The VAMS Studio at GF Strong

The Vancouver Adapted Music Society operates Canada’s longest running fully-accessible recording studio. Every aspect of our studio, located at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, was designed to allow access to people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.  

Keyboards and mixing equipment are roll-under, microphones are height-adjustable, and we use oversized control switches wherever possible for people with limited dexterity. Our adaptive instruments and devices were made by Tetra Society of North America’s hard-working volunteers. Here are a few adaptive options that the VAMS studio offers: 

  • Powered adjustable piano stand: raise, lower, tilt, and roll. 
  • Manually adjustable piano stand: raise, lower, pull in & out, and roll. 
  • Powered adjustable “guitar table”: raise and lower. Guitar lays flat, played overhand. 
  • Guitar stand: assists with holding the guitar upright either standing or sitting. 

We also have a range of innovative breath-operated musical equipment that allows people with high-level disabilities to sample the magic.  

It’s FREE – there is no charge for using the VAMS studio. 

New fully-accessible studio at GF Strong

Meet the Studio Team

Dave Symington
Dave Symington

Co-founder, Volunteer

Graeme Wyman
Graeme Wyman

 Program Manager

Bryden Veinot
Bryden Veinot

Program Coordinator 

Studio Specifications

Recording: 

  • Soundcraft Signature MTK12 Mixer 
  • iMac & MacBook Pro computers, varied OS
  • Focal Shape Monitors 
  • Pro Tools 
  • Ableton Live Suite 
  • Logic Pro
  • Warm Audio Bus Compressor 
  • Warm Audio Tube EQ 

Microphones: 

  • AKG C414 XLS stereo set 
  • Neumann KM 184 stereo set 
  • Shure SM57 
  • Shure SM58 
  • Royer R-121 
  • Sennheiser MD 421 II 
  • Electro-Voice RE20 
  • Line 6 XD-V35 (wireless handheld) 
  • Shure PG185 (wireless lavalier) 

Electric Bass Guitars: 

  • Fender Jazz Bass 
  • Ibanez SDGR 4S Bass 

Amplifiers: 

  • Fender Frontman 25R 
  • Yorkville Power Combo 50KB 
  • Yorkville Power Wedge 100KW 
  • Marshall Valvestate 2000 

Acoustic Guitars: 

  • Epiphone Masterbilt De Luxe 
  • Ovation Celebrity 
  • Taylor 114e (Left Handed) 

Digital Pianos: 

  • Nord Stage 3 
  • Yamaha P-155 
  • M-Audio Axiom Air 49 
  • M-Audio Oxygen 61 

Electric Guitars: 

  • 1980’s Japanese Fender Stratocaster 
  • Fender Jazzmaster 
  • Godin SDxt 
  • Sterling by Music Man LK100 
  • Prestige PRO TR 

Drums: 

  • Gretsch 
  • Pearl 
  • Roland V-Drums (electric kit) 

Cymbals: 

  • Zildjian 
  • Sabian 
  • Pearl 

Smaller instruments such as MIDI controllers, brass & woodwind instruments, hand percussion, and more are available. 

The VAMS studio houses many more instruments than what is listed above. These extra instruments are for clients who don’t have the means to own their desired instrument. Email us at info@vams.org to learn more about our loan and donation program.