It was 2022. I had just moved across the country from Edmonton, Alberta, to Montreal, Quebec, and I was working a remote tech job that I didn’t like very much. Outside my home office, Montreal was just starting to poke its head out of the Covid lockdowns, and a small taste of its arts and music scene planted a seed in my brain. I had to find something better to do than that tech job.
I stumbled across the Mile End Guitar Coop while searching for guitar stores. But this was clearly something more interesting than just a retail shop; their website explained that this was a cooperative of independent guitar builders.
The first time that people set foot in the shop, they often stop at the door for a moment in awe. That’s exactly what I did. The first thing I noticed was that the shop smelled really good—like wood and coffee. All around were tools, stacks of wood, machines, and guitars in various stages of the building process. I was shown around by Nicholas Brygidyr of NGB Guitars, a former coop member, and Brett Hawes, a current member who runs Belvedere Instruments. Nick and Brett showed me how they wind custom pickups. I was fascinated!
On another visit, I talked to Josh Greenberg of Larkspur Lutherie. He showed me his gypsy-jazz guitars, some of the loudest, clearest acoustic guitars I’ve played. I was introduced to Nic Delisle of Island Instruments and held some of his retro-inspired electric guitars.
“One of the most valuable aspects of the Mile End Guitar Coop is the sharing of ideas.”
I also met the founders of the coop: Mike Kennedy of Michael Kennedy Guitars and Jeremy Clark of 52 Instruments. Mike and Jeremy told me how they started the coop in 2008 after apprenticing with renowned builder Sergei de Jonge; the coop was built partly to continue this long tradition of passing on experience to newcomers. While I was there, I watched Mike bend sides for a guitar. The smell of heat and steam through Indian rosewood was delicious, and something I remember to this day!
Over the course of the next several months, I learned how to build an acoustic guitar as Mike’s apprentice—an invaluable experience. Eventually, a spot opened up for me in the coop and I became a full member. Since then, I quit my tech job, and for the past couple of years, I’ve been building my own Ursa Instruments banjos and doing repairs for local musicians. I’ve got some guitar builds on the way, too!
I always dreamed of building instruments, but the barriers to entry seemed insurmountable. First, I would need to learn the craft. Then, I’d need to set up my own shop, pay rent, and buy machines and tools—all this before even thinking about where to find customers. I know I speak for all my shopmates when I say that without the support of the coop, most of us wouldn’t be able to do this.
We often get asked by other builders about the logistics of setting up a coop. We are legally designated as a cooperative, and we share many expenses, the largest being rent. But that’s just the legal side of things. One of the most valuable aspects of the Mile End Guitar Coop is the sharing of ideas. Despite the fact that we all have our own business, everyone is eager to share. Techniques are developed and spread around the shop. For instance, a method of laminating guitar sides known as “structured sides” was incubated in this shop. I believe I’m the first person to use this technique for banjo rims! I’ve also learned a lot about the testing of the acoustic properties of wood, mainly from Jeremy, who has developed a simple system of measuring the stiffness of guitar tops.
Another one of my mentors in the shop is Lenny Piroth-Robert of Daddy Mojo Instruments. Every aspect, from the wood, to the paint, to each knob, is chosen with an uncompromising eye. Lenny has also built a few electric banjos, and we’ve traded notes about banjo neck carving and setup. I’d also like to give a shoutout to my other shopmates: Morgan Deslongchamps (Deslongchamps Guitars), Oliver Duval-Quinn (Quinn Guitars), and Mathieu Dallaire-Walker (Dallaire-Walker Lutherie)—all doing world-class work.
Beyond just being a workshop, we also want the coop to facilitate music from local and travelling musicians. We host about one show each month in the shop. These shows are intimate affairs where everyone sits on the floor under lamplight and listens to an acoustic performance. We want the coop to be a community hub for musicians and builders.
The Mile End Guitar Coop is a very special place to myself, my shopmates, and the many people around the world who play our instruments. Next time you’re thinking about ordering a custom instrument, whether it be an acoustic guitar, classical guitar, banjo, or something else, consider one of us. Or, if you’re in Montreal, get in touch, and we’ll schedule a visit.
