Dean Guitars Serial Number Lookup? The 171 Correct Answer

Dean Guitars, commonly referred to simply as Dean, is an American importer and manufacturer of stringed instruments and musical products headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Products include solid body electric guitars, bass guitars and acoustic guitars. The company also sells resonators, basses, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, amplifiers, guitar cases, accessories and custom guitar pickups.

The company was founded by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois in 1976, but became known as Elliott Rubinson in 1997 after his company Armadillo Enterprises bought the company.[1]

history [edit]

Dean Guitars began in 1976 making instruments used by bands such as Heart, Kansas, the Cars, Molly Hatchet, Triumph and ZZ Top.[2]

Dean artists Michael Schenker and Wayne Findlay with Dean owner Elliott “Dean” Rubinson

With the advent of superstrat and grunge music, Dean Zelinsky sold the business to Tropical Music’s Oscar Medeiros, who became the owner of the brand in 1986 and focused on selling to Latin bands abroad until 1995. At that point, the company had all but disappeared from the American market.[3][1]

Armadillo Enterprises, led by Elliott Rubinson, then bought the company in 1997. Rubinson, a musician who toured as a bassist for the Michael Schenker Group, Uli Jon Roth and Michael Angelo Batio[4] expanded Dean’s products to include acoustic, electric and bass guitars ; Mandolins, banjos, and ukuleles ranging in price from less than $99 to over $13,000.[4] Rubinson had previously built Thoroughbred Music,[5] a music retail store, music supply store and music clinic. Rubinson sold Thoroughbred to Sam Ash Music in 1999 so he could focus on Dean.

After gaining a number of endorsed user guitarists (including Dimebag Darrell, Michael Angelo Batio, Michael Schenker, Leslie West, Dave Mustaine, Michael Amott and Jacky Vincent),[8] Dean Guitars’ popularity soared. Under Armadillo Enterprises, the company outgrew its Clearwater location and moved to a larger building that includes a custom guitar shop. Today, the company also assembles guitar pickups[10] and guitar parts.

In December 2016, Elliott Rubinson’s son Evan Rubinson[11] assumed the position of President and CEO at Armadillo Enterprises (which includes Dean Guitars, Luna Guitars and ddrum).[3]

In February 2017, Elliott “Dean” Rubinson died of cancer. Richard Ash, CEO of Sam Ash Music Stores said: “Elliott was a true genius. He would have been successful in any business, but he followed his passion for music and built his business around it… He really was one of my heroes, RIP Elliott Rubinson.”[12]

instruments [edit]

Various Dean guitar models

Dean has a line of electric guitars that includes the ML, V, Z, Cadillac, Splittail, Soltero, EVO, Icon, Custom Zone, Vendetta and Deceiver models.

Dean also has many signature electric guitar models. The company offers a range of Dimebag Darrell models.

The company has also worked closely with Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine on a range of guitars. These range from around $300 for imports to over $6000 for US built instruments. The Dean USA Dave Mustaine Signature VMNT Holy Grail [13] electric guitar, a newer incarnation of the V introduced in 2016, is an example of the brand.

Dean also makes signature models for Bret Michaels, Michael Schenker, Leslie West, Michael Angelo Batio, Michael Amott, Rusty Cooley, and other artists.[4]

The company’s bass guitar models include the ML, V, Z, Cadillac, Edge, Metal Man/Demonator, Hillsboro, Entwistle, EVO, Razorback, and Custom Zone. Dean also imports and markets other stringed instruments such as resonator guitars, mandolins, and banjos.

In 2017, Dean introduced several new musical instruments[14] to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary.

In 2018, the company formed a partnership between Dean USA Custom Shop and Angel’s Envy Bourbon[15] to create the Dean Envy Series guitars from whiskey casks.

In November 2019, Slayer guitarist Kerry King joined Dean Guitars and in 2020 they made two models: Limited Edition and Standard Version

Affiliated companies[ edit ]

Armadillo Enterprises, the parent company of Dean Guitars, also owns Luna Guitars and ddrum.

Notes [edit]

This article was co-authored by wikiHow contributor Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing wikiHow content, fact checking and evaluating to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer received a 2006 JD from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. This article has been viewed 164,702 times.

Article overview

X

Finding out the age and value of a guitar can help you decide whether to keep it or sell it. First, look for the manufacturer’s name on the face of the headstock, which can help determine a guitar’s quality. You can also check the back of the headstock to see if there is a serial number and search for it online. In general, a lower serial number is worth more than one with a higher serial number. Aside from these factors, a guitar is more valuable when it’s free of scratches or cracks, contains all original parts, or is made from rare materials like rosewood. To get a more accurate value of your guitar, visit the Blue Book of Guitar Values ​​website or have a guitar dealer appraise you. Read on to learn how to clean and inspect your guitar!

Return to Manual A Brief History of the Guitar by Paul Guy The guitar is an ancient and noble instrument, the history of which can be traced back over 4000 years. Many theories have been put forward about the origin of the instrument. It has often been claimed that the guitar is an evolution of the lute or even the ancient Greek kithara. Investigations by Dr. Michael Kasha in the 1960s showed that these claims were unfounded. He showed that the lute is the result of a separate line of development that shares common ancestry with the guitar but had no bearing on its development. The influence in the opposite direction, however, is undeniable – the immediate ancestors of the guitar had a major impact on the development of the fret lute from the fretless oud that the Moors brought to Spain.

The only “evidence” for the kithara theory is the similarity between the Greek word “kithara” and the Spanish word “quitarra”. It is hard to imagine how the guitar could have evolved from the kithara, which was an entirely different type of instrument – namely a square-framed lap harp or “lyre”. (Right)

It would also be odd if a square-framed seven-string lap harp gave its name to the early Spanish 4-string “quitarra”. dr Kasha turns the question around and asks where the Greeks got the name “kithara”, pointing out that the earliest Greek kitharas only had 4 strings when they were introduced from abroad. He suspects that the Greeks Hellenified the Old Persian name for a 4-stringed instrument “Chartar”. (See below.) The Ancestors The earliest stringed instruments known to archaeologists are bowl harps and tanburs. Since prehistory, humans have made bowl harps out of tortoise shells and gourds as resonators, with a curved stick for the neck and one or more gut or silk strings. The museums of the world contain many such “harps” from ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, and Egyptian civilizations. Around AD 2500-2000 more advanced harps appeared, such as the opulently carved 11-string instrument with gold trim found in the tomb of Queen Shub-Ad.

“Queen Shub-Ad’s Harp” (from the Royal Cemetery at Ur) A tanbur is defined as “a long-necked stringed instrument with a small egg- or pear-shaped body, with an arched or rounded back, usually with a soundboard of wood or skin, and a long, straight neck”. The tanbour probably evolved from the bowl harp when the neck was straightened so the string(s) could be pushed down to produce more notes. Grave paintings and stone carvings in Egypt testify that 3500 – 4000 years ago harps and tanburs (along with flutes and percussion instruments) were played in ensembles.

Egyptian wall painting, Thebes, 1420 BC. Archaeologists have also found many similar relics in the ruins of ancient Persian and Mesopotamian cultures. Many of these instruments have survived in almost unchanged form into modern times, as evidenced by the region’s folk instruments such as the Turkish saz, Balkan tamburitsa, Iranian setar, Afghan panchtar and Greek bouzouki.

The oldest surviving guitar-like instrument At 3500 years old, this is the ultimate vintage guitar! It belonged to the Egyptian singer Har-Mose. He was buried with his tanbour near the tomb of his employer Sen-Mut, architect of Queen Hatshepsut, who died in 1503 BC. was crowned buried. Sen-Mut (who was believed to be much more than prime minister and architect to the queen) built Hatshepsut’s beautiful mortuary temple, which still stands on the banks of the Nile today.

The Har Moses instrument had three strings and a plectrum suspended by a cord from the neck. The soundboard was of beautifully polished cedar and had a rawhide “soundboard”. It can be seen today in the Archaeological Museum in Cairo. Queen Hatshepsut What is a guitar anyway? In order to distinguish guitars from other members of the tanbur family, we need to define what a guitar is. dr Kasha defines a guitar as having “a long fretted neck, a flat wooden soundboard, ribs and a flat back, most often with underturned sides”.

The oldest known iconographic representation of an instrument that has all the essential characteristics of a guitar is a stone carving at Alaca Huyuk in Turkey depicting a 3,300-year-old Hittite ‘guitar’ with ‘a long fretted neck, a flat top, probably flat back and with strikingly curved sides”.

The Lute (Al’ud, Oud)

The Moors brought the oud to Spain. The tanbour had taken a different line of development in the Arab countries, changing its proportions and remaining fretless.

Europeans added frets to the oud and called it “lute” – this derives from the Arabic “al’ud” (literally “the wood”) via the Spanish name “laud”.

A lute or oud is defined as a “short-necked instrument with many strings, a large pear-shaped body with a strongly arched back and an elaborate, sharply angled peghead”.

Renaissance Lute by Arthur Robb

Click on the image to go to Art’s website.

Beautiful instruments! It’s hard to imagine how the guitar – with “a long fretted neck, a flat wooden soundboard, ribs and a flat back, mostly with curved sides” – might differ from the lute with its “short neck with many strings, large pear-shaped Body with a strongly curved base and elaborate, acute-angled peg head plate”.

The Guitar The name “guitar” comes from the old Sanskrit word for “string” – “tar”. (This is the language from which the languages ​​of Central Asia and North India developed.) To this day, there are many folk stringed instruments in Central Asia that have been used in almost unchanged form for several thousand years, as evidenced by archaeological finds in the region. Many have names ending in “tar” with a prefix denoting the number of strings: dotar

two = Sanskrit “dvi” – modern Persian “do” –

dotar, two-stringed instrument from Turkestan three = Sanskrit “tri” – modern Persian “se” –

Setar, 3-stringed instrument found in Persia (Iran),

(cf. sitar, India, elaborately developed, many-stringed) four = Sanskrit “chatur” – New Persian “char” –

Chartar, 4-stringed instrument, Persia (most commonly known as “tar” in modern usage)

(cf. quitarra, early Spanish 4-string guitar,

modern Arabic qithara, Italian chitarra, etc.) five = Sanskrit “pancha” – modern Persian “panj” –

Panchtar, 5 strings, Afghanistan Indian sitar

The Indian sitar almost certainly takes its name from the Persian setar, but over the centuries the Native Americans developed it into an entirely new instrument that followed their own aesthetic and cultural ideals. Persian setar

Chartar (“tar”)

Tanburs and harps spread in ancient times with travellers, merchants and sailors. The four-stringed Persian charter (note the narrow waist!) came to Spain, where it changed somewhat in form and construction, receiving pairs of strings tuned in unison instead of single strings, and becoming known as the quitarra or chitarra.

From the four to the five to the six-string guitar As we have seen, the ancestors of the guitar came to Europe from Egypt and Mesopotamia. These early instruments mostly had four strings – as we saw above, the word “guitar” derives from the Old Persian “chartar”, which in direct translation means “four strings”. Many of these three- to five-stringed instruments and variations can be seen in medieval illustrated manuscripts and carved in stone in churches and cathedrals from Roman times to the Middle Ages. Right: Roman “guitar”, ca. 200 AD

Medieval Psalter, around AD 900. Angel with guitar, Church of St. Stephen, 1591.

By the start of the Renaissance, the four course guitar (4 pairs of strings tuned in unison) had become dominant in at least most of Europe. (Sometimes a single first string was used.) The earliest known music for the four-course “chitarra” was written in 16th-century Spain. The five-course guitarra battente (left) first appeared in Italy around the same time, gradually replacing the four-course instrument. Standard tuning had already settled at A, D, G, B, E, like the top five strings on the modern guitar. As with lutes, early guitars rarely had necks with more than 8 frets clear of the body, but as the guitar evolved this increased first to 10 and then to 12 frets on the body.

5-course guitar by Antonio Stradivarius, 1680 The Italian “guitarra battente” added a sixth string course in the 17th century, and luthiers across Europe followed the trend. The six-voice arrangement gradually gave way to six single strings, and again the Italians seem to be the driving force. (The six-string guitar can thus be said to be an evolution of the twelve-string, rather than the other way around, as is commonly believed.) In the transition from five choirs to single-string six, at least some existing five-course instruments appear to have been converted to the new stringing pattern. This was a fairly easy job as it only required replacing (or reworking) the nut and bridge and plugging four of the tuning peg holes. An incredibly artistic guitar by the German master from Hamburg, Joakim Thielke (1641 – 1719), was modified in this way. (Note that this instrument only has 8 frets exposed from the body.) The early 19th century can be seen as the modern guitar takes shape. Bodies were still fairly small and narrow-waisted. 6-string guitar by George Louis Panormo, 1832

The modern “classical” guitar took its present form when the Spanish manufacturer Antonio Torres enlarged the body, changed its proportions and introduced the revolutionary “fan” bracing pattern in the 1850s. His design radically improved the volume and tone and projection of the instrument and very soon became the accepted design standard. It has remained essentially unchanged and unchallenged to this day. Guitar by Antonio Torres Jurado, 1859

Steel-String and Electric Guitars Around the same time that Torres began making his pioneering fan-string guitars in Spain, German immigrants to the United States—including Christian Fredrich Martin—had begun making guitars with X-string tops. Steel strings first became widely available around 1900. Steel strings promised much louder guitars, but the increased tension was too much for the Torres-style fan-braced top. A reinforced X-cleat proved worthy and quickly became the industry standard for the flat-top steel-string guitar. At the end of the 19th century, Orville Gibson built archtop guitars with oval soundholes. He married the steel-string guitar with a body constructed more like a cello, where the bridge doesn’t apply torque to the top, only pressure straight down. This allows the ceiling to vibrate more freely and thus create more volume. In the early 1920’s, designer Lloyd Loar joined Gibson and refined the archtop “jazz” guitar into its familiar form with f-holes, floating bridge and cello tailpiece. The electric guitar was born when pickups were added to Hawaiian and “jazz” guitars in the late 1920s, but had little success before 1936, when Gibson introduced the ES150 model that made Charlie Christian famous. With the advent of amplification, it became possible to dispense with the sound box altogether. Several actors experimented in this direction in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and controversy still persists as to whether Les Paul, Leo Fender, Paul Bigsby, or O.W. Appleton built the very first solid body guitar. Be that as it may, the solid body electric guitar was here to stay. © Paul Guy 2001 – 2007

See: Dr. Michael Kasha, “A New Look at The History of the Classic Guitar”, Guitar Review 30, August 1968, pages 3-12. Thanks to Kereshmeh Records for the pictures of Dotar, Setar & Tar. Back to manual

Visit our free gear marketplace!

Vintage guitars are one of the most coveted items among guitarists of my generation.

That and a definitive cure for balding.

But we’ll leave mane issues aside for this article and focus on the guitars that made history and etched their tone into our collective imagination.

Determining whether an instrument is vintage or not is a fairly straightforward task when comparing between a 2015 Squier Bullet and a ’62 Stratocaster, but things get more complicated as you approach the late ’70s or ’80s.

Where is the line to consider a guitar modern, vintage or even antique?

Well, here is a short answer to that question:

In general, any instrument older than 30 years is considered vintage. However, players agree that vintage status should only be given to guitars built before 1980. The term “antique” is reserved for instruments that are more than 100 years old, which initially only applies to acoustic guitars.

In this article, I’ll dive deep into when it’s valid to call an instrument vintage and when you should be more careful about it.

After reading this content you will have a clearer idea of ​​what makes a vintage guitar.

Ready to get started?

Let’s go!

When is a guitar considered vintage?

Many players claim that an instrument is considered vintage after its 30th birthday.

That definition brings all the 80’s and early 90’s into vintage territory, and I’m not convinced.

We can do better.

Chords Please enable JavaScript chords

For example, Reverb.com took a stricter approach, setting the cutoff at 1980. Anything older is considered vintage, anything newer is considered modern.

is that fair

Probably.

The thing is, in my opinion, vintage status per se doesn’t mean that much.

It’s not synonymous with quality or incredible tone, especially if we consider any of those broad (but clear and necessary) definitions.

Players’ enthusiasm for old instruments is fueled above all by legendary specimens, mostly from the 50s and 60s.

Decades in which instrument manufacture was carried out on a smaller scale, allowing workshops to source higher quality materials and take extra care in the quality control of each item.

As demand increased, these workshops began to evolve into factories, and by and large the quality of these “vintage” instruments from the ’70s onwards was no longer the same as that which drove that demand.

But that’s not a harsh criticism of vintage fever.

What I am trying to say is that this above status is likely to work to the detriment of many ill-informed enthusiasts who could end up getting a lower quality guitar at a higher price than they would pay for a modern, fairly acceptable guitar.

Buy and Sell Music Gear for Free at the Gear Aficionado Market!

Vintage vs antique guitars

The “antique” status for objects is generally reached after 100 years, so acoustic guitars mainly fall into this category. The first recording of an electric guitar, which was an acoustic guitar with a magnetic pickup attached, was made in 1936, which leaves us without antique electrics for a few years.

However, colloquially I would consider an antique guitar that everyone built before the 50’s when Fender and Gibson supremacy began.

But that’s just my opinion and my way of simplifying things.

Does vintage status differ between brands?

Vintage status is primarily a matter of antiques. Anything made before the 80’s has every right to be called vintage in my opinion. However, brands have had different but sometimes overlapping golden eras, mostly between the 1950s and early 1970s.

I think that these instruments, which for many of us evoke the legendary tones of the records we grew up with, are the ones that fuel many of us’ imaginations of vintage guitars.

How can you tell if a guitar is a vintage guitar?

To determine if your guitar is vintage, you’ll probably want to find out its serial number.

In many cases you will recognize it on the back of the headstock, but in some others, such as the B. on Fender guitars, it can be hidden in the base of the neck.

So in this case you need to loosen the neck and body of the guitar. It’s not really a difficult task, but if you’re not very confident in your technical skills, I recommend finding an expert.

Hey, even a pro could help you date your instrument.

For those who prefer a DIY approach, here I leave some links where you can check serial numbers for different brands.

If the search fails or more detail is needed, you should resort to searching for specific characteristics that are typical of a given period.

This is how many guitar historians really date older and fake instruments.

What about newer models marketed as vintage?

Newer guitars labeled as vintage brands are clearly trying to fill some of the demand for real instruments, which have skyrocketed in price over the years.

It’s not a scam, it’s the efforts that brands make to please the customers and give them something of what they prefer.

The deal with these instruments is that although they are marked as vintage and in many cases they try to follow the original specs, some of the materials used in the early years are no longer available.

This unavailability could be due to prohibitions, e.g. B. with some types of tonewood or even with ivory.

Another “problem” with these modern vintage instruments is that they lack the “soul” of a street worn relic.

And for many people, this soul is not just mysticism, but an actual qualitative difference in tone.

If you want to know why vintage guitars sound better, or at least why many people claim you should read my other article on the subject.

If you want to save yourself the hassle of selling your old guitar gear yourself, one option is to go to Guitar Center and use the Trade In Trade Up program to sell or trade in your gear.

Of course, Guitar Center only accepts fully functional equipment. Some of the cosmetic surface damage is fine as long as the instrument, amp, or pedal is working properly.

Before heading to your local store, there are a few things to keep in mind. The important thing is whether you want to sell your equipment for cash or exchange it for the purchase value in the shop. But whatever you decide to do, Guitar Center’s program seems to make it worthwhile. In the rest of this article, we’ll discuss how much Guitar Center pays for used gear, how the process works, and whether or not it’s a good option for you.

How much does Guitar Center pay for used gear: is it worth it?

Now we come to the main question here. Is it worth selling or trading your gear at the Guitar Center stores? Yes and no. It’s not really an easy question to answer. The following image is a screenshot from the Guitar Center website.

The first thing you should do is check what price your gear is selling for on other sites that sell used gear, such as eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. Check prices for used and new (if the product is not discontinued). You have a rough estimate of how much that particular piece of gear you have could be worth. But there is one thing you need to be aware of. Obviously, Guitar Center is looking for ways to make money. So they will buy it from you at a slightly lower price than you could possibly get if you were selling it independently through an online ad.

As you might suspect, this is an obvious downside. Who wants to get less for something worth more, right? Well, it’s not that simple. While you’ll get a slightly lower price in most cases, the convenience of selling all your gear in one store for a reasonable price does have its perks. Just go to the nearest Guitar Center store and you’re all set. If you’re looking to sell four or five pieces of gear, it’s certainly better to deal with a bunch of individual ads.

But another thing to keep in mind is that selling independently via ads comes with other costs and issues. For example, you often need to include shipping costs in the price. If that’s the case, what you earn comes pretty close to what you would be getting at Guitar Center anyway. So if you are near a Guitar Center store, selling your gear there and making money locally is most likely a better option.

Essentially, you can ask them for a price and see if it’s possible to get more through other sales channels. If you want to sell your gear quickly and don’t think about it. Guitar Center trade-in programs are definitely a better choice. This is especially the case if you sell more stuff and have a Guitar Center store near you.

Ultimately, it’s the best idea when you want to buy something new. You get decent discounts if you turn in old gear to trade in and not cash. At the same time, it’s a great idea if you want to sell your gear quickly and earn up to $1,000 right on the spot.

Does Guitar Center really pay up to $1,000 for used gear?

Yes, up to $1000 in cash, but as mentioned in the previous section, they do not guarantee that they can give you up to $1000. This is dependent on cash availability at that particular store on the day of your visit.

With that in mind I would say the best reason to sell your gear to Guitar Center is if you want to buy something new there. The second reason is if you are short on time or don’t have the patience or desire to list the gear in a classified ad to find a local buyer. Trading in a music store or selling directly to a music store is often the easiest approach, although you may make a little less from the sale.

Cases where you should probably look for other alternatives

There are some instances where we do not recommend selling your gear through them. The first example is when you have old and expensive equipment. For this purpose, it is much better to turn to Reverb.com or even eBay. The guitar center staff will always try to lower the price. In addition, you can only get up to $1,000 in cash, while the rest of the money earned can be used to buy new gear at their stores.

Second, we wouldn’t recommend them unless you know you can get a much better price elsewhere and are willing to wait a little. It’s also a big problem if you don’t have Guitar Center stores in your area. They will not come to your address and some potential sellers would have to travel a lot. In this case, it’s probably not worth it.

What can I sell or trade in Guitar Center?

Guitar Center stores will consider purchasing most musical equipment for guitar, bass, drums, etc. Whether they buy an item or not depends on the in-store inspection and evaluation.

Equipment that you cannot sell or trade in Guitar Center

However, you should also know what not to take as this is a little easier to sketch. Guitars and guitar gear can be pretty basic, as can other things like PA systems, DJ gear, and studio gear. But there is some equipment that is too difficult to sell.

While the list isn’t always definitive, some of the items they don’t buy or put on sale include:

Acoustic Pianos

Any type of copyrighted material

computers

Random consumer electronics

tape recorder

switching systems

Custom cables

wireless units

Used strings

guitar parts

eardrums

drumsticks

Low end drum hardware

double basses

Really big mixers

orchestral instruments

Of course, if you are unsure about a particular instrument or piece of gear, you can always call the shop before you travel.

Selling vs trading your gear

After the exchange value has been determined, the guitar center staff will offer two different options. You can either sell your gear for cash or trade it in for something new at their shop. As for cash sales, Guitar Center can give up to $1,000 for your used gear. If it’s worth more, you can get the rest of the trade value in their store.

However, there are a few things you need to be aware of. First, the store is not guaranteed to be able to give you up to $1,000 in cash for your gear. According to the official information on their website, they are only allowed to spend up to $1,000 if there is enough cash available at that particular store.

It’s also worth noting that there are two Guitar Center stores that don’t give money for used gear due to government restrictions. These two stores are located in Greensboro, NC and Rockville, MD. The rest should be able to give you cash if they have enough of it available for the purpose.

Exchange old for new

The other option is to trade in your used gear for something new. The process is pretty much the same as raising cash. The workers will give you their estimated price. However, instead of cash, you get credits for buying gear at the store.

It’s a pretty simple method. In fact, we’d say it’s a lot easier than waiting for cash. If you have something to trade and want new gear, just head to your nearest Guitar Center store.

Tips on selling or trading your gear at Guitar Center

The most important thing to know is that you can’t really call your local guitar center and ask for a rough estimate of your gear. Maybe they could tell you something if you have that old special piece of gear. But otherwise you’re just wasting your time.

In short, they only make personal price estimates. That means you actually have to go into one of their stores and bring what you want to sell with you.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t bring broken gear. For example, if your electric guitar has broken pickups or other flaws that make it impossible to get a tone out of it, don’t waste time. Get it repaired first and then think about selling it. You just won’t consider buying it at all.

After all that, it is also very important to be prepared. As already mentioned, you should neither over nor underestimate your equipment. Before you head out and visit your local Guitar Center store, it’s a good idea to do your pricing research first.

If you’re selling something that’s still being made today, look at both new and used prices. The used prices are usually around 50% to 60% compared to new devices. In some cases it can go up to 70%, but that only applies to gear that has a high resale value.

Don’t overestimate the value of your gear

It’s not uncommon for guitarists to become emotionally attached to their instruments, even if they’re entry-level by default. But no matter how much you love that particular instrument, you can’t really fight its market value. You also need to understand that Guitar Center won’t give you anywhere near full retail value.

The same goes for random no-name instruments that someone once bought or hand-made. For example, maybe you have an electric guitar that someone made themselves that you want to get rid of. However, there’s a very slim chance the guys at Guitar Center would be interested in buying it, even if it has some great parts. In practical terms, they will have a hard time reselling for any predictable profit margin.

But don’t underestimate the value of your equipment either

Another common mistake is that people will go into a Guitar Center store and sell very valuable gear and will accept any offer that is made to them. Sometimes the convenience of selling or trading in Guitar Center can’t be beat. However, other times you have a very valuable piece of equipment that would fetch a better price on the used market with a simple post on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Again, do your research on sites like eBay and Reverb ahead of time to see what recently sold listings have achieved. Do your homework and even ask questions to experts and on various forums and message boards.

How to keep your price higher

The commercial value of the guitar center depends on a number of factors. If you’ve decided to join the Guitar Center program and sell or trade in your guitar, there are a few things you should take care of first. In case you want to increase the price or just keep it at normal level, you need to keep it clean and in good condition.

Here we look at two important things you can do.

cleaning your guitar

Cleaning your instrument can actually help you increase the price you get for it. First, it just looks better and brings out all the visual qualities of the instrument, highlighting the good condition it’s in.

A clean instrument is a sign of a well cared for instrument. Needless to say, this inspires more confidence in the quality of the gear you are selling.

Have the equipment set up and properly maintained

Even if you don’t have to fully intonate the instrument, make sure it’s in decent condition. This means that the neck should be straight and that fret buzz should be at the lowest possible level.

All guitar necks move over time. If you have left your guitar without strings for a while, the neck will bow back. Otherwise, it tends to bend towards the body. In any case, adjust it by turning it clockwise or counterclockwise about 1/8 to ¼ of a full circle.

Setting up the bridge might be a bit trickier. At the same time, there are also many different bridges. Fender-style hardtail and tremolo bridges with individual saddles are the easiest to set up. Essentially, make sure the string height is at a level where fret buzz doesn’t occur. Tune-o-matic bridges (like those on Gibson and Epiphone guitars) may be a bit more difficult to set up.

That being said, it’s a good idea to re-string your guitar if the strings on it aren’t in good condition. Again, it’s not just about the visual aspect. But with a good set of strings, the guitar plays well and is in better condition for the Guitar Center staff when grading.

You can also take your instrument to a luthier to have it fully adjusted and intoned. However, if you’re selling a cheap guitar, it may not be worth the money and hassle. Just make sure the instrument is in a playable condition. It’s often worth having more expensive guitars and gear in tip-top shape before having them appraised for sale, even if that means spending a little money to have them checked by a professional.

Sell ​​vintage gear at Guitar Center

Guitar Center has a separate grading process for vintage gear. Please find the vintage gear sales form here for more detailed information and frequently asked questions. It’s always a good idea to check current prices by checking out places like Reverb.com or eBay. You should always filter by “Offers sold” to see which similar products actually went. It does not matter at what high price certain items are offered. Our gear is only worth what someone is actually willing to pay for it.

Guitar Center knows this all too well, and again, you should expect to be offered as little as 50% to as much as 70% of your instrument’s retail value. In this whole equation we also have the problem of the state that each piece of equipment is in. This can greatly affect the price of any piece of gear. Another important factor is the demand for the specific equipment you are selling. Popular brands and models that sell quickly are much more likely to get an offer.

Guitar Center trade-in: how does it work?

In this section we talk about how the trade-in process works. Basically all you have to do is bring used gear to a guitar center and after one of their experts evaluate it they will tell you what it is worth. As mentioned, you should decide whether you want to trade in your guitar or receive cash before heading to the store. If you choose cash, you can do so, but some specific conditions apply.

How do I get paid for selling my guitar to Guitar Center?

One of the best things about selling used gear on Guitar Center is that it’s so easy. Here’s a screenshot from the Guitar Center website that explains why you might want to sell your gear there instead of listing it yourself.

Some potential sellers have also wondered if they can drop off their gear at a guitar center or have their items picked up from their home. To date, Guitar Center has no policy to enable such a service. This can be a little inconvenient for anyone who doesn’t have a Guitar Center store near them. But unfortunately you have to take your gear to a physical store to sell or trade it at Guitar Center.

Guitar Center Trade in Trade up Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s in it for you?

Guitar Center is first and foremost a business and while the used market is not their primary profit driver, they will still always try to make a profit by reselling your trade-ins. It’s important to understand that Guitar Center does not offer you full used value for your items. This is the case with any music store that buys music gear, not just Guitar Center. It is more realistic to expect offers between 50-70% of the used market price of the item. This allows ample leeway for the cleaning, setup, and repair of these instruments and equipment, as well as operational and processing costs associated with running the business.

After all, there isn’t usually much more profit to be made on used resale items, but it’s a valuable service to offer customers, especially when they can offer you commercial value so you can finally get your hands on that new piece of gear you have in store have kept an eye.

Quality standard considerations

One of the most important things to point out is that Guitar Center is very keen to purchase gear in usable condition. It’s not that they would refuse to take a guitar that shows signs of play or minor damage. However, you are looking for equipment that works. Guitar Center will accept some minor damage, usually cosmetic, as long as the instrument is in good working order. This means the guitar or any other instrument is in fully playable condition and has resale value. For example, your guitar should have a working bridge, pickups, electronics, all tuners that work properly, and fretwire in usable condition.

Another thing to note is that they don’t usually take random no-name instruments. When we talk about pedals, effects or other electronic instruments or devices, they must work properly and not show any major damage. For example, if you step on a pedal, it should turn on with no issues. It should also work properly with both AC adapters and batteries, and all of its parameter controls should do what they’re intended to do.

According to the official information on their website, the guitar center staff will grade what you bring them. In a way, it’s similar to your regular pawn shops. They indicate their estimated value. Aside from the condition of the instrument, they are also more interested in equipment that sells better. This can be a specific series of instruments that are commonly purchased, increasing their value.

They also claim that they have dedicated vintage gear teams. All basic functional characteristics must be in order as with other instruments and devices. Only then will their teams tell you the estimated price.

Can I trade in my old gear at any Guitar Center store?

Guitar Center buys and trades in each of its retail stores. The first thing you need to do is find the store closest to you. Then bring along the used equipment you wish to sell and ask one of the retail associates for assistance in selling your items. As simple as that! Well, as long as the gear you’re selling is functional and meets their criteria. Some exclusions apply, particularly to their discount offer.

DEAN GUITARS is dedicated to making the finest guitars in the world. Dean electric guitars, acoustic guitars, basses and other musical instruments are built to the highest standards in the industry.

From beginners to the world’s most influential artists, our instruments are the #1 choice for guitarists around the world. From beginner guitars to quality affordable import guitars to the best US built guitars in the business. Dean Guitars builds a GUITAR THAT’S FOR YOU.

Dean Guitars isn’t just a brand, it’s a music lifestyle. Based in Tampa, FL. The Dean USA Custom Factory is one of the best in the business. Our staff are passionate working musicians and we pride ourselves on being independently owned and operated.

Dean Guitars’ mission is to continue making The World’s Finest Guitars and to be the most accessible and coolest guitar company in the world to work with. Dean Guitars rock like no other!!

If you want to know where different brands and models of guitars are made, you can easily spend hours searching the internet for answers.

Knowing how time consuming it can be to come up with a seemingly simple answer, I decided to put together a comprehensive list of guitar brands and how they are made in one place.

So if you’re curious about where your guitar is made, hopefully you’ll find your answer here. I’ve also listed what strings each brand uses on their guitars, if possible.

The countries where guitars are made

Expensive guitars were traditionally made in the US and Japan, while Korea used to produce guitars for the midrange market. Guitar manufacturers have made many inexpensive guitars available to consumers by manufacturing them in Mexico, China, India, and Indonesia. Asian guitar production now supplies most of the market.

The entries in this article give a general history of where each guitar brand was made, based on the year, and which factories or workshops made them.

This list is not intended to be a serial number lookup of individual guitars as that would make the article impossibly long. I’ve included some resources below for further research.

If you want to find a brand quickly, just click on one of the links at the top of the list.

Read more: Does It Really Matter Where Guitars Are Made?

Where 73 well-known guitar brands are manufactured

Where are Alvarez guitars made?

The Alvarez Regent, Artist and Masterworks series of acoustic guitars are made in China.

. Alvarez-Yairi brand guitars have been handcrafted in the small town of Kani, Japan since the late 1960s.

Alvarez produced solid body electric guitars like the Dana Scoop, Regulator, AE10-BK, and AE20-BS from the early 1980s through 1997. They were originally made in Japan and later in Korea.

. If you’re looking for a rare electric guitar that plays well and doesn’t cost the earth, look out for an Alvarez.

Alvarez guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Where are Aria guitars made?

Aria was founded in Nagoya, Japan in 1956 and has been selling acoustic guitars since the 1960s.

Sales of acoustic guitars from 1960. In 1964, Aria contracted with Matsumoko Mokkou to build acoustic guitars and in 1966 also to produce electric guitars.

The high-end of the classic Aria A series was made between 1966 and 1973 by the legendary master luthier Ryoji Matsuoka on behalf of Aria in the legendary Matsuoka guitar workshop.

In 1975 the brand name Aria was changed to Aria II.

Matsumoko in Japan made all Aria guitars until late 1986, when cheaper models were produced at the Samick factory in Korea.

. Aria was best known in the 80’s, producing mostly low to mid range Aria Pro II series guitars, however there are some high quality examples.

Many Aria AC classical guitars have been manufactured in a Spanish workshop led by Jose Antonio since the mid-1980s. Models include 6C, 7C, 12C, AC-80,

run by Jose Antonio since the mid-1980s. Models include 6C, 7C, 12C, AC-80. Current low-end classics from Aria are made in China.

. In the 1990s, a few small runs of professional models (known as Firebrands) were made in Japan as gifts for artists and specialty retailers.

The Aria Pro II Fullerton series was manufactured between 1995 and 1999, with the top-of-the-line Aria Pro II Fullerton FL-60 and FL-50 being manufactured in the USA and lower models being manufactured in Korea.

was between 1995 and 1999 with their . Aria currently produces a line of Aria Pro II guitars in their Japan Custom Shop, however they are not imported into the United States.

Where are B.C. Made rich guitars?

BC Rich makes an extremely wide range of electric guitars in many shapes and string configurations aimed at metal players.

From 1975 to 1993, US handcrafted models were made in East Los Angeles or El Monte.

The NJ series was manufactured in Nagoya Japan.

. In 1993, Ed Roman bought BC Rich and continued to craft guitars at his LA Custom Shop from the blanks purchased under the agreement.

Their modern Legacy, Extreme and Prophesy series are made in Korea and Indonesia.

. The BC Rich Handcrafted series are all made in the USA.

. BC Rich guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Where are Blueridge guitars made?

Blueridge makes high quality acoustic guitars.

Blueridge guitars are made in China and imported by US-based Saga Musical Instruments.

They are recreations of classic guitar designs built to original specifications.

Their main lines are the contemporary, historical and pre-war models.

Their guitars are generally finished to a high standard, with the Historic models being made from solid wood bodies – no laminates.

Blueridge guitars are known for offering excellent quality at prices much lower than other well-known guitar brands.

All Blueridge guitars come with D’Addario EJ16 Light Gauge Phosphor Bronze strings, except for their 12-string models.

Where are Breedlove guitars made?

Breedlove Guitars was founded in 1990 in Tumalo, Oregon (near Bend).

Their guitars were all made in their Oregon factory until 2003 when they began supplying guitars to the Asian market.

, when they were supplying guitars to the Asian market. The Atlas series is produced in South Korea.

. They now make guitars in South Korea, Indonesia, China and in their 20,000 square foot facility and custom shop in the state of Oregon, USA.

Breedlove are considered to be high quality guitars and have earned a solid reputation in the industry.

All woodwork in the Pro & Roots series is handcrafted in Korea with all finishing work completed in the USA.

. Breedlove guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Learn More: Are Breedlove Guitars Good Quality?

back to top

Where are Carvin guitars made?

Originally called LC Kiesel Company, Carvin was renamed Carvin in 1949. In 2015, the company was renamed again to Kiesel in honor of its founder, Lowell Kiesel.

All Carvin and Kiesel guitars have been made in the USA since their beginnings in 1946.

Carvin moved to San Diago in 1995 and produced guitars there until 2016.

As of 2016, they primarily produce neck-through guitars and are manufactured in Escondido, California – where they also have their custom shop and showroom.

– where they also have their custom shop and showroom. Carvin’s Cobalt acoustic guitars were commissioned by the Cort factory in South Korea.

All Carvin acoustic and electric guitars feature Elixir Nano Web strings

Carvin/Kiesel CL450 nylon string guitars come with classic Carvin 450N nylon strings.

Where are Chapman guitars made?

Chapman Guitars was founded in 2009 and their first guitar models were made in China.

. The Chapman Standard Series guitars are handcrafted in Indonesia. The Indonesian factory is owned and operated by Korea-based World Musical Instruments.

. The Indonesian factory is owned and operated by Korea-based World Musical Instruments. World Guitars manufactures the Chapman Pro Series guitars in their South Korean factory.

. The Chapman British Series are handcrafted in small batches in Great Britain.

. Chapman guitars come with Ernie Ball strings.

Where are Charvel guitars made?

Chavel guitars were founded in the 1970’s and guitars were originally made in a small shop in Glendora, California, USA.

Jackson Charvel Guitars began making custom Charvel guitars in the mid-1980s until 1986 when production moved to Ontario, California where US production soon ceased.

where US production soon ceased. From 1986 to 1991, IMC (International Music Corporation) manufactured Charvel guitars exclusively in Japan.

(International Music Corporation) Various models were manufactured in Korea (mainly) and also in China (Desolation Series) from the 90s to the early 2000s.

(mainly) and . In 2002 Charvel was bought by Fender (FMIC).

Production continued in Japan until 2015 when they started making Charvel guitars in Mexico.

. Charvel still produces various models, including their custom shop guitars in the USA, which are built by the original Charvel luthiers in a dedicated area of ​​the Fender factory.

Chavel guitars will most likely come with Fender strings (made by D’Addario).

Learn more: Are Charvel guitars any good?

Where are Cole Clark guitars made?

Cole Clark primarily makes unique acoustic guitars such as the Angel and Fat Lady models.

They also make lapsteel guitars (Violap & Hollow Lapdog models) and a bass guitar model.

Cole Clark guitars are made in Melbourne, Australia using primarily native Australian woods finished with satin nitrocellulose.

, mostly from Australian native woods, finished with satin nitrocellulose. Jack Johnson plays Cole Clark almost exclusively.

Cole Clark guitars are commonly fitted with Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze 12-53 strings.

Where are Collings guitars made?

Collings primarily makes acoustic guitars, but also makes some models of electric guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins.

The quality of Collings instruments is possibly the best available.

Collings also makes a line of guitars branded “Waterloo,” which are vintage-inspired models from the Depression era.

All Collings guitars are hand built in Austin, Texas.

Collings guitars are strung with D’Addario strings.

back to top

Where are Cordoba guitars made?

Cordoba is highly respected for making quality nylon-string guitars and introduced its first steel-string guitars in 2013.

Their headquarters and factory are in Oxnard, California, where they handcraft the Cordoba Master Series.

. Cordoba manufactures the Espana series in Valencia and the Loriente series of ukuleles in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

. Cordoba’s Iberia, Fusion, Luthier, La Playa and Beginner Protege series and all ukuleles are handcrafted in China.

. The steel string Acero guitars are made in China.

. Nylon-string Cordoba guitars come with Savarez Cristal strings.

Cordoba steel string guitars feature Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanoweb.

Where are Cort guitars made?

Cort Guitars (Cor-Tek) is located in South Korea. They are one of the largest guitar manufacturers in the world and also have factories in China and Indonesia.

The first Cort guitars were made in Seoul, Korea in 1973.

. Cort guitars with serial numbers starting with IC are made in Indonesia.

. Cort guitars with serial numbers starting with CC are made in China.

. Cort Custom Shop guitars are made in a separate section of their Korean factory using traditional handicraft techniques.

Hollow body electric corts and modern PRS copies are made in China.

. Cort’s cheaper acoustic guitars are made in South Korea, while the more expensive models like the Gold A6 Grand Auditorium are made in China.

, while the more . Cort nylon string guitars come with Savarez strings.

Cort Electric Guitars and Steel String Acoustic Guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Find out more:

Are Cort Acoustic Guitars Any Good?

Fender vs. Cort guitars

Cort Earth Mini vs. Baby Taylor

Cort vs Yamaha acoustic guitars

Where are Crafter guitars made?

Crafter branded guitars were first manufactured in South Korea in 1986 and rebranded from the original Korean name “Sungeum”.

Crafter is the largest acoustic guitar manufacturer in South Korea, where they make around 60,000 instruments each year, including bass guitars, mandolins, banjos and ukuleles.

The majority of Crafter guitars are made in South Korea, with a smaller number of budget guitars made in China, notably the Silver series.

. Crafter acoustic guitars are strung with D’Addario strings.

Learn more: Are Crafter guitars any good?

Where are Daisy Rock guitars made?

Aimed squarely at guitar girls, Daisy Rock guitars debuted in November 2000 at the ROCKRGRL music conference in Seattle. They are designed to better fit the female body shape, are easier to hold and have slimmer neck profiles.

Daisy Rock acoustic and some electric guitars are made in China at the Yako factory.

. Daisy Rock electric guitars are made in Indonesia.

. Daisy Rock guitars feature D’Addario strings.

Where are Danelectro guitars made?

Danelectro guitars were originally manufactured in the USA from 1955 to 1969 when the company was sold.

Danelectro reappeared in the 90’s with a reissue of a U2 guitar series based on their earliest successful guitar.

Some of the 1998 59-DC and 56-U2 were made in Indonesia.

. 2007-2008 models were made in China.

Danelectro guitars have been manufactured in South Korea since the 1990s.

Danelectro guitars are strung with D’Addario strings.

back to top

Where are Dean guitars made?

Dean Guitars are currently manufactured in the USA, South Korea, Indonesia, China and India.

Dean has a USA line of guitars including the Amott, Cadillac, Icon, King, Martucci, Splittail, Thoroughbred and West models – these are all made in the USA.

Some Dean guitars were originally made in Japan’s outstanding Fujigen guitar factory, such as: B. the Dean Soltero.

ARTIST Series USA – Leslie West and Dimebag Series. Indonesia – Martucci and King Series. South Korea – Peterson, Sanders, Amott and Schenker series.

The SELECT series is mainly made in Indonesia, some Exile Select models are made in South Korea.

are mainly made in Indonesia, some Exile Select models are made in South Korea. CLASSIC Series India – models V 79, Z 79 and Cadillac. China – Model ML 79.

LEFTY Series – Made in Indonesia and China.

– Made in Indonesia and China. All Dean acoustic guitars, acoustic bases, banjos and mandolins are made in China.

Dean guitars come with D’Addario strings, except for the USA Dimebag series, which comes with DR DBG strings.

Where are Dean Zelinsky guitars made?

Dean Zelinsky guitars are all made in Chicago, IL – where he also opened a factory direct showroom in Highland Park in 2014. They only sell guitars directly to the public, not through third-party retailers.

– where he also opened a factory showroom in Highland Park in 2014. They only sell guitars directly to the public, not through third party vendors. Some components are sourced outside the US, however Dean Zelinsky guitars are actually shaped and built in their US factory.

Dean Zelinsky used to found Dean Guitars, then sold it and finally opened his own label Dean Zelinsky in 2012.

Where are Donner guitars made?

Donner guitars are only aimed at the beginner market and have been produced in China since 2012.

. Donner makes acoustic and electric guitars ranging from $100 to under $200.

Surprisingly, the DAD-812 model acoustic guitar comes with a solid spruce top.

Donner guitars come with their own Donner branded corrosion resistant coated steel and bronze/phosphor bronze strings.

Learn More: Are Donner Guitars Good For Beginners?

Where are Duesenberg guitars made?

Duesenberg guitar bodies and necks are formed and engineered at the Mirr Music factory in Korea, then shipped to Germany for final assembly and setup.

. This is the best information available, and Duesenberg does not state on their website that their guitars are made entirely in Germany.

A statement originally on their website was…

“Components of our instruments are manufactured by leading industrial companies around the world, but we do not outsource assembly, PLEK machine conditioning or final setup. This is still done by qualified violin makers at our Duesenberg headquarters in Hanover.”

This statement no longer exists on their website.

“Components of our instruments are manufactured by leading industrial companies around the world, but we do not outsource assembly, PLEK machine conditioning or final setup. This is still done by qualified violin makers at our Duesenberg headquarters in Hanover.” This statement is no longer available on their website. Their guitars are all assembled in Hannover, Germany, where the original business started in 1978, with all guitars being manufactured there at the time.

, where the original business started in 1978 and all guitars were made there at the time. In 1986 the first series of Duesenberg electric guitars was manufactured.

Duesenberg guitars come with nickel-wound Duesenberg strings.

Where are Eastman guitars made?

Eastman Strings began manufacturing violins in 1992 and began producing Eastman branded acoustic and archtop electric guitars in 2004 in Beijing, China.

. They are not the usual cheaper mass-produced lines of guitars, but are handcrafted using traditional techniques and hand tools.

Often sourcing its tonewood from the same sources as the major American manufacturers, Eastman produces guitars that rival the quality of top-of-the-line American-made guitars.

Eastman also manufactures Custom Edition models that are completed and modified in Pomona, CA, USA.

. Eastman guitars are fitted with D’Addario strings.

back to top

Where are Epiphone guitars made?

Owned since 1957, the Epiphone brand is built by guitar company Gibson.

In 1970 Epiphone stopped producing guitars in the US and moved its factory to Matsumoto, Japan, where it produced only rebranded guitars designed by the Matsumoku company for 5 years.

, and for 5 years just renamed Matsumoku Company produces guitars designed. The Epiphone EP series was manufactured in Taiwan from the late 1970s to the mid 80s.

from the late 1970s to the mid 80s. Production of Epiphones was moved to South Korea in the ’80s, where Gibson employed contractors like Samik to manufacture their guitars.

where Gibson hired contractors like Samik to produce their guitars. In 1993, limited edition Rivieras and Sheratons were produced at Gibson’s Nashville plant, with the company’s Montana plant also building 250 Excellente, Texan and Frontier flat tops.

From 2002 to 2008, Epiphone produced a line of high quality guitars called the “Elite Series”, manufactured by Terada and FujiGen in Japan, which used high quality woods, bone nuts and hand rubbed finishes.

, with higher quality woods, bone nuts and hand rubbed finishes. In 2002 Epiphone stopped making guitars in Korea and currently Samik still makes some Epiphone lines like Masterbilt in their newest Indonesian factory.

. Most modern Epiphone guitars are made in Quingdao, China – where Gibson opened two factories in 2004.

– where Gibson opened two factories in 2004. As Chinese factories improved their processes, they soon conformed to earlier Korean standards, and as of around 2006 most people agree that guitars made in Quingdao are as good as any.

In 2020, Epiphone began manufacturing its premium Texan acoustic guitars in Boseman, Montana – the first Epiphone acoustic guitar made in the USA in many years.

– the first Epiphone acoustic made in the USA in many years. Mid to high priced Epiphone guitars come with Gibson strings.

Find out more:

Are Epiphone guitars good quality?

Yamaha versus Epiphone guitars

Epiphone vs Fender Electric Guitars

Epiphone vs Fender acoustic guitars

Where are Ernie Ball Music Man guitars made?

From 1976 to October 1979, Music Man guitars were manufactured by Leo Fender’s company, CLF Research, in Fullerton, California.

. Ernie Ball purchased Music Man in 1984 and since then Ernie Ball Music Man guitars have been manufactured in San Luis Obispo, California.

. Ernie Ball Music Man guitars come with Ernie Ball strings.

Where are ESP guitars made?

Original Series and Custom Shop ESP’s (Electric Sound Products) are handcrafted in Japan.

The ESP Elite and E-II Standard series are factory made in Japan.

. ESP’s budget Grassroots and mid-range Edwards models are made in Japan.

. The rest of the Grassroots models are made in Korea.

. The high-end ESP and LTD models are made in the USA.

. The early LTD GL and EC series were manufactured in Vietnam and later in China, Korea and Indonesia.

ESP Eclipse and Horizon models are manufactured at ESP’s American Custom Shop in North Hollywood, California.

ESP guitars are equipped with D’Addario strings.

Find out more: Inexpensive guitars with active pickups

Where are EVH guitars made?

Originally, Eddie Van Halen worked with Ernie Ball Music to develop the US-made EVH between 1991 and 1995.

The next EVH Wolfgang was manufactured by Peavey in Massachusetts, USA between late 1996 and 2004.

. The Peavey EVH Wolfgang Special EXP was manufactured in Korea from 2002 to 2004.

. From 2004 to 2007, the Charvel EVH Art Series was manufactured in the USA.

. Beginning in 2009, a revised version of the EVH Wolfgang went into production at Fender in Corona, California.

. The EVH Striped Wolfgang Special is manufactured at Fender’s Ensenada factory in Mexico.

. Earnie Ball Music Man made a custom EVH branded string set for the original EVH guitar.

Current EVH guitars come with Fender EVH brand strings.

Where are Fender guitars made?

Early Fenders were made in Fullerton, California.

. The Fender Corona factory in California began manufacturing guitars in 1985.

All Fender American Series guitars are made in Corona, California, USA.

. Other models are made in Mexico, Japan and China.

The Fender Player series, Marauder and acoustic guitars were made in China from 2011 to 2014. Other models are made in China but are intended for the Chinese market only and are not exported to the United States.

. Other models are made in China but are intended for the Chinese market only and are not exported to the United States. Most Fender Squier guitars are currently made in China and Indonesia.

Fender acquired Squier strings and manufactured Squier guitars in Japan, Korea, Mexico, India, Indonesia, China and the United States since 1982.

In 1985, FMIC took ownership of CBS and manufactured their entire line of guitars in Japan from February through October of that year.

Fender has been making guitars at its Ensenada, Mexico factory since 1987.

. Fender stopped manufacturing guitars in Korea around 2002 and shifted production of those guitar lines to Mexico.

Fender ceased guitar production in Japan in 1991.

The Fender Custom Shop in the USA has been making its high-end guitars since 1987.

. All Fender and Squier electric and acoustic guitars feature Fender branded strings.

Find out more:

Fender vs. Cort – Which guitar is cheaper?

Yamaha vs Fender Electric Guitars

The best Fender acoustic guitars for beginners

back to top

Where are G&L guitars made?

Their current US-made guitars are the Fullerton Deluxe, CLF Research, Special Edition and their 40th Anniversary models.

Guitars are Fullerton Deluxe, CLF Research, Special Edition and their 40th Anniversary models. The Fullerton G&L factory is quite unique, still using some of Leo Fender’s original equipment and still producing genuine handcrafted guitars in the USA.

The Tribute Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature, ASAT HB and Legacy HB are currently made in China.

Other Tribute models are built in Indonesia by Samick.

by Samick. but before that they used GHS, then in the 80’s they used G&L Hot Rounds (own brand strings).

Beginning in late 2006, G&L guitars switched from SIT to D’Addario strings.

Tribute Series strings are supplied by the local factory where they are built.

Find out more:

Are G&L guitars any good?

Are G&L Guitars Better Than Fender?

Where are Gibson guitars made?

Gibson has produced its guitars at four different locations in the USA over the course of the company’s history.

From 1917 Gibson built his guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan until the end of World War II.

Between 1976 and 1984 production of Gibson guitars was relocated from Kalamazoo to Nashville, Tennessee.

. All of Gibson’s acoustic guitars since 1989 have been manufactured at their Bozeman factory in Montana, including models such as the J-45, J-200 and the company’s new G-45 series.

, including models like the J-45, J-200 and the company’s new G-45 series. The Bozeman facility doubled in 2021 due to the increase in sales caused by the pandemic and now houses its own custom shop.

Gibson’s semi-hollow and hollow-body ES collections are still made in Nashville, Tennessee.

. Gibson Les Paul and SG lines are also manufactured at the Nashville plant.

Plant. The Beal Street plant in Memphis produced primarily semi-hollow electric guitars and custom instruments. Beginning around 2006, the facility became a dedicated factory for Gibson’s ES Series.

The Memphis factory operated from 1999 to 2019, when production of ES models was moved to Nashville.

The Gibson Custom Shop is located in Nashville where they make their various Signature Series, limited edition replica guitar barrels, Vintage Original Spec (VOS) lines, Historic lines and others.

, where they make their various Signature lines, limited edition replica guitar barrels, Vintage Original Spec (VOS) lines, Historic lines, and others. Gibson guitars are strung with Gibson brand strings.

Where are Godin guitars made?

Godin began building guitars in rural Quebec, Canada in 1972 and remains a family business to this day.

Founded in 1972 and is still a family business today. Their guitars are built with almost all North American native woods.

Necks, headstocks and bodies are all manufactured at their original location in La Patrie, Quebec.

. Godin Guitars are then assembled and finished at their other factories in Quebec and New Hampshire.

factories. Godin acoustic guitars are made in Princeville, Quebec, Canada.

are made in Princeville, Quebec, Godin electric guitars are made in a separate factory in Richmond, Quebec and also in Berlin, New Hampshire.

are manufactured in their own factory in Richmond, Quebec – and also in Berlin, New Hampshire. Godin guitars are fitted with D’Addario strings.

Where are Greco guitars made?

The Greco guitar brand is owned by the Kanda Shokai Corporation, which was founded in 1960.

Early guitars were made by Matsumoko Mokkou in Japan in collaboration with the founder of Fujigen until the mid-1970s.

in a partnership with the founder of Fujigen until the mid-1970s. Around 1974-75 FujiGen Gakki began manufacturing Greco Gibson replicas and similar Fender replicas which continued until the mid 1990s and was the main manufacturer of Greco guitars.

Greco guitars of the less expensive Les Paul and SG models were made by Cor-Tek (Cort) and Tokai Gakki in the late 1980s. These guitars have no serial numbers and can be identified by the shape of the tool holes in the bottom of the pickup cavities.

These guitars have no serial numbers and can be identified by the shape of the tool holes in the bottom of the pickup cavities. Dyna Gakki produced some of the more affordable Greco guitars between 1990 and 1992.

produced some of the more affordable Greco guitars between 1990 and 1992. Tokai Gakki currently makes the Kanda Shokai Zemaitis and Talbo models since 2012.

Where are Gretsch guitars made?

Gretsch began manufacturing musical instruments in 1883 and was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002.

In late 1969, Gretsch moved manufacturing from Brooklyn to a plant in Booneville, Arkansas, where guitars were made until the plant closed in 1981.

. Older Gretsch guitars were known to be of average quality, with neck and finish problems, and sometimes built from poorly seasoned wood.

In 1984, a handful of Gretsch guitars were produced in Jaurez, Mexico.

. In 1989, production resumed using Gretsch guitars from Japan.

From 1999 to 2000, Gretsch indicated production of the Electromatic and Historic lines in Korea until the Historic line ceased production in 2003.

, until the Historic line ceased production in 2003. Gretsch Electromatics from mid 2000s onwards are made in China.

. Die Gretsch Pro Line-Serie wird in Japan in der Terada-Fabrik hergestellt und hat sich einen Ruf als hohe Qualität erworben, die gegenüber frühen Gretsch-Modellen aus den USA bevorzugt wird.

in der Terada-Fabrik und haben sich einen Ruf als hohe Qualität erworben, die gegenüber frühen Gretsch-Modellen aus den USA bevorzugt wird. In Amerika hergestellte Gretsch-Gitarren sind die Custom-Shop-Modelle.

Gretsch Hollow Body und Solid Body Elektrik werden generell mit Gretsch Markensaiten geliefert. Dies kann davon abhängen, in welcher Fabrik sie hergestellt werden, da einige in China hergestellte Gitarren wie die Corvette mit D’Addario-Saiten geliefert werden können.

Artist Signature Editions sind mit D’Addario-Saiten ausgestattet.

back to top

Wo werden Gildengitarren hergestellt?

Guild wurde 1952 gegründet und 1995 von der Fender Musical Instruments Corporation übernommen und 2014 an Cordoba verkauft.

Es gab einige Guild-Ablegermarken, nämlich Madeira, Burnside, DeArmond und GAD (Guild Acoustic Design). Diese Marken wurden in verschiedenen Fabriken in Südkorea und China hergestellt.

. Cordoba verlegte die Guild-Fabrik von der Fabrik in Rhode Island nach Oxnard in Kalifornien, wo sie heute die M-, D-, F- und F-Akustikgitarren mit zwölf Saiten herstellen.

, wo sie heute die zwölfsaitigen M-, D-, F- und F-Akustikgitarren herstellen. Die Westerly-Kollektion von Guild wird derzeit in China nach hohen Standards hergestellt und spiegelt die originalen Guild-Gitarren aus den 1960er bis 1990er Jahren mit hochwertigen Massivholzdecken wider.

entsprechen hohen Standards und spiegeln die originalen Guild-Gitarren aus den 1960er bis 1990er Jahren wider, mit hochwertigen Massivholzdecken. Die E-Gitarren der Newark Street Collection werden je nach Modell in Südkorea, Indonesien und China hergestellt, wobei der US-Fabrik langsam weitere Modelle hinzugefügt werden, wenn sie wächst.

je nach Modell mit . Guild-Gitarren werden alle mit D’Addario-Saiten geliefert.

Find out more:

Sind Gildengitarren von guter Qualität?

Wo werden Hagstrom-Gitarren hergestellt?

Hagström ist eine schwedische Gitarrenfirma, die 1958 mit der Herstellung von E-Gitarren begann und die Produktion 1983 einstellte.

Alle ihre Gitarren wurden ursprünglich in Älvdalen, Dalecarlia, Schweden, bis zur Schließung der Fabrik hergestellt.

bis zur Werksschließung. Bevor sie 1983 ihre Türen schlossen, versuchte Hagström, die Ultra Swede-Prototypen in Japan produzieren zu lassen, um Kosten zu sparen, aber die Qualität entsprach nicht ihren Erwartungen.

Der Swede und Super Swede, hergestellt von 1970–1983, war das letzte Modell, das in Älvdalen hergestellt wurde.

Im Jahr 2004 nahm Hagström die Gitarrenproduktion in Korea wieder auf und verlagerte die Produktion dann um 2005 nach China. Die in China hergestellten Gitarren gelten als qualitativ besser, jedoch nicht wie die in Schweden hergestellten Originalinstrumente.

Die in China hergestellten Gitarren gelten als qualitativ besser, jedoch nicht wie die original in Schweden hergestellten Instrumente. Hagström baut die E-Gitarre Super Swede jetzt wieder in Schweden.

again. Hagström-Gitarren werden mit D’Addario-Saiten geliefert.

Wo werden Harley Benton Gitarren hergestellt?

Harley Benton-Gitarren stellen „fast“ Nachbauten bekannter Gitarrenmodelle her und sind eine Marke des Musikhauses Thomann mit Sitz in Deutschland.

Das Management von Thomann gibt nicht genau bekannt, wo ihre Gitarren hergestellt werden (nicht ungewöhnlich in der Gitarrenindustrie), es wird jedoch bestätigt, dass sie derzeit in Fabriken in China, Indonesien und Vietnam produzieren.

. Obwohl sie ihre Gitarren in mehreren Fabriken in jedem Land herstellen, wird angenommen, dass eine der Fabriken in China, die HB-Gitarren herstellen, die Saein-Fabrik ist, die von Saein Co. aus Südkorea betrieben wird.

Harley Benton produzierte früher in Korea, ist aber aufgrund günstigerer Produktionskosten in andere Länder gezogen.

sind aber aufgrund günstigerer Produktionskosten in andere Länder gezogen. Einige uns bekannte Modelle sind: HB DC-200 BK und HB SC450 plus – made in China . HB Fusion-Reihe – Hergestellt in Indonesien . HB SC-550 – hergestellt in Vietnam .

Höherpreisige Harley Benton-Gitarren werden mit D’Addario-Saiten geliefert.

Wo werden Harmony-Gitarren hergestellt?

Until their closure in 1975, Harmony had been the largest musical instrument manufacturer in the world.

Harmony guitars were American made in Chicago, Illinois .

. In 2009 Westheimer corporation acquired all rights to Harmony. After being approached by Amazon to supply new lines of guitars Westheimer briefly debuted the imported New Harmony Vintage Reissue series from Asia.

In 2018 Harmony guitars resurfaced under the ownership of BrandLab Technologies, who have started manufacturing Harmony guitars again.

Harmony’s new Standard Series are made in Kalamazoo, MI, USA .

. Harmony guitars come fitted with Harmony branded strings.

Where Are Heritage Guitars Made?

Heritage Guitars was founded in 1985 by a handful of former Gibson employees in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA .

. Heritage was originally started in rented space inside the old Gibson factory, and was purchased in 2016 by a couple of investors involved in PlazaCorp Realty Advisors Inc.

Heritage manufactures hand-crafted high quality small-batch electric guitars, at least they did, until 2018 when the new management sacked long-time skilled luthiers in favour of CNC and Plek technology, citing the need for improvements in quality.

Most Heritage models come with GHS Boomers, including the Heritage H-137, H-530, H-535, H-575, and Eagle Classic Hollowbody.

The Heritage H-150 has Elixir Optiweb strings, and the Custom Shop Golden Eagle comes with Thomastik-Infeld Bebop strings.

back to top

Where Are Huss & Dalton Guitars Made?

The Huss & Dalton Guitar Company is an artisan acoustic guitar and banjo manufacturer.

Huss & Dalton guitars started in late 1995, and hand craft all their guitars in Staunton, Virginia, USA .

. All their guitars are high-end, produced in a small workshop where all their luthiers are avid guitar players, and regularly sell new for $5,000 to $10,000 and above.

H&D produce 15 different acoustic guitar models, in extremely limited numbers.

In 2020 Huss & Dalton added their first electric guitar to their range, a LP style body with AAA grade wood construction.

All Huss & Dalton guitars come strung with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Ibanez Guitars Made?

Early Ibanez guitars in the late 1950’s to 60’s were made in Japan .

. From the 1970’s until the mid-late 80’s all Ibanez guitars were produced in the FugiGen factory in Japan.

After the late 80’s production moved to South Korea from 1987 until around 2008 when labour costs forced them to move manufacturing elsewhere.

when labour costs forced them to move manufacturing elsewhere. Ibanez commenced making guitars in China around 1999, and in the Indonesian PT Cort factory from 1997 .

. In the late 80’s to mid-90’s the USA Custom range and American Master Series was made in Los Angeles, California .

. The Custom and Prestige series are made in Japan .

. Ibanez’s Iron Label, and Axiom line of guitars are made in Indonesia .

. The Premium line is made in the Indonesian ‘premium’ factory.

The Ibanez GIO line is made in China .

. Ibanez guitars ship with D’Addario strings.

Find out more:

Are Ibanez Electric Guitars Good?

Where Are Jackson Guitars Made?

Jackson Guitars was founded in 1980 and produced their first Concorde model guitar in California, USA . They built their early reputation by producing high quality US-made instruments.

. They built their early reputation by producing high quality US-made instruments. Jackson Guitars are currently made in China, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, and the USA.

In the 1990’s the Artist Signature Series and KV2 USA series were made in Ontario, CA.

The KV3 (Pro Series) was produced in Japan between 1996-2001. The KV5 was also made in Japan.

between 1996-2001. The KV5 was also made in Japan. The KV4 had two series: made in Korea from 1999, and USA series from 2001.

from 1999, and USA series from 2001. The Jackson KVX10 (X series) was made during 2001 in India for that year only. Subsequent models are all built in Japan.

for that year only. Subsequent models are all built in Japan. Jackson Soloist models have been produced in many different locations since 1984, including the USA, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, and China. Higher-end models are made in USA and Japan.

The Jackson Custom Select Dinky DK1, and USA Series guitars are made in the USA .

. The Jackson Pro Series DK2M Dinky was manufactured in Japan from 2006-2010 and was reintroduced to the market in 2012, now manufactured in Mexico .

. The Jackson Pro Series and X series guitars are now made in Indonesia .

. Jackson Performer Series were originally made in Korea, and then later in Japan.

Early DXMG models were made in Japan, and after 2006 were made in India. DXMG models are now discontinued.

In 2021 Jackson announced a new made in Japan MJ series that includes a new Rhoads RRT model, Soloist, and various Dinky models.

Jackson guitars ship with a variety of string brands depending on the factory.

Discover:

Are Basswood Guitars Any Good?

Where Are Katoh Guitars Made?

Katoh make Handmade Classical Guitars built in Guangzhou, China .

. They produce a good grade of instrument at quite low prices.

They are branded as “ Martinez ” in USA and Europe.

” in USA and Europe. Katoh guitars come fitted with Savarez strings.

Where Are Kay Guitars Made?

In the 1900’s Kay were a large instrument manufacturer second only to Harmony, and had hundreds of guitar models in their catalogue.

From 1931 until 1964 Kay produced guitars in Chicago, USA .

. In 1964 Kay moved manufacturing to Illinois, producing guitars until 1968.

Kay guitars specialize in student and budget lines of guitars.

From 1973 to 1980 Kay branded guitars were made in Japan by Teisco.

From early 2008, 12 Vintage Reissue Kay guitars and bases have been made by Fitz Brothers in the USA.

The current line of Kay guitars is made in China .

. String brand is not specified with Kay guitars.

back to top

Where Are Kiesel Guitars Made?

Kiesel guitars are made in Southern California, USA , where they also operate their custom shop.

, where they also operate their custom shop. The Kiesel and Carvin brands have had a close relationship over the years, and Kiesel Guitars split off from Carvin Corp in 2015.

See more in the Carvin Guitars Section.

Where Are Kramer Guitars Made?

ESP formed a relationship with Kramer, which used ESP to “ghost build” necks and bodies.

Founded in the late 70’s there were originally more basses made than guitars, with the necks being aluminium. They were produced in a factory in Neptune, New Jersey .

. In the early 80’s Kramer started making “ American Series ” wood neck guitars, with the necks made in Japan and the guitars assembled and finished in New Jersey .

” wood neck guitars, with the . By 1987 Kramer guitar necks and bodies were made in Japan, assembled in NJ .

. The Striker and Aerostar series were made completely in the Samik factory in Korea.

The Focus series was made by ESP guitars in Japan.

In 1995 a few hundred guitars were made in NJ from surplus stock in the Neptune plant.

From the late 90’s until 2009 high-end Kramer guitars (now owned by Gibson) were produced by the Epiphone division in the USA from American-made components.

(now owned by Gibson) were from American-made components. From 1998-2008 the “ Yo Era ” guitars were made in South Korea (sold on the defunct MusicYo website).

” guitars were (sold on the defunct MusicYo website). Currently Kramer guitars are being made in the Indonesian Samik facility, also in a ‘good’ guitar factory in China.

Kramer have used a variety of strings throughout the years, including Kramer branded strings, D’Addario, and Floyd Rose.

Where Are Kremona Guitars Made?

Kremona specializes in making nylon string classical and flamenco guitars, and in 2016 started producing steel string guitars also.

They have produced stringed instruments in Bulgaria since 1924 , with their first guitars some years later.

, with their first guitars some years later. Kremona have a workshop with around 120 staff where all guitars are handcrafted.

Kremona steel string guitars come with either Elixir or D’Addario strings depending on the model.

Kremona nylon string guitars come with Royal Classic strings.

Where Are Larrivee Guitars Made?

Larrivee specialize in acoustic guitars, however made a range of electric guitars and basses since 1982 until the market cooled in the 90’s. They currently produce the Baker-T pro electric.

All Larrivee acoustic guitars are solid wood, with no laminates used.

Larrivee guitars was founded in 1967, making their first guitars in Ontario, Canada .

. In 1977 they moved production to Victoria, BC, and later in 1982 opened a factory in Vancouver .

. In 2001 Larrivee guitars opened a second factory in Oxnard, CA making their gloss-finished guitars, while the satin guitars continued to be made in Canada.

making their gloss-finished guitars, while the satin guitars continued to be made in Canada. Larrivee also resumed making their high-end electric guitars in 2001 in California.

In 2013 they ceased production in Vancouver, with their entire range now made in California .

. Larrivee hand make their guitars to a high standard, and most guitarist agree that their newer US-made guitars match the quality of the older Canadian-made guitars.

Before 2005 Larrivee guitars were fitted with D’Addario strings.

In 2005 at NAMM, Larrivee announced all new guitars would come with Elixir phosphor bronze strings.

Where Are Line 6 Guitars Made?

Line 6 started in 1996, was acquired by the Yamaha corporation in 2013, and currently operates as a wholly owned subsidiary company with their own management.

The first Line 6 guitar produced was the Variax 500 modelling guitar in 2002.

The First acoustic was the Variax acoustic in early 2004. From 2002 to 2005 the Variax 500 was made in Korea . From 2005 to 2009 the Vairax 300 was made in Indonesia . From 2005 to 2010 the Variax 600 was initially made in South Korea, and later in China. From 2004 to 2010 the Variax 700 was made at the Fujigen plant in Japan , along with a limited run of 50 Variax 900’s.

Since 2010 Line 6 ceased production of their original Variax series, and now produce the Standard, Shuriken, and James Tyler JTV models.

Line 6 Shuriken Variax SR270 Electric Guitar – Made in China .

. Line 6 JTV-59 Standard Variax Electric Guitar – Made in South Korea .

. James Tyler Variax US Custom Series – Made in the USA .

. Line 6 guitars ship with D’Addario phosphor bronze strings.

back to top

Where Are LsL Guitars Made?

LsL was founded in 2008 in a garage.

All LsL guitars are hand made in Santa Clarita, CA, USA .

. They are one of the very few guitar companies who still hand shape the necks on their guitars.

Every guitar they produce in their small factory has its own unique female name engraved on the neck plate.

LsL guitars ship with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Martin Guitars Made?

CF Martin Company began in 1833, and produce Martin acoustic guitars in Pennsylvania, USA and their dedicated plant in Sonora, Mexico .

. Their original factory in Pennsylvania was opened in 1859 and is now houses the Martin Museum, and ‘Guitar Makers Connection’ where they sell guitar parts and kits.

Martin’s higher-end models (Standard Series, Modern Deluxe Series, Authentic Series, 15-16-17 Series, D-35 David Gilmour, 00L Earth, and custom shop guitars) are all made in the USA.

models (Standard Series, Modern Deluxe Series, Authentic Series, 15-16-17 Series, D-35 David Gilmour, 00L Earth, and custom shop guitars) are all Martin’s more affordable guitars (X Series, Road Series, Dreadnought Junior, PA5 models, Backpacker series, Little Martin Series, SC-13E, and select ukuleles) are made in Mexico .

guitars (X Series, Road Series, Dreadnought Junior, PA5 models, Backpacker series, Little Martin Series, SC-13E, and select ukuleles) are . All Martin guitars come strung with their own Martin branded strings, which they have made since 1970 after buying the Darco Strings company.

Where Are Maton Guitars Made?

Maton guitars was founded in 1946, and makes all their electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and ukuleles in Melbourne, Australia .

. Many Maton guitar models are made exclusively with Australian and Tasmanian woods.

Maton guitars are mid to high level models, not generally aimed at beginners.

Maton guitars are played by artist such as Tommy Emmanuel, Keith Urban, and Michael Franti.

Maton guitars come strung with Elixir strings.

Where Are Michael Kelly Guitars Made?

The Michael Kelly Guitar Company was founded in 1999, originally offering acoustic bases and mandolins, and is named after the founders two children.

Their first electric and acoustic guitars appeared in 2001.

They concentrate on affordable boutique-style guitars.

Samson technologies acquired Michael Kelly Guitar Co. in 2018.

Michael Kelly guitars are designed in the US and manufactured in Asia .

. Originally their guitars were made in South Korea , but like many guitar companies moved manufacturing to China and Indonesia as cheaper sources of labour.

, but like many guitar companies as cheaper sources of labour. All Michael Kelly guitars come strung with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Mitchell Guitars Made?

Mitchell Guitars first appeared in 1986, and still have a low profile today.

Their guitars are aimed at the beginner and lower intermediate market.

Almost all Mitchell acoustic and electric guitars are made in China.

The Mitchell MS450 electric guitar is made in Vietnam.

Mitchell Guitars ship with D’Addario strings.

Mitchell short-scale guitars come with GHS strings.

back to top

Where Are Music Man Guitars Made?

Music Man was founded in 1974, making all their guitars in San Luis Obispo, California.

Ernie Ball bought the company in 1984, and since then has focussed on producing high -end quality electric and bass guitars.

All Music Man main lines of guitars ad basses are still made in the USA .

. They employ modern computerized machinery to produce accurate instrument dimensions.

Music Man developed the Sterling budget-oriented electric guitar series made to Music Man’s high-quality standards, made possible by cheaper materials and manufacturing in Asia .

made to Music Man’s high-quality standards, made possible by cheaper materials and . For more information on Sterling Music Man(SBMM) guitars – see the Sterling Guitars section.

Music Man inspect all imported guitars in their USA factory before shipping them to retailers.

All Music Man guitars ship with Ernie Ball strings.

Where Are Nash Guitars Made?

Nash Guitars is a family-run business, founded in 2003, and assemble all their electric and bass guitars in Olympia, WA, USA .

. Nash guitars are all vintage designs, essentially Fender copies with a distressed look (Relic’d), having a good construction and hardware at a fraction of Fender Custom Shop guitars.

Nash guitars are made from Fender neck and body shapes made for them by an undisclosed business partner, and back in the early 2000’s used to ship their guitars without a logo on the headstock.

Nash guitars and bases come strung with Mapes American-made strings.

Where Are Ovation Guitars Made?

Ovation’s USA factory is high-tech, lending many processes from the aerospace industry including unique tooling, and is located in New Hartford, Connecticut .

. Early model Ovation electric guitars from 1967-1969 were made by Schaller in Germany .

. All early model Ovation acoustic guitars were made in the US .

. Ovation make some other cheaper entry-level guitars brands – Applause, and Celebrity. These are made in China and Indonesia .

. Ovation’s upper-level guitars labelled Balladeer, Legend, and Elite are made in South Korea.

labelled Balladeer, Legend, and Elite are made in From summer of 2014 -2015 the Hartford facility was closed under the ownership of Fender. They re-opened in August 2015 with a small selection of staff when the company was purchased by Drum Workshop.

In early 2020 Ovation opened their custom shop in Hartford and started production of two limited runs of the Adamas 1687GT and the Adamas 2087GT, where they also produce custom designed guitars.

and started production of two limited runs of the Adamas 1687GT and the Adamas 2087GT, where they also produce custom designed guitars. Ovation acoustic guitars come strung with Adamas strings, while their bass guitars and nylon string guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Peavey Guitars Made?

Peavey Electronics Corporation was founded in 1965 originally producing amplifiers, and 10 years later started adding electric guitars, bass guitars, and acoustic guitars to their catalogue.

Peavey’s first guitar was produced in 1975 being made at their Leakesville & Meridian plants in Mississippi, USA .

. To compete for price with other guitar manufacturers, Peavey employed state of the art computerised machinery to make their guitar bodies and necks, being the first American guitar manufacturer to do so.

Peavey still produces some guitars and amps in the USA – including the HP2 range of electric guitars.

– including the HP2 range of electric guitars. Peavey had a large plant in the UK that operated for decades until its closure in 2014 .

. Although Peavey still manufacture guitars in the US, due to economic stress they eventually moved to manufacturing their guitars in Korea, then eventually China, Vietnam, and Indonesia .

. Peavey’s imported guitars are all designed in the USA.

Most Asian-made Peavey guitars are produced in China.

Following is a list of some models produced in Asia over the mid 1990’s – 2000’s. Most other models were made in the US. Made in Korea : Falcon 1 International Series, Generation EXP, Generation, EXP ACM, Hartley Peavey Signature EXP, Predator Plus HB, Raptor Plus, EXP, Raptor Plus TK, Rotor EXP, Rotor EXP Limited. Made in China : Generation EX, Generation Triple/Single EX, Generation, Vintage EX, Jazz Fusion Series JF-1 & 2 EXP. Made in Indonesia : Rotor EXP (locking tremolo). Korea & Vietnam : Predator Plus (rosewood fingerboard). Korea and Indonesia : Predator Plus EXP. Korea and China : Raptor Plus.

Peavey’s most successful guitar was the EVH Wolfgang Special series, and from 1996 to 2004 various models were made in the USA , with the EVH Wolfgang & Wolfgang Special Deluxe being made in their custom shop.

, with the EVH Wolfgang & Wolfgang Special Deluxe being made in their custom shop. From 2002 – 2004 the Peavey EVH Wolfgang Special EXP was made in Korea .

. Peavey’s current HP2 range of electric guitars ship with D’Addario strings.

back to top

Where Are PRS Guitars Made?

PRS Guitars was founded in 1985, and have their US factory in Stevensville, Maryland, USA .

. PRS make high quality electric guitars, being the first to use highly figured wood for the top laminate, a hallmark of their guitars to this day.

They started producing bass guitars in 1987, and acoustic models starting in 2008.

PRS high-end guitars are manufactured in the US , including the PRS Core series, PRS CE line, PRS S2, and PRS Custom Shop guitars, which are all made at their factory at Maryland in the US.

, including the PRS Core series, PRS CE line, PRS S2, and PRS Custom Shop guitars, which are all made at their factory at Maryland in the US. The lower priced PRS SE solid body guitars are made in South Korea by WMIC, and Indonesia by Cor-Tek .

. The Cor-Tek facility in Indonesia exclusively manufactures PRS SE guitars, with the majority of their SE line made there.

Before 2019 the PRS SE Custom was exclusively made in Korea, before PRS moved production of that model to Indonesia.

PRS SE hollow body and acoustic guitars are produced in China by Cor-Tek.

PRS perform setups on all their imported guitars in the US before shipping them to retail shops.

PRS electric guitars come with either PRS or D’Addario strings depending on the model.

PRS acoustic guitars come strung with PRS strings.

Find out more:

How Good Are PRS Electric Guitars?

Are PRS Guitars Better Than Fender?

Where Are Rainsong Guitars Made?

Rainsong was founded in 1982 in Maui, Hawaii, where they originally manufactured their guitars until 2001 when they moved production to Woodinville, Washington, USA .

. Rainsong produces instruments made from carbon fiber, which requires no internal bracing, and is weatherproof (the original concept behind the idea).

They currently produce a range of guitars with four different series.

Rainsong guitars come strung with Elixir strings.

Find out more:

What Is the Loudest Acoustic Guitar?

Where Are Reverend Guitars Made?

Reverend guitars are made in Korea by the Mirr Music Company.

Originally Reverend were started in a garage in East Detroit in 1997.

The Reverend guitar factory is in Toledo, Ohio, where they do final assembly and setup work, and inspection before shipment to retailers.

work, and inspection before shipment to retailers. Reverend 6 and 12 string guitars come with D’addario strings fitted, while their baritone and bass guitars come with SIT strings.

Where Are Rickenbacker Guitars Made?

Rickenbacker International began in 1931 and is a family-owned business that makes their guitars at their factory in Santa Ana, California .

. They were the first company to make electric guitars.

The first electric guitar they produced was an aluminum lap steel model known as “the frying pan”, made from 1932 to 1939.

In 1954 Rickenbacker started producing their first modern electric guitars – the Combo 600 and 800 models.

From 1996 to 2006 Rickenbacker acoustic guitars were made in their US factory, and from 2006 to 2013 a luthier with a workshop in San Francisco named Studio California built their acoustic lines under a licence agreement, and due to the large backorder, the last guitar was made there in 2017.

All Rickenbacker guitars are wholly made in the US , with many hours labor put into achieving a high level of finish.

, with many hours labor put into achieving a high level of finish. Rickenbacker guitars come fitted with Rickenbacker branded strings.

back to top

Where Are Rockbridge Guitars Made?

Rockbridge Guitars was founded in 2002, and makes their guitars at their workshop in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

They make a limited run of acoustic guitars each year in their small workshop, where every guitar is completely handmade to a very high level of finish.

Rockbridge produce only 10 guitar models, and also custom orders.

These are very high-end expensive instruments, used by some famous artists.

Where Are Samick Guitars Made?

Samick Musical Instruments Co. was founded in 1958.

Samick started producing acoustic guitars in 1965 and electric guitars in 1972, growing to become one of the largest musical instrument manufacturers worldwide.

They have made guitars for many different brands such as Squier, Epiphone, Washburn, Silvertone, and Greg Bennett, amongst many others.

Samick produced models based on the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul from 1972 to 1989 for the Hondo guitar company, and they were mainly produced at the Samick factory in Korea .

. The Hondo professional series was made by Samick in Japan from 1980 to 1983, and the Deluxe Series was made in 1981 in their Korean plant .

from 1980 to 1983, and the . In 1992 Samick built a factory in Indonesia, and from 1995 until 2006 manufactured most of their guitar models there. From 2006 all their guitars have been made in Indonesia.

In 1994 Samick made almost 50% of all the worlds guitars that year.

In 1995 Samick released the Artist Series, which became their most popular guitar line, producing them until 2002.

Where Are Schecter Guitars Made?

Schecter Guitar Research was started in 1976 initially as a USA replacement parts manufacturer and repairer.

In 1979 Schecter started producing their own high-end electric guitars in California .

. In 1983 Schecter was sold, and manufacturing moved to Dallas, Texas .

. In 1984 they unveiled 12 new guitars and bases, with the T-style guitar (known as the “Saturn”) and the S-style guitar (known as the “Mercury”) becoming their most popular models. They also had a model named the “Genesis”

In 1987 Schecter was sold again, and manufacturing was moved back to Burbank, California , where they returned to making high-end custom shop electric guitars.

, where they returned to making high-end custom shop electric guitars. From 1997 Schecter started having their guitars made in Incheon, South Korea . They were then shipped to the USA for setup. This included the Diamond Series.

. They were then shipped to the USA for setup. This included the Diamond Series. In 2013 Schecter started making their “USA Production Series” and custom shop models in their Californian factory .

Schecter started making their “USA Production Series” and custom shop models in their . Schecter have a factory in China where many guitar body parts are made, and the final assembly and setup is done in other countries.

Some series of Schecter guitars have been produced in multiple countries and can depend on the year of manufacture. See below for an example of where some of the series have been manufactured. Schecter series made in Korea : Banshee, Blackjack, C-1, C-7, Hellraiser, Diamond, Artist, Standard, Custom, Damien Elite. Schecter series made in Indonesia : Banshee Extreme, CR-6, C-6 Elite, Demon, Omen, Reaper, Damien, Hellraiser. Schecter series made in China : C-6, Omen, Damien, Diamond, Hellraiser.

Schecter also make guitars in Japan, but they are for the Japanese market. Occasionally you may be lucky to find one in the US.

The made in Japan series includes the Exceed, ST Custom, PT-CTM, S, TRAD, SD, NV, BH, KR, AR, and MZ.

includes the Exceed, ST Custom, PT-CTM, S, TRAD, SD, NV, BH, KR, AR, and MZ. Many of Schecter’s current guitar series ship with Ernie Ball strings.

Find out more: Cheap Guitars with Active Pickups

back to top

Where Are Seagull Guitars Made?

Seagull Guitars was founded in 1982, and hand-make their guitars in Quebec, Canada .

. They use only sustainable woods, producing quality instruments mostly from local Canadian woods, and also reclaimed wood.

The Seagull brand is a sub-brand of Godin guitars, manufactured in the same facility.

Seagull guitars were ahead of their time, making all solid-top acoustic guitars at affordable prices back in the 90’s.

The most popular Seagull model is the S6, with innovative features like their headstock design, radiused top, and slightly wider fretboard making it great for larger hands.

Seagull guitars come strung with Godin strings.

Where Are Solar Guitars Made?

Solar Guitars is located in Sant Gregori, Spain – and focus on making guitars purely for metal and death metal.

Solar guitars are manufactured by PT Wildwood in Jakarta, Indonesia – where brands like Schecter, Fender, and PRS have been made.

– where brands like Schecter, Fender, and PRS have been made. The founder of Solar guitars attends the factory to personally quality check every guitar before shipment.

Guitars are manufactured with modern CNC machining.

Solar guitars come equipped with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Squier Guitars Made?

Since 1965 Fender have owned the Squier brand name, continuing to sell Squier brand strings until 1972.

In 1982 Fender started producing lower priced guitar models under the Squier brand name, with the first Fender Squier models appearing in mid-1982.

Squier manufacturing started in Japan, and over time has migrated to Mexico, Korea, China, and more recently Indonesia. Some models have also been made in the US.

The first Squier guitars were made in Japan at the FujiGen Gakki factory , becoming known as the Squier JV (“Japanese Vintage”) guitars, highly sought after today as collectors’ items for their high quality and scarcity. These were produced until late 1984 and are considered better quality than American Standard guitars made in California at that time.

were made in , becoming known as the Squier JV (“Japanese Vintage”) guitars, highly sought after today as collectors’ items for their high quality and scarcity. These were produced until late 1984 and are considered better quality than American Standard guitars made in California at that time. Early models sold within the Japanese market were still labelled as Fender, but exported models were labelled as Squier.

In late 1983 Fender started importing Japanese-made Squier guitars to the US.

Since 1985 guitars labelled “Made In USA” have been made in Corona, CA.

Fujigen employed many sub-contractors to make guitar parts, so in this period you will find Squier guitars with parts made in various factories. For example, Fujigen-made Squier guitars between 1982 and 1997 have necks made by Atlansia.

Guitars made in the Fujigen Gakki factory from 1982 until 1996 have the logo MIJ (“Made in Japan”), and guitars made in other the other Japanese factories were labelled CIJ (“Crafted in Japan”).

In 1983 Fender added the beginner Bullet Series to Squier, producing them in Japan .

to Squier, producing them in . In 1985 the Squier Katana was made in Japan , with a non-Fender based shape.

was made in , with a non-Fender based shape. From 1996 to 1998 the Squier Jagmaster was made in Japan , as part of the Vista Series that included the Super Sonic, Venus Six, and some 12-string guitars.

was made in , as part of the Vista Series that included the Super Sonic, Venus Six, and some 12-string guitars. Manufacturing was moved to Tokai Gakki and Dyna Gakki in 1996 after serious quality issues had developed in the original plant, with the last guitars produced there in 2010.

There is a rumour that some very early Squier JV Stratocasters’ were Greco guitars fitted with Fenders’ specified hardware, with the Greco label removed and replaced with Squier.

Fender made Squier guitars in the US for a period of 9 months from 1989 to mid-1990 . The earliest guitars were made at the Fender Custom Shop, shipped to Mexico for painting and then returned for assembly. The serial number prefix E = Eighties (1980s), and prefix N = Nineties (1990s).

. The earliest guitars were made at the Fender Custom Shop, shipped to Mexico for painting and then returned for assembly. The serial number prefix E = Eighties (1980s), and prefix N = Nineties (1990s). From 1988 Fender started producing Squier guitars in Ensenada, Mexico after production ceased in Japan.

after production ceased in Japan. From 1993 to 1998 in California , Fender produced a Squier Telecaster, Stratocaster and Precision Bass Series that was a Fender “Squier Series”, often confused with Squier branded guitars.

, Fender produced a Squier Telecaster, Stratocaster and Precision Bass Series that was a Fender “Squier Series”, often confused with Squier branded guitars. In South Korea from 1987 to 1998 the Bullet, Squier, and Squier II series guitars were made by a number of factories including Young Chang, Cor-tek (Cort), Saehan, and Samick.

the Bullet, Squier, and Squier II series guitars were made by a number of factories including Young Chang, Cor-tek (Cort), Saehan, and Samick. Korean Squiers built between 1992 and 1995 with a black (or dark grey) logo on the headstock and have a thin laminated body.

with a black (or dark grey) logo on the headstock and have a thin laminated body. The Korean Squiers were generally considered the lowest quality Squiers, not surprising when considering Fenders’ cost-cutting drive to compete with other low-priced guitars on the market. As a result, these guitars were made with laminate (plywood) bodies, and lower quality hardware.

One exception with Korean Squiers were the “Pro Tone” Series, especially the ones made by Kor-Tek and Chang. This model was hand-made with a solid 3-piece body, and quality pickups like the Fujigen Gakki MIJ Strat models of the mid 80’s.

The Squier Standard Stratocaster was one of the first models produced in Korea , followed from 1988 to 1990 by the HSS Squier Contemporary Stratocaster.

was one of the first models produced in , followed from 1988 to 1990 by the HSS Squier Contemporary Stratocaster. The second generation of Korean Squier series appeared in 1992, with a black Squier decal on the headstock, and the plywood body remained through to the 3 rd generation.

Generation. In 1996 the 4 th generation of Korean Squiers returned to a solid alder body, with a gold Squier decal.

generation of Korean Squiers returned to a solid alder body, with a gold Squier decal. The Squier Master Series were made in the Korean Cort factory from 2005 to 2007 , and included the M80, Esprit, Chambered Tele, and Thinline Tele. The early versions were set neck, and in 2007 changed to bolt-on necks and cheaper PuP’s.

, and included the M80, Esprit, Chambered Tele, and Thinline Tele. The early versions were set neck, and in 2007 changed to bolt-on necks and cheaper PuP’s. In 1995 the Squier Bullet series , followed a year later by the Tradition and Affinity series started to be made in Taiwan (Republic of China) at the Yako plant, with a serial number prefix of CY.

, followed a year later by the Tradition and Affinity series started to be (Republic of China) at the Yako plant, with a serial number prefix of CY. In 2000 manufacturing of the Squier Standard and Affinity Strat began in China (PRC) at the AXL plant, with a serial number prefix of CA.

of the Squier Standard and Affinity Strat (PRC) at the AXL plant, with a serial number prefix of CA. From 2000 the Jagmaster Series was revived, now made in China , and replaced with the Jagmaster II in 2005.

was revived, now , and replaced with the Jagmaster II in 2005. Currently some Squier Contemporary and Affinity Stratocasters are still produced in China.

Around 1989-90 some Squiers were made in India and were extremely poor quality, with a “Made in India” sticker on the headstock.

and were extremely poor quality, with a “Made in India” sticker on the headstock. From 2007 to 2012 Vintage Modified (VM) series Squiers were again manufactured in India, with “Crafted in India” stamped on the headstock.

From 1998 some Squier Affinity, Mini, and Standard Series started production in Indonesia at the Cor Tek (Cort) factory in Indonesia .

some Squier Affinity, Mini, and Standard Series started production in Indonesia at the . The Series 24 models were built in Indonesia between 2002 and 2004 to mark Squiers 20 th Anniversary.

Anniversary. Indonesia still manufactures the Classic Vibe Series .

. Higher range Squier guitars come with D’Addario strings, and cheaper models with Fender branded strings – currently made for Fender by D’Addario.

back to top

Where Are Steinberger Guitars Made?

Steinberger instruments first appeared in 1979, with the L2 Bass guitar which was awarded the coveted Industrial Designers Excellence Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America (ISDA).

Steinberger guitars were originally manufactured at Newburgh, New York, USA .

. Steinberger became renowned for innovative use of materials such as graphite and carbon fiber in their instruments, for their headless neck design, and for developing their proprietary locking tremolo system.

Their carbon fiber construction made the guitars impervious to humidity and temperature changes.

Their guitars are designed to be low weight, and many models are excellent travel guitars.

In 1987 Gibson purchased Steinberger Sound, continuing to make their guitars until the late 90’s.

Gibson moved manufacturing to Nashville , investing extra money into ensuring Steinberger guitars retained or even improved on their original quality, with production ceasing there in 1998.

, investing extra money into ensuring Steinberger guitars retained or even improved on their original quality, with production ceasing there in 1998. In 2002 due to popular demand, Steinberger guitars were resurrected, now made in Korea .

. The modern Steinbergers now have 3-piece maple necks.

Steinberger guitars come strung with Steinberger DoubleBall™ strings.

Where Are Sterling Guitars Made?

Sterling by Music Man is a sub-brand of Ernie Ball, which operates from Los Angeles, California.

Sterling guitars and bases are designed to be an affordable version of USA-made Music Man guitars.

Most of the Sterling guitar range was originally made in Indonesia , including the AX40 & John Petrucci JP50. Over the mid 2000’s manufacturing extended to China and South Korea .

, including the AX40 & John Petrucci JP50. Over the . The Sterling Silo30’s and the JP50 Satin Black for Guitar Center are made in China .

. Sterling bass guitars are made in Korea and Indonesia for SBMM(Sterling by Music Man) models, and China for the Sport Utility Bass (SUB) Ray 4 / 5 series.

for SBMM(Sterling by Music Man) models, and (SUB) Ray 4 / 5 series. Music Man inspect Sterling guitars in their USA factory before shipping them to retailers.

Sterling Music Man guitars ship with Ernie Ball strings.

Where Are Suhr Guitars Made?

Suhr guitars was founded in 1997, with their factory based in Lake Elsinore, California .

. They initially produced only high-end custom guitars.

All Suhr guitars are made in the USA in their 27,000-square-foot state-of-the art factory in Lake Elsinore.

In 2010 Suhr released their sub-brand Rasmus Guitars , which were manufactured at the Yako factory in China , carefully selected for their ability to produce the quality demanded by Suhr. The final setup was performed at the Suhr factory in the US, and the production run ended in 2012.

, which were , carefully selected for their ability to produce the quality demanded by Suhr. The final setup was performed at the Suhr factory in the US, and the production run ended in 2012. In 2012 Suhr introduced the Modern Satin series, made in Lake Elsinore, CA.

In 2015 Suhr switched to stringing some guitars with D’Addario’s NYXL strings, and then changed again to Ernie Ball Slinky strings.

Find out more:

Are Suhr Electric Guitars Better than Fender?

Which Guitars Hold Their Value Best?

back to top

Where Are Takamine Guitars Made?

Takamine started the town of Sakashita, Japan as a family-run guitar shop in 1959.

as a family-run guitar shop in 1959. In 1962 they re-named the business as Takamine Gakki Ltd., after Mount Takamine where they are located.

In early years they produced classical guitars and mandolins, and later became well-known for their acoustic steel string guitars.

Takamine manufacture their highest-level guitars in the Sakashita factory , where they have some woods that have aged for up to 40 years. The highest-grade aged woods are often used to build guitars for the local Japanese market, especially since US laws prevent certain woods from being imported to protect those species of tree.

, where they have some woods that have aged for up to 40 years. The highest-grade aged woods are often used to build guitars for the local Japanese market, especially since US laws prevent certain woods from being imported to protect those species of tree. The Japanese-built guitars are made with a combination of modern high-tech machinery, CNC machining, hand-carving, and hand finishing by skilled luthiers with decades of experience.

Each year starting with their 25th Anniversary in 1987, Takamine has produced a limited run of LTD guitars are made to high standards, prized by collectors. The Takamine Pro Series, Hirade, Legacy, Limited Edition, Signature, Thinline and TT guitars are all made in Japan . The lower end of Takamine’s guitar models such as the G Series guitars are made in Korea, China, and Indonesia .

Jasmine Guitars, which started out as a sub-brand of Takamine were also made in Asia, with the brand sold to KMC Music in 2005.

Takamine guitars ship with D’Addario strings.

Find out more: Takamine G Series Acoustic Guitars Reviewed

Where Are Taylor Guitars Made?

Taylor Guitars make classical and steel-string acoustic guitars, founded in 1974.

All Taylor guitars are made in El Cajon, USA, and Tecate, Mexico – with the two plants only about 40 miles apart over the border.

– with the two plants only about 40 miles apart over the border. As stated on their website, “Taylor does not manufacture any guitars in Asia”.

The El Cajon factory in the USA produces all Taylor’s solid wood guitars, which are the 300 series and above. These guitars have higher levels of craftsmanship and detail applied to them, some models with newer advanced bracing patterns, and all come with a hard case.

The Tecate factory in Mexico manufactures Taylors’ more affordable guitar lines , which includes the 200 series and below (such as the GS Mini, and Academy Series). These models have a solid top with laminated back and sides, Lower-level electronics, and come with a soft case (apart from the 200 Deluxe model).

, which includes the 200 series and below (such as the GS Mini, and Academy Series). These models have a solid top with laminated back and sides, Lower-level electronics, and come with a soft case (apart from the 200 Deluxe model). Taylor steel string guitars come with Elixir Nanoweb Strings, and nylon string guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Where Are Washburn Guitars Made?

Washburn Guitars was originally founded in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois . It is now owned by JAM Industries USA.

. It is now owned by JAM Industries USA. In 1974 a series of quality imported acoustic guitars, made in Japan by Terada was imported and had the Washburn name applied to them.

Eventually through a few changes of ownership, the company was renamed Washburn International in 1987, and started making higher-end short-run guitars in Chicago .

. From the late 1970’s to mid-80’s , Washburn introduced its first electric guitars, with most guitars made in Japan .

, Washburn introduced its first electric guitars, with . In 1991 production began at Samick in South Korea, followed in 1992 by the opening of Samick’s new factory in Indonesia.

From 1992 – 2000 Washburn custom shop guitars were built in Chicago .

. From 1994 to 2001, ten acoustic guitar models were built for Washburn in the United States, five by Tacoma Guitars ( Tacoma, Washington ) and five by Bourgeois Guitars ( Lewiston, Maine ).

) and five by Bourgeois Guitars ( ). From 2002 to 2008 Washburn made the D-78, D-80, D-82, and D-84 dreadnoughts in the USA (these were all solid wood guitars).

The Washburn USA factory was closed in 2015, however a few models are still made in Cincinnati .

. Since 2017 most Washburn guitars are made in Indonesia and China .

. All Washburn guitars come with D’Addario strings.

Find out more: Are Washburn Guitars Good Quality?

back to top

Where Are Yamaha Guitars Made?

Originally Yamaha built their guitars in Japan at their Hamamatsu factory , however they now manufacture world-wide.

, however they now manufacture world-wide. Yamaha now manufacture their guitars in a variety of places like China, America, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan where their custom shop makes the Yamaha GC82 Handcrafted Ceder classical guitar selling for $10,000-18,000.

where their custom shop makes the Yamaha GC82 Handcrafted Ceder classical guitar selling for $10,000-18,000. From around 1971 many Yamaha acoustic guitars have been made at the Kaohsiung factory in Taiwan (known as “ Green ” Label – or parchment color).

many Yamaha acoustic guitars have been made at the (known as “ ” Label – or parchment color). Yamaha also produce guitars in Japan at the Nippon Gakki plant (known as “ Red ” Label guitars), and originally manufactured at the Tenryu/Wada Factory since 1946 , and at the Production Custom Shop in Hamamatsu since 1966 . As an example, these Yamaha “ Green ” Label guitar models were produced in Taiwan: L5A, L15A, L-25AT, FG110, FG160, FG180, FG300, FG335, FG360, FG422, and the SE350 Superstrat. Examples of “ Red ” Label guitars are: Yamaha FG140, FG360, FG730.

(known as “ ” Label guitars), and originally manufactured at the , and at the Production . Many identical FG models were produced in both Japan and Taiwan .

were produced in both . From the late 1970’s Yamaha produced G-model classical nylon string guitars in Taiwan .

. Yamaha also produce some of their Grand Concert Series such as the GC22 and GC12 models at their factory in Hangzhou, China .

such as the GC22 and GC12 models at their factory . Yamaha’s electric and bass guitars are developed at Yamaha Artist Services, which is located in Los Angeles.

Their newest facility was opened in Kanchipuram, India in 2019 , and previously in 2018 they built a musical instrument plant in Bekasi, Indonesia at a cost of $43 million. The Yamaha SG, SA, and Revstar models are made in Japan . Yamaha Pacifica guitars, and some Revstar models are made in Taiwan .

at a cost of $43 million. Yamaha guitars ship come strung with a variety of strings depending on the model. Generally, you will see Elixir strings on most acoustics, with some models using D’Addario.

Yamaha’s electric guitars generally ship with unbranded factory strings and Fender strings for their lower end guitars, and D’Addario strings on their more expensive guitars.

Find out more:

Are Yamaha Guitars A Good Choice?

Yamaha vs Fender Electric Guitars

Are Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Better Than Fender?

Cort vs Yamaha Acoustic Guitars

Best Yamaha Acoustic-Electric Guitars

Which Guitar is Better | Yamaha or Epiphone?

Where Are Zager Guitars Made?

Zager Guitars was founded in 1969, operating from Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.

All Zager guitars are made in IndoChinUsa , located somewhere on this planet! If you are not sure where that is, then I encourage you to search for Zager guitars on any well-known guitar forum to see if you can find an honest answer.

, located somewhere on this planet! If you are not sure where that is, then I encourage you to search for Zager guitars on any well-known guitar forum to see if you can find an honest answer. Zager guitars state their instruments are made in the USA, however the label often hidden under another label seems to say either Indonesia, or China.

Zager guitars are supposedly the easiest guitars to play in the known universe …it’s highly advisable to research them and speak to other guitarists before deciding to purchase one.

Zager guitars come with Zager branded strings.

back to top

Hopefully you have found this a useful resource to answer some of your questions. I have researched as thoroughly as time has permitted, attempting to present information as accurately as possible.

If you have found incorrect information in this article or have extra credible information to add, then please reach out to us via our contact form.

We always love to hear from our readers, and highly appreciate any extra info that helps us present a better resource for guitarists.

Serial Number Searching

GuitarDivision.com is not associated with these sites, however I have included them as excellent resources to help track manufacturing locations of guitars by their serial numbers.

https://www.vintagejapanguitars.com.br

https://www.guitarinsite.nl/SERIENUMMERS-fgm_eng.php

http://www.music-trade.co.jp

In addition, guitar manufacturers’ websites, forums, and Wikipedia may also help you track the origin of your guitar.

introduction

“Fantastic!” you say, “I’ve found the perfect guitar for me! It’s got the right features, the right features, and the price is right!” You’re so excited you can’t believe you’ve made such an amazing find, but what is it?

Made in Korea? “Oh God!” you say, “I just can’t do that.” WAIT…don’t be so hasty, don’t be so judgmental. It might not be made in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s all bad, does it? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to find out today. We will examine the following:

Brands made in Korea

Good Korean guitars.

Pros and cons of Korean-made guitars

Are there any Korean guitars to stay away from?

Should you buy a guitar from Korea?

If you’re one of those people who refuse to buy foreign-made products, you probably already know how you feel, but if you’re open-minded, we’ll dig in and find out if there are any Korean guitars that are worth buying and which ones are available.

We’ll also find out if there are any Korean-made guitars we should stay away from, and what they are.

Most likely, we’ll find out that Korean-made guitars are a mixed bag. There will be some companies that are cheap overall and produce overseas to save on manufacturing costs.

However, there will most likely be some companies that save money in the same way, but are still designed and manufactured intelligently. Anyway, let’s stop speculating and digging.

Brands made in Korea:

Fender Squire

epiphone

Martin

Gretsch

GMBH

Chapman

Chances are if you are interested in guitars and/or reading this you are familiar with at least one of these brands.

All of these companies make guitars in Korea, but none of these companies, to my knowledge, make guitars exclusively in Korea.

That’s worth mentioning because if you’re interested in, say… getting a Fender Squire Stratocaster but are adamantly opposed to buying one from Korea, you may have a hard time finding one, but you will more than likely do so you can find one anywhere.

The fact that these companies make guitars in Korea should show that not all Korean guitars are terrible. All brands listed are large and all are known for releasing quality instruments; They certainly wouldn’t jeopardize their reputation by making mediocre products.

Two good Korean guitars:

From researching this article, I learned that finding Korean-made guitars is not that easy. If you’re in person it’s easy enough to see them by the label, but if you research online or use Amazon it can be a bit more complicated.

I’ve learned (as a tip) that if you search for them, many brands will list various things (like country of manufacture) by their serial number. If you’re looking for a guitar made in a specific location, it’s a good idea to look for a serial number decoder for the brand you’re interested in.

The PRS SE Custom 22:

The PRS is by no means a “bad” or “inferior” guitar. It’s well built and comes with a higher price tag that matches its quality. It is an example of a guitar that is made in Korea and is of high quality. It is made of maple and mahogany wood; It has a treble and a bass pickup, a tremolo bridge and a vintage sunburst finish that looks amazing.

If you’re in the market for a guitar that will look and sound good (and is Korean), this isn’t a bad place to start. Unfortunately, it’s not a modest price, but it’s a premium instrument.

One reviewer said, “Great guitar for a Korean made one. Rivals American guitars in quality and detail. The pickups are clear, not muddy; The flamed top is very pretty. The mechanics are reasonable and the bridge is solid.”

CORT CJ Retro

The CJ Retro by Cort (a quintessentially Korean brand) is a different kind of guitar. Its acoustic-electric has volume and tone controls, a humbucking pickup, a spruce top, and mahogany back and sides. The CJ is a real head turner and features a tan and black sunburst finish with a white pickguard. If you’re looking for a Korean acoustic guitar with style – this is it.

The CJ’s price isn’t bad, it’s not the cheapest guitar on the market, but it’s far from one of the most expensive. One buyer commented, “The build quality is great, nice binding, frets are all flat and finished. Overall exactly as advertised and expected.”

These are two different examples of two different types of Korean guitars. The PRS was designed in the USA but made elsewhere – this one happens to be in Korea. The Cort is made and designed in Korea.

Pros and Cons of Made in Korea.

Not all guitars and not all guitar companies are the same. They have different standards of quality, construction and design, which means they will be different. Because of this, the pros and cons can only be general, and there will be exceptions (unlisted) for everyone.

Advantages:

Lower costs for consumers

That’s self-explanatory, but it’s what’s going on with Korean guitars. Manufacturing costs are lower, and for many companies this means a lower price for consumers.

pretty

They’re not pretty because they’re built in Korea; They are simply pretty and at the same time they are made in Korea. For whatever reason, and I’m sure there are many exceptions to that, Korean-built guitars generally look pretty good.

Medium to high quality

Medium to high quality instruments are an “okay” pro. If you buy from a bigger brand, you’ll probably still get a decent quality instrument, if not a damn good one.

Disadvantages:

Low cost attracts low-quality manufacturers

Unfortunately someone has to rain on the parade. Low manufacturing costs in a place like Korea attracts companies unwilling to put a lot of money into their research, design or development and just want to build a few guitars to pawn to unsuspecting beginners.

The stigma of foreign instruments

Like ’em or hate ’em, there’s a stigma on many guitarists, and I’m sure other instrumentalists as well, on buying guitars that aren’t made in the USA.

Are there any Korean guitars to stay away from?

The short answer is – of course they exist! The longer, more boring answer is that they’re harder to spot than you’d like. There are cheap brands that make good guitars, there are expensive brands that make cheap, bad guitars, and there’s everything in between.

It is best to research your product thoroughly.

Once you’ve found a Korean (or any other) guitar you want to buy, you should do a Google search, check some guitar forums, or ask the owner of your local music store if they know anything about that brand. If there is no information – better save your money for a more reputable tool.

If you’re obsessed with the idea of ​​this particular instrument anyway, read the comments. There are sure to be people who will complain or brag about their current purchase.

Should I buy a guitar from Korea?

It’s a mixed bag. There are absolutely fantastic, high-quality guitars from Korea like the Cort CJ or the PRS. Squier, Epiphone and Martin are also very high quality brands that make guitars and other instruments in Korea. Some of these brands are outstanding and give me real hope to buy Korean instruments.

On the other hand, there are many cheap imitations made in Korea. You will recognize them when you see them. These are the guitars you find on Amazon that cost anywhere from $30 to $50, have little information, and usually have no (or at least not good) reviews to read.

I personally would have no qualms about buying a guitar, no matter where it’s made, as long as the reviews are good and/or the brand is reputable. I would steer clear if there was no information and reviews and the guitar was an unknown brand.

So does geography matter?

It does and it doesn’t. The problem isn’t that this country is good at making guitars and this country is bad at making guitars. The problem is that cheap labor and manufacturing attracts mediocre companies that want to make a lousy guitar, sell it cheap, and make a quick buck.

I’m not, and you shouldn’t be afraid to buy a guitar just because it’s Korean. If the guitar has bad reviews or no information is available on the internet – don’t buy it. With all the options out there, you’d be missing out on risking a guitar you didn’t know much about.

Luckily, return policies with vendors through Amazon are usually pretty flexible, but be sure to check before spending money on a suspicious instrument.

Electric Guitar Model

Fan art of Dimebag Darrell playing his Confederate Dean ML

The Dean ML is an electric guitar manufactured by Dean Guitars in 1977 along with their Dean V, Dean Cadillac and Dean Z counterparts. It has an unusual design with a V-shaped headstock and a V-shaped tailpiece. It was popularized by guitarist Dimebag Darrell of Pantera.

The neck had a slight “V” shape, which allowed some guitarists to play faster. The shape fits better in the hands of some players. The design distributes the guitar’s mass over a larger area than most guitars to maximize sustain. The “V” shaped headstock and “string-through body” should also increase sustain and improve tone. The body shape of the Dean ML resembles a Gibson Flying V combined with the top half of an Explorer.

history [edit]

Dean Zelinsky created the ML in 1977 with a quest for improved sustain and tone. Higher string angles and string lengths due to the size of the headstock contribute to the overall resonance. Dean has made the ML available to other manufacturers [which ones?] through a license agreement.

The ML was posthumously named after the initials of Zelinsky’s friend Matthew Lynn, who died of cancer.[1]

The ML shape is also available in a scaled down version as part of the Baby series.[2] The Dean “Metalman” line of bass guitars has a Metalman ML model.[3]

A guitar body shape similar to that of the ML is featured in the “Create-an-Instrument” mode of the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour.

Dean from Hell[edit]

The “Dean From Hell” was a Flame Series ML used by the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott and featured on the cover of Pantera’s album Cowboys from Hell. It has a custom lightning finish routed for a Floyd Rose, and has a Bill Lawrence L-500XL pickup in the bridge, dual traction volume controls, a master tone control, a mahogany body, and a rosewood fingerboard. The original has an old Kiss sticker on the lower left tip and several abrasions including burn marks on the tips of Abbott’s headstock shooting bottle rockets from them. The words “THE DEAN FROM HELL” are written on the top in black magic marker.

Six-string masterpieces[ edit ]

Six-String Masterpieces[4] is an ongoing charitable art tribute to Dimebag Darrell. Musicians, tattoo artists and contemporary artists painted, sculpted or drew original artwork on a Dean ML guitar. Over 70 artists attended, including Jerry Cantrell, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Kerry King, Joe Satriani, Marilyn Manson, Zakk Wylde and Rob Zombie. They have appeared on the NAMM Show and the 2006 Ozzfest Tour, MTV’s Headbangers Ball, and 2011 at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Center. The exhibition was curated by Curse Mackey from the band Pigface.

ML 30th Anniversary [ edit ]

In 2007, for the 30th anniversary of the ML and V, Dean Guitars produced 100 of the ML with a “Dean 30th Anniversary” logo on the headstock and pickup covers. They were signed by Dean Zelinsky and had a transparent black finish and a hard case.[5]

player [edit]

Notable players of the Dean ML include Eric Peterson, Dimebag Darrell,[6] Michael Angelo Batio,[7] Corey Beaulieu,[8] Matt Heafy,[9] Mike Terry, Wayne Static[10] and Michael Schenker.

Getting parts information for Frymaster products can be confusing. The service downloads section of their website has a wide selection of S&P manuals for both old and new generation gas and electric fryers, but the distinction of which manual you need is not clear cut. Age and design considerations for this fryer must be followed.

For example, is your fryer a standard cabinet or a Euro-style cabinet? Is the filter system a Filter Magic (or FM II or FMII Redesigned), a FootPrint (or FPII, FPIII or FPIII Enhanced) or a FootPrint Pro? If it has square drains, do they use a connecting sleeve or the older flange gaskets between the square drain sections? What version of their filter pan do you have? (I’ve personally encountered a few that even the Frymaster agents couldn’t help me with)

you have the idea

The model and serial number should be helpful in deciphering all of this, but the S&P manuals don’t provide a definite correlation between the model number you’re looking at and the manual that goes with it. Then there is more…

Assuming you picked the right S&P manual, you will find parts in it for MANY different configurations available for international versions and uniquely designed units for larger chains like BK, McD’s, BWW etc. Sorting through this information can proving difficult Good. Of course, the S&P manual’s illustrations and parts listings are also heavily laden with everything you’re NOT looking for—down to a nut or lockwasher.

A proven shortcut is to simply call Frymaster. However, I’m sure MANY calls they get are from techs simply trying to identify a part. That clogs the technology. support phone lines.

My opinion is that Frymaster needed something to reduce the call volume from technicians identifying parts, so in March 2014 they posted a major components manual on their website. They didn’t exactly make it easy to find, however, so here’s a step-by-step guide to getting there:

Hover your mouse cursor over the SERVICE tab at http://www.frymaster.com/.

Under the SUPPORT & TRAINING column, click Bulletins/Price Lists/Videos.

Place your mouse pointer in the middle of this page, then scroll down about halfway to find the Major Components Guide. Click Multi-Product Parts Manual for a downloadable PDF file. I recommend RIGHT CLICKING on it to OPEN LINK IN NEW TAB or WINDOW.

If you want to bypass all that, here is a direct link: http://fm-xweb.frymaster.com/service/udocs/8196321.pdf

This is not a panacea or a fully comprehensive parts guide. However, I found it very helpful and MUCH easier to use than the S&P manuals to get part numbers.

With this information at your disposal, HAVE A NICE DAY!