Montreal Guitar Show: Exclusive and expensive
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The instruments at the Montreal Guitar Show proved pricier and more exotic than at previous shows. Photo by Mike Fullerton |
Toolbox
By ART EDELSTEIN Arts Correspondent - Published: July 10, 2009
MONTREAL – The third Montreal Guitar Show, held at the Palais des Congres July 3-5, was an eye opener and a must for anyone even tangentially interested in guitars. With 140 exhibitors in the acoustic and electric guitar exhibition rooms, this is becoming THE show to visit if you are a player or collector.
Be forewarned! Do not bring a check or credit card unless you have the funds to make a purchase. Instruments here are far more expensive than what you'll find at your local music store. Prices ranged from a low in the high $3,000 range to over $20,000.
The purpose of the show isn't really to sell instruments, although the various builders certainly won't stop you from writing out a check. Primarily this is where some of the finest guitar builders in North America and a few from Europe get to show their wares. It is a chance to sample guitar eye-candy, and even play the instruments, something few can do unless they visit a show. The event is also where aficionados, collectors and others can sample the many technological advances in the guitar-building world.
For most players acoustic guitars fall into the range of a few well-known companies like Taylor, Martin and Gibson. These brands are generally high quality and some of their most ornate instruments might cost as much as $10,000. However, the small-production luthier, in a shop with one or two builders making perhaps 20 instruments a year, has proliferated especially since the 1980s. These are the people who exhibit in Montreal.
Three years ago I visited the first show initially held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. It was smaller then with perhaps 50 exhibitors. So popular has this annual event — which is part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival — become that it occupies a much bigger space.
In 2007 I interviewed Charles Fox, a builder from Portland, Ore., who honed his craft from 1970 to 1982 in Strafford. Fox, considered a dean of guitar building, was again displaying his $20,000 instruments, and we talked between guitar schmoozing interludes with his fellow builders.
According to Fox, the growing size and success of this show is attributable to the show's professionalism, its extensive promotion budget, and a passionate director.
Fox, who has been a luthier since the late 1960s remembered a time when "this craft didn't exist."
"No one would have imagined a show like this back then," said Fox. He attributes the growth of guitar building to a "mass building on itself and exploding."
According to him, "The level of excellence rises every year."
I wondered why, in such a down economy, prices for these instruments seemed to be rising. It was not unusual to find guitars in the $6,000 to $8,000 range.
"Prices are reflective of what people are willing to pay," he asserted. And who is buying these guitars? "Rich guys, baby boomers," says Fox.
At this level of quality and price even most professional musicians can't afford them. If they can, says Fox, "they don't take them out of their home."
For the most part, according to this builder, those who plunk down many thousands of dollars are "people who adore the craft and understand the significance of the work."
Those we saw at the show were mostly male and by opening time on Thursday, had nearly filled the ample room to begin ogling the instruments. The exceptions were three Canadian builders, Linda Manzer, Judy Threet and Kathy Wingert, who are internationally recognized.
Guitar aficionados will immediately notice that most of the instruments here are built with the finger-style guitarist in mind. Just a handful of dreadnaught-sized (think bluegrass music) guitars were on display. For the price of entry, visitors had the opportunity to play a dream instrument and perhaps redirect part of their 401k to a guitar purchase.
Builders said that while sales now may be slow due to the economy, visitors would remember a favorite builder and order an instrument when economic times improve.
Since the show is part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, it is an excellent time to visit our northern neighbor, sample the food, the music and perhaps dream of a day when an instrument built just for you arrives.
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