This site is focused on the Japanese guitars produced by Matsumoku. Although Matsumoku is long gone, many of these lables remained and some still exist today and most are made elsewhere.
If the guitar in question is bolt neck but does NOT have either "Made in Japan" or "Product of Matsumoku" then it is very likely not made by Matsumoku but made in Korea, China, the Phillipines or any one of the other countries now producing guitars by the containerloads. Another telltale sign is a serial number beginning with "S".
If you have a post-Matsumoku guitar there are two definite sources for information.
First is the Orion's Blue Book and most larger guitar stores and pawn shops have them. Most will provide you with the information if you just ask, others may want something in return. It is worth asking.
Another is the
Blue Book of Electric Guitars. They do offer a subscription service as well as individual downloads for a token fee. They do cover
Vantage,
Washburn,
Aria/Aria Pro II,
Epiphone, and to a lesser degree some of the other lables frequently discussed here accessed via the alphabetic navigation on any of the preceeding links. Some is free, but the ones specifically mentioned will cost a token fee. The latest CD-ROM is $19 so this is something to consider.
Aria and Aria Pro II is still around and both the
International as well as the
US sites have information available.
Washburn has been working on an archives, and
Epiphone has a forums where one can inquire about more recent models.
Post Matsumoku models are welcome in this forum.