RIP Gar Gillies

[whitegreyblack]

Gar Gillies, the man who made Garnet amps and helped Randy Bachman define "the" Canadian rock guitar tone of the 70's, passed away on Dec 23rd.

Not sure if anyone has posted about this previously, I just found out about it this morning.

I'm very saddened. I have a Garnet Deputy II head and 2x15 bass cab I acquired in 1999, and was hoping to make a trip out to Winnipeg this year to visit Gar's shop and have him "re-certify" the head for me (in recent years I've seen stories of Gar checking over amps and getting them back to tip-top shape, and then even signing the amps for owners). Gar did more for music than many will ever know.

RIP

[co-intelpro]

Gar Gillies, the man who made Garnet amps and helped Randy Bachman define "the" Canadian rock guitar tone of the 70's, passed away on Dec 23rd.

Not sure if anyone has posted about this previously, I just found out about it this morning.

I'm very saddened. I have a Garnet Deputy II head and 2x15 bass cab I acquired in 1999, and was hoping to make a trip out to Winnipeg this year to visit Gar's shop and have him "re-certify" the head for me (in recent years I've seen stories of Gar checking over amps and getting them back to tip-top shape, and then even signing the amps for owners). Gar did more for music than many will ever know.

RIP

Dude, Gar died over a year ago, on December 23, 2006. I had the opportunity to meet him once, he was a very funny guy, and was very nice. He modded my MANN PA head into a guitar amp for me, and signed it too. He even sent me some parts for free. He ruled...RIP Gar.

[whitegreyblack]

Dude, Gar died over a year ago, on December 23, 2006. I had the opportunity to meet him once, he was a very funny guy, and was very nice. He modded my MANN PA head into a guitar amp for me, and signed it too. He even sent me some parts for free. He ruled...RIP Gar.

Aw crap. The first page I found the news on had no date at all, and the CBC page I was looking at had the date in microscopic text so I thought it was from Jan 2008 and not Jan 2007.

I cannot believe I missed this news for an entire year. :eek:

I feel like a real jerk.

[faracaster]

Hey don't worry about that. you were just trying to make the music community aware of a sad loss. I read your your post like it was the first time I heard it..... and I replied to the one last year with the bad news.
DOH !!! :oops:

Pete

[co-intelpro]

Aw crap. The first page I found the news on had no date at all, and the CBC page I was looking at had the date in microscopic text so I thought it was from Jan 2008 and not Jan 2007.

I cannot believe I missed this news for an entire year. :eek:

I feel like a real jerk.

Nah, don't feel bad. He was seriously old, so old people thought he would be around forever.

Plus, there wasn't much of a deal made in the Canadian media, which is seriously sad and disgusting. Gar was a seminal figure in Canadian rock and roll history.

He friggin' invented the first tube overdrive unit ever, as far as I know. He also had an integral role in shaping the sound of The Guess Who, Big Sugar, The Sadies, and many others who are fortunate enough to own his amps.

[whitegreyblack]

Thanks for not tearing into me, I still feel terrible ever since hearing the news... I was also very saddened that I did not hear in a timely fashion.

I'll cherish my Garnet amp for the rest of my days, hopefully. I really had a little dream of driving out to the 'peg with my Deputy II to meet the man who made it, and get the Master to put his own hands into making it sound as good as the day it was made... :bow:

[bolero]

Long live Gar Gillies...Long Live Rock sdsre

[µ¿ z3®ø™]

gar gillies' death a year ago seemed to be far overshadowed by the the death of ken fischer, ironic in that gar manufactured far more amps and had way more examples of his amps gracing recordings.

[bolero]

yes....that has always been the case with american vs. canadian amp popularity...and anything else, it seems


although I think everyone would agree, we have them nailed on Beer :food-smiley-004:



RIP Gar