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Scarborough 16th Vintage Guitar Festival

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Canada’s 16th Vintage Guitar Show is a great event to check out some nice vintage guitars. It will be held Saturday June 26th 1:00 to 8:00pm to Sunday June 27th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. This guitar festival is located at Scarborough Community Center 3600 Kingston Road (at Markham Road) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. See Map for details. The price of admission is a reasonable $10.00 at the door.

I just came back from this year’s show, my first ever I might add, and I liked what I saw. The main vendor and it’s driving force behind the gathering of like minded individuals is Tundra Music. They were the largest both there by far. The amount of guitars on display was breath taking. My favorites were

  • 1969 Gold Top Les Paul for $20,000
  • a nice well used 1936 Martin acoustic for $25,000
  • a beautiful 1957 Fender Strat, the price for this one I didn’t get. Damn I wish I had more dollars the cents!

I went to the show just for the fun of it and to be around some vintage guitars. To be amongst other guitar enthusiasts is a great feeling. There was no special effects anywhere on the floor just straight forward rock and roll guitars.

The one smaller but very experienced vendor that I liked was Terry Gallie. He had some great guitars on display for us at the this years show. He may of had a much limited variety to view then Tundra Music but it was his intensity that was infectious. His company is called Atomic Age Vintage and you can get a hold of him at (416) 423-4617 or e-mail him directly at atomic@bell.net to see what he has in store for you.

Another merchant was K.S. Sound from Schooner Cove Nova Scotia. He had some interesting guitars for sale and was very friendly and helpful to talk to. This is just a hobby for him at this point but he plans to jump in with both feet when he retires later on this year. I’ll have to go back next year to see how he is doing with his new venture.

Then there was this other small both that was showcasing his personal collection for guitars. He is from Hamilton but I didn’t get his name due to so many wandering around him trying to inquire about his stock at the show.

In a future post I’ll put some pic’s up for all of you to see exactly what I saw at Canada’s 16th Vintage Guitar Show. So if your in Toronto this weekend, NO PROTESTER’s PLEASE, then stop on by to take in this years show. I’m more then sure there is something at the festival for everyone!

Keep on Jammin’




Beautiful Custom made Electric Chrome Guitar

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I cannot find the correct words to describe this beautifully crafted custom made chrome electric guitar. Just look at the detailed work that had to go into something like this. Did the craftsman etch out the pattern on it? Did he or she make a mold then put it into a press to create this master piece?

I found this one when I was on line late one night and I was completely captivated by the intricate arrangement. I attempted to zoom into the name that is in between the pick ups but I couldn’t. The mounts that hold the pick ups are really nice. The tailpiece is so rock hard looking that it appears that it can take a beating! Then there is the distinctive bridge footings that make me think that the person who developed it paid tons of attention when forging it.

The only thing that I find odd about this beauty is that there are only two controls on it. If you make a piece of instrument art why don’t you give the musician(s) more options to tailor fit your sound. That is the only issue that I have with this guitar.

In all honesty, I think that I’d just put this baby under glass and never play on it. I’d be too afraid to scratch it, enjoy!

custom chrome etched guitar

Keep on Jammin’

The Carillon at Metro United Church in Toronto

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A carillon is an instrument that used bells instead of strings to produce music. It’s been around since the 15th century and you’d think that I would of heard more about this thing but nope, never really heard of it before the other day.

thecarillon While waiting for a medical appointment in downtown Toronto the other day, I had some time to kill so I walked outside of the building. Across the street I found a very old house of worship called The Metropolitan United Church of Canada. That morning the church happened to be open to the public, so I walked in. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the ancient style of architecture in this building.

I found myself strolling up to this women at a table in the front foyer, under the bell tower. We talked about the architectural and historical aspects of the building. She was quite informative and witty to boot! She told me to walk in and check out the inside of the sacristy of the church.

I was spellbound by it’s beauty! Unfortunately I had to rush through the building because I had an appointment to be at in around 20 minutes.

As I walked out I ran into this man who said that he was the church’s Carilloneur? I then realized that the instrument he was referring to was called the carillon. I had just read about it in the flyer that the women gave me as I walked in before we talked.

We started this really cool conversation and it lead to him asking me if I wanted to see it! I said “Wow, would I ever!”.Then I almost forgot again about my medical consultation and asked him nicely if I could do it at a later date and he said sure. He also told me to and bring your video camera if I wanted.

Just like everyone else out there, I find that there is never enough time in one’s day to do what they really want to do! I hope that someday I will make it up the tower and check out this unique instrument up close!

Keep on Jammin’

Neat looking Rickenbacker Guitar lightshow!

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The Rickenbacker 331LS is a beautiful looking semi-hollow body guitar.

They produced this model in 6 & 12 string guitars and bass ones as well. With all the lighting effects on this puppy it’s no wonder they called it the “Lightshow Guitar”. It was only in production from 1970 – 1972 so you can see that this is not only a collector’s piece but a very rare bird indeed!

The latest price for a guitar of this ilk was $15,000.00 (US). Originally it cost around $599.00 (US).

rickenbacker331LS The top of the guitar was created out of some semi opaque material. I guess it may look like a super ,full sized pick guard. The manufacturer placed lights (automotive style bayonet mounted bulbs) underneath the cover of it that lit up and changed colours. It definitely reminded me of some right out of psychedelic, progressive rock era. Only something like this could have come out way back in the early 1970’s. Spacemen and women, shields up!

It also came with this weird little silver box that you had to plug the guitar through. It is a fuse basically but I haven’t found out any more details on it.

The colours they used were Red, yellow or green and blue. When the player played certain notes a particular colour would light up! When a bass note was played the blue light would shine. If the guitarist played any mid-range note the yellow or green came on and when treble notes were hit Red lights appeared!

I’ve only played a Rickenbacker once in my life and it was an ok guitar to play, maybe the intonation was off a bit. Anyone out there that has or had a Rickenbacker out there? Better yet, if someone has this vintage guitar in their collection, is it still working?

Here are a few related items that you might be interested in checking out:

Keep on Jammin’

A cardboard grand piano

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A Swedish packaging company, SCA Packaging, has created a grand piano that is made of cardboard. I guess it’s for people who find the real thing a little bit too heavy to lug around for gigs! Anyone one up to tickling the old cardboard?

The cardboard piano uses integrated circuits that are pressed onto paper instead of silicon chips or circuit boards. It’s based on technology developed to make paper products that change colour or include radio-frequency tags for inventory control. Ulf Carlsson, SCA’s head of development and research, said the cardboard piano features all 88 keys. Press one, and the circuit beneath it sends a signal to an external loudspeaker, which plays the appropriate sound.
Source: www.usatoday.com 3 June 2004 Copyright Associated Press

For now, the company has only generated a few of the futuristic keyboards. They have not developed a plan to send them to market as of yet. SCA is probably using this as a gimmick to create a buzz for the company. They also admit that this may be used as a vehicle to introduce the next generation highlighting the development of printing techniques. I’d still love to hear one!

Keep on Jammin’

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