W-WD | We | Wh-

made

info    updated 13/6/2010

White Guitars

current

Classical and acoustic guitars made by Woodley White, Portland, Oregon, USA

Image Portland Classic Guitar:

Andrew White Guitars

2001 to present

"I started to build guitars in 2001.

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

David Whiteman Guitars

Images courtesy of Guitar Salon International:

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

Wilkanowski

1930s-1940s

W Wilkanowski violin maker and a few dozen guitars. [Source: Wikipedia]

http://www.musurgia.com/products.asp?ProductID=1825&CartID=8024359232005

http://www.ibkco.com/wilkanowskiguitar.html (images)

Wilkat guitars

2001 to present

Wilkat, handmade guitars and basses.

Wilkat guitar story

"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 and Wilkat headstock and control plate label: Bill Wilkat, email 7/8/2008 ]

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

Wilkins

1984 to present

Pat Wilkins, Van Nuys, California, USA.  [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Laurie Williams

1983 to present

Laurie Williams guitars are made in Mangonui, Taipa, New Zealand

Rob Williams

1984-

Handmade guitars, UK

Roger A Williams

Staffordshire, England

Willis Guitars

East Sussex, UK

Wilson

1960s

Built  by Egmond, Holland.

Another Wilson guitar was Made in Finland per Guitarsite

Wilson guitars in mid 1970s Bell Musical Instruments Catalog, UK

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

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

see Watkins, WEM above

Image Egmond Guitars:

Wilson

1968-1970s

Wilson brand: Most of these were made in Japan, by Hiroshi Yairi under the supervision of his father Sadao Yairi. All are marked with "clase" instead of model numbers (in lower right corner of label). All Wilson models should be 800's, I've seen 851 to 857. The label will also note the year as AD., say Handmade, and give a "No.____" and printed with H. Yairi Luthier, usually accompanied by his signature, sometimes Hiroshi Yairi, sometimes just H. Yairi. Most will also have a supervisor stamp "made under the supervision of SADA Yairi".

The earliest example I've seen is 1968, which was very different than his later models. More of a Japanese flair to it. The variety of inlays, binding's and tonewood used within the same "clase" number makes it difficult to tell which is which, without actually seeing the model. Early models are not made quite as well as the later ones, and not ALL Wilson models are made by either Yairi! If it doesn't have a Yairi name on the label or stamped on a brace, it was made by some other luthier in Japan. Many of the old Japanese guitars (regardless of brand of export) were made by more than one luthier or factory. Same holds true for Alvarez (not Alvarez Yairi) models.  [Source: YL, email 9/9/2009

Also a Wilson and Son model.

Image eBay:

Inside label on this guitar:

Wilson and Sons,

City of Industry, Calif

MODEL JT-1 SERIAL H1015 MADE IN JAPAN 1967.

Image eBay:

Wilson Brothers Guitars

2004 to present

Founded by Ventures guitarist Don Wilson.

VCM & VSP models made in Japan

VM electrics made in Korea

VM acoustics made in China [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Kurt Wilson

current

Kurt Wilson makes guitars in Chicago, USA

Images ebay:

Windsor

1890s-1914

Montgomery Ward brand made by Lyon & Healy, [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

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

Images eBay: Plate is from banjo.

Windsor

English banjo manufacturer

http://www.zither-banjo.org/pages/windsornew.htm

http://www.whitetreeaz.com/vintage/brit4.htm

Windy Hill Guitars

1992 to present

Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA

Wingert Guitars

1996 to present

Kathy Wingert, flat top guitars made in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA

Winston

1963-1967

Japanese guitars imported by Buegeleisen and Jacobson. Some made by Guyatone. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Winston catalogs

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

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

Image Craglist:

Wire Instruments

current at Oct 2009

Wire Instruments electric guitars are designed and crafted in North America by Pacific NW luthier E.G. Bailey

Images courtesy E Bailey.

http://www.answers.com/topic/wishbass?cat=entertainment

Wishbass forum thread http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269067

Gerard Wissman

Profile of luthier Gerard Wissman

Tim Withers

Portsmouth, Wisconsin, USA

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

Wittman-Spins

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

Wizard

by Harmony

WM Guitars

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

Bobby Wolfe

Bobby Wolfe makes ported resophonic guitars in North Carolina USA.

http://www.rickbriggs.com/Wolfe.htm

Wolfram Guitar Company

Wolfram Guitar Co was founded Columbus, Ohio by Theodore Wolfram. From around 1892 he used the Triumph brand name. 1901 placed in receivership. Continued as the Wolfram Guitar & Mandolin Co until 1910. [Source: Mugwumps] Patents included metal fretboard.

Images eBay:

Wolfrum

http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/othersddr.html

Example at http://www.musikkeller.com

Jason Wolverton

Bruce F Wood

1997 to present

Classical and flamenco guitars. Santa Barbara, California , USA

Norman Wood

Norman Wood (d 1997) made guitars and mandolins in Sennen, Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Images 1979 Wood guitar eBay:

Randy Wood builds guitars in Bloomingdale, Georgia, USA

"I started building mandolins in 1968. I didn't stat using serial numbers until approx 1976, however most of my guitars and mandolins are signed and dated on the underside of the top. Serial numbers are also the date.1st number indicates the number of that instrument that month. 2nd one or two number indicates the month that instrument was made. Last two numbers are the year that instrument was made. Example : 1675= 1st inst. of June, 1975." [Source: Randy Wood Guitars, email 2/4/2008]

Martin Woodhouse

1999 to present

Apprenticed with David Rubio. Shop in Cambridge, England

Image moschella :

Phillip Woodfield Guitars

current

Classical guitars, England

Woodfield bio

Image courtesy of Classic Guitar:

Woodshop

1950s

Netherlands http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

Image Daisybelle

Woodtone Guitars

Australian handcrafted guitars

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

Woody

Made in Japan

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

2000 to present

"I started in 2000.

It's clearly written on the label but also "coded" in the serial number.

For example WSC-LG-0840 is and "LG" model made in 2008 and is my 40th instrument. [Source: Paul Woolson, email 18/3/2008]

Worco

By Harmony. Image Broadway Music:

" Adolph Hitler's love for the Dobro became an obsession with him, and in 1937 he proclaimed that every German family would have a resonator instrument in their home. In 1937 he commissioned Italian luthier, Vito Worconni, to design a low-budget resonator guitar to be called the "Blitzenplecker." The guitar had a coverplate screwed to the twoply body, without a cone or resonator. The sound was so inferior that the project was abandoned. In 1939 Worconni fled to the US and settled in Chicago.

In 1947 Kay of Chicago built bodies for Worconni's student guitars. These instruments were sold at J.J.Newberry and W.T.Grant stores for $6.95 retail. [Source: Guitar Seminars]

Worland Guitars

1997 to present

Worthy Guitars

1996 to present

My first guitar was in '82, but I started 'for real' in 1996 when I moved from Sydney to Melbourne.  I now live outside Melbourne in Cockatoo.  I have a workshop at home.

The label (inside) has the month and year.

The serial number is for eg.  A recent guitar, model called a Sunbeam has Serial # 54SB9.... meaning guitar number 54, SB for Sunbeam and 9 being the 9th Sunbeam.

The model Name/Type is also on the label along with the timbers used for the top, back and sides, fretboard, and bridge." [Source: David Worthy, email, 31/7/2008 ]

Thomas J Wray

~2004 to present

I am Thomas J. Wray, a builder of custom steel and nylon stringed instruments.  I built my first guitar when I was in my early teens under my
father's direction.  I did not build any more instruments until I was in my thirties and then only as a hobby.  My interest and proficiency increased
slowly and I started to produce as a full time endeavour in 2007. All my guitars have a label in the usual spot, visible from the sound hole & glued
to the back. Earlier models are dated on the label by month & year

E.g.: 11~2004 while more current models have a serial number stamped on the neck block.  E.g.: 42008 means fourth guitar of 2008.  All my instruments are also signed and dated inside, on the sound board, lower bout, treble side, just before the box is closed up. See attached photos.  I produce 12 to 16 custom instruments per year in a small basement studio in our home, Burnaby, BC, Canada." [Source: Tom Wray, email 14/8/2008 ]

WRC Music International

1989-1990s

Guitars by Wayne Richard Charvel.

Wright Guitar Technology

1993 to present

Rossco Wright, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Wurlitzer guitars

Wurlitzer brand was put on guitars made by others, including Holman Woodell guitar factory, Neodesha, Kansas.

http://www.wurlitzerguitars.com/

http://www.gearwire.com/wurlitzer-guitar.html

http://www.myrareguitars.com/wurlitzergemini.html

First image below courtesy Saul Koll, The Gear Page Forum. Others from ebay

Wurlitzer Cougar 12 string, solid body, electric guitar made in the USA between 1965-1967 by the Holman-Woodell Guitar Company in Neodesha, KS