ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude

Subject: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 09:25 AM

Last night a neighbor came over and gave me a Kamouraska Etude classical guitar with hardshell case. It was a family members who passed away and he wanted me to have it. Hence I will cherish it forever. It reads hand made in canada 1980. It looks like it is all cedar wood and looks like it was played at all much. I can't believe how beautiful the sound out of it , It stacks up to my Cordoba note for note. It has a very low serial number. I find little info about it ... Anyone know about this guitar. Inside was a note that it was made by Boucher or someone like that, I can't read the handwritten note in the case very well.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:00 AM

Have a listen to the sound out of this, I can't believe that cedar can have such a sound. (I think it is cedar, I can smell it)

Sure ain't rosewood or mahogany. I just redid this using the guitar

guitar

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,mystery woman
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:27 AM

I have owned one of those for many years. I think I bought it about 1985. I was told the company made only 1600 a year, and my model was specifically designed for people who intend to play it and sing.

It has a bass to die for - rich, warm and deep.

I am not putting my real name on this post because I don't want people to know this treasure is in my house.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: bobad
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:29 AM

Dan, it appears from this post in the thread on Canadian guitars that leeneia has or had one.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:34 AM

Yes, it's a really nice guitar.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:10 AM

Well I am delighted with the sound but even if it was terrible I would cherish the guitar since it mean enough to them to put it in my hands

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 12:21 PM

Leeniea
does yours look like this? What kinda wood is the back is it spruce?

photo1

photo2

photo3

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:37 PM

Yes, that is just how mine looks, olddude. Although I wish mine were in the perfect condition that yours is. Mine has had some minor accidents.

I don't know what kind of wood it is, unfortunately. I bet the top is spruce, though.

Speaking of accidents, I am grateful to catters for a link on how to keep a guitar safe. Thanks to a tip I read, I lash my guitars into their stands with pipe cleaners. The other day Her Majesty dashed into the guitar corner in hot pursuit of a cat toy, and she set the Kamouraska Etude to rocking on its moorings. Thanks to the pipe cleaner, it did not fall out.

Now I am considering attaching bowling balls to the bases of my guitar stands.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:53 PM

leeneia
I don't think this guitar was ever play much at all, there is not a scratch on it anywhere, it is like it was just sitting in the case all these years. I agree with you, it has the best bass I have ever heard on a classical

thanks so much
Dan

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia - PM
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:37 PM

"Speaking of accidents, I am grateful to catters for a link on how to keep a guitar safe. Thanks to a tip I read, I lash my guitars into their stands with pipe cleaners. The other day Her Majesty dashed into the guitar corner in hot pursuit of a cat toy, and she set the Kamouraska Etude to rocking on its moorings. Thanks to the pipe cleaner, it did not fall out.

Now I am considering attaching bowling balls to the bases of my guitar stands."

Just my two cents: The best place for an instrument when it's not being played is in its case! I do often leave my guitar on its stand, but I should really follow my own advice on this subject. Lately it's been so cold that I have been putting it in its case.

I leave my recorders and harmonicas out on a towel and I leave my trumpet case open (with the trumpet in it) for an hour or so to dry after I've cleaned them, but then they get put away.

It saves damage in the long run.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 10:28 AM

"The best place for an instrument when it's not being played is in its case!"

Let me offer a correction: The SAFEST place is in its case. But if I kept mine in a case, I would not play it. Then I would lose my calluses, and so it would hurt to play it. Next thing you know the guitar would be another instrument stuck in the back of a closet.

The way I do it, the guitar is in the living room and when I rush by it, needing to meet another of life's trivial demands, it whimpers, I hear it, I stop, and I play.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 01:25 PM

Leeneia
I have another way that I do it, I keep it in the case but I put the case on my favorite chair ... I have to move it to sit down then I get it out and play it while watching TV ... crazy for sure but it works

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:26 PM

Sounds good! You have it out where it will get played, that's the main thing.

Did the people who gave you the Kamouraska Etude tell you about the whimpering? It can startle you at first.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:55 PM

no, the only whimpering is when I hear guys like Rob do Jesu on the guitar and know I could never play that well LOL

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: olddude
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 05:55 PM

Leeniea
what is "whimpering" not familiar with that term
:-)
Dan

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,Francesanne
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:41 PM

Kamouraska Guitar If you received it in god shape. Keep it as long as you can. It is hand made in Canada, should have a wonderful sound. If yours is in good condition play it and enjoy it.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:18 PM

I have owned a Kamouraska Etude since the 1970's, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is a wonderful instrument. Treasure yours always, olddude.

I was told it was made in Canada by a firm that only made 1600 a year. It was specifically designed to accompany people who sing, hence its deep, resonant bass.

It's possible that the firm was bought out by Seagull.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 02:59 AM

Company changed its name to La patrie. Same location . They still make great sounding guitars. I have a Kamarauska Étude and a La Patrie Concierto. Both are great sounding instruments. The company is small and produces very small numbers in Quebec. Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 09:19 AM

I don't know what happened to my first comment about whimpering. When a Kamouraska Etude sits on its guitar stand for a long time without being played, it starts to whimper as you walk by. As with dogs, you soon get to a point where you can't stand it anymore, and you give it what it wants.

Guest, thank you for that information about La Patrie.

I'm sure I saw the town of Kamouraska in a map of Ontario recently, but it's not in the index to my atlas. The town must be quite small.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: meself
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 10:33 AM

There is a town of Kamouraska in Quebec, south of the St. Lawrence, I believe. It is somewhat known in Canada because of the novel Kamouraska by ... hmmm ... Anne Hebert? .... Marie-Claire Blais? ... and the film made from the novel. The story is set in Kamouraska.

Subject: RE: ever heard of a Kamouraska Etude
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 11:24 AM

Interesting, meself. Thanks.

Kamouraska Guitars became La Patrie guitars, and both la Patrie and Seagull (among other things) are owned by Godin guitars.

http://www.godinguitars.com/

Are the Kamouraskas just as fine? I'd have to try one.