We once again made the pilgrimage this July to the Montreal Guitar Show 2010.Below you'll see just some of the unique instruments hand crafted from builders around the world,ranging from the esoteric to the just plain wacky...
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Miac Music Show 2009
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| The last MIAC Music Sh0w to be held at the Pearson | Guess what this guy does for a living | |
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| Day 1 of the show-enter at your own risk.......... | Some new Godin 5th Avenue & Kingpin models | |
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| The latest electric Progession guitars from Godin | The new Dime(bag) Darrell amp from Dean(yes,Dean) | |
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| No need to guess whose booth this is-for sure..... | One of many new graphic Dean models | |
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| The new Bogner Alchemist all tube guitar amps | Just one of the cool interactive demos-this one:Yamaha | |
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| Gary Levinson's Blade guitars, and THD amps | More great looking & sounding drums from TRS Canada | |
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| At least it wasn't Ken & Barbie guitar outfit............ | Blueridge,Trinity River & Kentucky instruments. | |
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| The new BOLT amps from the former Digitech guys | The latest Spider FOUR series amps from Line 6 | |
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| Yes,of course Gibson was there. | As was Taylor,oddly enough directly across from them.. |
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| RainSong fiber-graphite giotars were on display | As were a HUGE offering from VINTAGE guitars. | |
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| Orange amps in full force,along with the Dual Terror | Guitar design guru Trev Wilkinson going over details... | |
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| Great for an Alice Cooper Tribute band! | DW drums-one kit taking up the entire riser. | |
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| Superb new finishes for the latest Hamer guitars | Brand spanking new-Flea basses by (yep) Flea! | |
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| Verrry nice-newest Mapex drum sets | Lighting & mixing consoles everywhere by everybody | |
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| Hey wait a minute.THIS isn't MY porsche........ | Nope-not this ONE either............. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JazzFest and the Montreal Music Instrument Show 2009. We once again hit Montreal for the JazzFest as well as the Musical Instrument Show. For a change of pace this year,the Instrument Show was held inside "pavillions" ,arranged in a music village motif.Lots of great performances and gear to drool over,as usual!
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Miac 2008 (updated Aug.31.2008)
It was that time of year,once again to trek on down to the big city of Toronto(that's "Trawna" for all our American friends) for Canada's version of Namm,The MIAC show.Armed with a TomTom GPS(our demi-godsend),we luckily
made great time getting there and about town without getting caught in the crossfire of any drive-byes.Kidding!!
We soaked up some some sun and took another ton of pics from the "show" of which a few are up ,for you to drool over!
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| One view of the show floor and part of the "floor show"... | Tama drums and Orange amplifers in their full glory |
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| PRS guitars with all their current and new models | Taylor guitars displayed their new electric models |
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| Yamaha's wicked,rotating drummer's dream (?) rig. | Newly established Canadian amp builder,Chute Amps |
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| Amazing Canadian built TRS custom drums | Silvertone guitars are back? (again?) |
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| A smurf sized Warwick bass cause you asked for it...... | New MiniStars,the ultimate in portable,travel guitars |
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| The best of both worlds-tele style twang meets LP chunky | Gotta ladder? The Yamaha tower of drums |
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| Strap it good! Canada's Levy guitar straps had walls of straps! | Aria's Limited Edition burled maple top Inspire model |
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| Gary Levinson's fine crafted Blade Guitars | Ashdown bass amplification |
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| Carparelli guitars from Canada's Dot-On-Shaft Company | One of the many outdoor stages to check out PA gear,cranked up |
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| Schecter,Line6,Spector,Shure,etc,all under one "truss rig." | One of several live performances with Aviom monitoring systems |
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Michael Angelo with his new signature Dean double neck performing some amazing guitar work |
How many feet do I need? The innovative Off-Set double bass pedal |
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| The new Yamaha NEXO flying speaker rig | New models from Highland Guitars |
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| New Orange amp models including the new Tiny Terror Combo | Another unique model from the Dot-On-Shaft guitar company |
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| The New DiGiCo console-where's the beer holder? | There was lots of stage & dj lighting,all under digital control |
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| Need a pickguard,these guys have just about anything you'd want. | After several decades,Larivee is once again building electrics! |
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JazzFest/Music Manufacturers Instrument Show 2008 (updated July 13.08)
This year's trek to Montreal for the JazzFest & MMIS was another welcome break,except for the nasty parking ticket
and overpriced "beer a canette" but hey, it's Montreal! The weather was incredible so there was no lack of spectators,
tourists scurrying about between the Place Desjardins complex where the "gear show" was and literally, the streets of Montreal trying to take it all in ..........
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| The giant GM Main stage being set up for the day | What? we're actually early for the show? Go figure.......... |
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| Hmmm-I guess there will be an emphasis on guitars... | Check out the marquetry on this BlueBerry acoustic |
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| A partial view from above the show floor before opening. | Part of Roland's booth (twinkle,twinkle..) |
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| John Suhr brought along some guitars (KA-CHING!) | annnnd some cool little all tube "baby" stacks |
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| An example of John Suhr's craftsmanship | and yet another-verrry ($$$) nice. |
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One of several unique custom guitars at the show that gets auctioned for charity.This is a Godin Montreal model |
And several other one-of-a-kind instruments,all securely displayed within a plexiglass "fishbowl" ....... |
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| Would you like an orange? Check out the "little guys".. | An aerodynamic guitar? Your call..... |
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The always engaging and omnipresent Godin Guitars of Canada booth.Godin showed their latest, verry cool 5th Avenue archtops,Redline II,Passion RG3 and their new Richmond line of retro-ish electrics.And of course, you could check out the latest Seagull and Normans and... |
Why is this guy smiling? Okay.It was inevitable.Roland now has a digital modelling accordion ! We were treated to a barrage of voices,marimbas,brass,percussion sounds- you name it.No word yet though if it actually sounds like an accordion.The world is nearing the end......... |
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| Canadian made Wizard amps at their Canadian launch | Paul Bryan of Korean manufacturer,Indie Guitars. |
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| Jimmy James,doin' da blues at the Wizard amps booth | Hm-Two guys playing THREE instruments.do the math. |
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| Some Ampegs,new Blackheart tube amps by Pietor Belov | Quebec builder Stray Guitars.Clever design & cool looks |
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| No...it's an F played here.I'm tellin' ya! | Quebec builder Latulippe Guitars' new lap steel models |
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| Flying faders finally made affordable--Schwing! | A mini Bartok had something happening at this booth |
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| Stick-man Steve Adelson dazzled once again at his booth | Guess the scale length........ |
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Quebec builder March Guitars "compact" electric guitars. It's amazing how many guitar builders there are in Quebec-must be something in the air.Has to be.......... |
Godin Guitars sponsored a classic rock seminar with Joey Greco showing players and aspiring players how to get started playing a slew of classic rock favorites.Rock on! |
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| What's a festival without a stiltwalker? Gotta a banana? | Some old school Django/Grapelli jazz in the streets.Yes! |
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JazzFest 2007 (updated July 19.07)
This year,instead of our customary trek to the "flatland" of Toronto for MIAC,we decided for a change of atmosphere to
attend the 2007 version of The Montreal Jazz Festival which also happened to feature The Montreal Guitar Show AND the Simms Music Instrument Show.Talk about mixing pleasure with business! Held over the July 6-9 weekend,
with incredible weather,food(have you been to Reubens?I finally met my match in a club sandwhich there),and that definite European atmosphere that Montreal exudes,what more could you ask?
And yes,we brought out camera's so we'd blend in with all the other tourists too. Below are just a few of the highlights.
We shot a tonne of pix of more guitars than we'll ever remember so we'll be rotating shots of those over the next few weeks from world class builders that abound around the planet-no kidding! We also had lots of time to take in some amazing performances at the Jazz Festival by the California Guitar Trio(jaw dropping!) and Don Ross(stunning!) as
well as countless other improptu "happenings" in Montreal's downtown core ensuring you're never be bored.If you
haven't been to the Jazz Festival yet,plan on it for next year!
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The Jazzfest Main stage before the action starts |
Mr Shmooz, before getting trampled by the crowd |
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Stewart Macdonald with tables & tables of guitar parts! |
New archtops with plenty o' soundholes |
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A ruby quilted sparkle top by Demarras |
A very cool flamed maple topped lap steel |
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A spalted top semi,also by Demarras |
Can you say "bookmatched" ? |
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No they didn't melt-that's how they're built! |
Lots of guitars featured side ports this time around |
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Some pretty cool models from Doolin |
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Yeah,but can you play Smoke on the water? |
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One view of the Guitar Show showroom 4th floor |
Need to practice ? |
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One view of the Instrument Show in the lower court |
A future Omar Hakim beating down a Yamaha kit |
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Now.... what does this button do again? |
Ibanez see-thru Vai model |
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Yep,lots of "interesting" body styles |
An improptu jam can happen anytime here..... |
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The always busy Godin Guitars booth |
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Yes,there was even a hip-hoppin' Spiderman..... |
The California Guitar Trio |
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Just one of the crowds gathered at the main stage |
The amazing Don Ross playing to a beyond packed house! |