Guitar brands in 1994

12 brands on record in 1994: Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS, Squier and Taylor.

A snapshot of the trade in 1994. 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

Plants building for more than one brand

• FujiGen: Fender and Ibanez

The 1990s

• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999

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 1994
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 1994
3. 3
   Gibson Brands chapter 11 docket: Notice of Effective Dategraded secondary

   • "November 1 2018 Effective Date - Notice of Effe[ctive Date]"Epiphone in 1994
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 1994
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 1994
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 1994
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 1994
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 1994
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 1994
10. 10
    fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • "Samick began building Epiphones in 1984… The Korean factory stopped making Epiphones in 2002."Epiphone in 1994
    • "a few special models still made in Japan"Epiphone in 1994
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
    35 years of Fender Mexico: a timelinegraded secondary
23. 23
    Gibson guitars manufacturing expansion, Bozeman, Montanagraded secondary
24. 24
    gretschguitars: support/historygraded primary

    • "In 1984, Fred W. Gretsch… purchased Gretsch back"Gretsch in 1994
25. 25
    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 1994
26. 26
    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 1994
27. 27
    A brief history of Gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • In 1984, the couple bought the Gretsch brand backGretsch in 1994
28. 28
    reverb: news/the rebirth of gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • "chose Terada, an experienced firm in Nagoya"Gretsch in 1994
29. 29
    reverb: news/how to date a gretsch guitargraded secondary

    • "1989 - present: Japan (Terada factory)"Gretsch in 1994
30. 30
    jedistar: guildgraded secondary

    • "1989 Sold to FAAS Corporation"Guild in 1994
31. 31
    Guild (manufacturer history) - Blue Book of Guitar Valuesgraded secondary

    • The Faas Corporation of New Berlin, WI (now U.S. Musical Corporation) bought Guild in January, 1989.Guild in 1994
32. 32
    The Convoluted History of Guild Guitarsgraded community

    • And this group sold Guild to the FAAS Corporation (Chuck Faas) which changed name to U.S. Music Corporation.Guild in 1994
33. 33
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1994
34. 34
    heritageownersclub: forums/topic/35999 heritage historygraded community

    • "was incorporated on April 1, 1985"Heritage in 1994
35. 35
    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 1994
36. 36
    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 1994
37. 37
    Heritage Guitars - About Us (site footer)graded primary

    • During the spring of 1985, several Kalamazoo guitar luthiersHeritage in 1994
38. 38
    Builder Profile: Heritage Guitargraded secondary

    • In the spring of 1985, Lamb, formerly the Gibson plant superintendent,Heritage in 1994
39. 39
    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 1994
40. 40
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1994
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1994
41. 41
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
42. 42
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1994
43. 43
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1994
44. 44
    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 1994
45. 45
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 1994
46. 46
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1994
47. 47
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1994
48. 48
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1994
49. 49
    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 1994
50. 50
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1994
51. 51
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1994
    • "since the early 1990s, Martin's Navajoa factory has turned out strings, ukuleles and Backpackers… DXM series to Navojoa, in 2004"Martin in 1994
52. 52
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
53. 53
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1994
54. 54
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1994
55. 55
    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 1994
56. 56
    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 1994
57. 57
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1994
58. 58
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
59. 59
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1994
60. 60
    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 1994
61. 61
    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 1994
62. 62
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 1994
63. 63
    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 1994
64. 64
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 1994
65. 65
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary

    • "in 1985 he opened the first PRS factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1994
66. 66
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 1994
67. 67
    Serial numbers Stratocaster Koreagraded community
68. 68
    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 1994
69. 69
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1994
70. 70
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1994
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1994
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1994
    • 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 1994
71. 71
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1994
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1994
72. 72
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1994
73. 73
    assemblymag: articles/98037 hand craftsmanship meets high tech at taylor guitarsgraded secondary

    • "In 1992, Taylor moved to a 25,000-square-foot factory in El Cajon."Taylor in 1994
74. 74
    kpbs: podcasts/the finest/how taylor guitars changed the guitar industry and helped revitalize agraded secondary

    • "102 guitars per day… Tecate… about 700 per day"Taylor in 1994

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