I have been researching guitar manufacturers a bit and it truly surprised me how many brands were actually subsidiaries or “sister" brands of other companies. What you would think of, or are often advertised as a small shop are often part of a larger conglomerate. Not that it’s a bad thing, just surprising to me. A brief summary of what I have discovered so far.
FMIC (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation) – Brands: Fender, Squier, Guild, Gretsch, Jackson, Charvel, SWR, Tacoma, Olympia and Orpheum.
Gibson Brands – Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, Valley Arts, Tobias, Stein Berger, Garrison, Kalamazoo, Baldwin
US Music Corp Brands – Washburn, Randall, Eden, Parker, Soundtech, Mojo, Oscar Schmidt, Lyon, Vinci
Godin brands – Godin, Seagull,Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick, Norman, Lapatrie
The Music Link Brands - Johnson, Recording King, The Loar, Paris Swing Co. Dell’Arte, Palatino,Lucida, Antionio Hermosa, CODA, Guardian.
Kaman Music Corp Brands – Ovation, Adama, Takamine, Hamer, Toca, Gibraltar, Gretsch Drums, LP Music, Sabian, Dixon Hardware, Genz Benz
Hanser Music Group Brands – Aria, BC Rich, Breatheaudio, Davitt & Hanser, Floyd Rose, Kustom, Michael Kelly, Nuvo, OLP Guitars, Rockfield Pickups, Stage One, Tragen Bass co
SAGA Musical Instruments – Blueridge, Gitane, Valencia, Rover, Kentucky, Anton Brenton, Mahalo, Regal, Durango, Trinity College, GoldStar, Cremona, H. Siegler, Hamano, Fullerton (Music 123 house brand)
Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
