2022 SPONSORS
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EXHIBITORS LIST
(alphabetical by company name)
Emmet McKusker
Joshua Harms
Graham Miller
1985 Guitar Co
Graham never imagined that his lifelong dream of working on guitars would have been such an adventure. From Spain to Vancouver, and Victoria to Montreal, he has been fortunate enough to have worked in some amazing places and met some even more amazing people along the way. What started years ago as a lofty dream has become a daily reality.
It all started with a trip to Spain to build his first guitar on the Southern Coast in a little town called La Herradura.
After returning from Spain Graham was lucky enough to work alongside Paul Iverson in North Vancouver, repairing and setting up guitars. Paul has been professionally working on guitars for over 40 years and is considered one of the best in the business. It is Paul’s experience, mentorship, and friendship that Graham credits his own skills and success with.
In 2019 Graham and his wife Shay moved back to their home of Victoria to have their first child Mays, and opened up shop. Since then he has built a reputation for his excellent setups, repairs, and friendly service.
In 2021 Graham got the amazing opportunity to spend some time at Mile End Guitar Coop in Montreal working beside some of the best Luthiers in Canada.
With the little spare time he has between client jobs and family he picks away at a few of his own builds.
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Filip Pietruszewski
Capital City Transistor and Valve
Filip started Capital City Transistor and Valve in Montreal out of his apartment, building and modifying pedals, guitars, and synthesizers for local musicians. Since then he's opened up shop in Victoria offering his services to anyone desperate for a competent technician.
He designs and manufactures synthesizers, pedals, drone machines and lighting rigs in his Rock Bay workshop. He employs advanced techniques including microsoldering and firmware modifications along with CAM design using 3d printing and laser cutting. His regular customers include Trent Reznor, Men Without Hats, Astrocolor, and Dark Sparkler.
Emmet McKusker Guitars
An avid guitar player, Emmet McCusker has been making musical instruments since 2005. Initially an electric guitar maker, he switched focus to acoustic guitars in 2009. Emmet has studied with David Freeman, Tom Ribbecke and most recently has worked with Wyatt Wilkie. Current acoustic instruments include OM, 000, and Parlour sized guitars, A-style mandolins and electric guitars. His studio is located on the edge of a wild ravine in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, overlooking a coho salmon spawning stream.
Studio tours are welcome!
Bernard Funston
Funston Guitars
Bernard Funston began building guitars about 20 years ago, at the suggestion of his then-young children. He launched Funston Guitars in 2005 to begin selling his instruments in a market seldom considered by others: the circumpolar North, including northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland. His repertoire includes mandolins flamenco, classical, steel string acoustic, solid body and hollow body electric guitars. Funston instruments have made their way into the hands of musicians all over the world. In September 2011 a Funston guitar, commissioned by the University of the Arctic, was presented to Vladimir Putin in Arkhangelsk, Russia to promote Arctic dialogue and cooperation. In 2020 two Funston mandolins were included in the twelve instruments produced from paulownia for the President Carter Legacy Collection. Funston’s work has been showcased in guitar shows, winning the People's Choice Award at the Ottawa Guitar Show in 2014.
Luc Cuypers
The Guitar Stand Guy
Born a long time ago in Antwerp, Belgium, to a very serious dad and a somewhat ditzy mom. On serious dad's prompting, got a seriously boring degree (chemistry), followed by several boring years at what is now the European patents institute. Went back to school & got a far more interesting degree (oceanography), left Europe & came to Canada. Yippie, great mountains to hang-glide from. Jobs in science, construction, oil patch, & more. Like to hike, ride my mountain bike, & putter around in my workshop where I build my creations, mostly guitar stands. That's it, folks.