Memphis

Memphis

Also known as: Memphis Guitars

Unclaimed

Memphis was a budget-tier music gear brand of Asian-made instruments, amplifiers, and effects pedals distributed in the United States from the mid-1970s through the late 1980s by C. Bruno and Sons, a subsidiary of Kaman Music Corporation. The line was aimed at beginner and price-conscious players and mirrored the era's dominant body shapes, with Fender- and Gibson-styled electric guitars, basse...

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Memphis was a budget-tier music gear brand of Asian-made instruments, amplifiers, and effects pedals distributed in the United States from the mid-1970s through the late 1980s by C. Bruno and Sons, a subsidiary of Kaman Music Corporation. The line was aimed at beginner and price-conscious players and mirrored the era's dominant body shapes, with Fender- and Gibson-styled electric guitars, basses, acoustic guitars, and solid-state amplifiers sold through U.S. retailers as an affordable alternative to American-built instruments.

The product catalog also included a range of stompbox effects such as delays, reverbs, overdrives, and the Memphis Fuzz, alongside the Roto Phase, a single-knob phase shifter designed to emulate a rotating-speaker cabinet. Production is generally attributed to Japanese factories in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with sourcing shifting toward Korean builders later in the decade — a pattern common to many import house brands of the period. Possible contract manufacturers cited by collectors include Matsumoku, Yamaki, and Cort.

Memphis-branded U.S. distribution ceased in 1989, and the instruments now circulate mainly on the vintage and used market. The brand is most often referenced in the context of budget Les Paul and Stratocaster copies from that era; Slash has noted that his first electric guitar was a Memphis Les Paul copy.

Memphis has 27 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Classical & Nylon-String Guitars. Their gear is featured by 11 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include James "Munky" Shaffer, Slash, and Pino Palladino.

Artists Who Use Memphis

James "Munky" Shaffer uses 2 Memphis products

James "Munky" Shaffer

Guitarist · Korn

Slash uses 1 Memphis product

Slash

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Pino Palladino uses 1 Memphis product

Pino Palladino

Bassist · Nine Inch Nails

Jake E. Lee uses 1 Memphis product

Jake E. Lee

Guitarist · Ozzy Osbourne

Jesse Welles uses 1 Memphis product

Jesse Welles

Singer, Guitarist

Steve Turner uses 1 Memphis product

Steve Turner

Guitarist · Mudhoney

Eric Peterson uses 1 Memphis product

Eric Peterson

Guitarist · Testament

David Wm. Sims uses 1 Memphis product

David Wm. Sims

Bassist · The Jesus Lizard

Jordin Sparks uses 1 Memphis product

Jordin Sparks

Guitarist, Singer

Yenner DeLargee uses 1 Memphis product

Yenner DeLargee

Singer, Guitarist

Chimbinha uses 1 Memphis product

Chimbinha

Community setups featuring Memphis

Show yours
creepingnet

creepingnet

Gear IQ 2937

leandrino

leandrino

Gear IQ 155

thelittlejef

thelittlejef

Gear IQ 72

creepingnet

creepingnet

Gear IQ 2937

jwettel

jwettel

Gear IQ 300

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