Vintage guitar expo set to pick its way to Canberra from across the country again

Following last year’s huge success, the National Vintage Guitar Expo is returning to Canberra to do it all again – showcasing and selling collectible instruments from far and wide.

Guitars made in the early 1900s through to ones crafted today in styles that pay homage to those beautiful old instruments will be there to play, admire and even buy.

Delighted with the response to last year’s expo, Ian Stehlik and Simon Wilkins of Capital Vintage Guitars are keeping the event – and the dream – alive.

Staged once more at the Harmonie German Club in Jerrabomberra, this year’s expo on Saturday 12 October is expanding the floorspace and condensing the hours open.

With 40 per cent more showroom than last year’s event, the expo will be spread over two big halls at the club to make room for more vintage acoustic guitars and focus on guitar makers from across the country.

The new configuration will also allow for more electric guitars and amps (new and old) to be displayed.

But unlike last year’s two-day event, this year’s expo is one day only – but it will continue into the night.

“We’re making it easier this year for interstate exhibitors and for those travelling to visit the expo to be able to get back home without having to dig into their next week,” Ian says.

“It also removes the extra stress and logistics of overnight security for the instruments.”

Simon says the one-day event is merely a trial though.

“If we get feedback that people would like it returned to two days, we will take it all into consideration for future expos,” he says.

And going by the track record, there’ll certainly be many more future events.

More than 400 people attended last year’s expo with organisers, exhibitors and punters reporting back positively about how the event was run.

Live music, giveaways and fascinating guitars on display (many for sale) all day ensure it’ll be more of the same this year.

“Canberra has a really strong live music flavour to it that I think a lot of people don’t know about,” Simon says.

“And I think by bringing vintage guitars into the capital, it also brings more people here and helps them to learn about what a great music scene we have in Canberra.”

The expo, again being held in spring at the same time as Floriade, makes a trip to Canberra even more enticing.

“Floriade brings people from all over to Canberra and so does the vintage guitar expo,” Ian says.

“We found last year that while couples will go and enjoy Floriade, one of them might want to linger there longer than the other does, so the other partner (often the guy) might head to the pub for a couple of hours.

“Well they can come to the pub at the Harmonie German Club and also immerse themselves in a world of guitars and fine instruments at the same time.

“Having said that though, our experience last year too was quite pleasing in that we saw lots of family groups come through the expo, and all ages – men, women, teenage boys and girls, and kids.”

Simon says it’s rewarding to watch fathers bring their sons and daughters in a “kind of passing on the legacy” outing.

“Music is a theme to our lives and it takes you places to where you were at different times in your life, particularly in your youth,” he says.

“Associating these instruments with those times is a special thing and all of us naturally want to share and talk about those moments with our families and friends.”

Ian says it’s a special bond.

“I got an old guitar when I was 17 and it’s just been a journey all the way through since then,” he says.

“The people and the places relating to that instrument and those songs are pretty special. That’s the power and the attraction of the guitar.”

The National Vintage Guitar Expo will be held on Saturday 12 October at the Harmonie German Club, Jerrabomberra from 10 am until 8 pm. Presale tickets $10 through humantix or $15 at the door. Visit Capital Vintage Guitars for more information.