W-WD | We | Wh-Wi | Wm-

made

info    updated 12/9/2011

Webber Guitars

1998 to present

Image courtesy of mmmaak Acoustic Guitar Forum:

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Kim Webber Guitars

1981-

Somerset, UK

Weber

1997 to present

Weber guitars are hand crafted in Logan, Montana, USA

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

Webster

1940s.

Archtops and acoustics ? built by Kay. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

Robert Webster

current

Handcrafted Concert, Classical Guitars,
Gig Harbor, Washington

Wechter

1984 to present

Abe Wechter guitars, Paw Paw, Michigan.

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

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Herb Wecker

Image Arch Top Jazz Guitar / Made in the USA in 1980 by Herb Wecker eBay:

Bruce Wei

current

Bruce Weir guitars, South Vietnam. For sale on eBay...

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Gideon Weigert

Workshop is located in the hilltop village of Hararit in the hills of Gallilee in Northern Israel.

"I am a single luthier working in Galilee, Israel (since 2008) , previously in Nottinghamshire and Sheffield UK (since 2003), though I don't know if I'd call myself a 'brand'.

Dating Gideon Weigert guitars

I use my name on my labels, headed by the caption 'original stringed instruments, handmade by G Weigert', followed by the place and the year it was made." [Source: Gideon Weigert, email 25/1/2011]

Image eBay:

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 ]

Dating Weissenborns

http://www.vintagemandolin.com/weissenborn_article.html

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

Image courtesy of Lowell Levinger , Players Vintage Instruments:

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.

Dating John Weissenreider guitars

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 ]

Welker Custom

Welker custom guitars are handcrafted in Nashville Tennessee, by luthier Fred Welker

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

1960s

Welson were based in Castelfidardo in Italy ,making accordions and acoustics 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 are at Harmony Central

see Orpheum

Images eBay inc 1971-72 Welson  SG copy:

Wendler

2000 to present

Dave Wendler makes Electro acoustics in 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 ]

Mark Wescott

1980 to present

Mark Wescott Guitars are made in New Jersey, USA

Wesley

Reviews are at Harmony Central

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

Dating Brian West guitars
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 ]

Bruce West

current

Bruce West Instruments is a one-man studio that specializes in handcrafted violins, violas, 'cellos, bows and classical guitars. Ontario, Canada.

Danny West Custom Guitars

current

Danny West custom guitars are based in San Francisco, California, USA

Westbury

1978-1980s

Westbury guitar owners at facebook

Dating Westbury guitars

The first digit is the is the last digit of the year..Ex..17899..made in 1981 [Source: facebook]

http://www.univox.org/guitars/

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

http://www.bettydylan.com/westburys/westburys.html (Image source)

"...as of November of 2003, “Westbury guitars Inc.” is back in business and will have their product out by mid summer. These guitars are high end but affordable and not made at Matsumoku or in Japan, rather, right here in the U.S.A.---100% U.S.A. made guitars. Other high-end guitars say they are made in the U.S. and indeed are not. It is my obligation to expose companies like Brian Moor and PRS who have their guitars made over seas in Korea and assembled here in the U.S. and are legally allowed to put the U.S.A. stamp on their product. There may never be an Uncle Mat again but there will always be an Uncle Sam and Westbury Guitars Inc. realizes this and that’s why there will be a 100% USA made stamp on the new line of Westbury Guitars. (Not at all affiliated with Univox)
Prototypes are being made in PA and LA and Westbury Guitars Inc. is very close to Ok-ing the design and will begin production in April. Low serial numbered models can be ordered through www.westburyguitars.com and the site will also have a ton of information on the vintage models.
Westbury Guitars Inc. P.O.Box 10582 Westbury N.Y. 11590-3226 info@westburyguitars.com [Source: Guitarsite]  This web site was not running at March 2010 and the Waybackmachine had some pages from 2004 to 2007.

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Westfield

Reviews are at Harmony Central

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/westfield/

Westminster guitars were distributed by Kanda Shokai. [Source: Trade Me Japan]

Westminster catalog 1976

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

Reviews are at Harmony Central

see Greco

Images Yahoo Japan

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 are at Harmony Central

Weston Forum http://forum.westoneguitars.net/index.htm

see Matsumoku, Electra

Images eBay

Image Westone The Rail made by Matsumoku around 1985 - ebay

Westwood

1962-1965

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

Weymann

1864-1940s

H.A. Weymann & Sons, was distributor in Philadelphia.  Guitars were made by themselves, Regal, Vega. [Source: 2010 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

H.A. Weymann & Son, Incorporated was established in 1864 in Philadelphia. Later, it incorporated as the Weymann Company in 1904, and distributed numerous guitar models that ranged from entry level student up to fine quality. Other trademarks may include Weymann, Keystone State, W & S, and Varsity. [Source: eBay]

Weymann and Son Guitar Catalog Scan

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

http://www.banjoukes.com/Manufacturers/Weymann/Weymann.html

Image left Gruhn, below Weyman guitar serial number from the 1920s ebay