A Kamloops-based guitar maker was a big winner in the 30th annual Musical Merchandise Review’s Dealers’ Choice Awards this past weekend.
Riversong Guitar won in the Acoustic Guitar of the Year category for its P2P River Pacific model, with owner Mike Miltimore noting is the first time a Canadian company has won this award.
“These are awards for everybody. It is worldwide,” Miltimore said Monday.
“We were shortlisted for Acoustic Guitar of the Year with Yamaha, Taylor, and Martin. [They’re] three of the biggest guitar companies in the world.”
Miltimore, who credits the win to his company’s heart, and the innovation of the guitar’s patented adjustable neck, says simply being nominated in that category was an achievement on its own.
“It feels like we’re standing amongst giants, but this is a really cool little guitar,” he added. “I remember when [the magazine] would come into the shop, and we would open it up and turn straight to the page of the awards and look at it and go, ‘hey, that’s our favourite brands right there!’ and now, I’m on the cover.”
“We’ve been shortlisted many years before. 2015 we were shortlisted. 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. When I showed my mom all these shortlists, she said, enough with the shortlists, let me know when you win. Well, mum, we did it!”
Riversong Guitars was also nominated for Ukulele of the year, Electric Guitar of the Year, and Product of the Year.
Established in 1879, Musical Merchandise Review is the world’s oldest and most-read musical industry magazine. Unlike awards that are determined by a panel of experts or an editorial, the Dealers’ Choice Awards are chosen by musical industry dealers.
“Every now and again, a smaller brand manages to sneak up and eke out a win in categories traditionally dominated by ‘the big boys’ and this year Mike Miltimore’s team of Canadian craftspeople did just that,” the magazine said in a write up on this year’s award winners.
“Importantly, with a list price of under $1,500 the River Pacific P2P is a true “luxury” guitar that’s within reach for many. The Riversong team really hit it out of the park with this one!”