Other Good Gear From Canada?

[supergenius365]

I have been impressed by both products from our Canadian friends at Radial and Godin. Any other good gear coming out of Canada that might not be as well known in the States?

[jumpnblues]

Traynor?


Tom

[Mackerusa]

Larivee guitars are awesome. I don't want to discredit them by throwing around the "bang for the buck" cliche, because they are just good period.

[PUCKBOY99]

Frankinstein Guitar Works

www.frankinsteinguitarworks.com (http://www.frankinsteinguitarworks.com)

:AOK

[go7]

Within 1 hr. drive from my house on Vancouver island Canada. Scott Heatley [custom guitar builder], Mark Stephenson [Custom Amp Builder]. Boutique types with over 2 year waits.
Artist; Dianna Kroll,Elvis Costello,Randy Bachman, various retired rock stars.
Vancouver island is 26 miles off the coast of Vancouver, B.C. Population 1 million, size about equal to England.
Clapton and Townsend come several times a year to fish etc. Some of the local jams can be very interesting.

[woschiz]

I think MJM pedals are from Montreal.

[pickslide]

Peters amps, Kingsley amps, Goudie effects, Newall amps just to name a few.

[Flyin' Brian]

Extraordinary luthier...Linda Manzer

[daddyo]

Diamond pedals.

[PUCKBOY99]

Diamond pedals.
How'd I forget DIAMOND PEDALS ????

ALSO..........LONDON POWER....home of Power Scaling :AOK

[Scottone]

Within 1 hr. drive from my house on Vancouver island Canada. Scott Heatley [custom guitar builder], Mark Stephenson [Custom Amp Builder]. .

I have samples of both of their wares :D

[Big White Tele]

Extraordinary luthier...Linda Manzer
Yea, They build a great Bro as well.

[Pedro58]

I have an old VT amp from Canada. "Vibration Technology" is what the VT stands for. It's a cool amp, for what it is. Solid state with some cool built in effects. I've never seen another one.

[Flyin' Brian]

Yea, They build a great Bro as well.
?????

[SGNick]

Norman acoustics are great too, made in Quebec.

Also, I'm in Canada. so that's a huge plus to the music market.

[snarkle]

My favourite acoustic guitars, and pretty nice electrics, too:

http://www.beardsellguitars.com/

How good are they? I've loaned my Beardsell to three other players, including two avant-garde greats and one genuine rock legend, and between them they've bought five more...

Who else?

Shelley Park: great Selmer/Macaferri type instruments

Sawchyn Guitars: great flattops

Odyssey Guitars: Canada's PRS, but went out of business when the owner was killed in a freak accident

The Empress tremelo pedal...a fine unit!

Beelzebuzz fuzztones

Morgan Guitars: Larrivee's former foreman's one-man shop

The Guitar Clinic/Hammertone/F-Bass bunch, working out of Hamilton, Ontario

Gay Guitars: crazy ’50s instruments in the Paul Bigsby mode...

Grit Laskin, Michael Heiden, Sergei DeJonge...too many great luthiers to remember, really!

[nitehawk55]

Another awesome builder of acoustics in Canada since 1974 is Marc Beneteau....

http://www.beneteauguitars.com/

[TwoFeets]

A co-worker of mine asked me to help him pick out a good beginner's acoustic yesterday. We went to the local store and out of all the stuff in the intermediate price range, there was one branded Garrison. I'd never heard of them before, but it was heads and shoulders above everything else in the store. Made in Canada. Reminded me of the stuff that comes out of the Lasido factory but this model had very pretty birch sides. For $500 out the door with hardshell case and all kinds of goodies, I thought it was excellent.

[mockoman]

?????


It's a bit from Seinfield.

Good one, BigWhiteTele!!

[Griz]

Dr. Scientist pedals
Gordon Barry acoustic guitars
Dingwall bass guitars
Chute amplifiers

to name but a few...


:AOK

[Scottone]

George Rizsanyi and Joseph Yanuziello are two more fine luthiers. George is making me an acoustic as we speak.

[tonecat]

Fury Guitars (Canada's Oldest Electric guitar maker)in Saskatoon and Dingwall Guitars and Basses and Pura Guitars

[chopsley]

Larivee guitars are awesome. I don't want to discredit them by throwing around the "bang for the buck" cliche, because they are just good period.

+1

I love my Larivee.

[rwe333]

Empress Effects, Leyland Sound Design, Texeira, Martin Newall, Garnet, Diamond Effects, Marc Beneteau, Steve Mash, etc. etc. etc.

[madaxeman]

UUUUHHHH.......Wizard Amps

[snacker]

I have an old VT amp from Canada. "Vibration Technology" is what the VT stands for. It's a cool amp, for what it is. Solid state with some cool built in effects. I've never seen another one.



i have 2 VT amps - both great! - the only solid state amps that i'll ever keep

[paraedolia]

Of the top of my head:

Retrosonic
Dr.Scientist
Empress
Diamond
GoudieFX
SolidGoldFX
BlackBox (the FIX’D FUZZ!)

the original VStack
RoadRage make loopers and pedalboards

Edwards amps
Teixeira Amps
old Traynor and old Garnet amps

There are lots of great luthiers up here too, and pickup makers.

And there's this guy: http://www.lynx.bc.ca/~jc/ (http://www.lynx.bc.ca/%7Ejc/) A bit of a local legend...

...and William Shatner of course :P

[markom89]

All the best ones have be mentione so far, methinks...
One more that I'd like to add is Lado! They make some really nice basses and guitars!
I actually had one of their basses for a few months about two years back and loved it. Gorgeous looking, and great sounding!

[The Last Rebel]

I had to dig around to find this one, Gander Guitars. Very over the top, but beautiful guitars.

http://ganderguitars.com/

He's also developed an intriguing tremelo system. Basically, it consists of the arm, an axle, and a rubber pad.

http://ganderguitars.com/GanderTremolo.html

[gixxerrock]

Northwood guitars makes some amazing acoustics. He also custom builds dream electrics. The owner/luthier is a really great guy and fanatical about tone.

Peters amps are also great.

[RedRock]

Righteous Tones pedals.

[GregoryL]

Lots of good examples, I'll add Thompson acoustic guitars, Doug Harrison guitars, and G.W. Barry guitars ... all very fine.

[franksguitar]

I love the newer Traynor tube combos I have a 15 watt YCV-20WR Custom Valve 20 which sounds very boutique class A and want to get the 40 watter and sell my HR Deluxe which I'm not too fond of. I had a big Traynor rig in the 70's a YBA1A with 2-2-15" cabs. My buddy plays a Godin with onboard midi pickup through a Traynor keyboard amp.

[pickslide]

Brian Monty guitars

[mockoman]

Shelden Schwartz http://www.schwartzguitars.com/index.html

[Pete Faragher]

I know both of these have been mentioned previously but a big exclamation mark for ......
Kingsley Amps.....I have both a Deluxe 30T and a Deluxe 50. Both amps of the highest quality. Killer Killer tone and original sounding too. My Kingsley's sure have their own sound. Indespensible to me.

Teixiera Amps.....I have a 45 watt amp of Antonio's and a Bernie style amp of his too. I hear his Bernies are being snapped up by some of the biggest Rock guitar gods you can name. Great warm vintage tone and top drawer service.

Here is another......
Chute amps........I was in possession of one of these for about a month this year. A good pal lent me his. It is absolutely stupendous. Although he has just begun his building he has already knocked it out of the park.

[alltone]

Extraordinary luthier...Linda Manzer
100% agree!!

[alltone]

I used GBX amps back in the 70's...kinda cool for the time.
Bryston power amps, pretty hard to beat these!
also....http://copy-book.com/search.php?q=furlenetto%20guitars
http://www.hanktohendrix.on.ca/wayne.php

[sysexguy]

Morgan Guitars

Evans Pickups....if you can find 'em

London Power

RADAR

Sanwave (they do the guts for companies like Tascam, Mackie etc. etc.)

IVL (the whammy's that go for $500+) + many TC products

Taye/Ayotte

Shatten

Ward Beck

Andy

[LowWatt]

I'll add Solid Gold Sound Labs. http://www.solidgoldfx.com/

Amazing pedals. I just got the High Octane and it is already my favourite clean boost/light OD off all time. It has beaten out the ZVex SHO, Throbak Overdrive Boost, and the Dirty Boy Ball Buster, just to name the best that have competed against it in the fight for a spot on my pedal board.

[snarkle]

I love the newer Traynor tube combos I have a 15 watt YCV-20WR Custom Valve 20 which sounds very boutique class A and want to get the 40 watter and sell my HR Deluxe which I'm not too fond of. I had a big Traynor rig in the 70's a YBA1A with 2-2-15" cabs. My buddy plays a Godin with onboard midi pickup through a Traynor keyboard amp.

The new Traynors are weirdly great...I just played a show with a borrowed YCV-2OWR and did not miss my big-ticket boutique gear in the least.

[Tone_Terrific]

I had to dig around to find this one, Gander Guitars. Very over the top, but beautiful guitars.

http://ganderguitars.com/

He's also developed an intriguing tremelo system. Basically, it consists of the arm, an axle, and a rubber pad.

http://ganderguitars.com/GanderTremolo.html

These are news to me.
Far more exciting than another Strat relic.

[CJReaper]

Lado Guitars, made famous by Iron Maiden on the "Live After Death" tour...

Cheers,

CJ

[French Fry]

Back when he was still in business: Tim Diebert (Timtone guitars)

[franksguitar]

The new Traynors are weirdly great...I just played a show with a borrowed YCV-2OWR and did not miss my big-ticket boutique gear in the least.

Yes this a surprising little class A amp, with a great speak sim DI too. I picked mine up used mint condition and has become a regular and I own alot of good amps too. I tip my hat and raise a Molson to Traynor folks in the great white north

[Autopilot Slim]

Trinity amps
www.trinityamps.com (http://www.trinityamps.com)

Newall amps

[A-Bone]

Larivee guitars are awesome. I don't want to discredit them by throwing around the "bang for the buck" cliche, because they are just good period.

What Mackerusa said.

[steve_chiro]

Solid Gold Effects in Montreal. Stevenson's guitars and amps in Montreal, too. Marc Chicoine, luthier. Nicest guy you'll ever meet. Builds flawless electrics to your exact liking for a very reasonable price.

[sw686blue]

Ted Stevenson for sure!

http://www.stevensonguitars.com/

[ghost]

I had to dig around to find this one, Gander Guitars. Very over the top, but beautiful guitars.

http://ganderguitars.com/

He's also developed an intriguing tremelo system. Basically, it consists of the arm, an axle, and a rubber pad.

http://ganderguitars.com/GanderTremolo.html


Wow. Just wow. Definately not another strat relic...thanks for posting this

[RanaldoNecro]

Axxess Electronics makes great Guitar Audio and Switching Products

http://www.axess-electronics.com/

[david henman]

...also mack amplifiers, which are made in richmond hill, ontario.

-dh

[rotren]

...also mack amplifiers, which are made in richmond hill, ontario.

-dh

+1 on that. I have a Heatseeker 18 watt tube head. Sweet amp!

[paraedolia]

Righteous Tones pedals....made in a factory in China.

[astonvillan]

dotonshaft (http://www.dotonshaft.com/main-home.cfm)

[LowWatt]

Bumping this one. Wondering if anything else has come out of the woodwork in Canada.

www.blackouteffectors.com (http://www.blackouteffectors.com) was mentioned before for the Fix'd Fuzz, but I figure I should bring it up again now that his Musket Fuzz is taking off so well.

Keep them coming.

Has anyone mentioned Retro-sonic?

[weezy]

+1 on the GoudieFX pedals (http://www.goudiefx.com/) - the 808+ is the best OD I've ever owned

[vic6120]

+1 on Lado

http://www.lado-guitars.com/

[fyrwyr]

How about Ark Amps;)

[vinceh]

Radial Engineering (tonebone etc) which owns primacoustic (recoil stabilizer)
Graph tech (nuts, saddles etc)

[franksguitar]

I second it on Traynor amps, had a YBA1A in 60's and have a YCV20WR Custom Valve 20 now. Plus they make good beer Molson, Moosehead and Schooner!

[dead mike]

Morgan acoustics are simply amazing.

the best amp i ever heard is Dallas Goods (The Sadies) Garnet twin 12. I dont know what model it is but man i want one.

[nest]

Island Amps

[LowWatt]

Island Amps

Website? What kind of amps do they make?

[daddyo]

You really could have a decent "Made in Canada" rig if you wanted. Less expensive: Godin/Traynor. Moderate cost: Godin/Larrivee/Traynor. High end:Heatley/Monty/Laskin/Peters/Wizard/Ark. Astronomical end: Manzer ;) FX: Radial/Diamond. I wanted to add Garrison to the list but I know they were bought by Gibson and their website is gone so I guess Gibson shovelled them into the Atlantic?

[Marc Roy]

Lots of good stuff up noth...

-Axworks Custom Guitars
-Lado
-Diamond Effects
-Retro-Sonic Effects
-Empress Effects
-Mayfly Amplifiers
-Radial Engineering (Denis Rozon also built some pretty nice amps too)
-Chuchtronic Amplifiers
-Kinglsy Amps (Simon is great to deal with)
-Stephenson Amps (Called about the Stage Hog and spent an hour on the phone talking gear)
-Stevenson Guitars

[Chuck King]

I wanted to add Garrison to the list but I know they were bought by Gibson and their website is gone so I guess Gibson shovelled them into the Atlantic?

I think they now make a line of guitars branded as Gibsons. In any event, I have a new Gibson acoustic with a "Made in Canada" sticker in it.

[LowWatt]

Was just playing around on the Fairfield Electronics site. Looks like they've got a pretty interesting jfet overdrive for sale. Anyone tried it?

http://www.fairfieldcircuitry.com/B.html

[Marc Roy]

Was just playing around on the Fairfield Electronics site. Looks like they've got a pretty interesting jfet overdrive for sale. Anyone tried it?

http://www.fairfieldcircuitry.com/B.html

I have. It sounded pretty damn good through my Dr. Z Maz when the amp had a bit of volume. Really natural. Gives you that cranked amp sound at a lower volume.

[Bill Brasky]

What's the difference between Yorkville and Traynor amps?

[Prodigy]

dotonshaft (http://www.dotonshaft.com/main-home.cfm)

Terrible customer service, at least the jerk I dealt with at the store in Barrie, Ontario. I was trying out an amp with my guitar in the store, and I asked the guy if he thought my neck could use an adjustment. He looks at it, plays it for a minute, and then says, "Yeah, it could use a little tweak. Just a sec. Goes to the back and comes back no more than one minute later, so I assume he just did a little truss rod adjustment. I say "Hey, thanks a bunch" and try out another amp for a few minutes. I go to leave and the guy says, "Yeah, that'll be $39.95" WHAT?! Arsehole!

[Marc Roy]

Terrible customer service, at least the jerk I dealt with at the store in Barrie, Ontario. I was trying out an amp with my guitar in the store, and I asked the guy if he thought my neck could use an adjustment. He looks at it, plays it for a minute, and then says, "Yeah, it could use a little tweak. Just a sec. Goes to the back and comes back no more than one minute later, so I assume he just did a little truss rod adjustment. I say "Hey, thanks a bunch" and try out another amp for a few minutes. I go to leave and the guy says, "Yeah, that'll be $39.95" WHAT?! Arsehole!

Incredible. I would've told him to F-O. Any store worth its salt will give a bit of freebie serivice to a potential customer.

[Prodigy]

Incredible. I would've told him to F-O. Any store worth its salt will give a bit of freebie serivice to a potential customer.

Well, the guy was about 6-5, 330 and looked like the head of a biker gang, so I wasn't exactly gonna tell him to stick a tuning fork up his ass. Felt like it though! I'll never do business with them again, and take satisfaction in knowing that they will go under before too long.

[Marc Roy]

Well, the guy was about 6-5, 330 and looked like the head of a biker gang, so I wasn't exactly gonna tell him to stick a tuning fork up his ass. Felt like it though! I'll never do business with them again, and take satisfaction in knowing that they will go under before too long.

I hear ya. I`ve seen crappy customer service too. The manager of Steve`s Music Store in Ottawa pissed me off a few times. I haven`t been in there in over a year.

I only deal with Lauzon Music here in Ottawa. This is customer service. Nice gear selection too. www.lauzonmusic.com (http://www.lauzonmusic.com)

[Prodigy]

I hear ya. I`ve seen crappy customer service too. The manager of Steve`s Music Store in Ottawa pissed me off a few times. I haven`t been in there in over a year.

I only deal with Lauzon Music here in Ottawa. This is customer service. Nice gear selection too. www.lauzonmusic.com (http://www.lauzonmusic.com)

It's hit or miss at Steve's in Toronto as well. Don't even get me started on Long & McQuade. :boxer I'll have to check out Lauzon's. Apparently Boutique Tone out of Montreal will be opening a location in Toronto soon in the new year. They've got a fine selection and seem to be pretty down to earth guys:

http://www.boutiquetone.com/

[Marc Roy]

It's hit or miss at Steve's in Toronto as well. Don't even get me started on Long & McQuade. :boxer I'll have to check out Lauzon's. Apparently Boutique Tone out of Montreal will be opening a location in Toronto soon in the new year. They've got a fine selection and seem to be pretty down to earth guys:

http://www.boutiquetone.com/

I've never had a problem with Steve's in TO for some reason. Haven't been there in years though, so things may have changed. The L&M in Ottawa isn't all that great either. I just don't like the feeling I get when I walk into the place. The sales staff are dressed in shirts and ties...

Jeremy and Carl over at Boutique Tone are good guys. Jeremy told me a Toronto location is in the works. They offer good service. I've ordered stuff online with no hiccups.

[LowWatt]

I've never had a problem with Steve's in TO for some reason. Haven't been there in years though, so things may have changed. The L&M in Ottawa isn't all that great either. I just don't like the feeling I get when I walk into the place. The sales staff are dressed in shirts and ties...

Jeremy and Carl over at Boutique Tone are good guys. Jeremy told me a Toronto location is in the works. They offer good service. I've ordered stuff online with no hiccups.

I worked at Steve's in TO for a while. I won't get into specifics, but because of what I've seen I go out of my way to make sure that my money always goes to anyone else.

Very excited about the Boutique Tone news. Any idea where they will be located?

[Marc Roy]

I worked at Steve's in TO for a while. I won't get into specifics, but because of what I've seen I go out of my way to make sure that my money always goes to anyone else.

Very excited about the Boutique Tone news. Any idea where they will be located?

Not sure. Jeremy didn't say where. That store is really gonna give others a run for their money. It's tough to find available boutique stuff in Canada, and Boutique Tone has a good selection. I'm tempted to visit the Montreal store, but I really can't take the hit in the wallet right now.

[Prodigy]

Not sure where they are gonna be either. I would think Queen St W would be a likely location. This is from an e-mail I got back from Jeremy:

"We were trying really hard to get the store open before Christmas, but when we realized we weren't going to make it, we decided to focus our attention on having a good season here in Montreal and then getting going on the Toronto store first thing in the new year."

[Jazzydave]

The early Seagull acoustics were great for the money. I think in recent years they've been slacking a little with cheaper materials though.

[mojazzmo]

Just a gearaholic from Vancouver throwing my 2 cents in. My fav amp is my beloved Kingsley Deluxe 52 made locally in Maple Ridge, B.C. Simon is a great, great guitar player and uses that knowledge when he builds his amps. Nothing but pure tone and quality of the highest level. The other "sleeper" from Vancouver that I haven't noticed any posts on, is Kinal Guitars.( www.kinal.com (http://www.kinal.com)) Mike Kinal is a custom guitar and bass builder from Vancouver who makes unbelievable guiatrs at incredible prices. I have a chambered smamp ash/maple top tele and a second chambered mahogonay tele on the way. I was in LA a few months back and got to play a a few Suhr's and a Tom Anderson and I have to say, no disrespect to the loyal Suhr and TA fans here, but my Kinal blows them away. In all areas of tone, playability, look and feel etc...The thing about Mike's instruments is that they are hand made. The necks are carved by hand not cut on a CNC machine. This old world skill produces incredible instruments that resonate and sing even when they are unplugged. With the prices of custom guitars in the US and the weaker Canadian dollar, some of you fine U.S. guitar players should check him out. You won't be disappointed.

[Prodigy]

I was in LA a few months back and got to play a a few Suhr's and a Tom Anderson and I have to say, no disrespect to the loyal Suhr and TA fans here, but my Kinal blows them away. In all areas of tone, playability, look and feel etc...

Wow, blows away Suhr and Tom Anderson...I will have to definitely check these guitars out! :drool

[Cary Chilton]

Godin
Stephenson Amplifiers, not too mention his STAGE HOG and FMD and soon to be release distortion pedal...
DR Scientist
London Power
Ultimate Attenuator

[winterheadphone]

Any one know how good the Goudie FX boosters are?