n

manufactured

info    updated 10/10/2008...please email with corrections/info

Nashville Guitar Company

USA

National

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

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

http://www.notecannons.com/

Search at http://www.vintageguitar.com/

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

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

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

see Valco

"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

Image Navarro:

Navigator

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

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

see ESP

Neubauer (Helmuth)

1950s - 60s

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 Nrb. 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

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]

Nik Huber

see H for Huber

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 ]

Duane Noble

Richland, WA, USA

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

Roy Noble

1956 to present

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

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

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 holly 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 ]

"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/

Northstar Guitars

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 Larrive has moved to Southern California." [Source: New Millenium Guitar ]

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

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]

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, 2nd Ed]

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

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

Nugget Mandolins

1973 to present

Mike Kemnitzer

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

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

1985 to present

"I started in 1985 alone and Verónica Estevez started with me in 1999. The instruments ar 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]