Guitar brands in 1985

8 brands on record in 1985: Epiphone, Guild, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS and Taylor. Heritage, Ibanez and PRS changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 1985. 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 1985

• Heritage, Heritage USA: new era under Heritage Guitar, Inc. at Kalamazoo 225 Parsons St (1917 Gibson building)^{[12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]}
• Ibanez, Ibanez Korea: new era under Hoshino Gakki Co., Ltd. at Korean builders for Ibanez (unverified)^{[18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]}
• PRS, PRS Core and Private Stock: new era under Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) at PRS Annapolis^{[37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44]}

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 1985
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 1985
3. 3
   more info about norlingraded community

   • In December of 1969, E.C.L. Industries, Inc. took control of CMI.Epiphone in 1985
4. 4
   Wikipedia: wiki/Epiphone 5102T / EA 250graded community

   • "started importing Epiphone-branded instruments from the Matsumoku company in 1970"Epiphone in 1985
5. 5
   fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

   • After Matsumoku closed in 1987Epiphone in 1985
   • "Samick began building Epiphones in 1984… The Korean factory stopped making Epiphones in 2002."Epiphone in 1985
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 1985
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 1985
   • In mid-August of 1986, Avnet sold Guild to a management/investment group from New England and Tennessee.Guild in 1985
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 1985
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 1985
10. 10
    Guild Guitar Factoriesgraded community

    • Guild was sold to the Avnet Corporation in 1966Guild in 1985
11. 11
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1985
12. 12
    heritageownersclub: forums/topic/35999 heritage historygraded community

    • "was incorporated on April 1, 1985"Heritage in 1985
13. 13
    Changes at Heritage Guitar roil staff luthiersgraded secondary

    • Space was to be reserved for Heritage, which was formed in 1984 when Gibson abandoned the building and moved their operations to Nashville.Heritage in 1985
14. 14
    Heritage history (Heritage Owners Club forum thread)graded community

    • Heritage Guitar Inc. of 225 Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan was incorporated on April 1, 1985.Heritage in 1985
15. 15
    Heritage Guitars - About Us (site footer)graded primary

    • During the spring of 1985, several Kalamazoo guitar luthiersHeritage in 1985
16. 16
    Builder Profile: Heritage Guitargraded secondary

    • In the spring of 1985, Lamb, formerly the Gibson plant superintendent,Heritage in 1985
17. 17
    chicagomusicexchange: blogs/news/inside heritage guitarsgraded community

    • "During the spring of 1985, they purchased space at the iconic factory along with its original guitar-making equipment."Heritage in 1985
18. 18
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1985
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1985
19. 19
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
20. 20
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1985
21. 21
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1985
22. 22
    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 1985
23. 23
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 1985
24. 24
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1985
25. 25
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1985
26. 26
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1985
27. 27
    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 1985
28. 28
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1985
29. 29
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1985
30. 30
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
31. 31
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1985
32. 32
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1985
33. 33
    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 1985
34. 34
    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 1985
35. 35
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1985
36. 36
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
37. 37
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1985
38. 38
    Guitar Heaven: Paul Reed Smith Makes Guitarsgraded secondary

    • With the help of an investor he formed a limited partnership, raising $500,000 in capitalPRS in 1985
39. 39
    Gibson Guitar Corp. v. Paul Reed Smith Guitars, LP, 423 F.3d 539 (6th Cir. 2005)graded primary

    • PRS founder Paul Reed Smith ("Smith") began manufacturing custom guitars in the mid-1970s and opened a guitar factory in 1985.PRS in 1985
40. 40
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 1985
41. 41
    A Closer Look at the 1985 PRS Serial Number 5graded primary

    • In April of 1985, PRS Guitars formally began operations in our first ever factory in Annapolis, Maryland.PRS in 1985
42. 42
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 1985
43. 43
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary

    • "in 1985 he opened the first PRS factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1985
44. 44
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 1985
45. 45
    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 1985
46. 46
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1985
47. 47
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1985
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1985
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1985
    • 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 1985
48. 48
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1985
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1985
49. 49
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1985
50. 50
    ranchandcoast: people/taylor guitars celebrates 50 yearsgraded secondary

    • "American Dream… in Lemon Grove"Taylor in 1985

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