Guitar brands in 1996

9 brands on record in 1996: Epiphone, Gretsch, Guild, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS and Taylor. PRS changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 1996. 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 1996

• PRS, PRS Core and Private Stock: new era under Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) at PRS Stevensville (Kent Island)^{[52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59]}
• PRS, PRS CE: new era under Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) at PRS Stevensville (Kent Island)^{[52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58]}
• PRS, PRS Core and Private Stock: the 1985–1996 era ends^{[52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 67, 58]}
• PRS, PRS CE: the 1988–1996 era ends^{[52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 67]}

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 1996
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 1996
3. 3
   Gibson Brands chapter 11 docket: Notice of Effective Dategraded secondary

   • "November 1 2018 Effective Date - Notice of Effe[ctive Date]"Epiphone in 1996
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 1996
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 1996
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 1996
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 1996
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 1996
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 1996
10. 10
    fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • "Samick began building Epiphones in 1984… The Korean factory stopped making Epiphones in 2002."Epiphone in 1996
    • "a few special models still made in Japan"Epiphone in 1996
    • "Epiphone began contracting out to a number of different manufacturers"Epiphone in 1996
11. 11
    Wikipedia: wiki/FUJIGENgraded community
12. 12
    gretschguitars: support/historygraded primary

    • "In 1984, Fred W. Gretsch… purchased Gretsch back"Gretsch in 1996
13. 13
    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 1996
14. 14
    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 1996
15. 15
    A brief history of Gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • In 1984, the couple bought the Gretsch brand backGretsch in 1996
16. 16
    reverb: news/the rebirth of gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • "chose Terada, an experienced firm in Nagoya"Gretsch in 1996
17. 17
    reverb: news/how to date a gretsch guitargraded secondary

    • "1989 - present: Japan (Terada factory)"Gretsch in 1996
    • "1995 - present: US (Custom & Masterbuilt Series)"Gretsch in 1996
18. 18
    blogspot: 2025/11/the convoluted history of guild guitars.htmlgraded community

    • "FMIC bought Guild from U.S. Music Corporation in November 1995"Guild in 1996
19. 19
    fender: newsroom/news/408graded primary

    • "(May 6, 2014)… letter of intent to sell the Guild guitar brand"Guild in 1996
20. 20
    premierguitar: artists/cordoba music group acquires guildgraded secondary

    • "Upon finalization of the sale, Cordoba Music Group is expected to begin production in Oxnard, Calif."Guild in 1996
21. 21
    Fender Musical Instruments Corporation announces intent to sell Guild brand to Cordoba Music Groupgraded primary

    • Guild joined the FMIC family in 1995Guild in 1996
22. 22
    Guild in the Post-Fender Eragraded secondary

    • When Fender bought the company in late 1995, Guild was headquartered in Westerly, Rhode Island.Guild in 1996
23. 23
    Fender Musical Instruments Company (International Directory of Company Histories)graded secondary

    • In 1995, Fender acquired the Guild Guitar Company, a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of handmade electric and acousticGuild in 1996
24. 24
    Guild (Acoustic Guitar magazine feature, AG282, hosted by Guild)graded secondary

    • Another big change for Guild came in 1995, when Fender purchased the company.Guild in 1996
25. 25
    The Convoluted History of Guild Guitarsgraded community

    • The Fender Musical Instrument Company (FMIC) bought Guild from U.S. Music Corporation in November 1995.Guild in 1996
26. 26
    mmone: guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "opened in 1967 in Westerly"Guild in 1996
27. 27
    heritageownersclub: forums/topic/35999 heritage historygraded community

    • "was incorporated on April 1, 1985"Heritage in 1996
28. 28
    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 1996
29. 29
    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 1996
30. 30
    Heritage Guitars - About Us (site footer)graded primary

    • During the spring of 1985, several Kalamazoo guitar luthiersHeritage in 1996
31. 31
    Builder Profile: Heritage Guitargraded secondary

    • In the spring of 1985, Lamb, formerly the Gibson plant superintendent,Heritage in 1996
32. 32
    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 1996
33. 33
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 1996
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 1996
34. 34
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
35. 35
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 1996
36. 36
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 1996
37. 37
    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 1996
38. 38
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 1996
39. 39
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 1996
40. 40
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 1996
41. 41
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 1996
42. 42
    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 1996
43. 43
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 1996
44. 44
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 1996
    • "since the early 1990s, Martin's Navajoa factory has turned out strings, ukuleles and Backpackers… DXM series to Navojoa, in 2004"Martin in 1996
45. 45
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
46. 46
    Hamer Guitarsgraded community

    • "acquired by… Fender… on December 31, 2007"Ovation in 1996
47. 47
    Kaman Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007graded primary

    • On December 31, 2007, we completed the previously announced saleOvation in 1996
48. 48
    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 1996
49. 49
    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 1996
50. 50
    Fender to close Ovation factory in Connecticutgraded secondary

    • "built Ovation… for the last 47 years"Ovation in 1996
51. 51
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary
52. 52
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 1996
53. 53
    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 1996
54. 54
    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 1996
55. 55
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 1996
56. 56
    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 1996
57. 57
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 1996
58. 58
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 1996
59. 59
    Wikipedia: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "In 1996, the company moved to its present facility in Stevensville on Kent Island"PRS in 1996
60. 60
    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 1996
61. 61
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 1996
62. 62
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 1996
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1996
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1996
    • 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 1996
63. 63
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 1996
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 1996
64. 64
    About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

    • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 1996
65. 65
    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 1996
66. 66
    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 1996
67. 67
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary

    • "in 1985 he opened the first PRS factory in Annapolis"PRS Core and Private Stock, 1985–1996

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