Guitar brands in 1986

8 brands on record in 1986: Epiphone, Guild, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS and Taylor. Epiphone and Guild changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 1986. 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 1986

• Epiphone, Epiphone Japan: new era under Gibson Guitar Corp. / Gibson Brands, Inc. (2013) / Gibson, Inc. (2024) at Matsumoku^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]}
• Epiphone, Epiphone Korea: new era under Gibson Guitar Corp. / Gibson Brands, Inc. (2013) / Gibson, Inc. (2024) at Samick Korea (Epiphone; city unverified)^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11]}
• Epiphone, Epiphone Japan: the 1970–1986 era ends^{[1, 4, 56, 10, 11]}
• Epiphone, Epiphone Korea: the 1984–1986 era ends^{[1, 4, 56, 11]}
• Guild, Guild USA: new era under Management/investor group incl. George Gruhn (legal name unverified) at Guild Westerly^{[12, 13, 14, 15, 16]}
• Guild, Guild USA: the 1967–1986 era ends^{[57, 13, 58, 14, 59, 16]}

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

   • "acquired by a group led by Henry Juszkiewicz and David H. Berryman"Epiphone in 1986
   • "Gibson was owned by Norlin Corporation from 1969 to 1986"Epiphone Japan, 1970–1986
2. 2
   Gibson Brands requested court protection from its creditors (May 1, 2018)graded secondary

   • "Gibson Brands requested court protection from its creditors"Epiphone in 1986
3. 3
   Gibson Brands chapter 11 docket: Notice of Effective Dategraded secondary

   • "November 1 2018 Effective Date - Notice of Effe[ctive Date]"Epiphone in 1986
4. 4
   Epiphone history 1957-present (Gibson era) - Blue Book of Guitar Valuesgraded secondary

   • When Gibson was sold to Henry Juszkiewicz, David Berryman, and Gary Zebrowski in 1986Epiphone in 1986
   • in the last few days of 1969, ECL bought CMIEpiphone Japan, 1970–1986
5. 5
   Docket index, In re Gibson Brands, Inc. (Notice of Effective Date)graded primary

   • Notice of Effective Date Notice of (I) Entry of Confirmation Order, (II) Occurrence of Effective DateEpiphone in 1986
6. 6
   Gibson Brands Plan of Reorganization Confirmedgraded primary

   • the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has confirmed the Company's plan of reorganization.Epiphone in 1986
7. 7
   Gibson Guitars Names New Leadership And Exit From Bankruptcygraded secondary

   • the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) will assume majority ownership control of Gibson.Epiphone in 1986
8. 8
   TTAB Cancellation No. 92084591, filing 4 (Delaware certificate of amendment, Gibson Brands, Inc. to Gibson, Inc.)graded primary

   • CHANGING ITS NAME FROM "GIBSON BRANDS, INC." TO "GIBSON, INC."Epiphone in 1986
9. 9
   Gibson Guitar Corp. Company Historygraded secondary

   • new owners took over in 1986, Henry Juszkiewicz and David Berryman, who bought the company for $5 million.Epiphone in 1986
10. 10
    Wikipedia: wiki/Epiphone 5102T / EA 250graded community

    • "started importing Epiphone-branded instruments from the Matsumoku company in 1970"Epiphone in 1986
11. 11
    fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • After Matsumoku closed in 1987Epiphone in 1986
    • "Samick began building Epiphones in 1984… The Korean factory stopped making Epiphones in 2002."Epiphone in 1986
12. 12
    jedistar: guildgraded secondary

    • "1989 Sold to FAAS Corporation"Guild in 1986
13. 13
    Guild (manufacturer history) - Blue Book of Guitar Valuesgraded secondary

    • defaulted on bank obligations in November of 1988, leading to a court supervised financial restructuring.Guild in 1986
    • In 1966, electronic parts producer Avnet Inc. bought Guild Musical Instruments, and Alfred Dronge stayed on as president.Guild USA, 1967–1986
    • In mid-August of 1986, Avnet sold Guild to a management/investment group from New England and Tennessee.Guild USA, 1967–1986
14. 14
    The Convoluted History of Guild Guitarsgraded community

    • In mid August of 1986, Avnet sold Guild to a management/investment group from New England and Tennessee.Guild in 1986
    • Guild was bought by Avnet for about $5,000,000 in July of 1966.Guild USA, 1967–1986
15. 15
    Gruhn, George (biography)graded secondary

    • Guild Guitars, executive vice president of research and development and artist relations, 1986-88.Guild in 1986
16. 16
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1986
17. 17
    heritageownersclub: forums/topic/35999 heritage historygraded community

    • "was incorporated on April 1, 1985"Heritage in 1986
18. 18
    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 1986
19. 19
    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 1986
20. 20
    Heritage Guitars - About Us (site footer)graded primary

    • During the spring of 1985, several Kalamazoo guitar luthiersHeritage in 1986
21. 21
    Builder Profile: Heritage Guitargraded secondary

    • In the spring of 1985, Lamb, formerly the Gibson plant superintendent,Heritage in 1986
22. 22
    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 1986
23. 23
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1986
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1986
24. 24
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
25. 25
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1986
26. 26
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1986
27. 27
    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 1986
28. 28
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 1986
29. 29
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1986
30. 30
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1986
31. 31
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1986
32. 32
    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 1986
33. 33
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1986
34. 34
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1986
35. 35
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
36. 36
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1986
37. 37
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1986
38. 38
    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 1986
39. 39
    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 1986
40. 40
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1986
41. 41
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
42. 42
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1986
43. 43
    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 1986
44. 44
    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 1986
45. 45
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 1986
46. 46
    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 1986
47. 47
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 1986
48. 48
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary

    • "in 1985 he opened the first PRS factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1986
49. 49
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 1986
50. 50
    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 1986
51. 51
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1986
52. 52
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1986
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1986
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1986
    • 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 1986
53. 53
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1986
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1986
54. 54
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1986
55. 55
    ranchandcoast: people/taylor guitars celebrates 50 yearsgraded secondary

    • "American Dream… in Lemon Grove"Taylor in 1986
56. 56
    more info about norlingraded community

    • In December of 1969, E.C.L. Industries, Inc. took control of CMI.Epiphone Japan, 1970–1986
57. 57
    acousticmusic: research/guitar information/large shop guitar builders/guildgraded secondary

    • "bought by Avnet for about $5,000,000 in July of 1966"Guild USA, 1967–1986
58. 58
    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 USA, 1967–1986
59. 59
    Guild Guitar Factoriesgraded community

    • Guild was sold to the Avnet Corporation in 1966Guild USA, 1967–1986

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