T-Th Ti-

made

info    updated 3/3/2010

Andrea Tacchi

Florence, Italy

Andrea Tacchi bio at Guitars International

Tacoma

1995 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

Image eBay: B is the first year of the Tacoma dating system 1989, made on the 98 th day of the year (early April) and was the 60th produced that day.

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/

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

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 Co. Ltd. was founded in May 1962. It is based in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan.

Dating Takamine Guitars

Try this automated Takamine serial number decoder 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 internet archive.

Takamine Natural series have been made since 1984 [Source: Takamine Forum]

Takamine reference books

The Art of Wood and Tone : Takamine Limited Edition Guitars 1987-2007

Takamine guitar catalogs

2002 Takamine guitar catalog

2003 Takamine guitar catalog

2004 Takamine guitar catalog

2006 Takamine guitar brochure United Kingdom

2007 Takamine guitar brochure United Kingdom

Takamine guitar pricelists

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 Takamine EF441SC was made: Saturday, April 7th, 2001. It was the 48th guitar made that day.

Takeharu

1960s to 1980s

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

Taku Sakashta

see S for Sakashta

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

Blazing Fire image courtesy of stratmoto, Aussie Guitar Gear Heads forum 2008.

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 ]

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

Images eBay:

Tanara

1980s? to recent

? related to Ibanez?

Tanara guitar catalogs

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

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

Images eBay:

Tanglewood 

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

Targa

Myspace page collecting information about Targa guitars.

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

Taro Guitars

1970s

Taro guitars were made in Japan and models included copies of Fender and Gibson guitars imported to Canada. [Source: Guitars Canada | Vintaxe ]

Also made classical guitars [Source: Axewar, Flickr]

Image courtesy of Dwoody01:

Tarrega

1960s

Tarrega guitars were made by Hagstrom/Bjarton and distributed by Fender in the 1960s.

Image eBay:

1889-1942

Vicente Tatay was a guitar maker in Valencia from 1889. The workshop was transformed into a factory. The firm Vicente Tatay founded has grown into a major factory producing some 40,000 instruments a year. Vicente Tatay retired in 1942, and the firm was taken over by his sons José and Vicente Tatay Tomás who formed a company Hijos de Vicente Tatay [Source: Zavaletas]

Images Hope Street Music

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

Taylor

1974 - present

Taylor Guitars was established as a small shop in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, El Cajon, California. [Source: wikipedia]

Dating Taylor Guitars

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

Taylor reference books

Taylor Guitars 30 Years of a New American Classic

Images: eBay,  Joyful Noise:

The first label Taylor serial number is 1688 whic works out as a 1982 guitar. The second label Taylor serial number is interpretable from the label itself, year 2000, November, 9th.

R Taylor

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

Tut Taylor

Brand produced by Mark Taylor of Crafters of Tennessee. Named for his father.

Teigen

Ross Teigen, Naples, Florida, USA

Teisco

1946-?

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

Images Teisco acoustic (circa 1961) courtesy of Leanne, 2008:

Image of Teisco Spectrum 5 guitar courtesy of David Feb 2008.

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

Images eBay:

Oscar Teller

1950s - 1990?

Examples on web range from 1957 - 1989.  Classical guitars made in West Germany. According to an interview with Mason Wiliams, the composer of Classical Gas" his recording guitar was branded "Cordova" and made by Oscar Teller.  Spanish names sold better.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Oscar+Teller

Image 1968 Oscar Teller Guitar label eBay: ,"MEISTER WERKSTATTE IM GUITARRENBAN", made in W.Germany

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

Japan 1960s/70s.

My first electric guitar was a used Tempo 335 copy in 1975.

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

see Univox

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

Terada

1912 (toys) to today

Terada was established in 1912 making violins for Toys. After World War II, around 1955, Terada started to make `Stringed Instruments' in earnest. In the 1970's they had three plants near the Nagoya area and produced more than 10,000 guitars per month for Domestic market and also for Overseas market. The Terada factory also built Orville, Epiphone, and Thumb brand guitars among others. Gretch also contracted out to Terada to make some of their higher end guitars when the company was resurrected in the mid 80's. Steinberger also used Terada to make the Japanese bodies for the USA graphites.”

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

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

see H for T Hauro

Michael Terris

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

Boguslaw Teryks

1982 to present

Mainz, Germany

1984 - present

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

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

Texas

1959-1965

Aluminum neck guitars bu Jacobacci, France

Jacobacci Texas pages including catalogs

Example Guitar Collection

Tex Star

1936

Gibson made Flat top distributed by San Antonio Music. [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

Teye

2005 to present

"Yeah I actually started in 2005.

I have two distinct lines of guitars: my A-Series which I make myself and which carry supermuch hand adornment (like the engraving and hand-applied mosaic), and the new S-Series which is made by three dedicated luthiers according to my specs and under my personal quality control, and which series is intended to bring the Tone, Feel, and Versatility of my design to people of smaller wallet size (the only criticism on my A-Series was the price, and many people inquired about a cheaper version, which there now is).

A's go for US$9,000 and up; S's start at $3,500.

There are several options to make your S-guitar more like an A: my hand-made bridge and tailpiece instead of the nomal TonePros; a hand-mosaic instead of an insert ring, and more. Both A and S are made in my back yard just outside of Austin Texas. Both series are completely hand-made.

Dating Teye guitars

The year of manufacture is engraved either in the tailpiece cover or on the body plate of the A-Series. The date of completion is on a letter of authenticity that accompanies every A and S guitar. I still must find a way to satisfactory mark the year on my S-Series: so far, it has been the least of my concerns as the first S rolled out in 2008; but indeed, with 3 slated for completion this week....
I do have a list of all guitars on the password-protected section of my site, only accessible to owners.

We briefly toyed with a serial number system that would include the year, but abandoned it in favor of simple sequential. The serial number goes in fairly early, and sometimes a guitar lingers in the shop for well over a month, or more (sometimes unpredictable).

On all A-guitars from 015 onward, the serial number has been stamped also in the side of the headstock, between the g and b-string tuners.

All S-guitars also have this same stamped serial number.

A's have a three-digit preceded by an A;

S have a four digit number preceded by an S. I also make special guitars that are considered "Fuera de Serie" which is Spanish for both "Outside of the series" as well as: "Extraordinary". They carry an FS and a two digit number.

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

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Aug/Teye_Guitars_Electric_Gypsy.aspx

M Tezanos Perez

M.Tezanos Perez actually stands for Miguel Angel, Mariano Tezanos, and Gregorio Perez. The former supplies the latter two luthiers with the finest wood available in the world. Both Tezanos and Perez worked more than 20 years for Jose Ramirez III and IV. Tezanos is well known for the work of his late father who made some of the finest guitars produced by the Ramirez workshop in the 60s, 70s and 80s. What is less well know is that Mariano Jr. also stamped his initials (M.T) in the foot of many Ramirez guitars from this period. Mariano grew up across the street from the great luthier Marcelo barbero who apparently taught his father (and later Arcanel Fernandez) guitar building. Gregorio Perez stands in his own right as one of the great Ramirez builders of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Today, they make up the greatest guitar-making duo in Spain since Aguado y Hernandez. [Source: Casa Bennelly ]

Image Trilogy Guitars:

Michael Thames

1972 to present

Custom classical guitars, Taos, New Mexico, USA

Image Thames:

1997 to present

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

Thomas

Thomas, a brand of Kiso Suzuki

Images eBay:

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.

Determining date of manufacture for Carl Thompson Guitars / CT Basses

You can tell the year and date 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

Thorell Fine Guitars

2003 to present

Ryan Thorell, Logan, Utah, USA

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

Thorn Custom Guitars

2000 to present

Bill Thorn, Glendale, California

C.P. Thornton

2004 to present

Chuck Thornton, Turner, Maine.

Built basses and guitars under CP Thornton Basses brand.

Thornward

1890s

? made by Lyon and Healy / Washburn and sold by Montgomery Ward. [Source: Bills Banjos]

According to Mugwumps could be made by Harmony. Found one article which suggested Thornward guitars were made by Larson Bros also.

Images 1895 Thornward Guitar eBay:

Three S

By Suzuki Nagoya [Source: Suzuki Blog].

Three S catalogs

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

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Suzuki/Three-S/10/1

Images Yahoo:

Threet Guitars

1990 to present

Judy Threet, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Thumb (Big Thumb)

1970s

Thumb guitars were made in Japan by Terada Gakki, Nagoya in the 1970s and ? 80s?.

Terada Gakki also made Gretsch, Orville and Orville by Gibson and Morris high-end folk guitars.

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

Images eBay:

see Terada

Thunder

Thunder brand was distributed by Nihon Chikushin. The manufacturer is Kiso Suzuki Violin. [Source: Trade Me Japan]

Image Yahoo Japan:

Ti-