V

made

info    updated 20/1/2010

Vaccaro

1998 - present

Made in USA

In 1995 Henry Vaccaro revived the Kramer company with new investors.  Gibson bought the company in 1997.  Vaccaro started producing his own line of aluminium neck guitars in 1998. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

http://www.metalnecks.com/index.php/mID/01cb0fca/fuseaction/guitars.manu.htm

http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/SNAMM98/Vaccaro/Vaccaro.html

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

see Kramer

Vachon

early 1990s to present

My first instrument was made in 1978, and then my own company was founded in the early 90's.

Right now I have a shop in downtown Montreal, and I am about to move it to the country side, in the eastern township.

All my instruments have a number and a inscription in latin that says
  " ARBOR  MAGNUS CANTE "

that are stamp in the tail block, and the  date is on the label paper with company name and signature." [Source: Bernard Vachon, email 24/7/2008 ]

Vail

Gary Vail, Hyde Park, New York, USA

1998 to present

I started building guitars in 1998, and when I sell a guitar I write the date in the inner sticker with my name." [Source: Raul Valazquez, email 18/4/2008]

Valco

1943 to 1968

Important dates [Source: Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars ]

1943 National changed name to Valco.

1940s through 1960s Valco made instruments and amps under various brands for other companies including: Gretsch, Oahu, Silvertone, Airline, Norman English, Atlas and St Louis Music.

1967 Valco absorbed the Kay Company

1968 Valco went bankrupt.

http://www.valcopages.com/

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

Valco's Steel Guitar patent 1952

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valco

http://vintageguitarpro.com/valco.shtml

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

see Kay, National

Val Dez

1960s-1970s

Val Dez guitars, made in Finland, Imported to US by Espana, New York.

Image eBay

Valdez

current

Hollywood, California

old

Info needed. The second guitar with headstock at left was seen on ebay - guitar location Australia.

Valencia

Valencia guitars made by the Harmony Company, Chicago USA. 1930s.

Images eBay:

Valencia

1985 to present

a range of low priced instruments currently made in Korea or Taiwan.

Distributed in US by Rondo Music, Union, New Jersey.

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

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

Images eBay:

Valenciana

Valenciana guitars, made in Spain.

Image Valenciana guitar ? 1970s Bruunari:

Valley Arts

1977 to  present

Founded mid 1970s in Hollywood California. Sold to Samick in 1992, now owned by Gibson. [Source: Valley Arts fan site  ]

Valley Art catalogs and heaps of information on pre Samick Valley Arts guitars can be found at http://www.valleyartsguitars.com/

News group – Valley Arts http://www.valleyartsguitars.com/forum.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/valley-arts-guitar?cat=entertainment

http://player.gibson.com/june03/valleyarts.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Valley+Arts

Argyll, Scotland.

"Mike Vanden's instruments are classics. He designed the Mimesis pickup which was sold to Fishman and became the Rare Earth. He has made jazz guitars, solids and some other stuff. He's very highly regarded [Source: derkeiler ]

Van der Gaag

Johan Van der Gaag, The Netherlands

van Gool

1978 to present

"I started my career as guitar maker in 1978.
I engrave the centerstrip on the inside of the back with my name number and year of making." [Source: John J van Gool, luthier, email 4/3/2008]

van Loben Sels

1986 to present

Hans van Loben Sels, Amersfoort, Netherlands

Image van loben sels :

Vantage

1977-?

This trademark was established in Matsumoku, Japan, around 1977. Original production was based in Japan from 1977 to 1990. Distributed by Music Industries Corporation of Floral Park, NY, since 1987.  Instruments manufactured in Korea since 1990.  [Source: Blue Book]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Vantage-v100-1.htm

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/vantage.html

http://www.wietsesguitars.nl/pagina9a.html

Vantage Bass dating snippet:

Serial no. 108001 was dated as 1981 based on the SN and was made in the Matsumoku plant..
and another comment: The Japanese basses produced in the Matsumoku factory usually had six- or seven-digit serial numbers, with the first digit or two denoting the year. [Source: Talkbass forum in 2005]

http://www.therathole.org/guitar/here/my_guitars.html

Vantage VS 600 http://wietsesguitars.nl/page44.html

Vantage catalogs

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/catalogs.html

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/jb007/vantage_cat/Data/page.htm?0,0

Forum http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/index.php

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

Images eBay:

See Matsumoko

Van Zandt Guitars

http://www.nymphusa.com/tele/vanzandte.asp

http://elgitarrer.com/vintage-japanese-guitars/historik-japanska-gitarrer/van-zandt.shtml

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Van+Zandt

see PGM

Varita

Vashon

http://bobkrinsky.com/

Vega

1903-1980s, 1989 to present

Originally a Boston based company. Guitars made in US by Harmony http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php and Egmond according to http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

1970 bought by CF Martin .

1980 bought by Korea's Galaxy Trading Company

1989 bought by The Deering Banjo Company, Spring Valley, California. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

Vega company at wikiedia

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

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Vega-acoustic-electric.htm

http://vintageguitarpro.com/vega.shtml

Vega catalogs

1912 to 1970 Vega Banjo catalogs

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

Images eBay: Label says The Vega Co Musical Instruments. 150 Columbus Ave, Boston Mass.

Charles Vega

1993 to present

Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/7049/cgbs.htm

Veillette

1995 to present

Veillette Guitars are built by Joe Veillette, Martin Keith, and Ande Chase in Woodstock, NY. 

Joe Veillette co-founded Veillette-Citron (Harvey Citron) in 1975.  In 1991 he founded Woodstock Music with Stuart Spector (of Basses fame) until 1995.

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

Veillette-Citron

1975 to 1983

Founded by Joe Veillette and Harvey Citron in 1975.

http://new.veilletteguitars.com/press_citron.shtml

Veillette-Citron catalogs

see Veillette

1946 -present

Tribute at Cumpiano

Another at UFC news room

Image courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

Veleno®

1970 - present

"John Veleno and his son Chris Veleno were making and selling guitars from 1970 to present.  There were times that were difficult due to John experiencing two strokes in 1975 but he was back in his limited condition making guitars at various times through the years.  John directed in making three custom guitars for Todd Rundgren in late 1977 to 1978.  Chris Veleno was making and selling Veleno® guitars in the early 1990s at a show in Nashville." [Source: John Veleno, email 21/5/2007]

"Due to the extreme problem of counterfeited guitars using the Veleno® name and stating that they were made by me we are not divulging any dates of manufacture.  Investigation is still under way.  It is very unfortunate that some folks will not openly take credit for their personal and own accomplishments as we do here, but rather imitate that they are other people in order to make themselves look great.  Under those circumstances we do not reveal manufacture dates, however, we do give them to people who send us a Veleno® guitar for a verification inspection and receive a Certificate of Authenticity." [Source: John Veleno, email 23/1/2007]

http://www.veleno.net/history2.htm

http://www.autohobbydigest.com/aluminum_guitars/veleno.html

Search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/misc/usa/veleno.html

http://www.metalnecks.com/index.php/mID/3a3621f0/fuseaction/guitars.manu.htm

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

Vendramini Guitars

Orleans, France

Vendramini Guitars at myspace

Vengeance Guitars and Graphix

2002 to present

Rick Stuart, Arden, North Carolina, USA.

Venlonia

Netherlands guitar factory.

Venlonia at wikipedia

Brands included Famos, Unicon, Top Tuner, Magic,

Roberto-Venn

School of luthiery, Phoenix Arizona USA

Ventura

1960s to 1980s

Vergara

2000 to present

Pepe Vergara, Southern California, USA

I started repairing and modifying guitars since I was a kid in the 1970's.  However,  I started making guitars and selling them professionally in 2000.  The date of manufacture is written on the label on each guitar. The seril number includes codified information on type of woods, finish and any other special detail particular to this guitar." [Source: Pepe Vergara, email, 10/10/2008  ]
Image courtesy of Pepe Vergara:

Walter Verreydt

1985 to present

Verri

1992 to present

Henry Verri, Little Falls, New York, USA

"Versoul is a one man company and founded in autumn 1994 by me and the first guitars were made in December 1994.
So far less than 300 instruments have been made.
Nowadays Versoul models includes:
- Acoustic classic guitars, brand name Touco
- Acoustic steel 6 & 12 string guitars, brand names: Zoel, Buxom, Baby Buxom, Junior Buxom, Minor Buxom, Kenny Burrell Jazz Models 6 and
12 string models.
- Electric solid body 6 & 12 string guitars, brand names: Raya, Henry
- Electric acoustic guitars, brand name Swan
- Electric acoustic resonator 6 and 12 string and baritone 6 string guitars; brand name ResoSun
- Electric solid body baritone guitars, 6 and 12 string models, brand name Raya
- Acoustic steel string baritone guitars, 6 and 12 string models, brand name Buxom
- Acoustic classic baritone guitars, 6 string, brand name Buxom
- Electric solid body basses, brand name: Raya
- Electric acoustic basses, brand name; Swan

Each guitar has "a running" serial number, starting 001 and now closing 0300 ( = almost 300 instruments made)
Also each guitar is dated and signed by me with following methods:

A. Electric solid body guitars and basses have serial number, model and company name handwritten on backside of the headstock with black or gold pencil.  Also the same information is written on the inner side of the pot cavity plate (on aluminium tape).

B. Acoustics and electric acoustics have labels inside the guitar.
1. Gold Label ( real gold leaf label) :
- Model and company name silk screened with black colour + hand written: dated and signed with black pencil by me.
Gold Label Guitar's body East Indian rosewood or curly maple.
Note; A few real Silver Label instruments were made during the 1990's (guitar body mahogany or plain maple)
2. Palladium/Platinum Label (real precious leaf metal):
- Model and company name silk screened with black colour + hand written: dated and signed with black pencil by me.
Guitar's body Honduras or Brazilian rosewood or superb curly maple

C. Custom Versoul Models: (includes for example a few Strat and Tele style guitars)
Each guitar has normal hand written serial number and company name on back side of the headstock + my signature on the face side of the
headstock ( black or gold pencil)." [Source: Kari Nieminen, Versoul Ltd, email, 26/3/2008]

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

Vester

? mid 80s

The Samuel Music company of Effingham, Illinois (founded 1946) decided to launch its own brand of guitars, Vester in the late 1980s. Vester used imported instruments, which were made by Saehan Guitar Technology, a subdivision of Zaozhuang Saehan Music Co., Ltd in South Korea (now known as Sunghan Music). The guitars were imported into the United States by Midco Music (now Musicorp). [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vester_Guitars ]

Vester fan page

Vester catalog

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

Reviews
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Vesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vester_Guitars

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

A Harmony Brand

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

Victor

2002-2007

Edward Victor Dick and Greg German, Denver, Colorado, USA

From the internet  archive:

About Victor guitars 2006

Victor guitars models 2006

Victoria

1920s ? Distributor with guitars made by Oscar Schmidt. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

In 1969 RCA began using franchised music outlets to distribute their records and apparently import guitars were sold as well. According to Willie Moseley, RCA house brand labels included Baron, Royalist and Victoria. [Source: Vintaxe forum ]

Also have seen an electric guitar from the late 1960s? with Victoria written on the pick ups - the seller claimed it was made in Japan by Zen-On.

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

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

Images eBay

Vigier

1978 to present

In 1978 Patrice Vigier sets up as an independent luthier.  In 1980: Exhibits at his first music show in Paris introducing the Arpege series. [Source: wikipeda]

Vigier catalogs

http://www.vigierguitars.com/gcatalog/GMC.htm

Dating Vigier Guitars

On the left hand menu bar go to Guitars/Basses tab. Click date your guitar. Wait a while for a pdf to load.  It is not quite as easy as stated on Ducks Deluxe – you may have to remove the neck.

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

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

Vigier forum http://www.eguitaremag.com/forums/viewforum.php?id=15

Viking

1998 to present

Made by Ed Roman, Las Vegas, USA

Robert L Vincent

Vincenzo Miroglio & Figli

Vincenzo Miroglio & Figli were making guitars from the 1920's until 1960's, Catania, Italy

Image eBay:

Tony Vines

1989 to present

Kingsport, TN, USA

Vinetto Guitars

2003 to present

Luthier Vince Cunetto. Made is St Louis, USA

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

Vintage

current

Asian origin. A John Hornby Skewes product.

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

Vintique

1990 to present

Jay Monterose. Custom Telecaster style guitars and parts. Bergenfield New Jersey, USA

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

A Harmony Brand

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

Edward Franco Vivas

Vivitone

1933-1936

Ten years after working for Gibson, Lloyd Loar, former Gibson associate Lewis Williams and Walter Moon launched the Vivi-tone company to market their electric guitar concepts. While Vivi-Tone was primarily concerned with the development of amplified instruments, they also built "Acousti-Guitar" models for more conservative players. Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan. [Source and image courtesy of Retrofret]

VLine

see Vincent Berton

Vogel

1995 to present

Bob Vogel, Ecuador

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

Voice

Models included Voice Frontier Custom.  Made in Japan in 1960s [Source: Vintaxe ]

Voice instrument catalog

http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/voice.htm

Volcan

current

Volcan appear to be a Chinese made guitars. I discovered the brand on eBay per the guitar in these pictures.  Unsure that they are the same brand.

Heidi von Ruden

Berlin, Gemany

Vorg

Vorg by Pearl.

Instruments produced in Italy from late 1970s (then moved to Japan). Production ended early 1980s. Pearl trademark appeared on a number of instruments manufactured (at first) by the Gherson company of Italy. Production of Pearl guitars moved to Japan (circa 1978-1979) and continued on for another couple of years.  [Source: Tony Bacon and Paul Day, Guru's Guitar Guide ].

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

Image Wutzdog Guitars:

Otto Vowinkel

1984 to present

Vowinkel-Picado

Acoustic guitars made by collaboration of Otto Vowinkel of Amsterdam, Holland and Antonio Picado of Barcelona, Spain. The A2 student range was initially made by Otto Vowinkel in the Netherlands.  These models are now produced by Antonio Picado in Spain.

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

Vox

1961-

Jennings Musical Instruments was incorporated in 1957. In 1958 the Vox AC15 was built. 1961 the first Vox guitar. [Source: Bill Hillman]
http://www.voxshowroom.com/faq/index.html#date

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/crucianelli/335/1964vox_chrono.html

http://www.coololdstuff.com/instruments1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_Ultrasonic

Vox guitar catalog http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/eko/catalogues/64vox/index.html

Vox guitar advertisements http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/vox

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

Image Vox Student Prince guitar made in Italy 1960s eBay:

Vox Humana

1940s

In the 1940s Vox Humana was a guitar and lap steel brand. http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

Brand is currently being made eg:

http://guitars101.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/18-string-bass-guitar/

Image Daisybelle:

Voyage-Air

Harvey Leach has been making guitars since 1972.   The Voyage-Air guitar is a full size acoustic that folds at the neck for compact travel purposes.

V & T

At least a Rickenbacker clone.