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33 · Friday, November 20, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Luthier ready for solo show after four years small D in shell at the end of the neck, Ilton became serious about learning the marking it as one of his own. The secret to making a good guitar is the craft. Early on into his course, he built a 500-foot workshop, also assembling many wood, he said. Not just for the front and of the tools he would need for guitar mak- back, but also for the neck. "I hand select each piece of wood," he ing. "I didn't want to just leave Tony's with a said. "The most important thing is its tonal guitar," he said. "I wanted to leave Tony's quality." Ilton's music of choice with the knowledge of is folk. He often takes how to make one on my "It takes a special type of one of his guitars with own, so I did one at home person to enjoy this sort of him to concerts, with the while I was taking the thing. Once you get into it featured act sometimes course. I've been making and see it is possible, it is taking a few minutes them ever since." after the show to give the He spent a year under amazing." instrument a try. Karol's direct tutelage, Two summers ago, taking a three-hour class Doug Ilton Oakville luthier Ilton asked legend Rik once a week. Emmett to autograph his He has built 12 guitars since 2005. Ilton estimates he spends about guitar case after a concert in Huntsville. 250 hours on each instrument. The dura- Emmett spotted Ilton's guitar and asked to tion is about a year, from the selection of play it. "I told him I make guitars, and he signed wood to when the strings are put on. Prices of the instruments range from $2,000 to my case and I picked up my guitar to leave, and he asked to see my guitar," Ilton $4,000. "For me it is the ultimate woodworking recalled. "He looked at it and said, `Wow, you experience," he said. "It takes a special type of person to really enjoy this sort of thing. don't mess around, do you buddy?' He Once you get into it and see it is possible, it picked it up and played the most lovely song, and for me, that was the most aweis amazing." He adds special touches that make his some thing.... It would be the ultimate if guitars unique, such as Australian shell Rik Emmett bought one of my guitars." Finally, after years of honing his craft, used on the rosette. And each guitar has a Continued from page 32 Ilton is going public with his instruments. He is hosting a custom guitar show at Moonshine Café, 157 Kerr St. on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 3-6 p.m. The show will also feature several guitars by his mentor, Tony Karol, as well as vintage guitars owned by a Moonshine regular. "The Moonshine is my first expose," Ilton said. "I'd like to have musicians come and try out my guitars. This is an expose first, and selling my guitars second. If I don't sell any, I don't care. I just want people to know who I am and that there is a luthier in Oakville who makes fine instruments." "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" See Builder page 34 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a The YMCA of Oakville Board of Directors and staff invite you to attend the Breakfast for Peace Join us Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 from 7:30 to 9:00 am as we celebrate Miss Molly Burke, our Youth Recipient of this years Peace Medal for her fundraising and awareness efforts both for International programs and The Foundation Fighting Blindness. Presentation: About TAG ­ Together as Girls Entertainment: Folk Singer Elyse Simpson and The Morden School Choir Sponsored by Tickets: $10 Purchase tickets at the Y at 410 Rebecca Street, or call Sabrina Casciani at 905­845­5597 ext. 331 for Visa/MC/Amex orders. Miss Molly Burke 905-845-3417 410 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca OB091111