Whether you enjoy classical, jazz, folk, rock, or something in between, the guitar has taken centre stage in the world of music for well over a century, leading to countless augmentations and innovations on the instrument. Showcase: Guitars features 25 guitars curated from NMC's collection, as well as items on loan from other collectors and musicians. With a selection of acoustic and electric instruments included, visitors will see a wide variety of bodies and styles on display, with an emphasis on instruments that were created, or collected in Canada, or played by prominent Canadian musicians.
Of those guitars, axe aficionados will see an acoustic guitar from k.d. lang that was custom-made by renowned Canadian luthier William “Grit” Laskin for her 1989 Absolute Torch and Twang tour, a rare 1970 electric guitar that belonged to Bill Henderson, lead singer and guitarist of the Canadian rock band Chilliwack, which was made by Mosrite, whose guitars are now coveted by collectors due to their high build quality and sound. Not to mention, guitars that belonged to Canadian legends, including Randy Bachman, Terri Clark, Anne Murray, Jimmy Rankin, and more.
Two Canadian guitar makers, Charles Brasher and Frank Gay, will also be highlighted, along with their respective guitars: a 1930 Hawaiian-style resonator and 1967 flamenco-style flat top acoustic. Both helped to form the very fabric of Canada’s music history yet never gained substantial international recognition.