Guitar brands in 1981

6 brands on record in 1981: Epiphone, Guild, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation and Taylor. Ibanez changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 1981. Each row is one brand: the companies that controlled the name that year and the plants that built it. Open a brand’s year for the line-by-line detail.

Who owned what, and where it was built

What changed in 1981

• Ibanez, Ibanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige): new era under Hoshino Gakki Co., Ltd. at FujiGen^{[12, 13, 14, 15, 16]}
• Ibanez, Ibanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige): the 1969–1981 era ends^{[12, 36, 37, 14]}

The 1980s

• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989

Sources

Every numbered marker on this page points here: the document, its grade and the passages relied on. An era is computed, so it cites the facts it was derived from. A fact marked “no source” has no claim attached yet.

1. 1
   Wikipedia: wiki/Gibson (guitar company)graded community

   • "Gibson was owned by Norlin Corporation from 1969 to 1986"Epiphone in 1981
2. 2
   Epiphone history 1957-present (Gibson era) - Blue Book of Guitar Valuesgraded secondary

   • in the last few days of 1969, ECL bought CMIEpiphone in 1981
3. 3
   more info about norlingraded community

   • In December of 1969, E.C.L. Industries, Inc. took control of CMI.Epiphone in 1981
4. 4
   Wikipedia: wiki/Epiphone 5102T / EA 250graded community

   • "started importing Epiphone-branded instruments from the Matsumoku company in 1970"Epiphone in 1981
5. 5
   fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

   • After Matsumoku closed in 1987Epiphone in 1981
6. 6
   acousticmusic: research/guitar information/large shop guitar builders/guildgraded secondary

   • "bought by Avnet for about $5,000,000 in July of 1966"Guild in 1981
7. 7
   Guild (manufacturer history) - Blue Book of Guitar Valuesgraded secondary

   • In 1966, electronic parts producer Avnet Inc. bought Guild Musical Instruments, and Alfred Dronge stayed on as president.Guild in 1981
   • In mid-August of 1986, Avnet sold Guild to a management/investment group from New England and Tennessee.Guild in 1981
8. 8
   A Brief History of Guild Guitarsgraded secondary

   • In 1966, Guild was sold to the Avnet Corporation, albeit with Alfred Dronge still at the helm overseeing production.Guild in 1981
9. 9
   The Convoluted History of Guild Guitarsgraded community

   • Guild was bought by Avnet for about $5,000,000 in July of 1966.Guild in 1981
10. 10
    Guild Guitar Factoriesgraded community

    • Guild was sold to the Avnet Corporation in 1966Guild in 1981
11. 11
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1981
12. 12
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1981
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1981
    • "1929: The Hoshino company starts Hoshino Gakki Ten Inc."Ibanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige), 1969–1981
13. 13
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
14. 14
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1981
    • By 1929, Hoshino established its own musical instruments company, Hoshino Gakki Ten,Ibanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige), 1969–1981
15. 15
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1981
16. 16
    星野楽器(株) インターネットエラベル企業情報graded secondary

    • 設立 1981年11月Ibanez in 1981
17. 17
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1981
18. 18
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1981
19. 19
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1981
20. 20
    C F Martin Co Inc (International Directory of Company Histories)graded secondary

    • Located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, since 1839, the company has been run by the same family for six generations.Martin in 1981
21. 21
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1981
22. 22
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1981
23. 23
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
24. 24
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1981
25. 25
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1981
26. 26
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year 2008graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the sale of all of the capital stock of our wholly owned subsidiaryOvation in 1981
27. 27
    Kaman Corp. 8-K exhibit 99.1 (Ovation/KMC sale closing)graded primary

    • on December 31, 2007, the company completed its previously announced saleOvation in 1981
28. 28
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1981
29. 29
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
30. 30
    slickdeals: f/18215926 taylor 317e grand pacific dreadnought acoustic electric guitar w hardshell casegraded unverified

    • "bought American Dream and renamed it the Westland Music Company"Taylor in 1981
31. 31
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1981
32. 32
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1981
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1981
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1981
    • After Radding announces he plans to sell the American Dream, Bob Taylor, Kurt Listug and Steve Schemmer … partner up and borrow money to purchase the shopTaylor in 1981
33. 33
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1981
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1981
34. 34
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1981
35. 35
    ranchandcoast: people/taylor guitars celebrates 50 yearsgraded secondary

    • "American Dream… in Lemon Grove"Taylor in 1981
36. 36
    特集！Ibanezインタビュー！～歴史編～ (Ibanez interview: history)graded community

    • 昭和4年（1929年）には別会社として星野書店から独立したのですがIbanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige), 1969–1981
37. 37
    Ibanez (Ibanez Wiki)graded community

    • The Ibanez brand name dates back to 1929 when Hoshino Gakki began importing Salvador Ibáñez é Hijos guitars from Spain.Ibanez Japan (FujiGen: J Custom, Prestige), 1969–1981

See something wrong, or know a better source? Suggest an edit