about Synths When
About Us
Synths When is a vintage synthesizer repair shop based in Toronto, Canada that specializes in repairing instruments manufactured between 1960-1994.
Synths When started as a hobby over 20 years ago when Jay Lemak, Co-founder and Head Tech, began repairing his own instruments. He opened his first shop in a small closet in a studio on the west side of Toronto.
Meet the team
Jay Lemak | Co-Founder & Head Tech
Jay started Synths When over 10 years ago to help friends and musicians keep their gear running. He spent his youth climbing antenna towers, programming on his Commodore 64, diving into computer science classes, and getting his HAM radio license - all leading to his fascination with audio and electronics.
Having played keys all his life in over a dozen bands, Jay married his love of music and electronics by turning his attention to engineering and getting two diplomas: Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electronics Engineering Technology with Honours. Since starting Synths When, he's repaired instruments for hundreds of local and international artists.
Lori Steuart | Co-Founder, Finance & Operations
Lori heads up finance and operations at Synths When. She joined at a crucial time in the shop's growth to help it expand past a one-person operation. Lori spends her day-to-day creating processes, making life easier for our techs, and supporting clear and upfront communication with our customers.
Although classically trained in piano, Lori has spent less time playing instruments in recent years, and more time connecting with the community and getting to work behind the scenes. As a partner in the Toronto Sound Festival, she has spent countless hours organizing and promoting one of main Toronto's synth practitioner-focused festivals for hundreds of professional musicians and synth enthusiasts. Long before she got involved in this eclectic corner of the music community, she covered music and events for BlogTO and Indie88.
Jeremy Vincent | Shop Manager
Jeremy gets the most emails by far at the shop. If you've ever reached out to us or picked up the phone, he's the one on the other side.
His interest in synthesizers began as a teenager, when he first heard the full song-length Minimoog solo in "Blow your Head" by Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s. This led to a lifelong interest in gear and a desire to know "what's making that sound?" Fun fact: He decided to build a Paia ring modulator for a class at the Harris Institute for the Arts, where he studied audio engineering. He used an old rotary phone as the case, because he loves a cheap pun.
Sam Laramee | Repair Tech
Sam has been playing music all his life, and caught the synth bug in 2014. He recently completed a Bachelor's Degree of Music at Humber College. An expert in the sound and feel of electro-mechanical pianos such as Wurlitzers and Rhodes, he spends a lot of his time at the shop rebuilding, voicing, and restoring these beautiful instruments You can catch Sam playing with various artists and bands around the GTA, and you can hear his debut EP "bwowm" here.
London | Human Resources
A true northern Ontario dog, London relocated to Toronto to join our little team of misfits. Found mostly napping and searching for treats, she's always good for a quick pat, so be sure to say hello when you stop by!