality. It didn't come easy and nearly 5 years was spent trying to simply become more efficient and precise at wood selection and joinery.
In mid 1983, the operation was closed, packed up, and moved to Clearwater, Florida where the entire operation remained in storage until about the spring of 1992. It was during this down time that we practiced the art of wood selection and joinery, prior to re-opening the guitar shop. The shop was re-opened as North American Instrument Company and remains to this day, but relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida. The website reflects the type and style of the standard models but, as is the history of the company, most guitars are one-of-a-kind and are built to order. It normally takes from 6 to 8 months for the top-end, hand-mades and the cost runs from about $5800.00 U.S. to just over $8,000.00 U.S., depending upon design and the customer's choices of everything that goes into making a unique instrument. Standard models are less expensive and run from about $2500.00 U.S. to $5,500.00 U.S., again, depending upon model and customer choices.

No standard serialization was ever developed for these instruments and they are best identified by contacting the company with photos and description.

The company has a very small staff. They are as follows:
Hal Hammer, Jr. - Chief Designer & Luthier
J. Baxter Goode - Luthier & Design Artist
Fred Nichols - Luthier & Restoration Specialist" [Source: North American Guitars, email 24/3/2008]

http://www.bluesguitarman.com/

North Star Guitars

current

Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, Custom Design Guitars, Radical Designs, Onboard Preamps, Handcrafted in the USA.

Northwood Guitars

"John McQuarrie is the sole luthier and President of Northwood Guitars. Trained by Jean Larrive in Vancouver, British Columbia he remains in Canada as Larrivee has moved to Southern California." [Source: New Millenium Guitar ]

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

Image eBay:

1982 - present

Anyone wanting to contact me about a specific instrument should contact me via my web site www.northworthy.com " [ source: Allan Marshall, Northworthy Guitars, email 21/3/2008]

Norwood

1960s

Budget guitars ? from Japan [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Noso

Finland

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

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/showphoto.php/photo/3221

Nouveau

1986 to 1989

Flat top guitars under the Nouveau brand were introduced by Gibson in 1986.  Made in Japan and assembled in USA.  Moved to Nouveau by Epiphone in 1987. [Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Epiphone/NVJ+Nouveau+Archtop/10/1

Nova

Nova guitars are from the Sears catalog.

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

Image courtesy of Sue Blow, Ontario, Canada

Andras Novak

1986 to present

"My guitars are very anonymous, they usually don't have dates, numbers or logos. There is a metal inlay at the 12th fret with the text NOVAK, but only on 2002 and later instruments. All of my instruments has my signature on the inside of the top, you need a mirror to see it.
I started building 1986, but the major part of my business is repair work, so there are not so many instruments made, it's about 4 -5 a year. I make them in Stockholm, Sweden." [Source: Andras Novak, email 26/10/2008]

Novax Guitars 

1989 to present

"Made under "R Novak" name from 1973-1989. Handmade, no production.

Unique instruments, most have date as serial number (e.g., 1085=October 1985.)

Made under "Novax" name since 1989, with granting of patent for Fanned-Fret concept. Instruments varied in styles. Some had hand-written date on neck, hidden inside the neck joint. Some had "serial number dates," usually on the back of the headstock.

Important to note for collectors: Many styles of instruments have been produced under the Novax name; some are "clones" of popular models like 'Strats' and 'Teles'. Thesse are common and less collectible. They use aftermarket bodies.

The most desirable Novax instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Novak and are typically 'Expression' model and 'Charlie Hunter' model instruments, as well as Novax acoustic and acoustic-electric models. (See www.novaxguitars.com. ) These always have the "Novax" decal applied under the finish and usually have the "serial number date" at the back of the headstock. All will date from 1989 to present.

" [Source: Mary B, Novax Guitars, email 26/3/2008]

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

Monte (Monty) Novotne

1976-1982

One of the N's in NBN guitars, Monte continued to build NBN style guitars after the demise of NBN in 1976 until his death in 1983-4. Made guitars in Longmont California, USASee http://www.nbnguitars.com for photos of his catalog from those years. Info courtesy of Charles Morrison 2009.

see NBN

Nugget Mandolins

1973 to present

Mike Kemnitzer

http://www.mandozine.com/resources/MBSS/builders.php

http://www.mandolincafe.com/nugget.html

Lucio Nunez

current

Lucio Nunez, San Antonio, Texas. 

Sebastian Nunez

Nunez Estevez

1985 to present

Makers of fine Early Musical Instruments Lutes, Vihuelas, Early Guitars & Harpsichords Specialized Restorers of Historical Guitars, The Netherlands.

"I started in 1985 alone and Verónica Estevez started with me in 1999. The instruments are dated on the label. No serial number. Only the year. Until 1998 only with my name: Sebastián Núñez me fecit anno

------ and from 1999 Sebastián Núñez et Verónica Estevez me fecit anno

----- Starting 2008 they are again only with my name." [Source: Sebastián Núñez, email 30/3/2008]

Thomas Andrew Nunez