Canadian Online Retailers...

[golfcartconspiracy]

Are there any Canadian guys here who struggle with picking up parts w/o going south of the border? I'd love to find a good place in Canada to get decent deals on odds and ends for my guitar projects.

[t_ross33]

www.greasygroove.com (http://www.thefret.net/www.greasygroove.com)

www.guitarpartscanada.com (http://www.thefret.net/www.guitarpartscanada.com)

I've never had a problem with good ol' Guitar Fetish (http://www.thefret.net/www.guitarfetish.com), even if they are South of the Border.

happy shopping... pictures of all future projects mandatory. ;)

[Blaze]

All kind of stuff here

http://www.projectguitar.com/ref/supply.htm

[ZMAN]

Hey GC you have to try my guy at Central music in Welland Ontario. They have just about everything. They deal with all of north america.
centralmusic.com

[golfcartconspiracy]

Thanks ZMAN, I'll have to check them out... I've heard you speak so well of them, that I actually feel like I know them!

[ZMAN]

Yes and the prices are always very good. If you take into consideration the price at Musicians Friend etc. and factor in the duties and exchange, even with the taxes and shipping you would be way ahead. Also you can ask Darren to take a look at the item and even set it up BEFORE you get it. They will make sure it is 100%. They give a free set up with all guitars.
They are also a Fulltone dealer, Gibson, and Fender Custom shop as well.

[golfcartconspiracy]

wow... they do sound like quite a decent little shop! I checked the website, and am planning to call the toll free number later on today... thanks again guys for all the info, I appreciate it a ton!

[ZMAN]

If you do ask for Darren and tell him that Brian Stewart Aka Zman sent you.

[golfcartconspiracy]

Yeah, I talked to a guy there about an hour ago. They didn't have what I was looking for, but they seemed very helpful and I will certainly look to them for future purchases. Thanks for the info Zman!

-gcc

ps - and I will be sure to mention that you sent me.

[ZMAN]

I talk to Darren almost every other day by email or phone. I give them a lot of business, and they deserve it. I am in the Niagara region and I am close to 10 shops and none of them have matched the prices or service.

[ZMAN]

What are you looking for? I was at the shop today dropping off a guitar for a set up. Darren had a gig last night and he was not there. I mentioned what I had told you and he said what I told you was correct.
I will be picking my guitar up tomorrow and if you let me know what you are looking for I can get a definite price and how long it would take to get it.
If it is in stock at the distributor andywher from a couple of days to a week max.
I noticed they had a Classic vibe 50s strat there.

[golfcartconspiracy]

Zman,

I'm looking for a set of gotoh vintage tuners for a right-handed strat. Just the basic ones (not height adjustable or locking). Also, I am looking for a set of conversion bushings to make the vintage tuners fit in the 10mm peg-holes on my right-handed strat.

here's the link to the tuners at StewMac (except I want the nickel/chrome ones): http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Gotoh_Vintage-style_Oval_Knob_Tuners_6-In-Line.html

and the conversion bushings should look something like this: http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/item/3458

If you could get a price, and a time-frame for getting ahold of the parts, that would be awesome! I'm still shopping around, but will definitely consider the info you gather.

-GCC

[ZMAN]

I will run that by him when I go there tomorrow. Are you in a hurry for the tuners. I am surprised the person on the phone didn't say he could get them.

[Blaze]

http://www.guitarpartscanada.com/index.php?cPath=27_37&osCsid=6c08db6d9aac08658fa40cf0f165761c

[golfcartconspiracy]

ZMAN,

I'm not in any great hurry to get the tuners. My wife is actually getting them for me for my B-day, so I wouldn't be able to put them on for a couple of months anyways. As for the guy on the phone, he said he could get "Grover" vintage tuners in... not a bad substitute, but not quite what I had my heart set on. Also, he said he wasn't sure if he could get the conversion rings at all. I'm interested to see what Darren says!



http://www.guitarpartscanada.com/index.php?cPath=27_37&osCsid=6c08db6d9aac08658fa40cf0f165761c


I have checked this website out, but had been warned not to use it by fellow posters over at strat-talk.com... apparently they have a terrible reputation for taking forever to get stuff shipped, though I don't know personally.

[ZMAN]

Hey GC: I had a call on my answering machine from Darren and he said my GT will need a Fret job. It had a couple of high frets when I got it and I asked him to take a look at it. Of course when he got the neck relief corrected the thing buzzed all over the place. I didn't get a chance to ask about the parts but I will email him and see what he says.

[golfcartconspiracy]

Hey Zman, no problem. I just appreciate the fact that you'd do this at all! I'm pretty excited, as I'll likely order as soon as I hear from you, and ordering is half the fun.

-gcc

ps - what is the "GT" you speak of... is it one of those race-car strats?

[ZMAN]

I talked to him and he said the closest thing they have is the actual Fender vintage tuners for about 80 bucks. As far as needing the bushings for those I am not sure. He thinks that Stew Mac is one of the only dealers who have them.
The GT is a Vintage Icon Gold Top Les Paul that I picked up. It was under 500 new and has P90s. It is made in Korea for a Company named JHS (John Hornby Skewes) in England. It is sold under the Vintage name. It looks as if it will need a fret dressing and I may end up changing the pickups to Mini humbuckers. The P90s are pretty noisey. But we shall see.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/Stewz/P1220151.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/Stewz/P1220149.jpg

[golfcartconspiracy]

Well, it looks like I may go ahead and place an order at "guitarpartscanada" (they've got the conversion bushings and the gotohs)... I've heard they can be slow in shipping, but this time around time shouldn't be a pressing issue. Thanks so much for all the leg-work though Zman, I'll definitely be using your shop in the future! Also, that Gold Top looks nice! I was surprised to hear that you plan on modding it (I always thought you were more of a bone-stock kind of guy), but I can totally understand your desire to harness the hum. It was kind of funny though, when I first read "GT" the first thing on my mind was one of these:

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/mustang-lounge/39466d1202427562-ford-shelby-gt-stratocaster-shelbygtstrat_wcase.jpg

I think you got a steal on your GT though!

[ZMAN]

I probably won't change them unless I can get a really good deal on the humbuckers. They need to be the same size as the p90s. The p90s are supposed to be "stacked" and therefore hum cancelling but they are not. I had Darren check them out. I had planned on a Gibson Gold Top but I saw this and jumped on it.
That is good that you found a Cannuck dealer. And no the only striped thing I own is my 68 Camaro.

[golfcartconspiracy]

well, I just placed the order, so now we will see how things go!

-gcc

ps - what color is your camaro? a '68 camaro is a sweet ride!

[ZMAN]

Click on my photos. I have a picture of my Camaro in there.
Good luck on the order. It would be interesting to see how long it takes.
From what I have read about these guys, it is an all too familiar way of doing business in Canada. I have had experience with many dealers who are just order processors. They advertise and when you order from them they group the orders together and send them through to US suppliers, and they get a discount on bulk orders. There is usually a fee added and shipping to them is free on large order from the supplier. They charge you shipping and when it comes to them out the order goes to you. No stock on hand.
I have seen this with aftermarket auto parts for my Camaros. I also know of a guy in Burlington Ont. who handles all the orders for Stanley tools in Canada. He makes a fantastic living and has a small office and one employee.

[golfcartconspiracy]

Wow Zman, I'm impressed, that's a beautiful camaro! You've also got some real gems in your guitar collection that I was unaware of...

[ZMAN]

Thanks GC. This is my 4th Camaro. The previous 3 were all 69 Z/28s. The last one was the best. Same colors but a 1969 Z with 30,000 original miles.
I sold it a couple of years ago because I didn't want to put miles on a museum piece. I was lucky enough to have owned a 69 Z brand new in 1969 when I graduated from college.
As far as the guitars go I am up to 19 Electrics and most of them are Gibson or Fender. I only got into Squiers a couple of years ago. I was kind of a snob about them, until I played a couple and could not believe the bang for the buck. I have 6 Squiers including an Esprit, and 5 Strats.
This is the Esprit, it was actually a Squier and has the Seymour duncan design pickups. My first experience with them and that is why I knew the SD101s on the Deluxe would be great as well.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/Stewz/Esprit.jpg

[golfcartconspiracy]

Wow, I've never seen a guitar quite like that Squier! I really like the body style of that guitar, kind of a gibson/PRS thing going on... how does it sound? I imagine with those pickups it would be similar to Les Paul or something like that.

[ZMAN]

It is Korean made and has the Seymour Duncan Design models of the SH4JB in the bridge, and the SH2Jazz in the neck. It is a set neck with a chambered body. It has some 335 tendencies, and can sound like a Les Paul as well. Being a double cut it is very easy to play and has a great feel on the neck. Binding on the body and neck. A little heavy but great tone.
I have it tuned down a whole stop and use it for my Robin Trower Blues stuff.
The original guitar was put out by Fender in 1994, and 1995. It was called the Robben Ford Elite and was a custom shop guitar in the 2 to 3000 range.
They didn't sell too well and came back in 2005 or so as Squiers. They also came in a solid black. They were in the 400 dollar range in the US and are really a 6 or 700 dollar guitar, in fit, feel and finish. Hard to find a case though they are in between a 335 and an LP in width. I have a classical case for mine. It has a pointed headstock like a flying V. I really like the guitar, but they are pretty rare up here in Canada.
I will have to take a clearer picture.

[golfcartconspiracy]

yeah, it's always a little wierd to me when Fender does the "Gibson" thing (Humbuckers, binding, 3+3 tuners...), but for some reason I'm really digging that guitar! Now that you mention it, I think I have seen pictures of the black model in an old Fender catalogue, but I absolutely love the burst!