O-Om | On-

made

info    updated 9/2/2012

Oncor Sound

1980 - 81

ONCOR SOUND,INC, Salt Lake City, Utah U.S.A. made a guitar and bass guitar synthesizer.

http://hammer.ampage.org/files/Device1-12.PDF

Images eBay:

"Instruments previously built in Korea during the 1980s. The Onyx trademark was the brand name of an Australian importer. These solid body guitars were generally entry level to intermediate quality. However, the late ´80s model 1030 bears a passing resemblance to a Mosrite Mark I with modern hardware." [Source: Tony Bacon, The Ultimate Guitar Book ]

Onyx Guitars (Next Generation) are up and running and being distributed in Australia by the same distributor as in the early 80's. [Source: Guy]

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

Image eBay:

Onyx Forge

2004 to present

[Source: Roy Bullis, onyx forge guitars email 17/3/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Onyx+Forge

Optek

Educational instruments - lights in fret board.

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

Images original Optek Fretlight FG200 eBay:

Japanese guitars imported to US by Ampeg/Selmer [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Plus

A Harmony Brand - http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php

Orfeus

1960s-80s

'Orpheus' were a Bulgarian brand of guitar (made under communist rule at the time) during the 60's to the 80's. The name was also spelled 'Orfeus', when it was for domestic sale in Bulgary. So yours would have been one that was manufactured for export . [Source: All Experts]

I have seen guitars on eBay with "Orfeus" written on the headstock and "Orpheus" on the pickup.
http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/guitars_orfeus.html

http://rock.webbuilder.hostbasket.com/page7637.htm

http://meatexz.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=627

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

Orfeus acoustic http://www.s111348217.websitehome.co.uk/23901.html

see Orpheus

Jose Oribe

1962 to present

Jose Oribe, classical, flamenco and steel string guitars, Vista, California

Image 1967 Jose Oribe label eBay:

Original Hound Dog

The Original Musical Instrument Company (known as OMI) was formed in 1967 by Rudy and Emile Dopyera to manufacture resonator guitars.

The first instruments were branded Hound Dog. In 1970 they again acquired the Dobro name. In 1993 the Gibson Guitar Corporation bought the company, and then changed the name to Original Acoustic Instruments, moving manufacturing to Nashville. They continue to manufacture resonator guitars as a division of Gibson, which are sold under both the Dobro and Hound Dog names. [Source: Wikipedia]

This example of an Original Hound Dog was found on eBay. Possibly a 1990 manufacture - pre Gibson.

Oriole

1920s

Gibson budget banjo brand in 1920s. [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

Oriskany

2000 to present

In 1998, Curtis Rockwell studied at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery.  In early 2000, Curtis worked for Bruce Allsopp of Canyon Music Woodworks as an apprentice / repairperson and then establish/ ed his own shop Oriskany Stringed Instruments with Johanna Mutti in, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

Orlando

1970s

Orlando guitars. Made in Japan ? Teisco

A Model 301 was bought in 1972. [Source: Mudcat]

Models include electric USA copies, steel strings, classical and ukuleles.

Images eBay:

Ormsby guitars are from Beaconsfield, Western Australia

Dating Ormsby guitars

"We rarely use serial numbers, unless it is a Standard Series guitar.
Custom Shop instruments (and Standards) are dated with the day the first coat of clear lacquer is applied.

Manufacture started in 2003

Only one guitar has ever been sold by the original purchaser. Every other guitar is still owned by the person who originally ordered it. Not a bad track record.  Every instrument is custom built to order." [Source: Perry, Ormsby Guitars, 30/3/2008]

Well in 2011 someone finally parted with his Ormsby lefty Explorer per these images.

Images eBay:

Ornetts

current

http://toguitars.com/gallery-japan/ornetts-guitars.html

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

Orozco

1969 to current

Based in New York from 1970s to 1990s - now in Puerto Rico

Here is the best resource for Juan Orozco

Juan Orozco short bio at wikipedia

Juan Orozco posting at Guitarsite about his relationship with Matzuoko and Kohno - Sakuray brands

Orozco catalogs

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

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

see Kohno, Sakray, Matsuoka

Orpheum

1930s to

Orpheum guitars were made in USA 1930s to 1940s distributed by William L Lange and Bruno.
Made in Japan 1960s distributed by Maurice Lipsky Musuc NY.
Tacoma bought the name and uses it today for banjo's, mandolins and resonator guitars. [Source: Blue Book and Olympia Guitars]

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

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/general/orpheum.html

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

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

Orpheum price lists

2005 Winter Orpheum pricelist

2005 Summer Orpheum pricelist

see Wandre

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

Orpheus

Orpheus was the export name for Orfeus guitars made in Bulgaria. 

But Orpheus brand acoustic guitars also made in Japan.  To make things more interesting the headstock on the left has Made in USA [Source: Baez750] on it so it would appear to me that the Orpheus name was used independently and separately in Bulgaria and USA. Orpheus Guitar at bottom also Made in USA

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Orpheus-Electric-Guitar.htm

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

Images eBay:  Japan label is from a separate guitar.

Orpheus Valley Guitars

Acoustic guitar brand of Kremona.

Image eBay:

Domingo Ortega

2000s

Guitars made in Madrid. Domingo Ortega, 28 years is a young luthier working for Vicente Carrillo [Source: Harmony Central reviews]

Image Guitar Salon Korea

Jose Ortega

Entry level classical guitars.

Image ebay:

Orville

1988-1998

Following the end of the Aria and Gibson Epiphone partnership in 1986 Yamano Gakki took over the Gibson dealership from 1987.  In 1988 Gakki decided to expand the Epiphone semiacoustic models to include solid body electrics.  The name Orville was used for the new models.

Dating Orville guitars

Quite a detailed history with serial number dating and manufacturer identity is at Wikipedia

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

http://www.orangeguitar.com/aboutorville.htm

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

Forum http://forum.japanaxe.com/phpBB3/

Headstock image courtesy of Spaghetti, 2008. Serial eBay

Osborne Guitar Company

see Osborne Sound Laboratory in Amplifiers

Osborne Guitars

1998 to present

Richard Osborne, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Oscar Schmidt

1892-1939

From the late 1800s until their demise following the Great Depression in 1939, the Oscar Schmidt Company of Jersey City, N.J.  was one of the world's largest manufacturers of fretted musical instruments. They made hundreds of different guitars, mandolins, banjos and more. Oscar Schmidt house brands included Stella, Sovereign, La Scala. The Oscar Schmidt Company also made instruments for other companies including A Galiano, Carl Fischer, . [Source: Stella Guitars]

1921 Oscar Schmidt Catalog Page from Stella Guitars Internet Archive

Image eBay:

Osmond

1978 to present

Osmond guitars are made in Taiwan.

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

Image eBay:

John Osthoff

2001 -

Becket MA 01223 U.S.A.

Made since "2001, Becket, Massachusetts USA

Dating Osthoff Guitars

I have been gluing in a label on the neckblock with the date on it, although I may sometime in the future laser-etch that date in guitar somewhere else.

Also inside the guitar on the soundboard, I sign and date the top when I was "voicing" the top. These 2 dates won't match, but if the label goes missing for some reason grab a mirror and you will have a date of when the guitar was being built. [Source:  John, Osthoff Guitars, email 26/5/2010]

Otwin

1950s-1960s

Otwin guitars were a brand used on line of electric guitars mad by Musima Company, East Germany. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

http://www.rufus-zuphall.de/collection/fotos/FrameSet.htm

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

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

http://www.rufus-zuphall.de/collection/collection_start.html

http://guitarrazos.forogeneral.es/viewtopic.php?t=231

Forum http://www.euroguitars.co.uk/

Image 1962 Otwin Made in Germany Bruunari:

Otwin rosette eBay:

see Musima

Outbound Instruments

1990-2002

Outbound Guitar Co, Boulder, Colorado is no longer in business. Acoustic guitars. Also travel guitars.

Ov

Ov Guitars is Luthier Owen Davies. A skilled maker of  hand crafted, individual guitars based in South Wales in the UK.

Ovation

1967-present

Charlie Kaman, an aeronautical engineer making helicopters was also a guitarist.  In order to diversify he dreamed of a better guitar and in 1964 a small team of aerospace engineers started work.  The round back guitar emerged around 1966 and Kaman's company is now huge.  Originally the guitars made in Connecticut, USA. Now also produced in Asia. [Source: Ovation ]

Dating Ovation guitars by serial number

http://www.ovationtribute.com/Date%20your%20Ovation.html

Ovation model decoder

http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=crackcode

http://www.ovationtribute.com/O_Decoder/O-Decoder%20rev5.htm

From the top guide above you can see that my Breadwinner (photo below) is E + 4 numbers - was made between Jan 1973 and Feb 1975.

Ovation Retail cost in year of release http://www.ovationguitars.com/img/customerserv/pricehistory.xls

Ovation fan pages and examples

http://www.ovationtribute.com/index.php

http://www.doremi.co.uk/breadwinner/

http://vintageguitarpro.com/ovation.shtml

http://www.baronaudio.com/collection/

http://www.ovationfanclub.com/

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

Ovation guitar catalogs

1967 - 1997 http://www.ovationgallery.com/pagecatalog.htm

lots http://www.ovationtribute.com/Catalogs%20&%20Brochures.html

1975 http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/ovation75.php

Ovation ads http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/Ovation

200? Ovation guitar catalog scan

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

Ovation reference books

The History of the Ovation Guitar

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

Ovation forum

http://www.ovationtribute.com/forum/index.php

Image Jedistar's 1973 Ovation Breadwinner (mods Duncan JB pups, refret) Sold 2011

Overton

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

Overwater Basses

1979 to present

Overwater are primarily electric bass manufacturers - began in 1979, around 3400 instruments built since that time.. Serial numbers and model information on most instruments can be found on a label on the underside of the control cavity cover..
Further information on request or from; www.overwaterbasses.com " [Source: Chris May, Overwater Basses, email 24/3/2008]

Images Overwater bass eBay:

Ozark Guitars

late 1970s to present

"The Ozark brand was first launched in the late 70s/early 80s - we don't have the specific year.

Dating Ozark guitars

The guitars do not have serial numbers on them. However, the model number would probably give some guide to the date, as we would know roughly when they were produced.

We do have a dedicated Ozark website: www.ozark-acoustic.com which includes an Ozark Owners' page where players can register.
[Source: Liz Wilkes, Marketing Executive, Stentor Music Co Ltd, England, email 24/3/2008]
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Ozark

Ozone

Pick up assemblies for strats.

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