Canadian Acoustic Guitar Builders - Starting a List

[Acoustickler]

Hi Folks,

As I peruse the internet drooling over many beautiful acoustics, it strikes me that there is a wealth of great Canadian builders of acoustic guitars.  Almost disproportionate to the population of the country.  I started to write down the ones that crossed my mnd. 

I'm sure there are many more and I'd appreciate it if you'd join in and add to the list.

Here goes:

Larrivee  :GRN>
Simon & Patrick/Seagull/Art & Lutherie
Morgan
Paragon
Garrison
Webber
John David Scott
Northwood (McQuarrie)
Michael Greenfield
Judy Threat
Michael Heiden
Sergei de Jonge (and his kids)
Linda Manzer
David Wren
Grit Laskin
Mario Beauregard
Marc Beneteau
Kwasnycia
Thompson
Shelley Park
Michael Dunn
Allan Beardsell


...feel free to jump in with others  :GRN>!

Cheers,
B.

[ronmac]

Well not all of us are content to carve hockey sticks, so a few have branched out to make guitars. :WNK>

Here's a post in another Forum that lists quite a few: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=857304&postcount=41

[Acoustickler]

Well not all of us are content to carve hockey sticks, so a few have branched out to make guitars. :WNK>

Here's a post in another Forum that lists quite a few: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=857304&postcount=41

Thanks for jumping in, Ron!  Well, most of the ones on Ian's list I've never heard of...some further web-surfing needed, perhaps.  Your list on that post is more familiar for sure. 

Do you have any info on Joseph Pennell in NFLD?  I'm originally from there and have many family friends named Pennell.

Cheers,
Blair

[Guvnor]

http://www.kronbauerguitars.com/

[ronmac]

Do you have any info on Joseph Pennell in NFLD?  I'm originally from there and have many family friends named Pennell.

I haven't spoken to Joe for 2 years. I bought, and still own, the second guitar that he built, an OM Sitka/Padauk . I know that he was working at Garrison some and trying to get his workshop established.

Joe worked with Larrivee for a few years before moving back to NF.

[Gemnoc]

You can add 2 more names to the Godin family: Norman and La Patrie (classicals).

Incidentally, another recent company, www.boucherguitars.com, has some history with Norman guitars.

[brimc76]

There is also Wolf Guitars here locally from Rick Ellicott who studied under George Rizsanyi. I've seen and heard a couple of his guitars close up and they are very nice indeed.
http://handsonmusic.ca/wolf.html

[Denis]

AAAaaahhhhh!!!!!  You've got to love the Great White North!!

Edward Dick is making instruments out of Colorado now but he was born and raised in Canada.  He was the repair technician at the Ottawa Folklore Centre for years.  He makes great looking instruments although I've never tried them.

http://www.evd303.com/

[saffron_boots]

Oskar Graf http://web.ctsolutions.com/grafguitars/
Mark Kett http://www.kettguitars.com/
John Kilpatrick http://www.kilpatrickguitars.com/
Joshua House http://www.house-guitars.com/
Tony Karol http://www.karol-guitars.com/
Fabrizio Alberico http://www.albericoguitar.com/

[knoxpossum]

I believe that Jeff Sigurdson is still in Vancouver.  He worked with Jean Larrivee and was one of the founders of Legend Guitars.

www.sigurdsonguitars.com

[Acoustickler]

Great input, guys - thanks!  Keep 'em coming.  I'm learning new ones every time someone posts.

Cheers,
B.

[Denis]

A good question would be how many of the Canadian builder apprenticed or worked with Jean Larrivee?

[saffron_boots]

A good question would be how many of the Canadian builder apprenticed or worked with Jean Larrivee?

If you include students of apprentices, i.e. those who have studied under Sergei de Jonge (Jean's first apprentice in '69), the easier question might be, who hasn't?

Short list off the top of my head: Graf, Karol, and Greenfield.  :GRN>

[Acoustickler]

Another for the overall list - G.W. Barry.

Saw a lovely OM by him today on 12th Fret website.

Cheers,
B.

[ronmac]

AAAaaahhhhh!!!!!  You've got to love the Great White North!!

Edward Dick is making instruments out of Colorado now but he was born and raised in Canada.  He was the repair technician at the Ottawa Folklore Centre for years.  He makes great looking instruments although I've never tried them.

http://www.evd303.com/

I've played Valdy's acoustic bass (a 5 sting with a high C) made by Mr. Dick. Very nice. Ed shipped it to him when he heard he was looking for one and told him to pay him "whenever".

There is one of his instruments at Dream Guitars: http://www.dreamguitars.com/preowned/classical/Dick_Classical_310.htm

[arcterix100]

dont forget boucher guitars! have a look at them!

[Gemnoc]

Already mentioned. :WNK>

Claude Boucher is the son of late Norman Boucher, who founded Norman Guitars.

I would certainly be happy to sample one of thier guitars. They are all made with Adirondack Spruce top.

[BrentAdams]

Add David Iannone -----> Morgan Guitars  www.morganguitars.com

yet another Larrivee understudy who still has a working relationship with JCL          http://littlebrother.nlpd.com/MorganStory/default.htm        (thanks to RonMac for digging up this link)

BA

[BrentAdams]

Hmmm .. and also

David Freeman ---> www.timelessinstruments.com

he's done some interesting work

BA

[LaminateBoy]

Mike Hardy

www.hardyguitars.com