MacKenzie & Marr Guitars - Who are those guys?
Here at MacKenzie & Marr Guitars we produce wonderful solid wood acoustic guitars. Until recently we only made one model “Tofino”- a Canadian Western red cedar top small jumbo - and our production was limited to a few hundred guitars a year so we sometimes (with apologies to Stuart McLean) refer to ourselves as “The World's Smallest Guitar Store”.
We're committed to playing our own tune because we think that's what it takes - to stand out in the crowd, to add real value to our instruments and to have our customers embrace us as friends.
For our first guitar we could have followed the herd – spruce top, rosewood back and sides, etc.... but does the world really need one more Martin D-28 “me too” knock-off? The MacKenzie & Marr “Tofino”, while paying tribute to the innovations of past masters with scalloped X- bracing and hand carved, precision dovetail fitted neck, breaks with tradition in both body shape and wood choices.
Playing a cedar-top Tofino for the first time is a revelation. But it's not going to happen in a guitar store. The only two places you can buy a MacKenzie & Marr guitar are at the company and over the Internet. Slightly inconvenient – its true, but knocking out the costs of retail distribution shaves $600 to $1,000 off the price of our guitar.
Lately we've been working on other models. We added a left-hand version of Tofino. We call it Nanaimo. Since quite a few members of the MacKenzie & Marr Clan (the easiest club in the world to join) asked about adding pickups we introduced an electrified cutaway - the Dionisio. It's available for late September. We've also discovered another gem of a factory that makes astounding hand made acoustics. With a bit or the "MacMarr magic dust" the promise to rival one-of-a-kind custom guitars. Stay tuned for details.
In June we rolled out our newest solid wood acoustic - the Ian Tyson Limited Edition, a spruce top guitar that's been getting great reviews from early adapters.
So in a nutshell:
We're a small company producing really great acoustic guitars at an almost affordable price. You can only buy our guitar over the Internet but, in the unlikely event you don't like it and send it back - we'll give you a full refund.
Speak with us on Skype
We can be reached live via Skype when the button reads "I'm Online".
Comments
"The Tofino Sound" .. sounded great on TV
Just some comments or questions to McKenzie or Marr and anyone else here:
I have been playing guitar on and off since 1970 ...
1.) I can't wait to buy one 6 String and .. perhaps sooner than later, a 12 String .. any special pricing, future loyalty discount ?
2.) It sounded great on the CBC TV program on Dragon's Den even though the first guitar's intonation / tuning was out. Did anybody else notice this or is my hearing
off :) ? But regardless, the Tofino guitar would be an excellent guitar to acquire, play, perform or collect.
3.) Hmm, how about an excellent version in 12-String, NOW, please ! IT WOULD SOUND FANTASTIC !!
4.) When can I buy a 12-string version this, HURRY UP !
5.) ANY future CUTAWAY versions with or without electronics ?
6.) Why is the Store CLOSED. Okay, so you are playing hard to get :) ?
7.) Please put up on your WEBSITE the demo with O'Leary. And other sound bites of the guitar.
8.) IT APPEARS THAT THIS Acoustic GUITAR HAS THE RARE ANS ELUSIVE SOUGHT AFTER GUITAR SOUND. TYPICALLY, found in most $2,000-5,000
guitars.
This "Tofino sound" .. even on TV sounds better than my Segull guitar or higher-end guitars.
Hey, O'Leary is a very good guitar player. I would like to invite him to a JAM in Etobicoke, Totenham or Hockley Valley ?
Hi GuitarSlayer, Is it
Hi GuitarSlayer,
Is it possible you like 12 string guitars? If so we're on the same page. And a cutaway with electrics? Have you been peeking in our sample room? How about a hand-made Adirondack spruce and Ankor Wat rosewood acoustic with beveled edges or a parlour guitar with a slot head?
Location???
I was wondering where the store is? Or warehouse that you would be shipping from? In my first comment I thought it was shipped out of the Water-loo, Kitchener area. But after reading your blog and more information, it is suggested that you would be shipping from Montreal Quebec. If so, would you consider using a different shipper besides UPS? I live 30 miles west of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, 2 miles from the Ontario/Quebec border. I could have your product overnight with Dicom. I do not work for Dicom and am in no way associated with their company, just use their services when ordering things from Quebec.
Ray
Hi Ray, We've been sorely
Hi Ray,
We've been sorely disappointed in Canada Post. They don't seem to be aware we live in the 21st Century. On the other hand UPS picks up when they say they will and gets our guitars to their new homes faster than they promise. We think that counts for a lot! We'll look at Dicom though. If my memory serves I believe they do a decent job within Quebec.
Our office is in Montreal as you gathered from our web site.
Best regards,
John
Guitar refund
If a person were to return their guitar to you guys, who would pay the shipping? For me the shipping is pretty hefty? $250.00 You should consider a cheaper way to ship. $250.00 to ship a guitar from southern Ontario to Northern Ontario seems to me a bit outrageous! It's only a 450 mile trip!
Ray
Hi again Ray, We ship guitars
Hi again Ray,
We ship guitars all over the country for less than $100. From our warehouse to you shouldn't be more than $60.
--John
ADENDUM - July 2010
We've signed contracts with UPS and FedEx that bring shipping costs way down. Sending guitars to urban destinations costs less than $40 and rural shipping doesn't run much more.
Company Info
I think this looks like a really nice guitar but navigating the site is very difficult. No direct email address to write to and no address or phone number for the company, something that would be very important for people to have before making a purchase. Also, you should include soundbites of the guitar.
Hi bluegrassgirl, Your
Hi bluegrassgirl,
Your comments are appreciated. The site was a bit ragged when you visited - kind of like Flatt without Scruggs. Contact links and the Store are now active. Sound clips and videos will be up in the new year. My partner, Jonathan is a big bluegrass fan so I hope the two of you get together one day to trade licks.
Best,
John
Guitar prices
I neglected to mention the actual price of a Tofino. The guitar sells for $1000.