Like several other Italian guitar makers, Welson began as an accordion company. Founded in the town of Castelfidardo by Orlando Quagliardi in 1921, Welson introduced it’s first solidbodies in 1962. They were typical Italian guitars, featuring an array of pushbutton controls.

In the mid 1960s Welson switched it’s design themes to more conventional styles, such as the Jazz Vedette. The name was undoubtedly intended to connect with Fender’s Jazzmaster, and the three-tone sunburst finish and tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard were typical Fender features. The three-piece pickguard design, however, was a clear nod to Londoner Jim Burns.

In French, “vedette” is an entertainment term for a star (it is also a small boat), and it underscored Welson’s success outside of Italy. In addition to its own brand, the company made a full line of guitars under the Dynacord brand for the German market, while the US-based Wurlitzer company marketed Welson instruments under the Wurlitzer and Orpheum brands.

In the 1970s, the company gravitated toward copied of Gibson models before going out of business in 1981.