By Will Yannacoulias
The October 2020 issue of NSMZ featured an interview with new Fury Guitars owner Jack Facca. Fury Guitars was a garage-and-basement operation founded in Saskatoon by Glenn McDougall in 1962. From then until Glenn’s passing in 2017, Fury produced an estimated 10,000 electric guitars entirely in Saskatoon. It was announced on September 12, 2020 that the dormant company had changed hands from Janet McDougall, Glenn’s widow, to Glenn’s longtime friend Jack Facca.
In the article, Facca told the touching story of his friendship with McDougall and explained how important it was to them both that his legacy and company live on. Facca humbly conveyed his admiration and respect for McDougall and made it apparent that he saw the acquisition of Fury as a responsibility to his friend as much as a business venture. Facca disclosed Janet McDougall’s instructions to “make it your own, Jack”, and spoke candidly about his vision for the future of the company. Three exciting facts were shared for the first time: that the purchase had included a large inventory of hardware and components made by the master, and finished instruments assembled from that original stock would be made for sale. He also revealed that he was not planning to stand on the shoulders of giants by reissuing old Fury designs, but that he had a catalog of original instrument designs he was looking forward to producing once McDougall’s stock was gone. Lastly, Facca gave his eager followers a firm date: Fury Guitars would reopen on the 60 year anniversary of the original launch, Canada Day 2022.
“My goal is to build relationships” Facca reflected. “Keep it small, keep it going. I want to build instruments that inspire musicians and bring the best out of them; I want their instruments to give them joy. I’ve got big shoes to fill, and I don’t want to screw this up. And I’m not going to. I’m going to do this right.”
Photo credit Kirt McDougall
This is very cool to see Jack do what he loves to do!