Time Guitars

Lately I’ve engaged in a new project. I’m finding out as much information as I can about Vermont-made Time Guitars in the hope of maybe making a short documentary about the company, it’s history and influence, and the lingering mystique of these beautiful instruments. I own a Time GS9 and I love it. It’s the 2nd Time I’ve had over the years and I’ve been a fan of the guitars since I was in high school.

Time built highly engineered, beautiful hand made guitars in Waltham, Burlington and South Burlington, Vermont in the 1970s and 80s.

I’m writing this post because this is the thing that’s occupying a lot of my extra-curricular interest right now, but also because I’m discovering a lot of vague rumors, questions and misinformation out there on the intertubes regarding the company and I’m hoping to tweak the SEO for “Time Guitars” so that curious Googlers will get accurate information. A wikipedia page might just be in the offing.

So if you have found this post looking for info about Time because you own one or you want to own one or you’re a die-hard Phish head who wants to know about the band’s connection to Time, or you’re just curious about these lovely hand made Vermont gems, here are a couple of links to get you the info you’re after…

Chris Clark started working at Time in the 70s as a high school student. He became the general manager at Time after the company’s founder, Alan Stack, left in 1984. He has set up the Time Guitars Owners Forum, which includes a company history, a model identification guide and plenty of opportunities for owners, former employees and fans to share stories, photos and serial numbers. This is your first and best resource for info on Time guitars.

Phish sound man and guitar builder, Paul Languedoc, worked at Time from 1982 to 1986 when the company closed up shop. Currently, Paul builds and sells astoundingly beautiful guitars (still using some of the techniques he learned at Time) in his workshop in Vermont.

There is a facebook group for fans of these guitars too. If you’re on facebook, search the groups for “Time Guitar Fans.”

If you’re still confused or looking for more/different information, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll try and point you in the right direction.

3 Comments

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On March 20, 2009, Cosmic Joe said:

Bill,
How is the documentary coming along? I hope you’re getting some help from all the Time people out there. There has to be at least a couple of hundred owners and players out there. Maybe this will inspire them to act and canonize these wonderful instruments. Some info for you: the very first”prototype” Time bass, made for Jimmy Carter in 1979 was stolen in NYC in the spring of 1980 along with a Time GS12, a Veleno, a Roger Borys made $ shaped, green guitar and a BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme. There is a story about it in May 2009 Guitar World Magazine. Keep me in the loop about your progress!
Cosmic Joe
On April 30, 2010, Gareth Fox Jr said:

My name is Gareth and my dad gareth worked at willis construction company
and the barn time was in was on the same property in williston and i’ve always wanted a time guitar since the first time i saw one still looking but ill talk with my dad and see if i can get some names for you or details cause my dad used to visit with the boys who made them give me an email
cause it was a tragedy when we lost time forever and i believe it was destroyed during a rash of arson fires around the area
On February 16, 2012, Gary Stearns said:

I always had an interest in Time Guitars, back in the 70′s i was invited over i think it was by owner.
They were looking into useing my company (New England Paint and Metal now New England Coating)to aply urethanes/coatings on the guitars.
They gave me a tour (the old dairy barn)of how they were made.
I never did know what they ended up doing.
I knoticed that they were at one in Waltham VT I would love to know where.