Calgary Guitar Collective: Demystifying Vintage Guitars with Reed Shimozawa

Vintage guitars and amps. What's the deal?

Are they better, or just for cork sniffing orthodontists and lawyers? Why are they so expensive, and can they possibly be worth it?

This clinic is open to everyone who is interested, regardless of their stance or experience with the subject matter!

Join us for a frank discussion about old gear, including the following topics:

How and why is the old stuff different from modern equipment?

Is it only for boomers and blues dentists?

Why has some of it increased in value so much?

Why is there so much interest in modern reissues of classic equipment?

Am I buying an investment or a musical instrument?

How do I convince my partner that I need one? (just kidding, this is up to you to figure out)

We will have a bunch of vintage guitars and amps from the legendary brands on hand, so you can see and hear the difference (or lack thereof?), and some of the attendees will get a chance to get their hands on guitars older than themselves.

About Reed Shimozawa

Reed has done just about everything you can do with a guitar in your hands.

He's been a touring musician, a signed recording artist (Zuckerbaby), a hired gun, a guitar teacher, and spent over 20 years in music retail, where he worked his way up to handpicking guitars and tops at the Gibson Custom Shop, visiting factories for Fender, Martin, Taylor, and Yamaha, and buying for one of Calgary's biggest stores. He's played everything from six-nights-a-week cover gigs across Alberta and BC to original bands that got signed to major label deals and had videos on MuchMusic. He currently performs with Classic Albums Live, faithfully recreating iconic albums note for note on stages across North America. Reed also freelances with a diverse group of artists, including Wide Mouth Mason, Kyle McKearney, One Bad Son, and Clayton Bellamy. He was also a founding member of late 80s rockers Smash LA.

Reed has one foot in the vintage camp but has also been an eager adopter of technology and modern gear. He uses both to get the job done. Through all of that, he's developed a deep knowledge of vintage guitars and amps - what makes them special, what to look for, what to avoid, and what you really shouldn't care about despite what the internet tells you.

About Calgary Guitar Collective

Calgary Guitar Collective is building a community for guitar players in Calgary. We run regular clinics, masterclasses, and social events every six weeks or so - bringing together players of all levels to learn from world-class musicians and connect face to face.

What to expect:

• Vintage guitar and amp show and tell with Reed Shimozawa
• Frank discussion and myth busting - what to care about and what not to
• Hands-on time with vintage instruments
• Networking and social - meet players and make friends
• Door prize draw

All levels welcome. Bring a friend.

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