Grant MacNeill | Founder | President

At 12 years old, Grant fell in love with guitar during his first lesson. A series of Rock & Roll and Classical teachers shepherded him through to high school where he spent his Friday nights playing folk music coffee houses then later on, hundreds of weekend wedding-band gigs and a brief time with a bar band. Through high school and university Grant supplemented his living teaching guitar lessons and tuning pianos. More time was spent playing guitar than in class which led to his first and only formal employment at age 19 working in the Fender Guitars service department. Mentored by Dan Charman he soon realized that the craft of Lutherie was his calling. Then in 1977 Grant and Dan opened The Twelfth Fret and the adventure began.

Read More About The Twelfth Fret History

“Where else can you come in for an afternoon and play such a vast selection of guitars in one sitting? Choosing a guitar is a long process and can take several visits. I designed the shop to reflect an old fashioned home; low key and relaxed so men and women visiting the shop feel free to explore these fine instruments to their hearts' content.” – Grant

View Grant's Retirement Message

Brian Dickie | Sales Expert

It was May 2001 when Brian started working at The Twelfth Fret. He initially managed sales and purchasing for bass guitars, mandolins and the Seagull Godin line of products. His responsibilities morphed over time to include Martin, Collings and Huss & Dalton – as well as consignment sales and trades. For much of his spare time, Brian played bass guitar in numerous bands. Brian enjoys most genres of music and organizing local player showcases here at the shop. His satisfaction is in selling instruments that work for the customer.

"Finding the instrument that works for the customer.”

Mike Gray | Sales & Purchasing

Mike joined The Twelfth Fret team in 2006. He started playing at the age of 12. He enjoys playing electric guitar, acoustic and bass guitar. As a musician, Mike has played in many different bands.

Mike’s diverse talents and expertise in acoustic and electric guitars;
amps and pedals, brings a skillful level of knowledge to The Twelfth Fret. His
life as a musician affords a tangible, honest and applicable take to his
consultations.

Expertise in acoustic and electric guitars, amps and pedals.

Patrick Keenan | Instrument Research and Photography

Patrick Keenan spent several years apprenticing with Darryl Williams, a classical guitar and lute builder north of Toronto.  Joining  The Twelfth Fret as it opened in 1976, he focused on custom building, repairs, finishing and refinishing.  In the early 1980s he played guitar and recorded with various bands and independent Vancouver artist Elizabeth Fischer. ( Link to compilation album.)

Developing an interest in custom building computerized audio control systems, in the late 1990s he spent several years in the software industry with companies like Delrina and Symantec.  He also developed and ran a mixed-media hybrid network for transcribing regulatory proceedings.

Returning fulltime to The Twelfth Fret as IT Director, Patrick now looks after the shop technology while taking most of the photographs, researching and writing instrument postings.

Outside the shop, there’s always maintenance and yard work at a rural century house property some distance east of Toronto.

“ We feel it’s important to research every instrument to respect its own qualities and place in history. ”