Review 25

I recently took possession of a Tofino model guitar made in China, and imported by Mackenzie-Marr, those two somewhat swashbuckling entrepreneurs who appeared in January 2010 on C.B.C.’s Dragons Den with their proposal to sell guitars on-line. They “ambushed” one of the “dragons”, Kevin O’Leary, to test-drive their guitar and he was very enthusiastic about the instrument. Consequently, I was sufficiently intrigued to try the guitar and offer some impressions: First of all, John Marr is a very good front man. He responded quickly and openly to my every inquiry, both about the instrument itself, and about the details regarding shipment, payment etc. The instrument came from Montreal to Comox B.C. in perfect order, via Fedex. I had a week to decide whether or not to keep the guitar and can report that there is no way that Marr is getting it back. Initially I found the set-up a little higher than my Martin D-18, and John Marr offered to enlist, at his expense, the services of a local luthier to change that. But I quickly adapted and the “problem” disappeared. What has really impressed me is the Tofino’s big sound. It’s a lot of guitar, quite the equal of my Martin. To be sure the fit and finish of the Martin seems a little better, but we’re comparing a $4000 instrument with a $999 one. In short, the Tofino is everything and more that Mackenzie-Marr claim – a lot of guitar for a very attractive price.