'Goya guitars were made from 1954 until 1996. The Goya brand name was initially used by the Hershman Musical Instrument Company of New York (Goya Guitars Inc.). The 'Goya' name comes from Francisco Jose de Goya, the famous 18th century Spanish painter known as the father of modern art (Francisco drew a lot of Spanish guitar players too). The distribution for Goya guitars went from Hershman to Kustom Electronics Inc. in 1970 and then over to Dude Inc. (both of Chanute, Kansas) in late 1972. Most of the acoustic guitars during this period (1954-1973) were handmade in Sweden by the Levin company.' The electric guitars were made by Swedish accordion maker Hagstrom or Italian guitar makers EKO and Galanti. 'The Goya brand then went to Martin Guitars in 1974 (the same year they acquired Levin) and lasted until 1996. These Goya guitars were made in Japan, Korea and Taiwan' and are mostly a stain upon the Goya brand's reputation. Although the Goya trademark is currently discontinued, the rights to the name are still held by the Martin Guitar company. We got Vicki's Swedish-made Goya GG-30 shortly after we were married. Vicki has given it such loving care, it is much nicer shape than most other Goya's this age. It is also a higher end Goya with gold hardware and flame maple sides. Like all the Swedish-made Goyas it has a magnificent sound. See it at: www.flickr.com/photos/two-wrongs/78613528/ and www.flickr.com/photos/two-wrongs/332366217/in/set-7215760...A 1963 Levin Model 111 which is nearly identical to Vicki's Goya sold for $1,100 on e-Bay in March 2010. That is more than 2.5 times what we paid originally. Not a bad investment. Both our sons want our Goya and we anticipate that it will stay in our family for a long time.
C.1959 Levin-made Goya G-15 Classical Guitar For those in the know looking for a classical guitar, these Swedish Levin-made Goya classicals are among the best deals on the planet. They're all-solid wood, finely built, and have an enormous, concert-hall sound.
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:This Goya 1967 Advertisement shows the wide range of string instruments that have carried the Goya name.
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:This Goya is from the late 1960's. These classical guitars have incredible tone. Their owners appreciate their thin necks, tone woods, and quality construction.
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:'Made in Sweden' denotes magic. This guitar has obviously given many hours of playing satisfaction.
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:If you buy a Goya, you will always love it. But if circumstances force you to sell your, you will always regret its loss.
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:A 'little corner of tranquility.'
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:'Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame composed her first song 'I've Loved and I've Lost' with a Goya guitar, her very first guitar, given to her by her parents on her sixteenth birthday. Asked during a MTV interview, 'How long, actually, have you been composing songs?' she answered, 'Since my 16th birthday, the day I got my Goya guitar. I wrote a song that day.' Another great artist that used a Goya guitar in all her songs was Melanie. If you ever saw the 1967 movie 'The Sound of Music' then you saw Julia Andrews playing a classical Goya guitar (I believe it was a G-13 model). Another artist associated with Goya guitars is Mason Williams, who gave us the great guitar instrumental 'Classical Gas.' His second guitar was a Goya which he bought in 1958.'
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:In the late 1950's, solid body electric guitars and basses built by Hagstrom (also a Swedish company) were re-branded Goya and distributed in the U.S. By the late 1960's, electric solid body Goya guitars and basses were being built in Italy by the EKO company.'Jimi Hendrix played a psychedelic (paisley design) Goya Rangemaster, which can be seen in the 'Jimi Hendrix Electric Gypsy' book by Shapiro & Glebeek. The picture in the book has this description 'Goya - probably made in early 1968. This photograph (taken around March 1968 in the USA) shows Jimi playing this Italian-manufactured guitar - the first psychedelic guitar available on the market.'
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:'By the late 1950's the influence of electric guitars had spread worldwide, evidenced by other countries' contributions to the cause, and some of these did make their mark on a pre-beat boom British market. In Sweden, accordion maker Hagstrom decided it wanted a piece of the electric guitar action and launched two- and four- pickup solid body models in 1958. These visually arresting guitars boasted banks of pushbuttons and chromed panels plus abundant sparkle and pearloid plastic - all unsurprisingly appropriate in view of their accordion-derived ancestry. Such exercises in excess even fared well in the US where Hagstroms bore the Goya brand name.'
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:If you find a Swedish made Goya acoustic in good shape - get it! You will probably never find a better guitar for the money.The Swedish and Italian electric guitars are good quality, but can be expensive.But beware of any Goya made after 1973 and not made in Sweden or Italy. It is probably just junk!
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:A distinguished heritage.
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:Nick Drake (Pink Moon) played a Levin guitar.
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:This finish checking is very common in the older Goyas that haven't had a pampered life in perfect climates.
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:The Hagstrom electric guitars were made by the Swedish accordion maker and share the accordion's tenancy to be overly ornate.
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Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:Fine guitars are sensual. They invite your touch, singing beautifully in response.
Vicki & Chuck Rogers says:This 1960's Swedish Hagstrom electric displays the patina of a life on the road. It is very heavy but awesome to play.
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