Robin Guitars was a
boutique manufacturing company that produced
electric guitars
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
. The company was located in
Houston, Texas.
History
The company was formed in 1982 by John "Bart" Wittrock and Dave Wintz who owned the Rockin' Robin Guitar Shop at the time. Robin guitars were made in Japan by
Tokai and
Chushin until 1986, when their production moved to the United States. Notable endorsers include
Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother
Jimmie
Jimmie is a variation of the given name James.
Jimmie may refer to:
* Jimmie Adams (1888–1933), American silent film comedian
* Jimmie Åkesson (born 1979), Swedish politician
* Jimmie Allen (born 1986), American country music singer
* Jimmie A ...
, who were frequently seen onstage with the "RDN" 6-string standard neck/6 string octave neck double-neck guitar in the 1980s.
Eric Johnson has played them, and Stevie Blaze of
Lillian Axe
Lillian Axe is an American hard rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for its major label albums, ''Lillian Axe'', ''Love + War'', ''Poetic Justice'' and ''Psychoschizophrenia''. Originally formed in 1983, the group is still active ...
also played Robin guitars during the early part of his career. Robin guitars and basses have featured pickups from their sister company, Rio Grande Pickups since 1994.
[Roberts, Jim. American Basses: An Illustrated History & Players Guide. Backbeat Books. San Francisco. 2003. p.161]
Notable users
*
Stevie Ray Vaughan
*
Jimmie Vaughan
Jimmie Vaughan (born March 20, 1951) is an American blues rock guitarist and singer based in Austin, Texas. He is the older brother of the late Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Several notable blues guitarists have had a significant ...
*
Tim Kelly
*
Eric Johnson
*
Steve Blaze
Lillian Axe is an American hard rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for its major label albums, ''Lillian Axe'', ''Love + War'', ''Poetic Justice'' and ''Psychoschizophrenia''. Originally formed in 1983, the group is still active ...
*
J. Yuenger
References
External links
Official websiteRio Grande Pickups
sister company to Robin Guitars
{{Guitar brands
Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States
Manufacturing companies based in Houston
Companies established in 1982
1982 establishments in Texas