Robin Moyes has been making guitars since 1976 and specialises in classical guitars. Moyes studied with Charles Fox in the 1970s at the School of the Guitar Research & Design Center in South Strafford, Vermont.
Luigi Mozzani (1869-1943) was born in Faenza, Italy. Although born into a poor family Mozzani showed promise as a musician and was soon earning money playing the clarinet, but also learned to play the guitar. He recevied a diploma in the oboe at the Bologna Conservatory and went on to play internationally. In 1896 he published "studies for guitar" a series of exercises to develop guitar technique, and also later published many other guitar compositions. A visit to Paris around 1898 led to an interest in guitar making and he returned to Faezna in 1899 to establish his own workshop.
For the following years he continued touring, performing and composing while also making guitars. In 1912 he patented a design for a lyre-guitar. Between 1910 and 1924 he made various stringed instruments, both bowed and plucked and also taught luthiery (Mario Maccaferri was an early apprentice). From 1927 until 1934 he ran "Luigi Mozzani's Italian School of Luthiery", first in Cento and then Bologna. After the school closed he resumed his own workshop and ran a luthiery school again briefly from 1942 until his death in 1943.
Mozzani's school was active until 1947 and was run by Mozzani's wife Alfonsina and one of the teachers. When the school closed the Mozzani family sold the Mozzani brand to the Farfisa company, which continued making classical and flamenco guitars with the brand "L. Mozzani" until at least the 1970s.
Farfisa is an Italian electronics company established in 1946. Farfisa is best known for its organs made from the 1960s until the 1980s but they also produced guitar amplifiers and effects. Farfisa also sold acoustic and classical guitars under the Fuerstenberg and L. Mozzani brand names. The musical division of Farfisa was bought by Bontempi.
Mr Potato was a Korean electric, acoustic and bass guitar brand active in the 2000s.
Mudd guitars and basses are made by Robert Mazzullo since 1991. Mazzullo studied at the Roberto Venn School of Luthiery.
Kevin Muiderman trained with master guitar makers Ivon Schmukler and Alan Chapman at Leeds Guitar Maker's School in Northampton MA in the 1990s. As well as learning traditional construction techniques Kevin learned Alan Chapman's methods for designing and building carbon fiber, lattice braced guitars. Muiderman uses graphite composite bracing for his innovative “double top” guitars which are gaining attention from professional players around the world. He builds classical and acoustic guitars as well as mandolins and mandolas.
Matthew Mustapick made fine acoustic guitars from 2003 until around 2015.
Musoo is a brand name of Beijing Palace Musical Instrument Co.,Ltd. Since around 2007 Musoo electric, acoustic and bass guitars have been made as well as folk instruments.
Source: Musoo website (6 Jult 2018)
Tim Mullin trained as a forester and tree geneticist and has worked as such around the world. At the same time he has developed skills in wood working and guitar making, and is beginning to make a new career out of guitar making.
Source: Tim Mullin website (6 July 2018)
Mumbo Jumbo Guitars was based in Camden in South Carolina and distributed acoustic and classical guitars from the early 2000s. They also distributed Wechter brand guitars but by 2010 their website was inactive.
Alfred Muren (1898-1969) made around 900 guitars from 1946-1956 in Gjerdsvika, Norway. Before his guitar making career, Alfred had been a fisherman, builder, knitwear producer, and wood worker.
Dr. Alfio Leone (1928 - 2015) was a maker of traditional Italian musical instruments. He learned his trade over many years and founded his own factory in 1950 in Catania, Sicily. In 1958 he changed the name to Musikalia and worked there for many years, eventually passing on the company to his daughter. Musikalia offer a range of acoustic and classical guitars as well as mandolin family instruments and other traditional Sicilian instruments.
Source: Musikalia website (10 July 2018)
Don Musser made his first guitar in 1976 - it ended up with actor Peter Fonda and his second one was bought by Tom Rush. Although he studied chemistry in university, his early success in guitar making led Musser to a career in luthiery. Musser also had a keen eye for high-end tonewood and his main business was selling wood to other luthiers. The very best timber was reserved for his own instruments - high-end acoustic guitars in dreadnought, orchestra, parlor, classical and jumbo styles. In 2003 he relocated from Colorado to Silver City, New Mexico. By 2006 he had made 250 guitars and counted Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Bono and Eddie Van Halen amongst his customers.
Randy S. Muth work for a number of years in Pharmaceuticals before he began to make guitars in 2004. He has been buidling guitars professionally since around 2007 and is based in Hamilton in central New York State. Muth uses his scientific training to refine his guitar designs and (circa 2018) offers four models or sizes: the S14 (Grand Concert, 00), the S15 (Orchestra Model, 000), the S16 (Small Jumbo, 0000) and the S16J (Jumbo, J45/AJ). He also offers nylon crossover guitars in his two smallest sizes (N-14 and N-15).
Source: RS Muth website (10 July 2018)
Chirs Myers started building guitars in the early 1980s. He made own version of a Gibson Les Paul using a power drill and a saber saw and it turned out well enough to sell. He then moved onto making an archtop in 1983 while working with a cello maker in South Boston. Myers started the archtop in 1983 but didn't have a chance to finish it until 2001. At this stage in his life he became more serious about guitar making and developed a friendship with Mark Campellone who was a valuable source of advice, wood, tools and contacts for Myers. Myers currently build archtops in Norton, MA and offers 2 standard models: the Orpheum and the SC.
Oren Myers is an English classical guitar maker who studied English Literature at university, but after completing his studies decided to teach himself to make guitars. He made his first instrument in the garage at home but is now based in a workshop near Goring-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. At the outset he received help and advice from Christopher Dean and in 2007 attended the guitar making course run by Jose and Liam Romanillos in Spain. Myers' classical guitars are made using traditional construction techniques but his designs are not copied from any one particular instrument or maker.
David Myka is a custom guitar builder in West Seattle. Myka is a self-taught luthier who makes solid, hollow, or semi-hollow guitars in any style a customer requires - but also offers his own original designs
Nagoya acoustic guitars were made in Japan for Veneman Music of Maryland.
Source: Veneman Music catalog 1970s
Sakazo Nakade and his brother Rokutaro Nakade apprenticed with violin maker Kinpachi Miyamoto in 1930’s. The Nakade brothers travelled to Spain in the 1950s to learn about guitar making from Ramirez and Hernandez & Aguado. Both were highly regarded as makers of classical guitars in Japan. Rokutaro Nakade died in the early 1970s but Sakazo made guitars until his death in 1993 (aged 87). Sakazo's sons Teruaki, Toshihiko and Yukio Nakade joined him in guitar making in the 1970s as did Rokutaro's son Osamu Nakade - all these names may appear on classical guitar labels.
Source: Reverb.com Sakazo Nakade guitar advert
