I hadn't had the FIV set up since I got it back in...2010? Has it been 5 years already? Anyway, two people told me over the last few months that this guy was the man when it comes to set up. His name is Kevin McPhail and he works out of a local shop in Ottawa called Steve's Music and calls his business Ax Works. Steve's Music started in Montreal decades ago. There are three locations, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.
Kevin and I have known each other for over 20 years, as I've been to Steve's a lot over years. He didn't know "Denis" on the service ticket until I showed up to retrieve my guitar. He said, "Oh, it's you!" I knew he did set ups but never brought him a guitar until now. I won't even question where to bring my instruments from now on. It hasn't played this well since I got it! Better even! It was inexpensive and the turnaround time was not even a week.
:nanadance :nanadance :nanadance :nanadance :nanadance :nanadance :nanadance :nana_guitar :nana_guitar :nana_guitar :nana_guitar :nana_guitar :nana_guitar
Nothin better then finding someone to work on your gear who care's,even better you knew him.
I couldn't agree more. I had a couple of bad experiences with so-called guitar techs. This is what got me started doing my own setups. So if you find someone that cares as much as you do, get 'em...
The Ottawa Folklore Centre closed last week.
In addition to being the store in town that was most focused on acoustic music, they were the only shop that consistently stocked Larrivées.
Here's hoping their luthier Brian Dubbledam has somewhere else to set up shop . . .
Quote from: skyline on July 26, 2015, 07:41:09 PM
The Ottawa Folklore Centre closed last week.
In addition to being the store in town that was most focused on acoustic music, they were the only shop that consistently stocked Larrivées.
Here's hoping their luthier Brian Dubbledam has somewhere else to set up shop . . .
Sad day when the OFC closed its doors.
I still remember going to the old store, on Bronson.
I do hope Brian finds a place to hang his hat.
So I bought this Seagull Mini Jumbo back in the spring and never got it set up. I finally brought it to Kevin and I picked it up earlier today. Tuned it to DADGAD and wow, did it feel great. You never know how badly you need a set up until you have it done.
unclrob how many set ups have you done?
Quote from: Denis on August 06, 2015, 06:28:32 PM
unclrob how many set ups have you done?
I did 2 today.So lets say 3 -4 a week over 49 years................................................ :wacko: ......so lets say a really big whole bunch,no only does my typing s*ck but my math is almost as bad. :roll
Quote from: unclrob on August 06, 2015, 09:56:54 PM
I did 2 today.So lets say 3 -4 a week over 49 years................................................ :wacko: ......so lets say a really big whole bunch,no only does my typing s*ck but my math is almost as bad. :roll
Conservatively, that computes to something around 7500, Rob.
Quote from: unclrob on August 06, 2015, 09:56:54 PM
I did 2 today.So lets say 3 -4 a week over 49 years......
Rob, you're breakin' my heart! If I only lived closer you'd have to do some more... FOR ME!!!
Quote from: L07 Shooting Star on August 06, 2015, 10:01:01 PM
Conservatively, that computes to something around 7500, Rob.
:ohmy: WOOOWW!!!
Quote from: skyline on July 26, 2015, 07:41:09 PM
The Ottawa Folklore Centre closed last week.
In addition to being the store in town that was most focused on acoustic music, they were the only shop that consistently stocked Larrivées.
Here's hoping their luthier Brian Dubbledam has somewhere else to set up shop . . .
Sad indeed. My first place to visit when in Ottawa. Not only Larrivées but I was able to play Lowdens and other rarely seen instruments. Steve's the best store now?
Quote from: ducktrapper on August 07, 2015, 10:10:29 AM
Sad indeed. My first place to visit when in Ottawa. Not only Larrivées but I was able to play Lowdens and other rarely seen instruments. Steve's the best store now?
Not for high quality acoustic selection. They have a few Martins, a Gibson or two and 4-5 Taylors. There's a shop out in Westboro called Lauzon. It's been there for 50 years I think. They have lots of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and Collings. They're also a Steinway dealer. There's a 9' grand piano in the front window. Other than that, there are now two Long & McQuade locations in Ottawa. They're now the only Larrivee dealer in town.
Quote from: Denis on August 07, 2015, 02:05:59 PMThere's a shop out in Westboro called Lauzon. It's been there for 50 years I think. They have lots of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and Collings.
Lauzon's is pretty much the only serious acoustic guitar store in Ottawa. A bit intimidating at first, and they never very many used instruments, but they are friendly, reasonably knowledgeable, and they have the largest selection of mainstream high-end acoustics in town. Plus I've never heard anyone playing
Smoke on the Water while I'm trying out instruments . . . some Bach and Beethoven, but no
STH, or
Walk Don't Run knockoffs.
It would be great if they picked up Larrivée too . . .
Quote from: skyline on August 07, 2015, 10:00:01 PM
It would be great if they picked up Larrivée too . . .
People need to walk in and loudly say, "What? No Larrivées? You call this a guitar store?" and walk back out. Denis, have you several disguises, just in case? :laughin:
Quote from: ducktrapper on August 08, 2015, 07:51:13 AM
People need to walk in and loudly say, "What? No Larrivées? You call this a guitar store?" and walk back out. Denis, have you several disguises, just in case? :laughin:
Unfortunately, they've seen me too many times and would recognize me right away. They know me as the guy that comes in and plays the $7000 Collings guitar but buys only a set of strings!
Quote from: Denis on August 10, 2015, 08:37:44 AM
Unfortunately, they've seen me too many times and would recognize me right away. They know me as the guy that comes in and plays the $7000 Collings guitar but buys only a set of strings!
Hey, at least you buy something. The owner of a store that went out of business in Thunder Bay a couple years back told me that young people don't buy anything anymore. They just try stuff and then go buy it on line. Tough for a brick and mortar store to compete. Probably part of went awry with the OFC.
Quote from: ducktrapper on August 10, 2015, 11:34:07 AMTough for a brick and mortar store to compete. Probably part of went awry with the OFC.
Part of it for sure.
But OFC probably also set themselves too wide a mission plan, then failed to adjust it appropriately as circumstances changed.
Beyond the more famous suppliers, there was a lot of serious "local" luthier's work hanging on the walls. Here's hoping they're not getting screwed over by the bizarre bankruptcy laws that are current here . . .