Non-US musical gear manufacturers

[jim777]

Don't forget Hagstrom guitars...originally made in Sweden (since 1958), not sure where their instruments are currently manufactured but the company HQ is still in Sweden.

More non-US bass manufacturers, some of whom also make guitars:
- Human Base (Germany)
- Rob O'Reilly (Ireland)
- Emerald Guitars (Ireland)
- BassLab (Germany)
- Wal Basses (UK)
- Shuker (UK)
- Jones Basses (UK)
- Lado (Canada)
- Leduc (France ...may no longer be in business?)
- Vigier Guitars (France)
- Industrial Radio (Australia)
...I'll probably think of a few more as soon as I post this!

Maruszczyk - https://www.public-peace.de/info/mar...ml?language=en

[floatingpickup]

For any Canadians: L&M sell their own branded strings that are made in Mexico and quite reasonably priced. I can’t comment on their quality, but I’ll be checking them out.

I have used the L&M strings and they are quite good.
Keith

[floatingpickup]

Boblen cases, made in Canada. Many guitar companies, including Martin and others, use these high quality Canadian cases with their own name on them. Boblen also makes cases that are re-branded for other companies - Yorkville in Canada, TKL inthe USA, and probably others. Boblen powered by Coast Music Online
Keith

[floatingpickup]

Here is a partial list of Canadian Luthiers that come to mind. I haven’t checked to see if they are all still active, but these are just a few of our very talented luthiers here in Canada.

Archtops:
Linda Manzer
Michael Greenfield
Brian Monty
Doug Harrison
Wyatte Wilkie
Joseph Yaniuziello
Guillaume Rancourt
Paul Saunders

Acoustics:
William “Grit” Laskin
David Wren
Marc Beneteau
Robin Boucher - Boucher Guitars
Jean Larivee (production has since moved to USA)

Classicals:
Sergei DeJonge
Joshia DeJonge
Daryl Perry

Gypsy Guitars:
Shelly Park
Michael Dunn

[pcjazz]

Here is a partial list of Canadian Luthiers that come to mind. I haven’t checked to see if they are all still active, but these are just a few of our very talented luthiers here in Canada.

Archtops:
Linda Manzer
Michael Greenfield
Brian Monty
Doug Harrison
Wyatte Wilkie
Joseph Yaniuziello
Guillaume Rancourt
Paul Saunders

Acoustics:
William “Grit” Laskin
David Wren
Marc Beneteau
Robin Boucher - Boucher Guitars
Jean Larivee (production has since moved to USA)

Classicals:
Sergei DeJonge
Joshia DeJonge
Daryl Perry

Gypsy Guitars:
Shelly Park
Michael Dunn

Also:

Tony Duggan-Smith
Alan Beardsell

[Bob_Ross]

Did anyone mention F Bass (Canada) yet?

[Stringswinger]

If nobody has mentioned Canadian Luthier Shelley Park, you guys don't know what you are missing.

Shelley D. Park Guitars - Home

[thelostboss]

And since Australia seems to have fallen off the map yet again here is a list from Google Gemini:
? Guitars (Acoustic & Electric)

Australia is world-renowned for its acoustic guitar innovations, particularly in bracing and tonewood use.

• Maton (Melbourne): Perhaps Australia’s most iconic brand, used by Tommy Emmanuel and Josh Homme. Known for their AP5 Pro pickup system.
• Cole Clark (Melbourne): Famous for their "3-way" pickup system and heavy use of sustainable Australian timbers.
• Pratley Guitars (Gold Coast): High-end acoustic and electric guitars; recently gained global attention after being used by Jack Black.
• Fenech Guitars (Gold Coast): Premium handmade acoustic guitars known for their "Masterbuilt" and "True Tone" series.
• Luthiers (Classical Focus): * Greg Smallman: A pioneer of the "lattice-braced" guitar, used by John Williams.
  
  • Jim Redgate: Renowned for lattice and double-top designs used by Ana Vidovi?.
  • Gilet Guitars: Highly respected traditional builder in Sydney.
  
  

? Amplifiers & Audio Gear

Australia has a strong boutique scene for both instrument amplification and high-end hi-fi.

• Sherlock Amplifiers (Melbourne): Hand-built high-end tube amplifiers and the famous "Fat Head" preamp.
• Redback Audio (Perth): Focuses on commercial and Public Address (PA) amplifiers and speakers with a 50-year history.
• Australian Monitor: Specializes in commercial audio and installation amplifiers.
• Weston Acoustics: Boutique valve (tube) amplifiers handcrafted in Victoria.
• MI Audio: While primarily known for pedals, they have historically produced high-gain tube amplifiers like the Megalith Gamma.

?? Pedals & Accessories

The "stompbox" scene in Australia is particularly vibrant, with many builders reaching international acclaim.

• Dazatronyx (Melbourne): Handcrafted boutique pedals known for their high-quality builds and unique aesthetic.
• Kink Guitar Pedals (Melbourne): Famous for their distinctive artwork and "user-friendly" pedal designs.
• Mozztronics: Wide range of pedals including drives, compressors, and preamps.
• Peterman Pickups: Specializes in acoustic pickups and "stomp boxes" (percussion triggers for solo performers).
• Wild Dog Stomp: Known for creating professional-grade wooden percussion stomp boxes for guitarists.

? Pianos & Percussion

• Stuart & Sons (Tumut, NSW): Manufacturers of world-class, handcrafted grand pianos. They are famous for their 102-key and 108-key pianos—exceeding the standard 88.
• Brady Drum Company: World-renowned for drums made from Jarrah and other Australian hardwoods (Note: Production has fluctuated, but they remain a legendary name).
• Evetts Drums (Sydney): Custom-made drums using Australian tonewoods, highly regarded for their craftsmanship.
• Red Rock Drums (Melbourne): Specializes in "stave" shell construction rather than traditional ply.

? Wind & Traditional

• Burton Didj: One of many high-quality manufacturers of authentic Aboriginal Didgeridoos.
• AW Oboes & Bassoons: Specialist woodwind maker and repairer.
• Oz Whistles: Handcrafted tin whistles made in Australia.

Cheers TLB [unfortunately it seems that we cannot manufacture or own submarines]

[djg]

keep it coming.

updated.

[Gitterbug]

"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench" etc. etc. In fact, it's a fairly small and very fragmented industry, some 20-25 bn USD annually. While the US market accounts for approx. half of that, and American-owned brands stick out, US-based manufacturing can't be more than a fraction of the total. Fender's net sales in 2024 were under 500 m USD, Gibson's some 125 m. Yamaha does over 2 bn, Roland 650 m, Steinway about the same. Guitars aren't everything.

The headline of this thread reveals an American bias, the posts a guitar bias while attesting to the industry's multinational character and fragmentation. I have no clue on how Yamaha sales split between instruments and electronics. If I'm not wrong, Gibson has struggled in the latter area. No figures on Fender's amp sales, but I've been told that the on-stage amplification market has been on a declining trend since 2011. Only the ultra-light segment has been growing. (There's also the positive side - good to be there.)

[Bob_Ross]

And since Australia seems to have fallen off the map yet again ...

I mentioned - Industrial Radio (Australia) back in post # 13 but @djg seems to have missed that when updating OP

[Litterick]

Harvester Guitars in Melbourne produces attractive designs that start from Harmony and Maton models of the 1960s. The luthier is Anthony Paine.

[2bornot2bop]

Here's a video of mine:

And there's a pic on his website with the same model.

Berlin II – Jaen

Cliff, love your playing. Sounds fabulous!

[2bornot2bop]

And since Australia seems to have fallen off the map yet again here is a list from Google Gemini:
? Guitars (Acoustic & Electric)

Australia is world-renowned for its acoustic guitar innovations, particularly in bracing and tonewood use.

• Maton (Melbourne): Perhaps Australia’s most iconic brand, used by Tommy Emmanuel and Josh Homme. Known for their AP5 Pro pickup system.
• Cole Clark (Melbourne): Famous for their "3-way" pickup system and heavy use of sustainable Australian timbers.
• Pratley Guitars (Gold Coast): High-end acoustic and electric guitars; recently gained global attention after being used by Jack Black.
• Fenech Guitars (Gold Coast): Premium handmade acoustic guitars known for their "Masterbuilt" and "True Tone" series.
• Luthiers (Classical Focus): * Greg Smallman: A pioneer of the "lattice-braced" guitar, used by John Williams.
  
  • Jim Redgate: Renowned for lattice and double-top designs used by Ana Vidovi?.
  • Gilet Guitars: Highly respected traditional builder in Sydney.
  
  

? Amplifiers & Audio Gear

Australia has a strong boutique scene for both instrument amplification and high-end hi-fi.

• Sherlock Amplifiers (Melbourne): Hand-built high-end tube amplifiers and the famous "Fat Head" preamp.
• Redback Audio (Perth): Focuses on commercial and Public Address (PA) amplifiers and speakers with a 50-year history.
• Australian Monitor: Specializes in commercial audio and installation amplifiers.
• Weston Acoustics: Boutique valve (tube) amplifiers handcrafted in Victoria.
• MI Audio: While primarily known for pedals, they have historically produced high-gain tube amplifiers like the Megalith Gamma.

?? Pedals & Accessories

The "stompbox" scene in Australia is particularly vibrant, with many builders reaching international acclaim.

• Dazatronyx (Melbourne): Handcrafted boutique pedals known for their high-quality builds and unique aesthetic.
• Kink Guitar Pedals (Melbourne): Famous for their distinctive artwork and "user-friendly" pedal designs.
• Mozztronics: Wide range of pedals including drives, compressors, and preamps.
• Peterman Pickups: Specializes in acoustic pickups and "stomp boxes" (percussion triggers for solo performers).
• Wild Dog Stomp: Known for creating professional-grade wooden percussion stomp boxes for guitarists.

? Pianos & Percussion

• Stuart & Sons (Tumut, NSW): Manufacturers of world-class, handcrafted grand pianos. They are famous for their 102-key and 108-key pianos—exceeding the standard 88.
• Brady Drum Company: World-renowned for drums made from Jarrah and other Australian hardwoods (Note: Production has fluctuated, but they remain a legendary name).
• Evetts Drums (Sydney): Custom-made drums using Australian tonewoods, highly regarded for their craftsmanship.
• Red Rock Drums (Melbourne): Specializes in "stave" shell construction rather than traditional ply.

? Wind & Traditional

• Burton Didj: One of many high-quality manufacturers of authentic Aboriginal Didgeridoos.
• AW Oboes & Bassoons: Specialist woodwind maker and repairer.
• Oz Whistles: Handcrafted tin whistles made in Australia.

Cheers TLB [unfortunately it seems that we cannot manufacture or own submarines]

a 120 key piano?!

New Zealand produces some of the planet’s finest audio gear. Plinius is the name, and one of the best SS amps anywhere.

[Bob_Ross]

New Zealand produces some of the planet’s finest audio gear. Plinius is the name, and one of the best SS amps anywhere.

Are Perreaux still in business? Also from NZ, they made some extremely fine audiophile solid-state amplifiers...but I haven't heard their name in a couple decades.

[Litterick]

Are Perreaux still in business? Also from NZ, they made some extremely fine audiophile solid-state amplifiers...but I haven't heard their name in a couple decades.

Perreaux, in any colour you want.
History

[djg]

updated

[Gitterbug]

Thanks for the trouble of updating! As a minor detail, TC Electronic's original Danish office has been closed, and the brand now belongs to Behringer/Music Tribe, with HQ in the Philippines and manufacturing in China.

[Peter C]

Give me an Ibanez Pat Metheny archtop (any of them) strung with Thomastiks into a Roland JC and I'm ready for anything, and that's without looking at other options.

[Gitterbug]

Are we missing Cort? Korean, I believe, 60 years in existence and making a million guitars per year in their Indonesian factory complex. Lots of OEM work for others.

[Cunamara]

Would it be a much shorter list to just have the US-owned and operated music equipment manufacturers? Might have been simpler, although this list provided a lot of names I have not seen before.

[Stringswinger]

I once played a superb guitar made by this Canadian maker (who seems to now be building other stringed instruments)

Home | Nyberg Instruments

[djg]

Would it be a much shorter list to just have the US-owned and operated music equipment manufacturers?

sure, but then one would not know what to buy instead. isnt it better to tap into the expertise of the world-wide membership here?

edit: also maybe this list deserves a sticky?

[DRS]

Wizard and Revv amps (Canada)
Tubesteader, Diamond, Kingsley, SolidGoldFX, Empress, Fairfield, and Radial effects (Canada)

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Thanks for the trouble of updating! As a minor detail, TC Electronic's original Danish office has been closed, and the brand now belongs to Behringer/Music Tribe, with HQ in the Philippines and manufacturing in China.

The sale to Music Tribe was 10 or 11 years ago, and at least some TC products been made in China for at least that long. The BAM200 came out about 6 years ago and has always been a Chinese product. I don’t know if the current backorder issue is because they’re updating / changing / cheapening / improving it or if the BQ500 is becoming their entry level class D head and they’re just getting rid of all remaining BAMs. There are other plausible explanations too. Time will tell…..