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Guitar Manufacturers Index

This A–Z Guitar Manufacturers Index offers a comprehensive list of acoustic, electric, and boutique guitar brands. Each entry includes a brief description and, where available, a recommended product geared toward fingerstyle, jazz, and acoustic-oriented players. If you're a guitar maker and would like your brand featured in this list, get in touch here to let us know.

Jump to a Section:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

A

B

C

D

E

  • Eastwood – Modern reissues of rare vintage guitars from brands like Airline and Mosrite.
    → Try: Eastwood Sidejack Baritone
  • Eccleshall – British luthier based in Devon, known for building custom acoustic, electric, and mandolin-family instruments by hand.
  • Epiphone – Gibson’s sister brand making budget-friendly versions of classic models.
    → Try: Epiphone Casino Hollowbody
  • ESP – Japanese builder of metal-ready electrics and LTD line for affordability.
    → Try: ESP LTD EC-256
  • Eko – Italian guitar brand popular in the 1960s and ’70s for its stylish acoustic and electric guitars, still producing affordable models today.
    → Try: Eko NXT D100 Dreadnought
  • Electrical Guitar Company – U.S. boutique builder specializing in aluminum-neck guitars with raw, industrial aesthetics favored by experimental and heavy players.
  • Ernie Ball – Best known for its iconic guitar strings, the brand also manufactures Music Man instruments and accessories.
    → Try: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings

F

G

  • G&L – Leo Fender’s post-Fender project with modern takes on Strat/Tele designs.
    → Try: G&L Tribute ASAT Classic
  • Gallotone guitar – South African brand known for entry-level acoustic guitars in the mid-20th century, including models marketed to students and emerging players.
  • Garrison – Canadian company active in the early 2000s, recognized for its innovative all-wood bracing system before being acquired by Gibson.
  • Giannini – Historic Brazilian manufacturer producing a wide range of classical, folk, and electric instruments since 1900.
    → Try: Giannini GC-2 Classical Guitar
  • Gibson – Historic American builder behind the Les Paul, SG, ES-335, and J-45.
    → Try: Gibson J-45 Standard
  • Gilberto Grácio – Master Portuguese luthier known for crafting traditional classical and fado guitars by hand.
  • Gittler guitar – Minimalist, skeletal electric guitar design made of titanium or stainless steel, focusing solely on string-to-pickup performance.
  • Godin – Canadian brand blending acoustic and electric features for gigging musicians.
    → Try: Godin Multiac Nylon String SA
  • Gordon-Smith – UK-based builder of hand-made, no-nonsense electric guitars popular with punk and indie musicians.
    → Try: Gordon-Smith GS1 Electric
  • Greco – Japanese manufacturer famed for producing high-quality “lawsuit-era” replicas of Gibson and Fender models during the 1970s–1980s.
  • Greg Bennett – Line of guitars designed by Greg Bennett and produced by Samick, offering solid value across acoustic and electric models.
    → Try: Greg Bennett Avion AV3 Electric
  • Gretsch – Classic hollowbodies and rockabilly tone from the 6120 to the Jet.
    → Try: Gretsch G5420T Electromatic
  • Guild – Acclaimed for 12-strings, jumbo acoustics, and vintage-style semi-hollows.
    → Try: Guild D-240E Acoustic

H

I

J

  • Jackson – Shredder-friendly electrics with pointy headstocks and fast necks.
    → Try: Jackson JS32 Dinky
  • James Tyler Guitars – California-based boutique electric guitar maker known for custom finishes, high-performance builds, and active electronics.
  • Jay Turser – Budget brand offering basic Strat/LP-style guitars and jazzboxes.
    → Try: Jay Turser JT-133 Semi-Hollow
  • Joseph Lukes Guitars – London luthier specializing in handmade classical guitars using traditional hide glue construction and eco-conscious woods.
  • Johnson – Budget brand offering acoustic, resonator, and folk instruments often found in starter kits.
    → Try: Johnson JG-100 Acoustic Guitar
  • Jolana – Czech brand known for bold, vintage electric guitar designs during the mid-20th century, particularly popular in Eastern Europe.

K

  • Kalamazoo – Depression-era Gibson sub-brand used for affordable archtops and acoustics built in the original Gibson factory.
  • Kawai – Japanese manufacturer known mainly for pianos and synths, though they briefly produced electric guitars in the 1960s–70s.
  • Kay – American brand best known for vintage archtops and bluesy acoustics.
    → Try: Kay K775 Jazz Archtop Reissue
  • Kiesel Guitars – Custom USA shop building modern, high-performance guitars and basses.
    → Try: Kiesel Zeus Headless Electric
  • Klira – German company that built ornate archtops and electrics in the mid-1900s, similar in styling to Höfner and Framus.
  • Koll – Portland-based boutique brand making custom electrics that blend retro cool with modern playability.
  • Kramer – 1980s shred icons now revived under Gibson with flashy rock-ready designs.
    → Try: Kramer Baretta Special
  • Kustom – Best known for “tuck and roll” vinyl guitar amps from the ’60s–’70s, with occasional forays into guitar manufacturing.
    → Try: Kustom Defender 5H Tube Head
  • Kahler – Manufacturer of alternative tremolo bridge systems, offering a smoother feel than the Floyd Rose.
    → Try: Kahler Hybrid Tremolo Bridge

L

  • Lado – Canadian boutique guitar brand known for neck-through electrics with exotic woodwork and strong craftsmanship.
  • Lâg – French brand offering stylish and affordable acoustics with modern features.
    → Try: Lâg Tramontane T70DCE
  • Larrivée – Canadian company making all-solid acoustics known for balance and clarity.
    → Try: Larrivée D-03 Acoustic
  • Levin – Swedish acoustic guitar maker (later part of Martin’s Sigma brand) with a rich heritage dating back to the late 1800s.
  • Lichty Guitars – Handbuilt acoustic guitars and ukuleles from North Carolina, tailored for fingerstyle players and collectors.
  • Lindert – 1990s U.S. guitar maker with quirky vintage-inspired body shapes and built-in carry handles.
  • Line 6 – Known for digital amp modeling, effects processors, and the innovative Variax line of modeling guitars.
    → Try: Line 6 Variax Standard
  • Lotus – 1970s–80s import brand offering budget electric guitars, often made in Japan or Korea and modeled after major U.S. designs.
  • Lowden – High-end Irish builder beloved by fingerstyle players for rich, open tone.
    → Try: Lowden F-32 Acoustic
  • Luna Guitars – Artistically designed guitars and ukuleles often geared toward beginners and creatives.
    → Try: Luna Gypsy Muse Acoustic
  • Lyle – House brand for L.D. Heater Music Company, these Japanese-made guitars were known for quality Gibson-style copies in the 1970s.

M

  • Maestro – Sub-brand from Gibson used for entry-level guitars and effects pedals, including the iconic FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone.
  • Mann – Canadian builder best known for licensed PRS-style guitars sold under the Mann name in the 1980s.
  • Maton – Premium Australian acoustics used by fingerstyle legends like Tommy Emmanuel.
    → Try: Maton EBG808C Acoustic-Electric
  • Matsumoku – Japanese factory that produced guitars for brands like Aria, Epiphone Japan, and Vantage, known for consistent craftsmanship during the ’70s and ’80s.
  • Mayones Guitars & Basses – Polish boutique builder specializing in high-end modern guitars and basses with aggressive styling and top-tier components.
  • Michael Kelly – Boutique-inspired guitars and basses offering great looks and value.
    → Try: Michael Kelly Patriot Decree
  • Micro-Frets – 1960s–70s American brand that built innovative electrics with unique hardware and styling before shutting down in 1975.
  • Modulus – High-end U.S. bass guitar brand known for using carbon fiber necks for ultra-stable, clear-sounding instruments.
  • Moniker Guitars – Custom electric guitar company that allowed buyers to design finishes and specs online; now defunct.
  • Mosrite – Classic surf-rock guitars with low action and retro styling.
    → Try: Mosrite Ventures Model Reissue
  • MotorAve – Boutique builder crafting vintage-inspired electrics by hand in Los Angeles; known for the BelAire and LeMans models.
  • Music Man – U.S. brand (under Ernie Ball) known for high-end guitars and StingRay basses.
    → Try: Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Bass

N

O

P

  • Parker – Known for the ultra-lightweight, carbon-reinforced Parker Fly guitars with ergonomic bodies and piezo-electric blends.
  • Paul Reed Smith – Known for stunning finishes and a smooth blend of Gibson/Fender tones.
    → Try: PRS SE Custom 24
  • Peavey – American brand offering everything from beginner guitars to classic amps.
    → Try: Peavey Classic 30 Tube Amp
  • Penco – Japanese brand from the 1970s offering high-quality acoustic and electric replicas, often sold through the Hoshino and Ibanez networks.

R

S

T

  • Tokai – Japanese maker famed for vintage-quality Fender and Gibson-style copies.
    → Try: Tokai Love Rock LP-Style
  • Takamine – Japanese brand known for stage-friendly acoustics with great electronics.
    → Try: Takamine GD30CE Acoustic-Electric
  • Taylor – High-end acoustics built with modern precision and bright, balanced tone.
    → Try: Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium
  • Teisco – Vintage Japanese guitars with funky styling and cult status.
    → Try: Teisco Spectrum 5 Reissue
  • Tobias – Premium bass brand founded by Michael Tobias, known for ergonomic, custom-built instruments (now owned by Gibson).
  • Tom Anderson Guitarworks – California-based boutique builder producing some of the most precise, high-performance Strat-style guitars available.
  • Tonante – Brazilian manufacturer known for producing low-cost electric guitars and basses, often used by beginners in South America.
  • Traben – Bass guitar brand known for bold bridge designs and solid entry-level to mid-range instruments in the 2000s.
  • Travis Bean – Cult-favorite U.S. brand from the 1970s known for aluminum-neck guitars with excellent sustain and clarity.
  • Trembita Musical Instrument Factory – Ukrainian factory producing classical and folk instruments, including student-grade acoustic guitars.
  • TYM Guitars – Australian builder and repair shop creating vintage-inspired guitars and effects pedals, often based on rare ‘60s models.
  • Tanglewood Guitars – UK brand offering great-value acoustics for beginners and intermediate players.
    → Try: Tanglewood TWCR D Dreadnought
  • Tagima – Brazilian guitar company producing Strat-style and original design guitars, with strong local and export presence.
    → Try: Tagima TW-61 Offset Electric
  • Tacoma Guitars – U.S. acoustic brand active in the early 2000s, known for their offset soundhole designs and bold tones (now discontinued).

U

V

  • Valco – 1950s U.S. company behind National and Supro brands, known for quirky electrics and early tube amps.
  • Valley Arts Guitar – Boutique L.A. builder popular in the ’80s for custom superstrats used by studio pros and fusion players.
  • Vester Guitars – Korean import brand from the 1990s offering solid beginner and intermediate electric guitars.
  • Vigier Guitars – French boutique guitars known for tech-forward builds and carbon reinforcement.
    → Try: Vigier Excalibur Ultra Blues
  • VOX – Legendary for its AC series amps and teardrop-shaped guitars.
    → Try: Vox AC15C1 Tube Combo

W

Y

Z