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t

manufactured

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

Tacoma

?1997 to present

Tacoma Guitars began as a division of Young Chang America that made piano soundboards for export to Korea. Production of USA made guitars commenced in 1997.  The company was purchased by Fender in October 2004.  [Source: Wikipedia ]

Dating Tacoma Guitars

http://www.tacomaguitars.com/resources/faq.php#when

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

Other info

Seattle Times bio

Interview with Leith Anderson of Tacoma Guitars

Tacoma pricelists

2005 Winter Tacoma pricelist

2005 Summer Tacoma pricelist

2007 Winter Tacoma pricelist

Tacoma forum http://www.tacomaguitarforum.com/

Tactical Works

 

http://www.metalnecks.com/index.php/mID/d19a7559/fuseaction/guitars.manu.htm

Tagima

early 1980s to present

The first Tagima guitars were made in the early 80's by Mr. Seizi Tagima in Brazil.  Marutec Music acquired the rights to use the brand Tagima in 1996. Soon after Korean production began. The product line Memphis by Tagima was launched along with the line of bass guitars and new guitar models. The “Instituto de Guitarra e Tecnologia (IG&T)” of Sao Paulo closed a deal to use Tagima's instruments in its classes, increasing the brand recognition.  [Source: Guitar Global ]

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

Tahara

 

In the early 1970s Tahara-san had a factory in Matsumoto Japan that was engaged primarily in the production of lower-mid range acoustic guitars… Mr Tahara's factory in Matsumoto went into bankruptcy in the mid to late 1970s after which he moved to Tateshina outside of Maruko-machi in Nagano Prefecture where he focused exclusively on Mandolin production. “
[Source: EZ Folk http://www.ezfolk.com/forums/forum16/762.html ]

Takamine

 

1962 to present

Takamine Guitars emerged from the base of Takamine Mountain in Sakashita, Japan.

Dating Takamine Guitars

TRY THIS FIRST http://www.guitardating.com/takamine.php

If you have a Japanese built Takamine, you can tell the year of manufacture by the first two digits of the serial number, i.e. s/n 9234075 = year of manufacture is 1992 from http://www.takamine.co.uk/support/index.html

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

Takamine catalogs

2002 Takamine guitar catalog

2004 Takamine guitar catalog

Takamine pricelist

2005 Takamine pricelist

2006 Takamine pricelist

2007 Takamine pricelist

2008 Takamine pricelist

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

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

Takamine Forum http://www.takamineforum.com/

From this photo - my Taki was made: Saturday, April 7th, 2001. It was the 48th guitar made that day.

Takeharu

 

Kiso Suzuki Violin Company

Japanese Wikipedia

Johnny Cash Takeharu guitar

Catalogs

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

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

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Suzuki

see Suzuki

Talbo

 

1982 to present

This brand was made by Tokai but is listed separately here because they look so cool.

The Talbo (Tokai Aluminium Body) began production 1982 and are still made today.  More ornate models produced in conjunction with Zemaitis and have the combo logo see left.   The range was first introduced as a cast aluminium body but is now available in a variety of body materials including wood (Talbo Woody) , an open aluminium structure within built in speaker (Talbo Junior) and an acrylic model (Talbo Crystal).  Bass guitars also produced.

 

Dating Talbo Guitars

1980s code =  Y0P####, with the first digit indicating the year followed by a zero, followed by where it fell in the production run (1 = early, 4 = late, etc. ). In '89, Tokai switched to indicating the year with two digits: 89#####. [Source: Michael Wright in Vintage Guitar]

 

Talbo catalogs

http://www.tokairegistry.com/catalogs.html

Japanese wikipedia - Woody

 

Reviews

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Tokai/Talbo+Custom/10/1

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Tokai/Blazing+Fire+Talbo/10/1

see Tokai

Tama

1975-1979

Tama guitars were made from 1975 through 1979. They break down into two series:

First, a range of medium-quality Martin-dread inspired guitars including 12-strings, most with laminated spruce tops, some solid (unusual), most with lots of plastic pearl. Sold via the Ibanez catalog in Japan as a separate line. Most peghead logos were a vertical ‘TAMA’, in the old CF Martin style. Distributed in the US by Chesbro Music Company of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Second: a similar but higher-quality series made roughly 1977-79, all with solid mahogany or rosewood ('jacaranda' in catalog) backs/sides, solid spruce tops, ebony fingerboards/bridges, plus wider headstocks with a single abalone ‘T’ logo.

In 1980 the Tama guitars were absorbed into the Ibanez acoustic line and renamed the Artwood Series …[Source: Acoustic Guitar ] link = http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/017897.html

Best Tama Guitar Resource

http://freenet-homepage.de/hufschlag/html/history.html

Tama guitar catalogs

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/11/3202.html?1073597510

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

Tanglewood 

 

"Unfortunately we don't have a full bar code system in place as of yet. We are currently beginning to use it on our products but nothing confirmed as of yet. I can tell you, on Tanglewood serial numbers the first to digits, i.e. 07 represent the year of manufacture, 2007." [Source Dan Reeks, IT Manager, Tanglewood, email 10 Mar 2008]

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

Tanner Creek

 

Handcrafted guitars made by Dann Ross in the foothills of Southeastern Indiana, near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Taro Guitars

1970s

Japanese copies of Fender and Gibson guitars [Source: Guitars Canada | Vintaxe ]

Taylor

1974 - present

TRY THIS FIRST http://www.guitardating.com/taylor.php

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/reference/dating.html

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

Taylor forums http://www.taylor-talk.com/blog/

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php

R Taylor

 

Robert Taylor's small luthier shop in grounds of the big factory (Taylor)

T.D. Hibbs   see H for Hibbs

Teigen

 

Ross Teigen, Naples, Florida, USA

Teisco

 

1946-?

Teisco was founded in 1946 by guitarist Atswo Kaneko, and electrical engineer Doryu Matsuda. The company was originally called 'Aoi Onpa Kenkyujo' (roughly: Hollyhock Soundwave or Electricity Laboratories). In 1956 the name was changed to 'Nippon Ompa Kogyo Co'. The company was acquired by Kawai in 1967, with the Teisco brand name for guitars ending in 1969.

Teisco guitars sold in the United States were badged "Teisco Del Rey" from 1964. other brand names were:

USA - Kent, Kingston, Kimberly, Tulio, Heit Deluxe and World Teisco.

UK - Arbiter, Audition, Kay and Top Twenty

After Kawai bought Teisco in 1967, they started to produce all the Teisco guitars, as well as their own brand, Apollo. [Source: Wikipedia]

The best resource for Teisco is Teisco Twangers  the original link may come back some time http://www.teiscotwangers.com/

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

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

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

http://vintageguitarpro.com/teisco.shtml

http://www.gearwire.com/teisco-guitars.html

Examples

Teisco '67 ET -460 http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina9a.html

1965 Teisco TRG-2L http://www.myrareguitars.com/eteisco.html

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/photo/guitar.html

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/teiscotone/gallery.html

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/teisco/ refer to the Category Box LHS

Teisco catalog

http://guitar.webinjp.com/catalog_guitar.htm

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

see Teisco del Ray

Teisco del Ray

1954-1967

http://www.well.com/~wellvis/gitinfo.html#teisco

http://www.teiscotwangers.com/

Telestar

1965 – early 70s

Tele-Star Japanese-made guitars debuted in the U.S. in 1965. The Tele-Star Trading Corporation, (Broadway, New York) was begun by Maurice Laboz in around 1965 and concentrated on relatively humble low-end guitars (and drums), produced mainly by the Kawai company. In 1967 the Tele-Star company was probably purchased by the Music-Craft Electronic Corporation. In the early '70s, the New York warehouse had a fire and the company relocated to Secaucus, New Jersey. From that point on, Tele-Star abandoned guitars and switched its focus to musical accessories. Circa 1982, Maurice Laboz sold the business to Fred Gretsch, Jr., son of the founder of the more famous guitar company. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine ]
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Telestar

Tellson

 

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

http://www.ratemyaxe.com/details.php?image_id=123&sessionid=1e7201db1b638ac592532294b1eeb524

? Elvis link http://www.scottymoore.net/ep58isana.html

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

Tempo

 

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tempo

see Univox

Tenorio Werx

1999 to present

Mark Tenorio has been building and repairing musical instruments professionally since 1987. He trained at Roberto-Venn school of lutherie in 1989. Thereafter he repaired guitars for 5 local music stores before establishing Tenorio Werx in 1999. [Source: Roberto-Venn ]

Tenorio Werx is based in Denver, Colorado, USA

Tenson    

Terada

1912 (toys) to today

http://www.xs4all.nl/~rosevdh/t/terada.htm#History

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

Michael Terris

 

Handmade banjos, mandolins and resonator guitars. Califon, New Jersey USA.  Mike's band - Mountain Heritage.

Boguslaw Teryks

1982 to present

Mainz, Germany

Teuffel

1984 - present

"I don't write the date on the gutiar itself but all the birdfishs have got serial numbers. So I can track the date of manufacturing." [Source Ulrich Teuffel, email, 11 Mar 2008]

http://www.fineguitarconsultants.com/teuffelstory.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Teuffel%20Guitars

Tex Star

1936

Gibson made Flat top distributed by San Antonio Music. [Source: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, 2nd Ed]

M Tezanos Perez

 

 

Michael Thames

 

Image Thames:

Thierry Andre Luthier

1997 to present

"I started to manufacture instruments (in Canada) under my name in 1997.

Besides making guitars, I also have been building smaller (gourd, hollow burl, coconut) middle east and Africa inspired instruments that I have come to call 'creations'. T he gourd instruments are becoming more and more popular.

Identification for guitars:

- hand written inside body, china ink pen (acoustic and archtops), under neck pickup, china ink pen (electrics);;; labeled: Thierry André, no.1 to no. 25, Montreal, year.

Identification for creations:

-hand written on peghead (china ink pen under finish) and inside resonator with paper label.

Labeled: Thierry André, no. c-1 to no. c-59, Montreal, year.

I am still making instruments, and numbers should go up in the years to come." [Source: email Thierry Andre, 27/5/2008 ]

David Thomas   see D for DT

Thomas /

Harvey Thomas

1960s

Built in Kent, WA in 1960s. [Source: Blue Book ]

http://www.myspace.com/thomascustomguitars 

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/harvey-thomas-maltese/feb-07/25740

http://tuba2.com/harvey/gallery.htm

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/teiscotone/gallery.html

Thomas catalog

http://tuba2.com/harvey/catalog.htm

Carl Thompson Guitars 1974 to present "Carl begin building instruments in 1974. You can tell the year and sate of manufacture by a serial number on the back of the headstock in MM DD YY format." [Source: -Aaron, CT Basses email 29/4/2008]

Serial number examples courtesy of Aaron, Carl Thompson Guitars:

Ted Thompson

1979 to present

Vernon, British Columbia

Ted has quite a fan club http://www.guitarscanada.com/Board/archive/index.php/t-6155.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Ted+Thompson

Thomsley Guitars

 

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

Threet Guitars

 

Judy Threet

Thumb (Big Thumb)

 

Thumb catalog 1977 http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

Timber Creek

2004 to present "I started making these guitars under this brand name in 2004. I make them in my shop in Beavercreek Oregon. There is a label inside each guitar that is signed along with a model# and a serial #. The first letter or #s of the model # is the body style, the second letter of the model # is the material the top is made of, the third letter of the model# is the material that the back and sides are made of, like the ones on my website GRK is Grand Auditorium body style R/Redwood top K/Koa back and sides. I have a new one coming out soon ,000SPH, 000body style S/spruce top PH/purpleheart back and sides. There is also a serial # on each label, A 6 digit  #000108 this is the first guitar built in 2008 and so on The label inside each guitar has my logo on each one and the logo is on each headstock and some also have the logo burned in the heel cap. [Source and photos courtesy of Terry Johnson Timbercreek Guitars, email 24/8/2008]

Timberline Current Handmade guitars, California, USA
Time Guitars 1970s-1980s

http://fancy.org/music/guitar/

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

Time Guitar Forum http://www.timeguitars.com/

Timeless Guitars

1980 to present

"Look thru the soundhole with a mirror & read what it says,    If there is a number on the back waist brace, it is the date built backwards . yr mth day " [Source: David Freeman, Timeless Guitars, email 21/3/2008]

Timeless is also a luthier trainer and luthier supply stop.

Tugaske, Saskatchewan, Canada

Timm

 

Jerry Timm makes (made?) grand concert, dreadnought guitars, squareneck resonators and a traveling guitar in koa called, The Little Bear Traveler. Auburn, WA, USA

Tippin Guitars current Bill Tippin, Marblehead, MA, USA
Tipton 1989 to ? Custom guitars by Bill Tipton.  He has built about 80 odd guitars to date according to Strings
Tix   http://tix.gozaru.jp/other.html

Tobias

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_%28bass_guitar_company%29

Todt

 

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

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

Tokai

 

1973 to present

Tokai Gakki Co., Ltd. (Tokai Musical Instruments) was founded in 1947 as a harmonica manufacturer.   In 1965 Tokai started making classical guitars and in 1968 started making the Hummingbird electric guitar series and in 1970 started making the Hummingbird Acoustic models.   In 1972 Tokai went into a joint venture with Martin to supply Acoustic guitar parts and also build Martin's solid body Sigma guitars.  Copies of US classics started around 1976.  [Source:  music trade ]

http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-info.html

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

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

http://www.guitarsjapan.com/tokaiinfopage.html

Tokai articles http://www.flyingvintage.com/

Tokai guitar catalogs

http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-catalogs.html

http://www1.odn.ne.jp/tokaigakki/

1984 http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/tokai/1984/jp_index.html

1975 Acoustic catalog http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1.htm

1980, 1986  http://freenet-homepage.de/bluezz_bastardzz/readme.htm

1981 http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/tokai.htm

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

Tokai forum http://www.tokaiforum.com/

Otis Tomas Guitars

1980 to present

"I have small business building custom made one-of-a-kind instruments, mainly violins and guitars. I started around 1980. All my instruments should have a label, visible through the sound hole, dated with the year of its creation." [Source: Otis, email 3/4/2008]

Tom Bills

  St Louis, USA

http://www.destroyallguitars.com/tombills