Guitar brands in 2024

13 brands on record in 2024: Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Harmony, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, PRS, Squier and Taylor. Heritage changed owner or plant on at least one line that year.

A snapshot of the trade in 2024. 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 2024

• Heritage, Heritage Ascent: new era under PlazaCorp Realty Advisors (Kalamazoo) and investors at Heritage Ascent builder (unverified)^{[52, 53, 54, 56]}

Plants building for more than one brand

• PT Cort Indonesia, Ngoro: Epiphone and Squier
• Terada Gakki: Epiphone and Gretsch
• FujiGen: Epiphone and Ibanez
• Fender Corona: Fender and Gretsch
• Kalamazoo 225 Parsons St (1917 Gibson building): Harmony and Heritage

The 2020s

• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 2026

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 2024
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 2024
3. 3
   Gibson Brands chapter 11 docket: Notice of Effective Dategraded secondary

   • "November 1 2018 Effective Date - Notice of Effe[ctive Date]"Epiphone in 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
10. 10
    Gibson emerges from bankruptcy (Oct 23, 2018)graded secondary

    • "Nov. 1, when… KKR assumes majority ownership control"Epiphone in 2024
11. 11
    Gibson Brands Emerges from Chapter 11graded secondary

    • an ad hoc committee of Gibson Brands, Inc. noteholders, led by KKREpiphone in 2024
12. 12
    fandom: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • "Epiphone began contracting out to a number of different manufacturers"Epiphone in 2024
    • "a few special models still made in Japan"Epiphone in 2024
13. 13
    guitarinsite: epiphone factoriesgraded community

    • "In 2004, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao… owned by Gibson"Epiphone in 2024
    • "Several Chinese factories have produced Epiphone guitars"Epiphone in 2024
    • The company has produced guitars for Epiphone under an OEM agreement since 1995.Epiphone in 2024
    • In 2002, Terada signed an OEM agreement with Epiphone.Epiphone in 2024
    • In 1998, the company received a full license to produce Epiphone guitars.Epiphone in 2024
14. 14
    Wikipedia: wiki/Epiphonegraded community

    • In 2002, Epiphone began producing a range of higher quality instruments under the "Elite Series" moniker which were built by Terada and FujiGen in Japan.Epiphone in 2024
15. 15
    Wikipedia: wiki/FUJIGENgraded community

    • and from then on have made Epiphone Japan solid body guitarsEpiphone in 2024
16. 16
    Fender Musical Instruments Corp, Form S-1/A (2012), accession 0001193125-12-298421graded primary
17. 17
    The End of the CBS Era: Inside the 1985 Fender Buyoutgraded community
18. 18
    Fender Musical Instruments Company Historygraded secondary
19. 19
    Fender Custom Shopgraded community
20. 20
    re: korean squires (forum thread)graded community
21. 21
    Fender factoriesgraded 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 2024
    • In late 2002 a deal was struck for Fender Musical Instruments Corp. to handle Gretsch Guitars manufacturing and distributionGretsch in 2024
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 2024
    • In 2002 Gretsch and Fender announced an alliance that granted Fender exclusive rights to develop, market, and distribute Gretsch guitars.Gretsch in 2024
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 2024
27. 27
    A brief history of Gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • In 1984, the couple bought the Gretsch brand backGretsch in 2024
    • In 2002, Gretsch and Fender Musical Instruments Corp announced a strategic partnership.Gretsch in 2024
28. 28
    gretschguitars: 2014/01/ten years of the gretsch custom shopgraded primary

    • "Fender acquired licensing for the manufacture, distribution and marketing… in 2002"Gretsch in 2024
    • Gretsch Custom Shop is now located in the rolling hills of Corona, Calif.Gretsch in 2024
29. 29
    reverb: news/the rebirth of gretsch guitarsgraded secondary

    • "starting officially on the first day of 2003"Gretsch in 2024
    • "chose Terada, an experienced firm in Nagoya"Gretsch in 2024
30. 30
    reverb: news/how to date a gretsch guitargraded secondary

    • "CY = China - Yako"Gretsch in 2024
    • "1989 - present: Japan (Terada factory)"Gretsch in 2024
    • "IS = Indonesia – Samick"Gretsch in 2024
31. 31
    gretsch-talk: threads/what year did electromatic production move from korea to china.218618graded community

    • "transitioned to China between June and July of 2021"Gretsch in 2024
32. 32
    fender newsroom: gretsch celebrates 15 years of the gretsch custom shopgraded primary

    • With Stern tied up with Benedetto, Fleming and Fender’s George Blanda were tabbed to build the first-ever custom U.S.-made Gretsch models, which debuted at the 2004 winter NAMM Show.Gretsch in 2024
33. 33
    guitar: reviews/electric guitar/gretsch shootout g2420t streamliner g5420t electromatic g6120t plagraded secondary

    • "Streamliner models are made in Indonesia"Gretsch in 2024
34. 34
    Yamaha Guitar Group press release 2023-02-06graded primary

    • "Guild Guitars… was added to the CMG portfolio in 2014"Guild in 2024
35. 35
    Fender Musical Instruments Corporation announces intent to sell Guild brand to Cordoba Music Groupgraded primary

    • finalized a letter of intent to sell the Guild guitar brand and related assets to Cordoba Music GroupGuild in 2024
36. 36
    Cordoba, FMIC finalize sale of Guild Guitarsgraded secondary

    • has announced that it has finalized the sale of the Guild® guitar brandGuild in 2024
37. 37
    yamaha: en/news release/files/news/23020701/pdf/2302070101.pdfgraded primary

    • "acquired the equity interest of Cordoba Music Group, LLC… making it a sub-subsidiary"Guild in 2024
    • Acquisition date: February 7, 2023Guild in 2024
38. 38
    Yamaha Guitar Group press release: acquisition of Cordoba Music Groupgraded primary

    • Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Yamaha CorporationGuild in 2024
39. 39
    Yamaha Guitar Group acquires Cordoba Music Groupgraded secondary

    • Yamaha Guitar Group, a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Yamaha CorporationGuild in 2024
40. 40
    acousticguitarforum: forums/showthread.php?p=5240671graded community

    • "made at a factory in China under a contract"Guild in 2024
41. 41
    guitar: features/a brief history of guild guitarsgraded secondary

    • "begin making acoustics in its Oxnard facility in 2015"Guild in 2024
42. 42
    fandom: wiki/Guild Guitar Companygraded community

    • "manufactured in Korea under the DeArmond brand name"Guild in 2024
43. 43
    guitarreviewed: posts/7d090c8ea9b256752ae03e3a1476b661graded unverified

    • "made in China by our skilled factory partners"Guild in 2024
44. 44
    A brief history of Harmony guitarsgraded secondary

    • "in 2018… Harmony was reborn as part of the BandLab Technologies portfolio"Harmony in 2024
45. 45
    Harmony acquires Stella Guitarsgraded secondary

    • the Singaporean conglomerate that acquired the rights to, and subsequently relaunched, Harmony in late 2017, along with Teisco.Harmony in 2024
46. 46
    Singapore's BandLab Technologies rebrands as Caldecott Music Groupgraded secondary

    • Vista Musical Instruments, CMG's manufacturing and retail division, includes the instrument brands MONOHarmony in 2024
    • CMG’s digital division, BandLab Technologies, will continue to design and develop tools and services for music creators.Harmony in 2024
47. 47
    NAMM 2018: Harmony guitars back, along with new ampsgraded secondary

    • However, we do know that BandLab Technologies, the same company that has relaunched Teisco, is behind the Harmony brand now.Harmony in 2024
48. 48
    Caldecott Music Groupgraded secondary

    • Caldecott Music Group revealed as new umbrella of BandLabHarmony in 2024
49. 49
    Caldecott Music appoints David Nam Le as MD of Vista Musical and Jon Bahr as Senior Advisor at BandLabgraded secondary

    • Caldecott Music Group was formed as a parent company in 2021 to house three divisions: BandLab, Vista Musical, and NME Networks.Harmony in 2024
50. 50
    Harmony Companygraded community

    • "USA made Harmony Guitars are built in Kalamazoo, Michigan by the Heritage Guitar Company"Harmony in 2024
    • "briefly imported 'reissue' Harmony guitars"Harmony in 2024
51. 51
    Harmony guitars import line (blog, 2020)graded community

    • "The guitars are now made in China."Harmony in 2024
52. 52
    kalamazoocountry: new owners for heritage guitars in kalamazoograded secondary

    • "a group of investors has bought Heritage guitars and the accompanying building"Heritage in 2024
53. 53
    Changes at Heritage Guitar roil staff luthiersgraded secondary

    • Heritage was purchased in 2016 by Archie Leach and Jeff Nicholson of PlazaCorp Realty Advisors Inc.Heritage in 2024
54. 54
    Restoring Gibson legacy: Kalamazoo Heritage Guitars renovating historic plantgraded secondary

    • spearheaded by new owners Archie Leach and Jeff Nicholson, who bought Heritage Guitars in 2016.Heritage in 2024
55. 55
    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 2024
56. 56
    Wikipedia: wiki/Heritage Guitarsgraded community

    • "In 2024, Heritage launched a new budget line known as the Ascent Collection."Heritage in 2024
57. 57
    Wikipedia: wiki/Hoshino Gakkigraded community

    • "1981: Hoshino changes company name… to Hoshino Gakki"Ibanez in 2024
    • "1969: Hoshino Gakki Ten starts to use the FujiGen… factory"Ibanez in 2024
58. 58
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez Icemangraded community
59. 59
    Hoshino Gakki Co. Ltd. Company Historygraded secondary

    • The following year, the company changed its own name to Hoshino Gakki Co.Ibanez in 2024
60. 60
    Hoshino Gakki (Wikipedia)graded community

    • Hoshino changes company name from Hoshino Gakki Ten to Hoshino GakkiIbanez in 2024
61. 61
    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 2024
62. 62
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanezgraded community

    • "also been made in other Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Indonesia"Ibanez in 2024
63. 63
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez GIOgraded community

    • "produced in either China or Indonesia"Ibanez in 2024
64. 64
    Wikipedia: wiki/Ibanez RGgraded community

    • "Mid-tier guitars produced in a special facility set up in Indonesia."Ibanez in 2024
65. 65
    Wikipedia: wiki/C. F. Martin %26 Companygraded community

    • "run by the same family for six generations"Martin in 2024
66. 66
    A Family Business (The Martin Story)graded primary

    • Since 1833, C. F. Martin & Co.® has remained family owned and operated—six generationsMartin in 2024
67. 67
    C. F. Martin & Co. Announces Retirements & New Leadership Appointmentsgraded primary

    • Owner and Chairman of the Board of the 192-year-old companyMartin in 2024
68. 68
    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 2024
69. 69
    Martin Guitar CEO Chris Martin IV announces retirementgraded secondary

    • Family ownership of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based company... will continue.Martin in 2024
70. 70
    guitar: features/martin guitar historygraded secondary

    • "62,000-square-foot Sycamore Street facility… That was in 1964."Martin in 2024
    • "since the early 1990s, Martin's Navajoa factory has turned out strings, ukuleles and Backpackers… DXM series to Navojoa, in 2004"Martin in 2024
    • "DXM series to Navojoa, in 2004"Martin in 2024
71. 71
    themunicipal: 2023/12/stringing along at the martin guitar factory and museumgraded secondary
72. 72
    Ovation ownership transfer to GEWA (Dec 22, 2020)graded secondary

    • "deal that was inked in September"Ovation in 2024
    • "February 1, 2021… GEWA Music USA taking over Ovation distribution"Ovation in 2024
73. 73
    Ovation Guitars joins the GEWA music family of brandsgraded secondary

    • GEWA music has recently announced the acquisition of the Ovation guitar brand from longtime partner, Drum Workshop, Inc.Ovation in 2024
74. 74
    GEWA Music acquires Ovation Guitarsgraded secondary

    • Adamas and Applause – two brands associated with Ovation – are also part of the deal, which was finalized in September 2020.Ovation in 2024
75. 75
    GEWA purchases Ovation Guitarsgraded secondary

    • The Adamas and Applause guitar brands are also included in the purchase.Ovation in 2024
76. 76
    Ovation Guitars acquired by GEWA Musicgraded secondary

    • has acquired the Ovation brand from Drum Workshop, Inc.Ovation in 2024
77. 77
    Ovation Guitars has been acquired by GEWA Musicgraded secondary

    • Associated brands Adamas and Applause are reportedly part of the deal, which was inked in September 2020.Ovation in 2024
78. 78
    Fender to cease US production of Ovation guitarsgraded secondary

    • "Fender will now make Ovation guitars in China, South Korea and Indonesia"Ovation in 2024
79. 79
    blogspot: 2026/04/ovation solid body electric guitars.htmlgraded community

    • "outsourcing others to a Chinese factory"Ovation in 2024
80. 80
    glencampbellforums: viewtopic.php?t=341graded community

    • "the factory will resume production in October, 2015"Ovation in 2024
81. 81
    GEWA purchases Ovation Guitarsgraded secondary

    • "Custom Shop will focus on… Adamas models"Ovation in 2024
82. 82
    fandom: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "Paul Reed Smith set up a partnership to create a factory in Annapolis"PRS in 2024
83. 83
    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 2024
84. 84
    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 2024
85. 85
    PRS media roomgraded primary

    • Paul Reed Smith, Managing General Partner of PRS GuitarsPRS in 2024
86. 86
    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 2024
87. 87
    Inside Annapolis: Paul Reed Smith feature (2007)graded secondary

    • we developed a strong team and launched PRS Guitars, Limited Partnership.PRS in 2024
88. 88
    PRS staff post: moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996graded community

    • "PRS moved into the Stevensville factory in January 1996"PRS in 2024
89. 89
    Wikipedia: wiki/PRS Guitarsgraded community

    • "In 1996, the company moved to its present facility in Stevensville on Kent Island"PRS in 2024
    • "since 2019 production has been moved to Cor-Tek factories in Indonesia and China"PRS in 2024
90. 90
    PRS S2 Series launch release (July 9, 2013)graded secondary

    • "Stevensville, MD (July 9, 2013) -- PRS Guitars' new S2 Series instruments – the S2 Mira, S2 Starla, and S2 Custom 24"PRS in 2024
91. 91
    musicradar: news/the story of prss se guitar linegraded secondary

    • "a facility, in Indonesia, that is PRS Guitars… just PRS"PRS in 2024
92. 92
    crutchfield: learn/prs guitars usa factory tour.htmlgraded secondary
93. 93
    Serial numbers Stratocaster Koreagraded community
94. 94
    Squier Affinity / Tradition Seriesgraded community
95. 95
    Serial numbers Stratocaster China and Indonesiagraded community
96. 96
    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 2024
97. 97
    taylorguitars: issue/2021 issue 2/cover story/keeping good companygraded primary

    • "on December 31… signing the documents to officially transition the ownership"Taylor in 2024
    • on December 31, while you were ramping up your holiday celebrations, Kurt and Andy and I were signing the documents.Taylor in 2024
98. 98
    taylorguitars: about/50th anniversary timelinegraded primary

    • they decide to call the new business Westland Music Company.Taylor in 2024
    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 2024
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 2024
    • 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 2024
99. 99
    Taylor Guitars company history (timeline)graded primary

    • Westland Music Company changes its name to Taylor Guitars.Taylor in 2024
    • Bob and Kurt buy out partner Steve Schemmer, incorporate as Taylor-Listug, Inc.Taylor in 2024
100. 100
     About Taylor Guitarsgraded primary

     • Taylor Guitars is now proudly 100% employee owned.Taylor in 2024
101. 101
     musicinstrumentnews: 2021/01/11/taylor guitars transitions ownership to its employeesgraded secondary

     • "transition to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan"Taylor in 2024
102. 102
     Taylor Transitions to 100% Employee Ownership Through an ESOPgraded primary

     • The company is now officially 100 percent employee owned.Taylor in 2024
     • After sharing the news that they had signed the paperwork to make the ownership transition official in late DecemberTaylor in 2024
103. 103
     Taylor Guitars ESOP articlegraded secondary

     • As of Dec. 31, the El Cajon business became 100% employee owned.Taylor in 2024
104. 104
     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 2024
105. 105
     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 2024

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