ANDY BRAUER Guitar and Amp Service (Los Angeles)

About me:

My name is Andy. Born in Encino, California, raised in Chicago and Milwaukee. First guitar at 11, stage debut at 14, manager of Action Music in L.A. at 18 then started touring as a tech and kept going into the guitar biz from there.

I'm about Guitars. Acoustic Guitar. Slide Guitar. Electric Guitar. I love to play guitar and work on them. That makes me a GUITAR AFICIONADO. And, after 30 years in the music biz, I am happy to be recognized for changing the way electric and acoustic guitar, bass and amplifier service is experienced!

In the best hands

I operate a service facility in Los Angeles. This low-key operation caters mostly to to professional musicians, but that has not stopped a steady word-of-mouth business built on the guitars and amps of judges, doctors, business leaders, politicians and actors. I am as loyal to my clients as they are to me.

I'm a guitar dealer; technician; author; curator; consultant; designer; appraiser, broker, tech. Consultant to manufacturers; humble tech for countless Grammy-winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and full on Rock stars. Been on many stages and in many studios and the roads in between - done there been that and loved every minute. Producer. Musician. Musico. [more]

Al Di Meola's Return to Forever Rig

Let me take you through Al Di Meola's Return to Forever rig at San Francisco's Regency Center, June 12, 2008. Shot by GUITAR PLAYER Editor in Chief Michael Molenda.

"Nothing compares to a guitar (bass, lap steel, dobro, banjo, mandolin or ukulele) that says HELLO when you pick it up to play."

Of course, stringed instruments must be maintained regularly to keep them in top condition. "Well-set-up guitars inspire you to play beyond your normal boundaries." (Something I said that was published in Vintage Guitar, April 2005)..

That's where I step in for musicians. I answer questions and take care of issues regarding all types and brands of stringed instruments in need of maintenance; repair; modification and restoration. I take care of instruments, so players can concentrate on playing.

Guitar Player calls me "THE MAN BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT BEHIND THE HITS."

Vintage Guitar dubbed me "L.A. STUDIO FIRST-RESPONDER."

WHEN I'M NOT TOURING, I can often be found in my atelier in L.A. where I blend traditional luthier handcraft with the latest technology and products to produce flawless improvements that make instruments feel, sound and play better.

My "Guitar Lounge" in the heart of the recording district on LAUREL CANYON BLVD.

If I have become well known for being fearlessly creative in the pursuit of good tone it is because I am dedicated and enthusiastic about TONE, and do whatever it takes to secure any opportunity that would be beneficial for other tone seekers, whether it falls in the realm of conventional product, or more boutique. Thanks to many years of developing relationships with manufacturers, builders, A-list luthiers, distributors and national and international contacts of all varieties, I'm able to get the best gear. Working closely with vendors and clients alike, gives me a good understanding of the talents and needs of each, and therefore the fuel to create spot-on instrument and sound improvements.

My specialty is pro set ups (acoustic and electric).. all guitar types (Electric, Acoustic, Elecoustic, HollowBody, Lefty, Classical, etc.) ~ All brands..

Set ups are tailored to an individual's taste, style and intonation. I see a lot of Drop-D, low-tuned, baritone and Nashville High String.

In today's guitar market, it can get expen$ive. So instead of buying a pricey custom shop axe, some players want to improve their existing guitar in order to improve its look, feel and sound. I have upgraded axes for so many people that I lost count.

FOR CUSTOMIZING AN AXE, there's a wide range of options to enhance the sound and playing experience. Hot rod what you've got, or if shopping for a guitar, there are instruments on the market today that are very well made, yet inexpensive. Buy a quality guitar off the shelf, hot-rod it for a few hundred bucks and end up with a great-looking, great-feeling, great sounding guitar - without breaking the bank.

Pickup mojo! I dig Sheptone's hand-wound made-in-the-USA Stratocaster and P.A.F. Tribute pickups. [more info]
Brian Kahanek shows how good these pups sound. [View videos]

Good-sounding gear is more important than ever. Recently, various guitars on my bench have undergone a complete set up (new strings, action/intonation/truss rod and nut adjustment, tighten and check all hardware, oil the fingerboard, polish frets); glue broken headstock; body refinishing; replace tuners; replace nut; replace saddles; change the pickguard; new tone circuits installed or rewired; capacitors upgraded; body routing for pickups; pickup wax potting (feedback and tonal improvement); pickup rewind; upgrade the bridge; replace strap buttons; replace jack; functionality of knobs and switches changed; remove a tremolo, add one; fret work (level, dress, crown and polish, new nut and complete set up); refret*; assemble guitar; and much more .

There's always something that needs to be repaired, replaced or customized on a guitar. But in my book, no task is too big, too small or too bizarre!

*FRETS: I have a neck with various fret sizes. Before doing a refret, the neck can be felt to determine what fret size to put in for the replacements.

Over the years, I've owned and worked on thousands of instruments, including these:

(Sept '06): '69 Fender P Bass

Recently evaluated 1954 Fender Strat (#0204):

I HELP PLAYERS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ~ Hollywood * San Fernando Valley * Santa Monica * South Bay * Pasadena * San Gabriel Valley * Antelope Valley * Inland Empire * The O.C., from the studio lots to the Downtown lofts. From the beachfront bungalows to the canyon views. From the South Bay to the SFV, from the Westside to the Eastside. [more].

Not in the Southland? Do not be discouraged by distance! If you are outside of L.A. and cannot visit personally, we can still get the job done efficiently + conveniently. [info.] ...... ...... * ...... **

"We are the makers of music and we are the dreamers of dreams." - Willy Wonka.

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