234816255_347330473539667_8318273133052250794_n

Vig Guitars (INDIGENOUS OWNED) has been serving the Twin Cities metro area since September 2014 and continues to grow every year.  Serving the working musicians in the area, our reputation, quality, and workmanship are well-known,  we have an AMAZING Staff of 5 Luthiers, and a couple of Gear-Nerdy Sales Guys, with extensive Music Gear knowledge.  We are centered on Repair and Service, but we also have a wonderful variety of New and Used Instruments, as well as Pickups, Pedals, Strings, Straps, Accessories, Local Artists’ CDs, and a humongous wall of Parts so you can customize your instruments!!  Ted’s been Custom Handwinding Pickups, and they are flying out the door! Stop by, we’d love to see ya!

 

Oh hey!!  We won SILVER for Star Tribune’s Minnesota’s Best of for Best Music Instrument Store 2021 & 2023 and won GOLD for 2022!!!

Musicians for Musicians! Stop by!

PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover
It all started for Ted in the 4th grade when he started taking guitar lessons and decided this is what he wanted to do with his life. He’s been in love with the guitar ever since, although he plays bass, banjo, and a little mandolin as well. In high school he landed his first job in a music store. That was Wetterlund Guitars in Northfield, MN. Ted did some basic guitar work while he was there. He left to pursue music school and ended up attending Red Wing for Guitar construction and repair. After graduating in 1993, he took over Wetterlund guitars, which had changed it’s name to Centerfield Music. He owned and operated the store until 1998 when the allure of the big city took hold. He moved to Minneapolis and worked at music stores in the area doing sales and repair until 2002 when he decided to do repairs full time. He had a pickup/ dropoff service through several stores in the area over the next few years. Around 2005 he partnered up with My Music Store in Golden Valley, MN doing all of their repairs. He built a large following for his talents repairing instruments over the next 10 years there. It was at this point Ted and Angie decided to hang out their shingle and open Vig Guitars! Over the last couple years, Ted has been winding guitar and bass pickups and getting much acclaim for it! All pickups are custom wound to your spec. He’s happy to have a conversation with you and help guide you on your tone journey! **SATURDAYS ARE THE BEST DAYS TO TALK TO TED** (If he can step away from winding he can talk during the week though)

Angie Vig is from the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe- “Gaawaabaabiganikaag” in Northern Minnesota, her Clans are Ajijaak & Makwa (Crane & Bear).   To her knowledge, she is the First and Only Indigenous Female Music Store Owner in the U.S.!  She has been performing for many years in the Twin Cities metro area. Running this shop with her husband Ted is extremely rewarding, and proof that dreams do come true IF you put in the hard work.  She tries to get out as much as she can to support all the local musicians, and if you see her taking a picture of you, she’s probably just trying to get a good one so she can put you on the wall at the shop!  She loves getting to know her customers, so be prepared to chit-chat over a cup of coffee!  She is very proud to be a huge part of the Twin Cities Music Community.  PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover

PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover

Nick Marren-Graduated from Minnesota State College Southeast Tech (Red Wing) in 2016 for Guitar Repair and Building, Development and Production, he has since worked at another great shop in town and made the decision to move over here! He does impeccable work and adds brightness to the shop! He’s really into the music of Jack White and Isaac Brock and it’s fun to listen to him play the guitars in here!  Stop in and say Hi!

John Potts!!!
Bio coming soon!
________________________________________________________________________________
Meet Xenia Sandstrom-McGuire! Originally from the northeastern Iowa Driftless region, Xenia (“ZEN-ya”) has been a familiar presence in Minnesota Music for over 30 years. Known primarily as a bassist & vocalist, she is a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, mandolin and citterns including Irish Bouzouki, German Waldzither and has garnered a reputation for seeking out and learning to play little known instruments. In her varied music career she studied ethnomusicology and medieval music at the University of Minnesota, taught music history, music theory, bass and small group ensembles at Augsburg University and McNally-Smith, sang with the Minnesota Chorale, presented on 12 century medieval music manuscripts, wrote 3 study guides for the Minnesota H.S. Music Listening Contest, and even served for 7 years as the (renegade) manager of the Maplewood Schmitt Music in the 1990s where she also ran the Schmitt Presence at the MBOTMA festivals. In short, Xenia is a Music nerd! She describes Her favorite music as “whatever she hasn’t heard yet.” Really! She loves all music and loves playing anything she can (country, goth, Prog, indie, psych, folk, classical, big band, pit orchestras, etc etc) and she dreams of world where everyone in every community picks up an instrument and plays for the sake of music and growth- no matter what their level of skill. When she is not in the shop, you might find her anywhere music is played or hiking out in the woods or by the lakeside with her dog.

Erik Sexe has joined The Vigs!  You probably already know this guy, but if you don’t…come in and introduce yourself!  His areas of expertise are Guitars, Amps, and Pedals

Come by and pick that brain!

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover

Andrew Ogilvie is here!  He graduated from Minnesota State College Southeast Tech in Redwing for Guitar Repair and Building in 2017.  He went to work for Riff City right out of the gate! He is a great addition to our Phenomenal Repair Team!  He really likes  electronics and wiring, and he’s a Twin! How cool is that?!

PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover

Newest addition to the Luthier team here!  Fresh out of the Mn State Southeast Tech Guitar Building Program!!  Antonio Carvale!  We have known Antonio and his family for about 20 years and we knew that he was going to further his Music Career with Lutherie!!  Stop by and Say Hi!!!

PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Stover