Guitar brands in 1988

12 brands on record in 1988: Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS, Squier and Taylor. Gretsch and PRS changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 1988. 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 1988

• Gretsch, Gretsch Traveling Wilburys (Korea): new era under Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch) at Korean builder of Traveling Wilburys guitars (unverified)^{[22, 23, 24, 25, 26]}
• PRS, PRS CE: new era under Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) at PRS Annapolis^{[57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63]}

Plants building for more than one brand

• FujiGen: Fender and Ibanez

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 1988
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 1988
3. 3
   Gibson Brands chapter 11 docket: Notice of Effective Dategraded secondary

   • "November 1 2018 Effective Date - Notice of Effe[ctive Date]"Epiphone in 1988
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 1988
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 1988
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 1988
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 1988
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 1988
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 1988
10. 10
    fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • "Samick began building Epiphones in 1984… The Korean factory stopped making Epiphones in 2002."Epiphone in 1988
    • "a few special models still made in Japan"Epiphone in 1988
11. 11
    Wikipedia: wiki/FUJIGENgraded community
12. 12
    Fender Musical Instruments Corp, Form S-1/A (2012), accession 0001193125-12-298421graded primary
13. 13
    The End of the CBS Era: Inside the 1985 Fender Buyoutgraded community
14. 14
    Fender Musical Instruments Company Historygraded secondary
15. 15
    Fender Japangraded community
16. 16
    Fender Japan history (Fachblatt article, 1987)graded secondary
17. 17
    Fender Japan: A Brief Guidegraded community
18. 18
    Fender Japan Historygraded community
19. 19
    Fender factoriesgraded community
20. 20
    Fender Custom Shopgraded community
21. 21
    re: korean squires (forum thread)graded community
22. 22
    gretschguitars: support/historygraded primary

    • "In 1984, Fred W. Gretsch… purchased Gretsch back"Gretsch in 1988
23. 23
    The Story of Gretschgraded secondary

    • In 1984 Fred made good on his promise when he and his wife Dinah bought the Gretsch Company back from Baldwin.Gretsch in 1988
24. 24
    Fred #4: Fred W. Gretsch – Leading The Return Of 'That Great Gretsch Sound.'graded primary

    • His offer was accepted, and in November 1984, Fred was able to fulfill his 17-year dream of buying back the Gretsch Company.Gretsch in 1988
25. 25
    A brief history of Gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • In 1984, the couple bought the Gretsch brand backGretsch in 1988
26. 26
    reverb: news/the rebirth of gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • "a series of Korean-made electrics named for the Traveling [Wilburys]"Gretsch in 1988
27. 27
    jedistar: guildgraded secondary

    • "1989 Sold to FAAS Corporation"Guild in 1988
28. 28
    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 1988
29. 29
    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 1988
30. 30
    Gruhn, George (biography)graded secondary

    • Guild Guitars, executive vice president of research and development and artist relations, 1986-88.Guild in 1988
31. 31
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1988
32. 32
    heritageownersclub: forums/topic/35999 heritage historygraded community

    • "was incorporated on April 1, 1985"Heritage in 1988
33. 33
    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 1988
34. 34
    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 1988
35. 35
    Heritage Guitars - About Us (site footer)graded primary

    • During the spring of 1985, several Kalamazoo guitar luthiersHeritage in 1988
36. 36
    Builder Profile: Heritage Guitargraded secondary

    • In the spring of 1985, Lamb, formerly the Gibson plant superintendent,Heritage in 1988
37. 37
    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 1988
38. 38
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1988
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1988
39. 39
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
40. 40
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1988
41. 41
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1988
42. 42
    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 1988
43. 43
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 1988
44. 44
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1988
45. 45
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1988
46. 46
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1988
47. 47
    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 1988
48. 48
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1988
49. 49
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1988
50. 50
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
51. 51
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1988
52. 52
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1988
53. 53
    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 1988
54. 54
    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 1988
55. 55
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1988
56. 56
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
57. 57
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1988
58. 58
    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 1988
59. 59
    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 1988
60. 60
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 1988
61. 61
    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 1988
62. 62
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 1988
63. 63
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary

    • "in 1985 he opened the first PRS factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1988
64. 64
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 1988
65. 65
    Serial numbers Stratocaster Koreagraded community
66. 66
    A Brief History of Squier Guitarsgraded secondary
67. 67
    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 1988
68. 68
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1988
69. 69
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1988
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1988
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1988
    • 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 1988
70. 70
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1988
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1988
71. 71
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1988
72. 72
    assemblymag: articles/98037 hand craftsmanship meets high tech at taylor guitarsgraded secondary

    • "4,700-square-foot factory in Santee, CA, in 1987"Taylor in 1988

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