Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

rdm_chem

rdm_chem

New member
Dear All,

I'm going next week to Canada and will spend some days there.

I would like to bring a nice effect pedal, from a Canadian company as a "souvenir" ... something nice

I could find a long list of Canadian manufacturers. Some of them are at Amazon.com, some not.

Would you have any experience to share with these brands?


I really would like to receive your comments about these manufacturers and their pedals.

Thank you for your help! :)
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

I think Radial make fantastic stuff. The Hot British Tonebone and Vienna Chorus I've had were both excellent. No nonsense, great sounding, and built like they mean it.
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

Empress effects are fantastic! Expensive, but super super high quality. Their Buffer+ is a really useful piece of kit, especially because it adds a buffer at the beginning and end of your chain (depending of course on where you place it) and the boost is nice. Their Compressor and ParaEQ are often seen as some of the absolute best of that effect type, and I know a few people that use their tape delay and tremolo and preach about it wherever they can.
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

Where in Canada are you going? Some of these brands are hard to find outside their respective regions. If your anywhere around here I'd gladly recommend some stores for you.

From my personal experience:

Radial's are great and built like tanks, Vienne chorus is superb.
Diamond are fantastic, more boutique-y
Empress are a tone-tweakers dream
Retro-Sonic are some of the best 'classic clones plus' pedals around. I've had dealings with the owner many times.

^^That's pretty much in order of availability as well.
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

Kamanda~SD said:
Where in Canada are you going? Some of these brands are hard to find outside their respective regions. If your anywhere around here I'd gladly recommend some stores for you.

From my personal experience:

Radial's are great and built like tanks, Vienne chorus is superb.
Diamond are fantastic, more boutique-y
Empress are a tone-tweakers dream
Retro-Sonic are some of the best 'classic clones plus' pedals around. I've had dealings with the owner many times.

^^That's pretty much in order of availability as well.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply Kamanda. I'm spending some days in Ottawa and some days in Montreal. What places would you recommend in these places?

Thank you!
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

I can't speak for Montreal as I don't go to the music stores often there (and probably either will you, too much fun to be had there), but for Ottawa... Well you have the obvious ones in both (the big guys) Steve's, Long & Mcquade etc. BUT since your looking for pedals:

-LAUZON MUSIC. It's the 'boutique' store in the city, drool central. Go ask someone to play a Steinway for you while you're there. I've never heard something so beautiful in my life. Also, TONS of boutique pedals, lots of Canadian options as well. Good knowledge too (if Shane still works there your in for a treat...he's a pedal guru). you will also find the store is almost exclusive to $2k + Guitars, all of which they will gladly let you try. Great place.

-The Long & McQuade in Kanata (West suburb of Ottawa) has a better selection than the one in the middle of the city by far. Diamond and Empress there.

-Spaceman Music for the used stuff...probably wont find a whole lot of boutique pedals there though.

-----

Seriously, if there's one store in the city you can go to, make it Lauzon. That area of town is great too, great record store (Legend Records) lots of good eats and pubs there too.

ALSO, if your looking for a cool bar and love perogies (and pinball!) Check out House of Targ.
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

Solid Gold FX is based in Montreal. They make great stuff. I just recently found their N.O.B. Treble Booster in a local pawn shop and put it on layaway. It's been discontinued since 2010 so never expected to see it again. Haven't tried their newer stuff because there aren't any dealers near me that carry them. I did like their current fuzz offerings based on the videos I found on YouTube though.
 
Re: Canadian manufacturer - Guitar effects

Lazarus1140 said:
Solid Gold makes good stuff.
Click to expand...

I notice their prices seem pretty reasonable too.

Also, if you are visiting the Toronto area there's tons of great little music stores. I particularly recommend this place called Paul's Boutique. It's mostly used and vintage gear but some new stuff too. They have some pedals from local builders too.
 
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