Home
What we sell
What we teach
What we publish
Who We Are
Who We Were
Contact
Newsletter
Repairs
OFC Choir
Folkwalk
Links
Join Our Mailing List
Email:

guitarinside
R E S O N A T E
The Ottawa Folklore Centre Ltd. Newsletter February /March 2010

In this issue:

Guitar Wizard Frank Vignola Playing the Elmdale Tavern!

The Pipeline with Ross "The Tartan Spartan"

NEW LINES: Eastman Archtop Guitars and Mandolins & Deering Banjos

Cute Factor "New Arrival" - Hohner Ariette Cajun Accordion

News and Gossip From the Music School

OFC Art Gallery: Audrey and Alan Bain

EASTWOOD AIRLINE '59 2P, CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS, USED

Right Hand Spanish Triplet Video Lesson with James Cohen

Trad Concert of the Month: Finest Kind in Concert: Feb 27th, 8pm

Funlink for Guitar Monkeys


 

Prima Harp
primaharp
The Prima 38 harp distinguishes itself from other harps in its class with a gracious profile and warm, resonating sound. The slender body of the harp and the balanced string tension make it a wonderful instrument to play. The Prima 38 is also a versatile choice for the harpist who needs an easily transportable instrument. This instrument is fitted with full performance levers.

Now $3500 CAN (from $4500)

More Harps Here!


Greetings!

  What is a hand-built guitar? What makes it worth the thousands of dollars they cost? Why are some hand-built guitars $1500 and others $15,000?

  A guitar built by one pair of hands, usually attached to a person called a luthier, reflects the level of woodworking competence, artistic ability and the quality of their ear. Luthiers choose their design, woods, techniques and patience based on experience. Generally, the greater the experience, the better the instrument. It is quite rare for someone's first guitar to be sellable. Indeed it often takes four or five instruments for a builder to understand the impact of certain choices and, as a hand-built guitar must survive the ravages of time, it takes time for a builder's choices to reflect that passing time.

  The world of guitar building is a conservative world. Design changes, wood uses, special touches, are often frowned upon until they are proven both useful and solid. New builders who have chosen to change the shape, bracing pattern, woods used or some other tradition, must prove their choices over the years and often have to retreat to the world of the proven before they introduce an innovation. We've had a few builders who have flaunted tradition and, even though the craftsmanship is acceptable, the designs aren't. If the builder is adamant about his innovations, buyers can often pick up an excellent guitar for relatively little money. If you want to be sure about your purchase, choose a builder with a good, time-based reputation. Each summer, just before the Montreal Jazz Festival, the city hosts one of the finest guitar shows I've ever seen. It's an invitational; all the participants have been chosen by the organizers, and the quality is both fantastic and overwhelming. Over 100 acoustic builders show their wares at the Palais des Congres. It's a wonderful opportunity to see the best builders in North America.

  So how do you choose who will build your guitar? Sometimes, the choice is made for you. I have a guitar by Marc Beneteau and one by Oskar Graf. Both builders insisted I buy one of theirs and both guitars are as different as an Islay scotch and a Highland scotch. But, both builders are local and, if I need some work done under their warranty, I don't have to ship the guitar to Peoria or North Hobunk. Currently, we have a fine selection of hand-built guitars by folks like Sergei de Jonge, George Rizsznyi and others with custom built guitars available from Oskar Graf, Grit Laskin and others.

  If it's the guitar of your life that you're looking for, come and let us introduce you!

  

Arthur


  • Guitar Wizard Frank Vignola Playing the Elmdale Tavern!
  • frankv

       Frank Vignola is coming to Ottawa! Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi- dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank's pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet. Frank has been featured on Atlantic, Sony and Warner Brothers Records with the likes of Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton Marsalis. You may also have heard him jamming with David Grisman, as Les Paul's right hand man or leading his own groups throughout the years. Frank has certainly proved himself to be in the elite creating his own unique sound.

      Standing room only. Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 8:00 p.m. Elmdale House - 1084 Wellington Street West NOTE: Elmdale House is AGE 19+

    You can get tickets at www.fingerstyleguitar.com

    More on the Fingerstyle Guitar Society
  • The Pipeline with Ross "The Tartan Spartan"
  • Pipeline

      The winningest piper in history is coming to Ottawa!

      Come join Alasdair Gillies for a day of piping on March 27th. The morning kicks off with a workshop (location TBA). Later that evening Alasdair will judge the Glengarry Cup; a premiere piping contest for upper echelon players. After the contest he will present a recital.

      Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies served 17 years as piper and Pipe Major with the Queen's Own Highlanders. He has had an astounding number of successes at piping competitions, winning more Highland bagpiping championships than anyone in recent history. He won the Inverness Former Winners MSR eleven times between 1986 to 2005. In 2002, he won the Glenfiddich Championship MSR for the sixth time. Readers of Piper & Drummer magazine named Alasdair as the best piper of the 20th century. Alasdair is also in demand as a teacher and piping competition judge. For more than twelve years, he was director of the piping program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Spirit of Scotland, an all star Grade 1 pipe band comprised of the world's top solo players dedicated to competing at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships.

      For more information on this world champion piper, go tohttp: //www.alasdairgillies.com/bio.htm

    To find out more about the event, visit www.ppbso-ottawa.com. You won't want to miss this afternoon of excellence. Put it on your calendar now!!

       Ross "The Tartan Spartan"

  • NEW LINES: Eastman Archtop Guitars and Mandolins & Deering Banjos
  • deering

    The Ottawa Folklore Centre is pleased to announce that it will be offering two great instrument lines which had previously been unavailable in Ottawa:

    Deering
    Banjo players! We've recently received our first full fledged Deering instrument, the Vega Senator. We're hoping to grow this area of our store and offer more top of the line banjos for our valued banjo customers. Come on in and try the Vega Senator. Let us know what you think of its quality and feel. Perhaps we can look up what models are offered that have all the features you've been wanting in an instrument.

    Eastman Archtop Guitars and Mandolins
    Our first order as a new dealer has been placed and we now have but to wait for the instruments to start trickling in. We've been hearing about the amazing quality and craftsmanship of these instruments for a few years now and have recently chosen to represent them here in Ottawa. These all-solid, carved archtop guitars and mandolins are true professional level instruments, period. Oh yeah, and the pricing is pretty good too. We do have a couple of pieces in stock right now with more great instruments to come.

    Come on in and try them out.

  • Cute Factor "New Arrival" - Hohner Ariette Cajun Accordion
  • arriette

    A great accordion for the Cajun sound and other folk styles, Hohner's Ariette has a traditional design with four treble stops, open key mechanism and Cajun tuning. The perfect beginner's accordion, the Ariette includes a shoulder strap and carrying case.

    Plus, it's super cute!

  • News and Gossip From the Music School
  • maddie

      Well, the school is hopping this year and I'm really happy to see that the new hand drumming class is such a hit. It's a very specific style of hand drums (West Ghanaian) so we weren't sure what people would think, but a sellout on a first try is definitely some positive feedback! Congratulations to Dave Bossmin for bringing this class to the OFC. Also, Uke fever is still going strong at OFC and beyond with our own Jesse Greene taking the Uke gospel out to Greely, On, where she's working with a school group out there. Chris White (founder of the Ottawa Folk Festival) has started up a beginner class here at the store. Go Chris! Go Ukulele.

       Congratulations also go out to Kara Askwith, one of our many student alumni, for her first cd release. It was produced by former teacher alumni Victor Nesrallah at his studio here in Ottawa. A great first effort for Kara. Also, "A Tune for Maddie" the newest children's book release from Wendy Moore is available in the store or for purchase online. Wendy is the main conspirator of the Celtic Rathskallions, a very popular kids' touring group that includes our own Arthur McGregor and Paul Mills. She is also a top of the line competitive swimmer. Very busy bee indeed! Congratulations for a truly beautiful book and a great follow up to the first offering, "Maddie's Moon".

       "A Tune for Maddie is an enchanting story about hope, perseverance and the power of music to change the heart. Maddie is my hero. And her story makes me much more pleasantly disposed toward snakes, as well. Maddie reminds us that we are richer not for what we have but for what we give".
    Shelagh Rogers, Host, The Next Chapter, CBC Radio One

    Take care everyone.

    Alan

    More on Maddie and the Rathskallions
  • OFC Art Gallery: Audrey and Alan Bain
  • darkwoods

      Audrey Bain is a "plein aire" painter in acrylics. Her works are varied and reflect her response to family ties, social concerns, scenes of nature, images of rural Ontario and the Canadian landscape. Audrey has garnered a number of awards for her work; among them:

    • HONORABLE MENTION Cornwall Regional Art
    • NATIONAL TRUST AWARD, Tom Thomson Memorial
    • PURCHASE AWARD, Exhibition 80, Cornwall Arts
    • 2008 Honourable Mention ECOAA Juried Exhibition
    • 2009 Second Place Acrylics OAA Juried Exhibition

      Alan Bain specializes with paintings of the boreal forest regions of Canada; the vast silent northern landscape. His recent paintings are the result of a series of visits to the Algonquin Park region of Ontario. During the fall, winter and spring of 2009 - 2010 Alan visited Algonquin four times, so these paintings catch the fall colours, the heavy January snowfalls and the early spring breakup. Alan has also won numerous awards; among them:

    • 2007, 2008, 2009 Honorable Mention Ottawa Art Association
    • 2008, 2009 Honorable Mention ECOAA Juried Exhibitions
    • 1998 and 2010 Best of Show Massena Artists Guild
    • 1998 and 2007 President's Award OWS Juried Exhibition

    The gallery space is open Monday - Friday 2pm to 9pm, Saturday from 9:30am-5pm and Sundays from noon to 5pm. Downstairs in the school.

  • EASTWOOD AIRLINE '59 2P, CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS, USED
  • airline1

    This great looking guitar has been improved with Gibson Burstbucker Pickups and a custom rewiring of the pickups with pole switches. In its current configuration, it offers a large palate of really useful tones. A true player's instrument (Airline guitars have been popularized by many players such as David Bowie and the Cure, and most recently by Jack White of the White Stripes).

    Body: Tone Chambered Mahogany Neck: Bound Maple, Bolt-on Fingerboard: Rosewood, Block Markers Scale Length: 25 1/2" (648mm) Width at Nut: 1 11/16" Pickups: Gibson BurstBucker Pickups custom wired with pole switches (not original manufacturer's specs) Switching: 3-Way, Vintage Switchplate Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 1 Master Volume (plus added pole position switches) Bridge: Tune-O-Matic, Custom Chrome Tail Hardware: Vintage Kluson Style Nickel/Chrome

    Only $650.00 CAN

  • Right Hand Spanish Triplet Video Lesson with James Cohen
  •   Traditional Flamenco music has some of the coolest right hand techniques for guitar players. Join James for a short demo of the triplet pattern.

    He makes it look so simple!

    Note: James is now offering online lessons with Skype through the Ottawa Folklore Centre. If you're interested in setting some up, please contact Alan at 613-730-2887 ext 819 for scheduling and payment info.

    Ole!

    Click here for the Demo Download
  • Trad Concert of the Month: Finest Kind in Concert: Feb 27th, 8pm
  • finest

      Finest Kind is the remarkable folk trio from Ottawa, Canada whose exquisite harmony singing and brilliant vocal arrangements are bringing a fresh sense of excitement and discovery to the performance of old songs. The trio's glorious sound, served up with easy-going humour, has won a devoted following across North America.

    Saturday, February 27th, 8:00pm, First Unitarian Church, 30 Cleary Ave.

  • Funlink for Guitar Monkeys
  • finches

    Don't usually do this, but how often do you see 40 wild birds playing a Gibson Les Paul?!! It's a live art installation from a contemporary French artist by the name of Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Spend a little time on the BBC site afterward just to appease the link gods.

    Nice Solo!

    Click Here Or On The Pic
    :: 613-730-2887