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made

info    updated 8/2/2012

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 are at Harmony Central

see Kramer and Metal guitars

Images eBay:

Vachon

early 1990s to present

Vachon guitars.

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 luthier, 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 are at Harmony Central

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.

These are made for an Australian company Metcalf Music or Australasian Music Supplies Ltd

Images eBay:

Valenciana

Valenciana guitars, made in Spain.

Image Valenciana guitar ? 1970s Bruunari:

Valiant

Valiant guitar from ebay. Made in Japan 1960s. ? Stencil brand of Guyatone. Thanks to Ben van Dyk, Canada for passing this on.

Valley Arts

1977 to  present

Valley Arts Guitars was founded mid 1970s in Hollywood California. Sold to Samick in 1992, now owned by Gibson. [Source: Valley Arts fan site  ]
Valley Arts history from internet archive - an old Gibson page
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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Images 1990s M series made in Japan  ebay

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

van Gool guitars are from the Netherlands.

"I started my career as guitar maker in 1978.

Dating van Gool guitars
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]

Grey Van Kuilenburg

http://www.guitarsmatrix.com/profiles/greyvankuilenburg.html

van Loben Sels

1986 to present

Hans van Loben Sels luthier, 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 are at Harmony Central

Images eBay:

See Matsumoko

Van Zandt Guitars

These guitars are made by PGM with no affiliation with Van Zandt pickups, with the exception that these guitars are equipped with Van Zandt pickups. I infer that is the reason for the name on the headstock. [Source: Guitars Japan]

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

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Vaquero

Images Vaquero guitar with stencils of musicians eBay.

Varita

Valery Vaschenko

Guitarmaster Valery Vaschenko. Custom Built handmade guitars are made in his shop near Minsk in Belarus. [Source and images Robert Robert, email 29/12/2011]

Vashon

http://bobkrinsky.com/

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