Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 05 May 03 - 03:20 PM

Bill - Congrats on finding your Norman B-20 :>) - and what a great price too. I really liked the higher-end Normans I tried - it was the Seagulls oh-so-comfortable wider, less rounded neck and that easy low action I couldn't pass up. And I amgoing to try a set of Elixirs. I liked the feel of them, and between my son and I the guitar has had nary a break in the last 24 hours. With that kind of "mileage", the longer life will be worth it!

BTW - My guitar actually has a solid spruce top, bird's-eye maple back and sides, but you know it does smell good! There was another 20th Anniv. Seagull at the same store - lovely cedar top, satin finished back and sides, same easy action and comfortable feel but I liked the tone of the spruce-topped better - enough to pay another $60 for it! Sounded just a little warmer and deeper, I thought. And I was sorely tempted to buy the other for my son, and let him pay me back monthly, because they sounded so awesome together. That idea is still "in the works"!

Clinton - The light colored wood is so pretty - I wish I could post a picture of it here but my computer skills/equipment are not that advanced. It actually looks very much like the lighter colored one on your webpage! And I want to thank you for being the "last word" in my decision making. After your reassurance about the tone only improving in time in spite of the lacqered finish, my mind was pretty well made up! Re the Elixirs - I'm not much of a string-breaker myself, but my son is ... hmmm, there's a split-the-cost scheme arising now! Thanks for the tip!

Mick, I was considering getting a humidifier yesterday, as my little place is heated with a forced-air gas fireplace which is VERY drying. Not so bad now that it's spring and the windows are open a lot, but I know I'll need one by the end of the summer anyway. And a strap, and a time-saving tuner, and a stand, and a ... and a bit more money!! Thanks for assuring me that spending the extra on a humidifier will be well worth it tone-wise as the instrument "matures"!

Thanks Jim for your hints re Elixirs and your encouragement! Only $10 in the States, eh? Good for you - I know I can find them cheaper around here too. Little Hawk, my new "guitar guru", will know where to look for better prices.

And the finger-picks are a good idea, LH, because as a piano player I just can't have long nails on either hand. And I'll get to try out the Elixirs on your guitar tomorrow, right? I did like the feel of them in the package, but I haven't heard or tried them yet.

Carol, I did break down and glue a pickguard on it last night - very reluctantly (for esthetic reasons). If my son does continue to play it a lot - which I'd be loathe to stop him from doing - I might end up glueing a clear pickguard on the other side of the soundhole. He's left-handed, and learned to play "upside down and backwards" - pretty amazing how good he's getting playing that way too! :>) But two pickguards just might look REAL funny ... hmmmmmmm

Off to teach piano now ... switchin gears ... and giving my sorefingers a break!

Thanks so very much again to everyone .... veryhappydaylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 May 03 - 11:09 PM

About the only time I ever break a string is when I change back and forth between alternate tunings, Clinton. I'm betting you're a flatpicker, eh?

- LH

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Mooh
Date: 06 May 03 - 11:13 AM

I've never adapted to fingerpicks, though I use a thumb pick. My fingerstyle involves occassional frailing which always tears the fingerpicks off my fingers, and I've tried every fingerpick at Elderly and The 12th Fret.

Anyway, congratulations on your new guitar! You'll be wanting another soon, maybe a 12 string, classical, tenor, baritone, 6 string for other tunings, electric, resonator, lapsteel, travel guitar, 7 string...

And speaking of Canadian guitars, did you see the Linda Manzer 8 string on the 12th Fret website? Droolworthiness incarnate.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 May 03 - 01:36 PM

Ya... I'm a flatpicker... actually, I'm mostly just a strummer...

I fingerpick on occasion... the quiet story ballads and such like...

Maybe one day I'll learn to really play...

:-)

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 07 May 03 - 09:26 AM

ARRGGHH Mooh! I just don't have enough "parallel lives" to afford all those lovely guitars! And yes, the Linda Manzer is to DIE for - but 8 strings? I have quite the challenge already trying to be accurate with 6!

Clinton I'm a strummer and a flat-picker too when it comes to folk/rock, and on a classical guitar that style does sound like doo-doo. Betcha it would be fun to have our guitars "meet" - they're family, after all! And it sounds like we have much the same style too. Gotta make it down to hear you - c'mon, summer!

My fingerpicking technique needs improvement - I think that's the only way to get out of the 'rut' I've been in for quite a while. LH showed me a couple different styles yesterday - Travis picking etc - and I'm working on those.

I also pulled up some old threads re fingerpicking, and was delighted to read Don Firth's comment that classical technique is really the most "efficient" for all styles of guitar playing! So I haven't been too far off then - I just need practice!

I found some excellent advice on the old threads last night, including this one from the great Rick Fielding.

I'd like to try his exercise -- "tune your guitar to D,A,D,F#,A,D (the open chord means you only have to think 'right hand') and try this roll. T6, T4, T6, I3, T4, M2. It's a great right hand technique for playing with a "bounce". The first two notes are quarter notes, and the last four are eighth notes. It should sound like Bum, Bum, bada bada. Just play it slowly and quietly until you're not even thinking about it...."

At the risk of sounding really guitar-dumb (ahem!!), what does "T6, I3, M2" mean?? I'm guessing it's the strings, ie. T6=low E, I3=G, M2=B?? Gonna search the threads again - I was pretty tired last night - but if any of you wonderful souls would like to make it easy by just saying "yeah" or "nay" to my guess above, that would be just peachy!

And if anyone is looking for a new custom built mandolin, here's another up-and-coming Canadian luthier worthy of your attention, my old friend and neighbour Peter Cox. He moved a couple weeks ago, and is in the process of building a workshop large enough to accomodate guitar-building again, but for now he's sticking with mandolins and other smaller instruments. His newest website is still "in the works", and the address/phone number at the link I gave you is dated now that he's moved, so please PM me if you'd like his new number. He makes LOVELY instruments, fine quality and tone, that "yummy" exotic wood and from what I can see excellent craftsmanship!

Cheers -- daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 May 03 - 09:34 AM

" T6, T4, T6, I3, T4, M2"

Thumb playes the 6th string
Thumb playes the 4th string
Thumb playes the 6th sting
Index finger playes the 3rd string
Thumb playes the 4th string
Middle finger playes the 2nd string

At least that's what I assume it means...

;-)

"Betcha it would be fun to have our guitars "meet" - they're family, after all!"

Have you read how many Seagulls I own?? LOL... in the house right now are 2 A series "Folk", a 20th Anni Cedar, and an OLD S6 Cedar... and my S6+Spruce is in Chatham... I know what ya mean about "family"

Heh

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 07 May 03 - 10:46 AM

AH Clinton, thanks so much for "decoding" that roll! I had it most mysteriously "dawn" on me while I was out for my walk this morning that maybe the letters stood for the RH fingers -- T = thumb etc -- Just got back and here you've confirmed it for me!   :>)   

Hey, maybe we "connected" through that "psychic void" of music !! ;)

Sounds like you've got quite the flock of Seagulls there! Must be great fun keepin 'em all fed and happy!

daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Wa Ban Zhou
Date: 07 May 03 - 11:29 AM

I bought an Art and Luthrie about five years ago. It's kind of a strange color, but I like it very much and it always stays in tune. Cost me about $350 U.S. I felt like I got a good deal.
                                    Wa Ban Zhou

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 May 03 - 03:36 PM

Daylia: well, the Norman's not mine, a friend bought it. If you bought a new spruce top guitar that sounds great now, it will only get better as you play it. Cedars have a much shorter breakin--you get a much better idea right out of the box what they'll always sound like.

Say hi to Peter Cox from Bill Cameron, I have a mandola he made. It's sitting right behind me on a stand, strung with Elixirs and ready to rock. Super-nice guy, and how many luthiers with his experience and ability make such affordable instruments for players? Only one that I know of.

Marion: a little Martin looks cute strapped onto a kid, and if either of them acted serious about wanting to learn to play, I wouldn't be thinking along these lines. However...   

Bill

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 07 May 03 - 09:47 PM

Bill -- Peter says hi back, and thanks! A mandola of Peter's strung with Elixirs no less! That's rockin indeed!

Visited him at his new place in Waubashene this afternoon. Had the pleasure of playing one of his only two remaining smaller guitars, picking up a few more fingerpickin techniques too   :>)   

So much to practice, so many instruments, so little time   ... *sigh*

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 May 03 - 10:14 PM

Waubashene...that's just down the road from Port McFiveCents, isn't it?

- LH

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Grubby
Date: 08 May 03 - 02:20 AM

Daylia
One Canadian luthier that hasn't been mentioned is Ted Thompson, from Alberta I think. I live way down south in Tasmania Australia and happened across a Thompson guitar in a local music shop and just had to buy it. It is truely a beatiful instrument and the envy of many of my fellow muso's.I know of three other Thompson owners here in Tassie and they are all of the same opinion.
I also have a seagull for band work and that fits the bill well. Good servicable guitar for that kind of work.
Regards
Grubby

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Mooh
Date: 08 May 03 - 08:14 AM

Daylia...

Hi to Peter Cox from me too. He'll know me as the instrument guy at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. There are more than a few of his instruments around here because of his regular displays, though I've yet to spring for one. I like his funky offbeat designs, solid woods, and personal attention.

Glen Reid (have we mentioned him yet?) makes some lovely guitars, and there was recently one secondhand on the 12th Fret website.

Grubby mentioned Ted Thompson and I concur...great guitars. A good friend has a mahogany one which sounded so mature when it was brand new that you'd swear you were playing a 30 year old instrument! I've heard rumours that his production is on again and off again, but I don't have that on authority.

I'm saving my pennies again for another instrument, so I'm trying to keep current. At the moment I like the look of the hotrodded Regal resonators that Folkway music in Guelph is promoting.

So many guitars, so little time indeed.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 08 May 03 - 09:33 AM

LH, yeah Peter's near Port McFiveCents, just around the corner from Dick Shrivels (in Coldwater). Bout half an hour west of Dick Hurtz (from Beeton). HE he he he :>) Gads I luv you guys first thing in the morning - sometimes!!

His new place in quiet little Waubaushene is cozy and cute, lots of gardens and a great view of Georgian Bay. Too bad he's feeling so cramped for work-space right now, till he builds the addition he's planning. He's had more than his share of family/money troubles over the last little while - just lost his younger brother a couple weeks ago too :>(   When I read Willie's message to him over the phone last night it was a real pick-me-up - so thanks again Bill. Sometimes it's hard to understand why rotten things happen to such good people ...

I'll pass on your message too, Mooh. So you're the instrument guy at the famous Goderich Celtic Roots Festival! Gotta make it down there this summer - I've never gone but Peter's told me about it so often.
I love his funky designs too. The little parlor guitar I was playing yesterday had the most beautifully marked piece of bird's-eye maple - so carefully chosen! - and little purple-heart moons/triangles inlaid into the headstock, easy low action, comfortable cutaway design, lovely cedar top, black cherry back and sides. YUM YUM! But I like the tone of larger instruments better - more depth. Didn't have the heart to tell him about my new baby yet *sigh*

Anyway, Peter's new phone number is 705-538-2652, mailing address Box 626 Waubaushene Ontario L0K2C0. Email still "in the works". And he will have his regular booth at the Goderich Festival this year, the second weekend of August! He does a lot of other festivals in Ontario throughout the summer too.

Grubby, thanks for the 'scoop' re Seagulls and Canadian luthiers from way down under! It's good they can weather the climate changes well. The Thompsons sound intriguing - I'll keep my eye out for them.

And Glen Reid's instruments got an excellent review in the posts above too. So thanks again, Mooh!

Oh, and thanks for your opinion re Art and Lutherie, Wa Ban Zhou! I've yet to try one, as I was looking for something with a wider neck, but it does sound like you got a good deal!

Back to strummin -- oops! that's fingerpickin -- now!

Purrrr - daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 08 May 03 - 09:44 AM

PS - Rick, if you're still scanning this thread I gotta tell you that I really like the exercise you gave on that old thread! Got it down pretty well last night, even tried it in regular tuning, using G and Em chords, when I was comfortable with it. Sounds great, even lends itself to adding expression and dynamics well! I'm hooked!!

Thanks again for helping me "decode" it Clinton!

daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,the french canadian who ripped me off
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 04:09 PM

I ordered a custom guitar through rampart guitars and I must say, they ripped me off blind. I paid 1400 dollars to have a copy of a jackson roswell star built. I ordered a case and hardware too..

What I got was total garbage, they promised me a 5A top, I got a 2A top if it was even that. The ebony fretboard they used on the neck looked like rosewood because it had so many streaks, the clearcoat finish had a whitened hue to it, a total nightmare!!! They did not even send me the hardware I paid for or the case!!

I will be filing with the better business bureau against this scamming company, what a rip!!

They also post on ebay from time to time so beware, I don't know where they get their reviews from on ebay because the guitar they sent me was an absolute joke. I have to send the guitar to LGM guitars to get the whole thing redone!!!

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:00 AM

Rampart? Never heard of it. Where's it? Mooh.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 12:07 PM

Well it should be obvious who I like.
Martins are the standard of the bluegrass world.
Gibsons are the standard of all country singers.

Why is this? The pro knows. The rest are all wannabes. There are now a whole line of lower priced Martins. Gibson hasn't compromised there name yet, but a decent used small body LG or B25 series can be had for $500-$600. That, and they will never lose their value.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 04:42 PM

I bought an '88 Simon & Patrick Rosewood in a music store a couple of years ago for $425 Cdn., and I love it. I have played it almost every day since, for fun and on gigs. I have four other steel strings, including a Taylor and a Tacoma, but my S&P is far and away my favorite. I have played high end Gibsons, Martins and Larivees that may play and sound as good, but certainly no better, than my S&P.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 06:54 PM

I find myself agreeing with Martin Gibson a great deal of the time. But not this time. If ever there was a golden age of lutherie, this is it. There are many guitars out there that are every bit the equal of anything Martin is putting out now. Same for Gibson. If you are talking vintage stuff, I have no argument. But I must tell you that the Larrivee D-05 I play will run with anything put out by Martin or Gibson of the same vintage. Collings is another, and on and on. In fact, and I will catch a load of shite on this one, I believe that most of the Seagulls put out are (dollar for dollar) a much better deal than Martin and have a sound that is very comparable. Would I like to own a Martin D-28? I would love to, as they are fine instruments. Are they building better instruments than the Canadian made Larrivee's? Nope. Is there low end model any better than the Seagull? Nope, not in sound or action. And the Seagull costs less.

Just my opinion.

Mick

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 04:47 PM

I was just watching Roger Whittaker being interviewed on TV. He was holding a Seagull 12 string.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 09:18 PM

Big Mick

I have to admit I haven't given some of the newer stuff a chance but what I have hasn't been all that bad. Fact of the matter is, even lower end stuff like the cheapie Epiphones, Squires, and Yamahas really aren't all that bad either compared with the low end stuff of days gone by. Most everything today comes with a spruce top at least and doesn't have a painted on pickguard!

What I see lacking in some of the Seagulls, Larivees, Takamines, etc. is a lack of character and soulfullness in sound. It's probably a state of mind to a degree, but I get real heady about all that heritage when I'm playing my old D-18 or one of my '60s Gibsons.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From:
Date: 14 May 04 - 05:38 AM

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 May 04 - 09:33 AM

DO be careful to try a range of Seagulls. The sound is very variable from instrument to instrument. If you play hard the B strings tend to go out of tune.

I'm right off Garrisons, having recently seen one with a large crack in the side - reason? When wood dries out, it shrinks. On a Garrison the fibreglass frame does not. Result - wood pulled itself apart. Also some sound only average.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: black walnut
Date: 15 May 04 - 08:58 AM

If I had LOTS of money, I'd definitely get Grit to make me a Laskin covered in stars (the guitar he made for James Keelaghan is stellar) or maybe a garden or glow-in-the-dark fish. Click: Grit .

If I had less money, I'd buy myself a Simon & Patrick from the 12th Fret, like the one I bought for my daughter. Or a Larivee like JeffM's...his Larivee plays like sugar on a hot day. Whatever I'd get, I'd get it from the 12th Fret. The 12th Fret is a GREAT store. GREAT. GREAT. GREAT. Click:Twelfth Fret .

But I don't have any money, so I'll just borrow my daughter's Simon & Patrick. Or strum my ancient beat up old nylon string Yamaha. (Sorry, no photo available at this time.)

~b.w. (in Torana Canada eh)

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,evan
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 12:25 AM

I've been playing my La Patrie for about 10 years and continue to find it remarkable. The woods are superior, the sound is fantastic, and the price is about 1/2 of what you'd expect to pay. I ordered the top of the line La Patrie complete with electronics and haven't had a moment of regret. Good luck with your search and have a good time.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 04:02 PM

imagine finding this old thread again...
nothing new to report except I still have the O-18. Put it up for sale for several months, no offers (what fools these mortals be) so I took it home and found that since it had been away:

1. it had been restrung with D'Addario's which I liked better than Elixirs
   
2. I had gotten obsessed with learning jazz styles, and this is a great jazz guitar!
   

I'm keepin it.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Sky-Coyote
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 03:37 PM

Hello Everyone,
Has an employee and a player of Larrivee guitars I can say without a doubt that here in Canada we build the finest guitars with the best materials. I have worked at the shop for 6 years and have seen and heard some incredible guitars for all styles of music and technique. Our revamped parlor guitars and LR-3 models are my personal favourites. The innovative designs and technology that our company founder created is second to none. The Canadian competition can only offer a pale comparison to our product simply because Larrivee is in part the originator and stalwart of the Canadian Guitar business. All of us at the shop work very hard to produce the BEST guitars you can buy. You can not buy better unless you have the fortune to find a Luthier who can spend the time, money and expertise that we do and you will pay double or triple the price.
Buy Canadian, Sky-Coyote the Jazzin' Hobo.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 03:48 PM

Of course it's raging personal opinion, but every single Larrivee I've ever played has been surpassed by every single Seagull I've played...

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Sky-Coyote
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 04:12 PM

Hello Everyone,
I can appreciate that not every one can afford a Larrivee L-10 or the Brazilian Rosewood custom models but you can save and get a superior Larivee guitar that is affordable dollar for dollar compared to other instruments and even more so if you can find a second hand deal. I wish I could convey how much love and detail go into Larrivee Guitars as we all want the world to know that we want to give you the tools to make you music.
Thanks, Sky-Coyote the Jazzin' Hobo

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,M Klein
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 01:09 AM

Larrivee is still a Canadian company. They have two shops: one in Vancouver that builds all the the satin finish guitars and one in California that builds the high finish guitars. They sound amazing too!

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 11:49 PM

It is not so much a matter of Canadian-made Guitars as it is where the wood was grown.

Because of its short/long/short growth cycle most Canadian-made Guitars manufactored from wood harvested in Canada....are considered inferior to those guitars made from wood contracted from the southern-climates...ie. closer to the equater with a long/long/long year cycle.

Much like the pasta spaghetti...the closer to the clime...the better.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 03:32 PM

Well ... I have had both a Seagull and a Larrivee. I have found them both to be superior values for the buck. In fact, regardless of the price, I have never owned instruments that were better built, nor have any others had the sound quality and playability of these. My Seagull, as I have mentioned before, got ate by United Airlines and I miss it today. My Larrivee D-05 is a helluva pickers instrument, and has great tone. I have heard Jed Marums Larrivee, and it simply is the a wonderful instrument.

I think that the value in these guit's is amazing.

Mick

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 01:13 PM

I am so pleased with the Seagull I bought last year, inspired by the all wonderful advice on this thread - so thank you all so much again. My new baby has a wonderful resonance, it's comfortable to play, great workmanship .... and it's so pretty, too! I've received a lot of compliments on it :-)

Since that time I've had the opportunity to play on a Larrivee or two - impressive! It must be hard to find one second-hand.
Maybe someday when I'm rich ....

BTW, one of my little students bought a half-size Simon and Patrick last fall, and she is very pleased with it. It does have a very nice tone, and an easy, comfortable action too.

daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,stevie sinn
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 07:34 PM

Daylia, I see you found an axe that your pleased with and thats wonderful. If you're interested I happen to have a Norman B10 for sale right now. Its a mid seventies model and is in wonderful condition. Excellent lockable hardshell case included.Plays like a dream,I LOVE this guitar but over the years many have passed thru my hands and this one has to go. I buy them,play them, love them and then leave them. Im in Ontario about 2 hours from Barrie. If your looking for a second guitar ( or third or fourth, whatever your collection consists of now) this is a beauty. I bought it cheap and I'm letting it go cheap ..... Im not in it to make money, just to constantly change. I cant afford to keep them all. Interested or know anyone that is email me [e-mail].
Thanx and happy playing !!!

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Marduk
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:45 AM

Hi guys, me just join in the party.
just bought an art & luthrie electric acoustic today!
wish me luck!

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:53 AM

I'm not sure how much work Ted Thompson is doing but I did a setup on a mahogany one this morning. One of the nicest guitars I've played in a very long time, maybe ever. Fit and finish were top notch of course, but the sound is heavenly! It's not for sale, not that I can afford one right now, but I've told the owner to consider me first if he decides to sell.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 12:52 PM

Good luck and congrats too, Marduk!

Funny thing, Steve - I was just thinking yesterday that a second acoustic guitar to leave at my studio would save me a lot of time and energy hauling this one back and forth for teaching. I'll let you know when the Happy $$$$ Season is behind us - thanks!

It is not so much a matter of Canadian-made Guitars as it is where the wood was grown.

Because of its short/long/short growth cycle most Canadian-made Guitars manufactored from wood harvested in Canada....are considered inferior to those guitars made from wood contracted from the southern-climates...ie. closer to the equater with a long/long/long year cycle

Interesting comment, GUEST! The first couple years Yamaha made pianos for sale in Canada, the pianos warped and deteriorated in short order. They'd been built of Asian woods, and just couldn't stand up to Canadian climate conditions. So Yamaha started using Canadian woods instead - and now Yamaha pianos are among the finest sold in Canada.

I imagine it would been the same for guitars, no?

daylia

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 01:58 PM

When you are talking about guitar tops, the slower growing season is a plus. When spruce cedar, etc. have their growth rigs closer together, the strength/weight ratio is better for guitar tops. The best spruce for many years was Engleman spruce grown in high altitudes in the Alps (before it became scarce and ultra expensive).

For backs, sides, and necks, the tropical hardwoods are traditionally favoured, each species contributing its own particular strengths to the guitar's tone. Mahogany was considered to contribute to a more mellower sound than Rosewood, etc. (as with cedar to spruce). Plus certain sizes of guitar bodies worked better with certain woods (cedar/mahogany with smaller guitars, spruce/rosewood with dreadnoughts/jumbos, etc.) All of this is just general rule-of-thumb though and by far, the biggest contributing factor is the lutherie involved. Consider the Pallet Guitar by Bob Taylor, a fine guitar built by Bob Taylor & Co. out of scrap wood from discarded pallets in the parking lot. Excellent wood of course makes an excellent guitar, but it can also make a shitty one in the hands of a hack.

I've mentioned Glen Reid before (*grin*)... He was recently making guitars using tamarack and there was nothing lacking in the tone of his instruments at all. Glen uses mostly Canadian-grown woods, if I'm not mistaken.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 01:58 PM

Also wood grown in a cooler climate with a shorter growing season has narrower tree rings, which mean a finer grain when quarter sawn, so I also find the comment on Canadian wood a puzzle.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 02:01 PM

We cross-posted, Sandy, Great minds, eh?

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 02:02 PM

Hey Cluin,
You beat me to the same point. Don't great minds think alike, or is it that fools seldome differ? LOL :-}
      Sandy

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 02:10 PM

One or the other, Sandy. One or t'other.

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 02:27 PM

hi, i want to bay a new guitar can u give me some hins or advice for buying a new guitar .

bay :)

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:29 AM

I just wanted to second the comment about buying from 12th Fret in Toronto. I bought my Seagull 12 string there on the recommendation of the Cat's own Rick Fielding (pause for fond memories) and they were great. I was looking for something to keep in Canada for when I'm visiting 'home' and did the whole deal by email and telephone. I could have been buying a pig in a poke but the staff there were great, posted my purchase to my Mum's place and said that I could bring it back to the store if I didn't approve of it.

I love it, and highly recommend the store. They apparently do a lot of international trade and send 2 or 3 guitars to the UK every week. I'm not surprised - I paid, in dollars, pretty close to what I'd expect to pay in pounds for that guitar and hard case.

siân

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 12:28 PM

My story - went to buy a Martin 18 years ago - tried several; bought a Norman ST68 instead - no contest - beat the Martin D28 (and others)hands down - came in at half the price. Been gigged to death a thousand times - never a hitch with it - just brilliant.

Just bought a Norman 12 string on Ebay. Most of my guitar-playing friends have Simon & Patricks. I heard that Godin ships more guitars worldwide than anybody else. Maybe true, maybe not, but it should be.

There's nothing to touch them at the price, and even at twice the price. Sorry Martin........

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Jim Tailor
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:36 PM

Lovely Canadian guitar photo essay

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Bassic
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 04:35 PM

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 05:11 PM

No Opinion gordon ?

Subject: RE: Canadian-made Guitars - opinions please?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 05:11 PM

In that case 100 !!