w

manufactured

info    updated 11/10/2008...please email corrections/info

W. Paul

1995 to present

"I started W. Paul guitars in 1995. 2. Its hard to tell the date of manufacturing by the serial number but inside the electronic cavity I would have signed and dated". [Source Bill Jarowski, W Paul email, 25/3/2008]

Gernot Wagner

http://www.acousticguitar.com/issues/ag103/feature103.shtml

Image Danzeff

Wal basses

1978-late 2007

Wal dating http://www4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/~koesters/Privat/Wal/

Wikipedia Wal Basses

http://walbassist.blogspot.com/

http://www.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/wal_history.htm

1994 Wal brochure http://www.subidiom.com/wal/

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

Walden

1996 to present

"Walden guitars are made in a town called Lilan since 1996. Lilan is a small town located about a 2 hour drive south of Beijing, China. All Walden guitar
models are built there beginning with milling and seasoning through final setup and inspection.

Principal designer and Fretted Instrument Division Manager, Jonathan Lee, lives in Portland, Oregon, USA. Jonathan learned the craft of guitar building during the '90s as a partner at the handmade guitar shop CFox Guitars, located in Healdsburg, CA.

Walden's parent company is KHS Musical Instruments who has been building instruments for 75+ years and is located in Taiwan. KHS is primarily known for the drum brand MAPEX, wind instrument brand JUPITER, and stand brand HERCULES.
Dating Walden guitars

The first 2 digits of the SN written on our label connote the year of manufacture. The rest of the serial number is sequential beginning that year." [Source: Jonathan Lee, Walden Guitars, email 22/9/2008]

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

Image courtesy of Walden guitars:

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

http://www.waldenguitars.com/news/index.html

John Walker

2004 to present

I started building guitars under the name "John Walker Guitars" in 2004. I have been building guitars for over 20 years.   John Walker Guitars are built in Montana USA.

John Walker Guitars have a label in the sound hole, which states the serial number, date, and model name.  In addition, I date and sign the inside of the top which can be read using a mirror. The serial number is simply the number of instruments built and is usually stamped on the headblock." [Source: John Walker, email 6/8/2008 ]

Wallace

David Wallace, Smokey Mountains, USA. Custom flat tops, arch tops, electric and bass guitars.  Feature 5 piece necks. At a 2000 version of this site suggested 3 decades - therefore assume since around 1970.  Web site was still available in 2006 - but cannot access modern pages on wayback machine.

A Harmony Brand

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

Angela Waltner

Berlin, Germany

Wandre

http://www.geocities.com/stompbox2001/wandre.htm

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/wandre.html

Search at 1 http://www.vintageguitar.com

Wandre Rock Oval http://www.professorposter.com/guitarch.htm

1965 Wandre Modele Karak http://www.myrareguitars.com/ewandre.html

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

Warr Guitars

1991

Mark Warr, touch style guitars and basses.

Warr Guitar Brochures and Price Lists

2003 Warr Guitar Brochure

2002 Warr Guitar price list

2005 Warr Guitar price list

2007 Warr Guitar price list

Warren

1998 to present

"I have been making guitars for about 10 years as custom orders for one person at a time and to this point, I recall most of my customers in that I personally interact with them throughout the process.
 
Until a few years ago, I had not numbered them but now I do with the year and order number on the backplate.
 
I make the guitars in upstate New York.
 
Besides a link to www.warrenguitars.com I can also give you a link to my new site that is all about  my doing setups on guitars that I would love your feedback on. This has never been offerred anywhere from what I am told, especially at this price. Check out my site about doing setups on guitars www.theulitmatesetup.com
 
I also make the Arlen Roth signature model: www.arlenroth.com

[Source: Don Warren, email 6/8/2008 ]

The ultimate set up

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

Warrior

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

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

Warwick

1982 to present

Warwick was founded in 1982 in Erlangen, in the German state of Bavaria, by Hans Peter Wilfer (son of Alfred Andreas Wilfer founder of  Framus) ..

In 1995 Warwick moved to Markneukirchen in the Saxon Vogtland to capitalize on the centuries-old tradition of instrument building in the region. In 1996 the company opened an office in Shanghai.   [Source: Warwick ]

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

Warwick Rockbass Specs 2008

contact details at: http://www.warwickbass.com/about.html

see Warwick in Amps also

Washburn

1864 -  present

Washburn first starting making guitars in 1883 in Chicago Illinois.  Washburn's electric guitar history began in 1978. [ Source: Adirondack Guitar ] 

http://www.washburn.com/about/faq/index.aspx#1

http://www.washburn.com/about/faq/archive.aspx

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

http://www.washburn.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6344

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

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

Washburn catalog (Japanese) http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/catalogs/wb_catalogs.html

Reviews

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

http://www.adirondackguitar.com/reviews/washburn.htm

Washburn forum http://www.washburn.com/forum/default.asp

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

Watkins / WEM / Wilson

1961-1982

http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/renovation.htm

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/charlottecooper/guitarsite/docs/Rapier.html

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

1960s-1970s

Made in Australia

http://www.grouseguitars.com.au/sold/wayne.htm

http://mwynwood.com/blog/?p=265

http://www.guitarseminars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/014906.html

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

Made in USA

http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f68/wayne-charvels-history-36981.html

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

see Charvel

Webber Guitars

1998 to present

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Weber

1997 to present

Hand crafted in Logan, Montana, USA

http://www.mandozine.com/resources/CGOW/weber.php

Wechter

http://www.wechterguitars.com/abe_column/na-01.htm

http://www.audiogrid.com/guitar/index.html

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

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

Weissenborn

1920s - 1930s

Hermann C. Weissenborn a German piano and violinmaker immigrated to New York around 1902. In 1910 he moved to Los Angeles where he mainly did repair work on instruments until the end of the decade. With the Hawaiian music boom of the early 20's, Weissenborn started making ukeleles, flattops and eventually his captivating Hawaiian steel guitars.

With their raised string action, frets flush with the fingerboard, square hollow necks and featherweight koa wood construction the Weissenborns offered both greater volume and sustain than conventional Spanish neck guitars for Hawaiian lap steel playing. Due to their sweet timbre, expressive tone and eye-catching design these guitars were an instant hit and stayed in demand until the advent of the Nationals and Dobros. Hermann Weissenborn died in 1937 amidst debts and declining business for his shop. [Source: http://www.christiaanoyens.com.br/weissenborneng.htm ]

Other Weissenborn resources:

http://www.weissenborn.es/g_history.html

http://vintageguitarpro.com/weiss.shtml

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

http://www.vintagemandolin.com/weissenborn_article.html
Build your own
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Five-Secrets-of-Building-a-Weissenborn-Guitar&id=592940

John Weissenrieder

2002 to present

"I began building in 1998 as a pupil of Andrea Tacchi.  I have had my own workshop since 2002, in Florence Italy.
The year in which the instrument was constructed is written on the label.  
The top is also signed and dated (on the inside) on the bass side of the lower bout; I sign my name, write the month and year, a reference number and the place where the work was done.  (i.e. Florence).

I have 2 different labels, both designed, engraved and printed by the same artist, Susanna Manghetti of Volterra, Italy. (acquaforte printing technique).  They're similar, and I use one or the other without any particular discretion."  
[Source: John Weissenrieder, email 27/7/2008 ]
 

Wells Guitars

1977 to present

"I started making guitars in 1977. They were  made in Daytona Beach, Florida until 2003 when my family moved to  Luray Virginia. They were made in Luray from 2003-2007 when we moved  to Halifax, Massachusetts where they are made today. Most instruments  are signed and dated on the underside of the top of the instrument. It  can only be seen with a mirror." [Source:  Sylvan Wells, 24/7/2008]

Welson

Welson were based in Castelfidardo in Italy ,making accordions and accoustic since the 20s and crazy electrics from the early 60s alongside Eko, ,Crucianelli, Bartolini and Galanti.  Around 1967 Welson released a range of violin shaped guitars and basses using a new mini Humbucker.  The same range was marketed in the US under the Orpheum brand. [Source: eBay description ]

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/welson.html

http://www.combo-organ.com/Welson/welson.htm

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

Welson catalogs

http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/welson/cat/index.html

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_european_welson_1969.htm

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

see Orpheum

Wendler

2000 to present

Electro acoustics, Kansas, USA

"The guitars are serialized on the back of the peghead....

I'm up to about #180 right now, although there are a few more "prototypes"
out in the world, which AREN'T numbered.

I finished my first run of five instruments in March of 2000.

The instruments are built at my house, where I have three areas set up for
business...woodworking shop; paint area/set up room, and studio/office.

I started building my own necks at about #45....the commercial necks can be
identified by "six on a side" and the standard flat Fender peghead geometry
all with maple necks/rosewood boards.  All three on a side for the guitars,
and 2X2 basses I made the necks. I've made the necks on all of the
mandolins.

Any one can write to me about the instruments and I can get a lot closer on
dating them. But, about 20-25 instruments a year production totals." [Source: Dave Wendler, email 6/8/2008 ]

Brian West

West

1985 to present

"I started making guitars labelled "WEST" around 1985 and used that until 2006 since then they've been "BRIANWEST"
All guitars are built at my repair shop "FRETCO GUITAR REPAIRS",  Adelaide - South Australia
Serial numbers are usually on the back of the headstock & stamped inside the control cavity.
 from 1985 - 1995  YY00## eg. 910006  (#6 1991)
From 1996 to present MMYY00  eg. 110801 (#1, November 2008)." [Source: Brian West, email 8/8/2008 ]

Westminster catalog http://lily-garden.sakura.ne.jp/sblo_files/shonan-chigasaki/image/WESTMINSTER76.pdf

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

see Greco

Westone

late 1970s to early 1990s

Contrary to what you may read on some sites Westone did not start with Matsumoku, rather production commenced in late 1970s ? in Europe and available only in Europe and Australia. Japanese manufacture by Matsumoku commenced in 1981 as the brand entered America. The rights to Westone were sold to St Louis Music (SLM) in 1984. SLM co-branded their existing Electra line as Electra-Westone but the Electra brand did not last.
In 1987, Matsumoko dropped guitar manufacturing and SLM was forced to move Westone production to Korea.
Westone only survived a few more years, with SLM ceasing production sometime in early 1991.

Sometime in the early 1990s, Westone reappeared in England with a new model line and direction. Musik-Meyer of Germany had bought the rights to the Westone name and tried to revive the line with FCN Music in the early 1990s but it did not last long. [Source: http://www.geocities.com/rhynster/ ]

Other great Westone resources can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/6961/westone/

http://www.westone.info/index.html

There is a small amount of Westone info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westone_%28guitars%29

Dating Westone guitars
http://www.westone.info/faq.html

http://vintageguitarpro.com/serialtoc.shtml

Westone guitar catalogs
http://www.westone.info/catalogues.html

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

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Westone
Weston Forum http://forum.westoneguitars.net/index.htm

see Matsumoku, Electra

Westwood

1962-1965

http://www.meatexz.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=867

A Harmony Brand

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

White Guitars

Portland, Oregon

Image White:

Andrew White Guitars

2001 to present

"I started to build guitars in 2001.

will say F104. The labels are also signed by me at the bottom of the label." [Source: Andrew White, email 30/3/2008]

David Whiteman Guitars

Wildflower Custom Instruments

see Leo Posch (under P)

Wildwood Instruments

1999 to present

Wildwood Instruments began making full size acoustic guitars in 1999. The dates of manufacture were included in the serial numbers. In 2004 Travel guitars, mandolins, fiddles and dulcimers began to be produced. The early ones were not clearly labeled with dates or serial numbers. In 2005 each label included a serial number and the year in which it was built. If the label is missing from an instrument it is also signed and dated on the underside of the soundboard. You will need a mirror and torch to find the inscription.  There is no logo on my headstocks, however, the Wildwood range is so unique there should be no mistaking it for another brand. [Source: Nick Carpenter, Wildwood email 13/8/2008 ]

Nick Carpenter established Wildwood Instruments in 1999 in Perth, Western Australia. He relocated to Melbourne in 2007 and celebrated the opening of his first shop 18 April 2008.  Brunswick, Victoria, Australia

Rene Wilhelmy

1978 to present

Montreal, Canada

Wilkat guitars

2001 to present

"I hand make all my instruments here in my home in Montreal, Canada. Each instrument gets a serial number which is usually located on the back of  the the wood control covers on a label of authenticity. These normally include the date of manufacture, as well as the initials of the customer, or the initials of the model if it was done for more than one person. This is rare though since most of what I build is "one of a kind", and thus truly a personal custom instrument--unless it gets sold!  

An example of these labels is in the attached photo--but I don't do them all exactly the same, and sometimes I will add a serial number elsewhere in the body (and I have used, and will do so only by request, a hidden identification device called a Snagg Microchip, that can be registered on line, and can be detected by a special scanner, in the event it is ever lost or stolen. (The registration can be updated if or when the instrument is sold to another owner, and is maintained by the manufacturer of this Microchip). The running number located after the initials is the production number, (but again, they rarely go past one, since most are truly one of a kind), followed by the date of manufacture. I also randomly change my signature on these to prevent forgeries, or misuse of my signature, and it's not the one I sign legal documents with (to protect me further--particularly important as "identity theft" attempts have been made on me, but I remain vigilant against such things).

I make electric guitars and basses both with or without headstocks, but  I have been taking a sabbatical lately...Even when building regularly, I have kept production low (about 6 instruments per year, up to a maximum of 12), to ensure the high quality and integrity of my work.

I set up shop in 2001 and have done a variety of instruments, however more custom basses than guitars, since bass players tend to be more open to new things (I refuse to do copies of Stratocasters, Les Pauls, and the like, although I have done designs that are inspired by a few better known models, but never copies per se).

Instruments with headstocks (see attached photo example) will normally bear my Logo of Wilkat Guitars, as well as the model name, and customer's name for signature models. I do not produce any of my own hardware or pickups, etc., but use well respected brand name products from the marketplace. Graphite composite necks when used, are also purchased from outside sources. " [Source: Bill Wilkat, email 7/8/2008 ]

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

Laurie Williams

Mangonui, Taipa, New Zealand

Roger A Williams

Staffordshire, England

Willis Guitars

East Sussex, UK

Wilson

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

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

see Watkins, WEM above

A Harmony Brand

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

Windy Hill Guitars

1992 to present

Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA

Wingert Guitars

Kathy Wingert, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA