Ra

made

 updated 16/6/2010

Julian Rabaza

Julian Mario Rabaza, guitar are from Buenos Aries, Argentina

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

Radio Tone

1940s

Radio Tone brand guitars were made by Regal [Source: Stella Guitars]

I have been contacted by Taylor Busby who has a family owned Radio Tone guitar (see label fragment photo Regal Musical Instrument Company) that was played at vaudeville 1908 to 1920.

Images headstock and top guitar from Internet Archive.

Images of Radiotone sunburst guitar courtesy of Taylor Busby.

Rahan

1999 to present

Rahan guitars are handmade guitars by Mike Curd and Rick Cantu, Houston, Texas, USA

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

2000 to present

Peter Rahbek, Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Alain Raifort

Alain Raifort makes guitars in Tours, France

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

1968 to present

"Raimundo Guitars was founded in 1968 by my father, Manuel Raimundo, how is still running the company. The guitars has the manufacturing year on the inside label.  Our website is www.guitarrasraimundo.com. You could find more information in our site." [Source: Victor M. Raimundo, Raimundo Guitars, Paterna (Valencia) Spain

 email 6/4/2008]

Rain Song

1991 to present

Rain Song started in Maui and Rain Song guitars are now built in Woodinville, Washington, USA.  Founders were John Decker, Lorenzo Pimental, Chris Halford and George Clayton. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

Dating Rainsong Guitars

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

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

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

Raleigh

Raleigh guitars were a brand name of Aloha Publishing Company [Source: Mugwumps ]. According to Blue Book - instruments currently built in Chicago.

"I am based in Upper Hutt, New Zealand and have been building guitars for about 4 years now. I started in 2003. I have been playing for over 30 years and teaching for the last 20 years. My passion is the Archtop Acoustic guitar, and at this stage I am only building archtop instruments.
The guitars label can be seen through the f-hole on the bass side of the instrument. The dating system (serial number) I use is very simple. It is a seven digit number. The first 4 digits is the year of manufacture the last three digits is the number of the guitar. Eg guitar S/N 2008003 would be the third instrument I have built. And it would have been completed during 2008.

The specs for my current guitars are as follows:

Top: Handcarved, tap toned European Spruce
Back: Handcarved, tap toned European Maple
Sides: Highly figured Maple
Body: 17" lower bout, 3" body depth Venetian cutaway
Fret Board: Ebony, 12" radius
Scale Length: 25"
Tuners: Black Schaller M-6 12:1 ratio
Pickup: Kent Armstrong Side-mounted Jazz pickup - volume control mounted under pick guard

[Source: Rich Ralston, email 24/3/2008]

Rama

Rama brand guitars were made in Australia in the ?70s/80s

Rama advertisement Jam Magazine? 1970s [Source: 81ohm Aussie Guitar Gear Heads ]

Jose Ramirez (1858-1923) founded the Ramirez dynasty.

http://www.gruhn.com/articles/ramirez.html

Image: Guitar Salon , Classic Guitar, eBay

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Jose+Ramirez

Manuel Ramirez

1890-1916

Manuel Ramirez (1864-1916) was brother of Jose Ramirez. His small shop closed after his death in 1916.

http://www.guitarrasramirez.com/english/guitarraMramirezEn.html

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International

RamTrak

Late 1990s to present?

Jim Randolph. This innovative instrument allows the player to switch pickup(s) and configurations in seconds (without tools) while still using the same guitar.

Current representative: http://www.vintageguitarman.com/AboutUs.php

RamTrak Catalog

1998 http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_american_ramtrak.htm

Ran Guitars

Ran Guitars are from Poland.

Ransom

current

Dan Ransom Custom Guitars, San Francisco, California

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

Rarebird Guitars

1978 to present?

Bruce Clay, luthier made guitars in Arvada, Colorado and since 2005 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The web site disappeared late 2007.  The following resources are printed from the internet archive.

Rarebird bio 2000

Rarebird bio 2005

Rarebird models and price list 2000

Rarebird models and price list 2007

Rarebird picture gallery 2005

Rarebird custom gallery 2007

Rarebird bass models 2007

Rarebird banjo

Rarebird players of note

Dating Rarebird Guitars

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/rarebird.htm

Rarebird Guitar Laboratory catalogs

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

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

Rash

Rash guitars made in Italy.

Images eBay:

Rat Fink Guitars

2002 to present

Distributed by Lace. Featuring the art work of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth until 2005. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ] Amps also.

Raven

Raven are beginner guitars made in the style of Gibson guitars. Made in China exclusively for major city music stores in Canada. This guitar model was produced in the late 1960's to mid 1970's. Raven guitars were quality instruments with good tone and sound quality for the budget minded. [Source: Guitar Resource Centre]

? Also made in Korea.

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

? same brand mark

Headstock image courtesy Sue Blow, Canada

Raver

According to Guru's Guitar Guide , Japanese Instruments from the mid 1970s.   Discussion at Vintaxe suspects that they are Kawaii origin and based on eBay sightings in the UK - possibly a UK importer brand.

Further updates suggest the brand is a Rosetti Raver - sold in a Kays catalog

John Ray Guitars

1999 to present

"Year of construction on the label." [Source: John Ray, email 9/4/2008] Made in Granada.

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International

Antonio Raya-Pardo

1972 to present

Guitars from Granada, Spain since 1972 [Source: Zaveletas]

 Image 1977 Antonio Raya-Pardo guitar from eBay:

Rayco Resophonic

Hand made in British Columbia, Canada.
 

RB Guitar Sculptures

? - 2007

Luthier Rogue Batty makes very unusual guitars in Belize, Central America.  All info and images are from waybackmachine The web site was alive from 2002-2007.

RB Home Page 2007

RB About page 2002

RB Gallery (partial)

Recording King

1929-1943

House brand of Montgomery Ward.  Made by Gretsch, Kay, Regal and Gibson. [Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars]

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

see Carson J Robison

Recording King (TML)

2005 to present

Budget range designed by Greg Rich for The Music Link.

? Custom models also per: http://www.themusiclink.net/Recording-King-Custo.1927.0.html

Redback

Australian

Redgate

1984 to present

Jim Redgate makes classical guitars in Adelaide, South Australia.

Image courtesy: Classic Guitar

Jim Reed

current

Jim Reed Guitars. ? made in Korea (?) and assembled in Italy.

Jim Reed Guitars at myspace

This example has Kent Armstrong p'ups.

2004 to present

"I began building guitars in 2004.

I am based in Minneapolis Minnesota.

The date of manufacture on all acoustic guitars, including archtop  guitars is marked on the label inside the guitar. If the label is missing, the date will also be written on the inside of the soundboard next to the signature.

For solid body electric guitars the manufacture date is marked on the  
end of the neck and under the pickup on the body" [Source: Tim Reede Custom Guitars, email 23/7/2008]

Image courtesy of Tim Reede:

Regal

1884-1966. 1987-present

The Regal Musical Instrument Company, established 1908 in Chicago, produced thousands of student-grade and high-quality custom instruments. Musicians who wanted something really stylish had instruments built by the Regal custom shop. Regal was one of the world's largest instrument manufacturers during the 1930s through the 1950s. [Source: MOMI]

Regal brand history

A Harmony Brand

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

Built in Chicago used Dobro resonators. Regal is thought to have built Alhambra, Bruno, More Harmony, Orpheum.  [Source:  The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians By Lorene Ruymar ]

Images of early 1930s Regal Parlor courtesy of Nicolas Dussart, France 2008:

Regency

1950s

Images Regency Guitar eBay:

Thomas Rein

1972 to present

Thomas Rein makes classical guitars made in St Louis, Missouri, USA

Image Rein Guitars:

Reliance

1920s

According to an example at Folkway Music a Reliance guitar is by Arthur Hensel. Folkway further make the comment that there are a number of wood body resonators with the brand name Reliance.

According to Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars Reliance may have been made by Oscar Schmidt also.

Images of UK made guitar with Reliance brand name  (note different logo) from eBay:

Renaissance

1978-1980

Renaissance guitars were plexiglass/lucite electric guitars and basses. Founded in Malvern ,Pennsylvania  by John Marshall (later to work for Martin), Phil Goldberg and Daniel Lamb.  Late 1979 John Dragonetti takes over. Brand currently used by Rick Turner (see below). [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide ]

According to the eBay entry for the guitar pictured here "RENAISSANCE GUITARS had a short, but historic, place in the guitar world for its innovation and craftsmanship. The best story of this company is found in the excellent book, “GUITAR STORIES, Volume 1” by Michael Wright...Briefly, the company was started in Malvern, PA by three people in the late 70s. The most notable of whom was JOHN MARSHALL. Before starting RENAISSANCE, John had learned his trade from Eric Shulte (who had learned from SAM KOONTZ) and from AUGIE LOPRINZI (Loprinzi, then AUGUSTINO GUITARS).
After the R&D was done, the first GUITARS & BASSES MADE OF PLEXIGLAS, were built in 1978. We are unable to verify the number of guitars and basses actually made but it appears to be less than 300.0 "

Dating Renaissance Guitars

Serial # = M(M)YYXXX: month, year, consecutive number. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/brand/Renaissance

Images eBay:

Serial number is written on end of neck where meets guitar as per the picture below.  This serial 10780053 which means it was made October, 1978. 53rd Made of total 300+/-

Renaissance Guitars

1994 to present

Rick Turner, Santa Cruz, California, USA

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

see Rick Turner

VJ Rendano

V.J. Rendano is a wholesale distributor of guitars and other instruments in Cleveland, Ohio. Your instrument was likely made in Japan or elsewhere for Rendano and sold under their name. They still exist, though the company's namesake died last year. I do not believe they still distribute instruments under the Rendano brand (they distribute Cort and Galveston brand guitars). [Source: Oriscus 2004]

Image VJ Rendano Pro III Designer Model label ?1960s eBay

Pablo Requena

Pablo Requena makes guitars in Lewes, UK

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

Resonet

1954-1964

In 1954,  the Drevokov Cooperative in Blatna, Czechoslovakia produced its first electric guitar.   The brand used was Resonet and models included Akord, Grazioso, Arioso, Arco…In 1957 Selmer imported the Resonet Grazioso to UK branded as Futurama until 1964.    [Source: Junk Guitars ] 

Examples

http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/futurama/futgall.html

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

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

http://www.thecanteen.com/harrison2.html

Jimmy Page 1957 http://www.led-zeppelin.org/reference/gear/index.php?m=jimmy-early-days

see Futurama

Reuter Guitars

1984 to present

John Reuter, Phoenix, Arizona. John is training director at Roberto-Venn school.

Reverend

1997 - present

Joe Naylor graduated from Roberto-Venn in 1987. He opened a vintage/used guitar store which evolved into J. F. Naylor Engineering, one of the forerunners in boutique amps and vintage style speakers. Joe sold Naylor in '96 and launched Reverend Musical Instruments, manufacturer of patented guitars and basses, tube amplifiers, effects and speakers. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

Reverend Fanatic the Unofficial Reverend Site provides collector information, descriptions and current market prices for the discontinued USA Reverend Guitars - run by Greg Calder.

Bass discontinued 2004

Dating Reverend guitar and bass serial numbers

http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/archive/guitar_bass_sn.html

More Reverend info

Reverend Gallery http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=95307&highlight=serial

Reviews http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/archive/media/reviews/guitar_reviews.html

Reverend forum http://www.reverendguitars.com/forum/

Reverend headstock Image eBay

Rex

1930s-40s

1960s

Made by Harmony and Kay and sold through Gretsch distributors. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide ]

According to JamWave the Kay Auditorium model named the Rex Lancer. The Kay line of guitar in 1948 had other models as well like Rex Lancer, Rex Atagon and Rex Royal arch tops and the Rex Playboy.

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

Images eBay

Rexina

? Japan 1960s/70s

Images eBay.

Manuel Reyes

1949 to present

Manuel Reyes Maldonado of Cordoba was born in Jayena, Granada, on July 18th 1934. He began making guitars in 1949 and had some verbal guidance from Joaquin Sánchez Galisteo of Cordoba and from Marcelo Barbero of Madrid. Manuel Reyes is considered to be the greatest and most sought-after contemporary flamenco builders in the world. He is known for his excellent workmanship and authentic Andalusian flamenco sound. His guitars have been played by dozens of flamenco professionals all over the world, perhaps the most notably being Vicente Amigo. His waitlist for new instruments is now closed due to its enormous size. [Source: Geert Doumen, La Sonata 12/2009]
Images 1970 Luth.org , 2003 Guitar Salon:

Manuel Reyes Jr

Manuel Reyes, Jr., was born in 1969 in Cordoba, trained with his father. [Source: Zavaletas ]

HIJO = 'son' in Spanish. 

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon:

Randy Reynolds makes classical and flamenco guitars in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

"My guitar labels all carry a number indicating model and a date of construction. I have been building since 1996." [Source: Randy Reynolds, email 3/4/2008]

Richard Reynoso

Images Trilogy Guitars:

Rhodes Guitars

1957 to present

Barry Rhodes, Melbourne, Australia. Maker of custom electrics.  Distributed by Guitar Tuning Services, Mark Roper, South Croydon. [Source: Aussie Guitar Gear Heads ]

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

Rhythm King

Harmony

Rhythm King F Hole guitar from ?1940/50s.

Seen on ebay.

Ra | Re-Rh | Ri-Rom |  Ron