For a number of years, the Samick corporation was the "phantom builder" of instruments for a number of other trademarks. In fact, when the Samick trademark was finally introduced to the U.S. guitar market, a number of consumers thought that the company was brand new! However, Samick has been producing both upright and grand pianos, as well as stringed instruments for more than forty years.
The Samick Piano Co. was established in Korea in 1958 by Hyo Ick Lee. By January of 1960 they had started to produce upright pianos, and within four years became the first Korean piano exporter. One year later in 1965, the company began manufacturing guitars, and by the early 1970s expanded to produce grand pianos and harmonicas as well. In 1973 the company incorporated as the Samick Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd. to reflect the diversity it encompassed. Samick continued to expand into guitar production. They opened a branch office in Los Angeles in 1978, a brand new guitar factory in 1979, and a branch office in West Germany one month before 1981.
Throughout the 1980s, Samick continued to grow, prosper, and win awards for quality products and company productivity. The Samick Products Co. was established in 1986 as an affiliate producer of other products, and the company was listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in September of 1988. With their size of production facilities (the company claims to be cranking out over a million guitars a year, according to a recent brochure), Samick could be referred to as modern day producer of House Brand guitars as well as their own brand. In the past couple of years Samick acquired Valley Arts, a guitar company known for its one-of-a-kind instruments and custom guitars. This merger stabilized Valley Arts as the custom shop wing of Samick, as well as supplying Samick with quality American designed guitars.
Samick continues to expand their line of guitar models through the use of innovative designs, partnerships with high exposure endorsees (like Blues Saraceno and Ray Benson), and new projects such as the Robert Johnson Commemorative and the D'Leco Charlie Christian Commemorative guitars. Currently, it is guesstimated that Samick produces fifty percent of the world's guitars (samick Company History courtesy Rick Clapper; Model Specifications courtesy Dee Hoyt).
In 1998, Samick decided to overhaul their entire line. They brought in Greg Bennett, who has been in the guitar industry for over twenty years, to create a sense of continuity throughout the entire line of guitars. In 2001, they stopped their previous line of guitars. In 2002, the Samick company was purchased by Jong-Sup Kim, and they introduced an entirely new line of guitars with Greg Bennett on every headstock, which is smaller as well. By combining Samick and Bennett, there is over seventy years of experience in guitars. The new line of guitars are called "Greg Bennett Design by Samick." In 2006, the Samick headquarters in the U.S. moved from City of Industry, CA to Gallatin, TN.
In addition to their acoustic and electric guitars and basses, Samick offers a wide range of other stringed instruments such as autoharps, banjos, mandolins, and violins. For more information, contact Samick directly or visit their website.
Instruments currently produced in Indonesia and Korea. Distributed by Samick Music Corporation in Gallatin, TN (previously located in Southern California). Samick has been producing guitars since 1965 and has been importing guitars into the U.S. since 1981.

SAMICK Acoustic Guitars Models

SAMICK D 11 CE Image

SAMICK D 11 CE

- single cutaway dreadnought body, quilted maple top, sides, and back, rosewood fingerboard with offset inlays, three-per-side Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-band EQ, chrome hardware, available in Antique Natural finish, mfg. 2006-2010.

SAMICK C 1 Image

SAMICK C 1

- classical body style, nato top/back/sides, open style headstock, available in Black or Natural finish, mfg. 2005-present.

SAMICK D 4 Image

SAMICK D 4

- dreadnought style body, solid spruce top, ash sides and back, six-ply reverse binding, black pickguard, three-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardware, available in Antique Natural, Trans. Red, Trans. Blue, Amber, or Trans. Black finish, m...

SAMICK SD-50 Image

SAMICK SD-50

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, bound body, multi-stripe purfling/rosette, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond/dot inlay, maple veneered peghead with pearl s...

SAMICK ASDML1 Image

SAMICK ASDML1

- dreadnought body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, seven-ply binding, rosewood fingerboard with slotted square inlays, three-per-side Grover tuners, rosewood bridge, Natural finish, limited production, mfg. 2006-pres...

SAMICK ELAN AB 11 CE Image

SAMICK ELAN AB 11 CE

- single sharp cutaway thin medium jumbo body, quilted maple top, back, and sides, eight-ply binding, rosewood fingerboard, two-per-side chrome tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Amber finish, disc. 2010.

SAMICK D 8 Image

SAMICK D 8

- dreadnought style body, solid cedar top, rosewood sides and back, abalone trim, tortoise pickguard, three-per-side Grover tuners, gold hardware, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK HFB-590 N (KINGSTON) Image

SAMICK HFB-590 N (KINGSTON)

- single round cutaway flattop body, maple top, bound body, bound f-holes, maple back/sides/neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, strings through rosewood bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 2-per-side...

SAMICK D 10 CE Image

SAMICK D 10 CE

- dreadnought single cutaway style body, solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back, 8-ply white binding, tortoise pickguard, 3-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardware, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Natural, Wine Red, or Black fini...

SAMICK D 5 Image

SAMICK D 5

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, striped mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side Grover tuners, pickguard, chrome hardware, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK D1 Image

SAMICK D1

- dreadnought body style, nato top, back, and sides, black binding, nato neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, rosewood bridge, abalone type rosette, three-per-side tuners, black pickguard, available in Black, Brown S...

SAMICK EJ-1 Image

SAMICK EJ-1

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, 9-string configuration, rosewood bridge with black pins, chrome tuners, built-in guitar slide holder, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1997-2001.

SAMICK D 14 CE Image

SAMICK D 14 CE

- dreadnought single cutaway body, solid cedar top, rosewood back and sides, herringbone trim, tortoise pickguard, electronics, three-per-side chrome Grover tuners, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-2011.

SAMICK D 6 Image

SAMICK D 6

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, ovangkol back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side Grover tuners, pickguard, chrome hardware, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK SMJ 17 CE Image

SAMICK SMJ 17 CE

- single sharp thin medium jumbo solid body, solid spruce top, maple sides and back, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, abalone and black binding, three-per-side black Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Black or Nat...

SAMICK SF-115 Image

SAMICK SF-115

- select natural spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, chrome tuners, available in Natural finish, disc.

SAMICK LC-006 Image

SAMICK LC-006

- smaller scale (36 in. length) classical style, nato top/back/sides/neck, rosewood fingerboard/bridge, chrome tuners, available in Natural satin finish, mfg. 1997-2001.

SAMICK SW-21 NM Image

SAMICK SW-21 NM

- dreadnought style, select natural spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, ivory body binding, multi-stripe rosette, nato back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, rosewood bridge with black pins, 3-per-s...

SAMICK D 9 Image

SAMICK D 9

- dreadnought style body, solid spruce top, maple sides and back, abalone trim, black reverse binding, pickguard, 3-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardware, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-03.

SAMICK D 7 Image

SAMICK D 7

- dreadnought style body, solid cedar top, rosewood sides and back, eight-ply white binding, tortise pickguard, three-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardware, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK C-41 Image

SAMICK C-41

- dreadnought style, mahogany top, round soundhole, black pickguard, bound body, multi-stripe rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge with black pins, 3-per-side chrome tuners, avai...

SAMICK D 15 E Image

SAMICK D 15 E

- dreadnought body, solid cedar top, ovangkol sides and back, turquoise dyed maple trim, maple binding, three-per-side gold Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-03, 2006-09.

SAMICK SC-330 S Image

SAMICK SC-330 S

- classical style, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, gloss finish, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, 19 frets, gold standard tuners, disc. 2001.

SAMICK D 3 Image

SAMICK D 3

- dreadnought style body, striped mahogany back, top, and sides, six-ply reverse binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, pickguard, three-per-side tuners, available in Natural or Wine Red finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK MJ 13 CE Image

SAMICK MJ 13 CE

- single cutaway medium jumbo body, solid cedar top, striped mahogany back and sides, 6-ply reverse black binding, 3-per-side Grover chrome tuners, Fishman Classic 4-band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-03.

SAMICK D 16 CE Image

SAMICK D 16 CE

- dreadnought single cutaway body, solid cedar top, ovangkol sides and back, six-ply maple binding, three-per-side gold Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-03, 2006-2011.

SAMICK ST6 2 Image

SAMICK ST6 2

- 36 in. student folk style guitar, nato sides and back, select spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, Natural finish, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK S-7 Image

SAMICK S-7

- concert style, spruce top, round soundhole, rosewood pickguard, bound body, multi stripe wood purfling/rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge with black white dot...

SAMICK OM 13 CE Image

SAMICK OM 13 CE

- single cutaway orchestra model body, solid cedar top, striped mahogany back and sides, six-ply reverse black binding, three-per-side Grover chrome tuners, Fishman Classic 4-band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-03, 2006-09.

SAMICK TMJ 11 CE Image

SAMICK TMJ 11 CE

- single cutaway thin medium jumbo body, quilted maple top, sides, and back, rosewood fingerboard with offset inlays, 3-per-side Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-band EQ, chrome hardware, available in Trans. Red, Trans. Blue, Trans. Violet,...

SAMICK SD-60 S Image

SAMICK SD-60 S

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, bound body, multi-stripe purfling/rosette, bubinga back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone diamond/dot inlay, rosewood bridge with whit...

SAMICK D 8 CE Image

SAMICK D 8 CE

- similar to the D 8, except has a single cutaway with a Fishman classic 4-band EQ, mfg. 2001-present.

SAMICK MJ 10 CE Image

SAMICK MJ 10 CE

- medium jumbo single cutaway style body, solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back, 8-ply white binding, tortoise pickguard, 3-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardware, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Wine Red or Black finish, mfg....

SAMICK SSJ 14/SJ14 Image

SAMICK SSJ 14/SJ14

- southern jumbo body, solid cedar top, rosewood back and sides, herringbone trim, tortoise pickguard, three-per-side chrome Grover tuners, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-09.

SAMICK TMJ 17 CE Image

SAMICK TMJ 17 CE

- single sharp thin medium jumbo body, solid spruce top, maple sides and back, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, abalone and black binding, three-per-side black Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Black finish, mfg....

SAMICK D1E Image

SAMICK D1E

- similar to the D1, except has PS-2000 passive electronics, Natural finish, mfg. 2001-03.

SAMICK D 9 CE Image

SAMICK D 9 CE

- similar to the D 9, except has a single cutaway with a Fishman classic 4-band EQ, available in Natural or Black finishes, mfg. 2001-03.

SAMICK SSJ 16 E/SJ 16 E Image

SAMICK SSJ 16 E/SJ 16 E

- southern jumbo body, solid cedar top, ovangkol sides and back, six-ply maple binding, three-per-side gold Grover tuners, Fishman Classic 4-Band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2000-03, 2006-09.

SAMICK SK-5 (MARSEILLES) Image

SAMICK SK-5 (MARSEILLES)

- folk style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, tortoiseshell pickguard, wooden bound body, wooden inlay rosette, ovankol back/sides, nato neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge with white black dot...

SAMICK SW-015 D (SANTA FE) Image

SAMICK SW-015 D (SANTA FE)

- dreadnought style, mahogany top, round soundhole, black pickguard, bound body, multi-stripe rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, rosewood bridge with white black dot pins, 3-per-side die...

SAMICK REGENCY AB 2 Image

SAMICK REGENCY AB 2

- single cutaway medium jumbo body, select spruce top, nato sides and back, two-per-side chrome tuners, available in Natural finish, current mfg.

SAMICK LC-009 Image

SAMICK LC-009

- smaller scale (39 in. length) classical style, nato top/back/sides/neck, rosewood fingerboard/bridge, chrome tuners, available in Natural satin finish, mfg. 1997-2001.

SAMICK HFB5-690 RB TBK Image

SAMICK HFB5-690 RB TBK

- similar to HF590, except has 5 strings, arched quilted maple top, 3/2-per-side tuners, available in Trans. Black finish, mfg. 1994-95 and 1999-2000.