Pics and Vids from Montreal Guitar Show 2010 Somogyi/Kostal/Greenfield content
 

So, I’m back in the UK, still slightly jet-lagged after a long trip home. This year’s Montreal Guitar Show has been an absolutely fantastic experience on so many levels and in this “report” I’ll attempt to share with you some of the sights and sounds that I experienced over the weekend.

Sunrise on Day 1

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Playing the new "Andamento" modified dreadnought by Ervin Somogyi

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Enjoying a Modified Dreadnought (Madrose/Italian) by Jason Kostal

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Checking out the new Greenfield G1 DADGAD model at Mike's shop (Malaysian blackwood/lutz) built for Tony McManus

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At Mike Greenfield's shop with Ervin Somogyi and Jason Kostal checking out Andy Mckee's new harp guitar

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for more info on this rare beast go to http://www.greenfieldguitars.com/gre...ction=66&par=g

Lammy and programme for show

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Programme for Day 1

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With Brent McElroy and his good lady, I really enjoyed playing his "neoteric" model

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The back of the new "Andamento" modified dreadnought by Ervin Somogyi in flamed maple.

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And finally, here's a video of me warming up for the Somogyi mini-concert the following day. I'm playing the new Andamento pictured above which is a truly astonishing guitar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju96BHsY5EI

More tomorrow...

Great stuff Michael, looks like you had a great time!!

Oh yes indeed! There'll be more pics/vids and a bit of text too at some point tomorrow.:)

Michael,
Thanks for your post. Great playing.
LC

Really great playing. It is on par with the quality of guitar you were playing!

Awesome pics! Did you get to see Ciluzzi or Dobson play?

Ah shoot, wish I could see that harp guitar up close!
Nice playing!

Part 2....
 

OK, here's some more pics of days one and two, first of all though I'd like to thank you guys for the positive feedback, especially you Larry, that means a lot. Fingerstylist, I didn't get the chance to check out that many of the mini-concerts while I was there I'm afraid but I loved what I did see, the standard of playing and building this year was exceptional! Cue Zephyr, Andy's new harp guitar is a masterpiece and it was wonderful to hear it in action when Andy played a show as part of the festival. So, here's some more pics...

With Jeremy Jenkins of Austin Texas I really enjoyed playing his guitars this year.

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Me and Jeff Traugott I FINALLY got to play some of his guitars!!

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With the wonderful George Lowden he'd brought 2 guitars he'd built personally that were lovely

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The line-up for day 2

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With the AMAZING Charlie Hunter he was here to pick up his new guitar from Jeff Traugott. It's jaw-droppingly good!! He also played mini-concerts for Jeff and Ken Parker

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Putting a Somogyi flamenco guitar through its paces

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in part 3 I'll write in-depth about some of the incredible guitars that blew my mind at this year's fantastic show...

Great pics and Video, Michael.

The new andamento is again jaw-dropping, but I cannot understand how Ervin can let a beginner play it :lol::lol::lol:

Great playing!

You are a very happy camper!! I will admit the Somogyi aesthetic is one I don't share, though the flemenco is very nice!;)

Michael - this is porn or the very highest order!

Gasping for part 3: It's rare that someone has been able to play such a smorgasbord of high-end guitars (especially from the UK) so those of us back home are waiting to hear what you say about them; the Kostal guitar sounded pretty great on your u-tube clip...no doubt helped by your stellar playing.

cheers,
Steve

Excellent stuff Michael. That Greenfield looks quite small in comparison to the Modified Dreadnoughts; is that just camera perspective?. Tell us about Jason Kostal, his work looks top drawer, how does it sound?
Cheers
Vic

Amazing! Thanks for posting.. what an amazing level of talented builders in one room.. wow!

I sat in on several of your mini concerts while attending the montreal show. Needless to say, you are a very gifted and blessed individual. Keep up the good work man!

Cool pics and wonderful playing Michael. I enjoyed it very much.

OK, part 3, this is where I get to tell you about the guitars right?! (the following shots were taken from the Montreal Guitar Show site)

Well, I must say that I was blown away by the quality of what was on show, some stand-out instruments for me this year were:

Kathy Wingert's "klimt" guitar on the right, the little uke in front pretty much broke my heart too!

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Mike Greenfield's work has hit new peaks of genius with the harp guitar for Andy Mckee

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George Lowden's solo built guitars were absolutely lovely and a reminder of the roots of the Lowden company.

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Michi Matsuda's flamenco guitar (right) showing his characteristically audacious design!

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Sheldon Schwartz's work was drawing a lot of attention, especially his "Oracle" model (left and right!)

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I was very, very happy to finally get the chance to play Jeff Traugott's guitars, it was worth the wait!

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Ken Parker's feather-light archtop was gorgeous!

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Linda Manzer's work was beautiful as always, the inlay on the Metheny model (by the very talented Mark Kett) is just gorgeous

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Jenkins & Son are making some wild looking little guitars that sound wonderful

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and John Osthoff's work was very beautiful.

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As I said, the standard of building was extremely high and it was interesting to note the effect that the new rules governing the use of Brazilian rosewood were having. This year some of my favourite guitars were built from maple, the Somogyi "Andamento" modified dreadnought, Linda Manzer's maple "Manzer" were excellent and further proof (if any were needed) of what a wonderful material maple can be in the hands of someone who really knows what they're doing.

So, here ends part 3, in part four I'll tell you more about the two instruments which stood out for me this year...

Well, once you learn to associate the visuals with THAT sound it all sort of falls into place!

I think I'm right in saying that Mike's G1 is slightly smaller than the Mod-d design. More about the erstwhile Mr Kostal in the next post

Thank you, this means a great deal to me, next time come and say hi, it's always nice to meet an AGF member!

Michael,

Great posts - great playing - great guitars.

Ian

greats pics. thank you. great one with charlie. great playing

Thanks for the awesome posts, Micheal! Your Sobell topic was a pleasant and this is just as wonderful. Thanks again for taking the time to post about these experiences. Great playing, too!

Hi Michael,
Thanks for the report, some beautiful instruments on show. Do have any more details on the 2 Lowdens, which I believe were built by George specifically for Montreal? Also, did you get to play them?

Thanks,
Drew

Well, we've arrived at part four in which I would like to tell you a couple of little stories...

I'm walking through the main square with Ervin Somogyi on the way to the exhibition centre when we stop to watch a pair of acrobats on a trapeze.

A crowd had gathered and in order to get it out of everyone's way I put my hand on the Carlton case containing the "Andamento" guitar that was hanging from my shoulder. I was shocked to feel the guitar growling in sympathy to the tiny P.A system that was playing the accompanying music for the acrobats' show (very quietly!). The guitar was literally roaring in the case!!

Now THAT'S responsive!

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The sheer amount of work in this masterpiece is also worthy of mention. Each one of the tiny squares in the pattern is a mosaic made up of at least 200 separate tiles. And remember, this is in MAPLE where you can't cover any mistakes/slips as easily as you can with rosewood for example if at all.

The first time I played a Somogyi guitar was an eye and ear opening experience for me and I'll never forget it. From the very first Modified dreadnought to the brand new Andamento they have had a power, beauty and response that stays with you.

The other guitar that left an impression on me is the modified dreadnought built by Jason Kostal

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/u...964_507208.jpg

I had met Jason at last year's show (he is about to finish his apprenticeship with Ervin Somogyi) and he had mentioned that he was planning to have one of his guitars with him at this year's show. What I wasn't aware of at the time was Jason's background both as a player and as a builder, he is a very gifted musician who has studied with some of the greats of the steel-string world including Michael Hedges, Billy Mclaughlin and Leo Kottke, he studied luthiery at the prestigious Roberto-Venn school and then went on to teach there before honing his already considerable talent under the guidance of Ervin Somogyi. And it shows!

The guitar that Jason had brought with him was very new indeed but already sounded truly excellent, powerful, balanced, explosive... well, you decide here it is (watch out for a Somogyi cameo!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9L4SleW1fs

So it only remains for me to thank Jacques-Andre Dupont or Guitarjunky as we know him here on the AGF for his tireless enthusiasm and love for the guitar and his incredibly hard work as director of the Montreal Guitar Show. It was a great success. There is a lot I've had to leave out and other things that have sparked events since that I will post about in the future, for the time being thank you for reading and I hope to see you at next year's show!

Michael Watts

Hi Drew,
I did indeed play the steel-string that George had with him. It was lovely, and it did sound /feel and look like a very classy Lowden guitar with a little something else in the mix too. George Lowden is a very important person in the history of the modern steel-string guitar and it was a pleasure to spend time with him.

The Somogyi may be growing on me-

Great pics and thoughtful write-up. Thanks for for the great reading and viewing.

Great playing Michael, really enjoyed watching you and seeing those amazing guitars.

yup, they do that!

Mike, you jammy git ;)

Lovely playing on the video clip!

How's the Junction, by the way? Send them all my regards :)

Thank you Elfina. I'm glad you enjoyed it.