ANDY BRAUER Guitar and Amp Service (Los Angeles)'s Interests
Music
Welcome!
ANDY BRAUER Guitar, Bass and Amplifier Repair and Musician Services was born out of a pure love and appreciation for good music and the guitar. It is the result of fooling around in the studio, which is one of my favorite things to do. Poking at, and playing, various instruments and using assorted tools and gadgets until it all sounds and plays better.
Guitars are my passion. Since '79, I have provided a full range of equipment, advice and service to talented and creative artists, studios and producers.
Everything changes over time . . . including me; wander through here to learn what I'm up to.
This page and the blogs include information, techniques, strategies and stories. Feel free to follow along, learn, participate, ask questions, suggest new products/services I can offer to better serve you.
Whatever makes you smile relating to guitars, I want to hear about it. Whatever questions you have about guitars, I will do my best to answer. I am here to assist in any way I can in your pursuit of tone.
WELCOME to the new and exciting. From all over North and South America, across the sea from Asia to Europe to Oz, thanks everyone for your time, support and friendship. I hope that you'll pick up the phone or drop me a line. Let's talk tone!
Sincerely,
Andy Brauer
In 2003, I was asked to comment on PCI's Xotic Effects lineup. To view 3 resulting videos, click here
The fine folks at PCI (Xotic Effects) shot video in my old shop. Check out this virtual tour they put together:
Others have found my services to be extremely helpful over 30 years. Guitar, bass and amp service can be affordable and a good experience. See for yourself how to enhance your investment while experiencing the Brauer standard of service.
If you will be visiting the City of Angels, make time to meet with me and talk shop. If you are based in L.A., the Lounge is easy to find at 5437 LAUREL CANYON BLVD. No walk ins. Everyone must call before dropping by.
"As soon as I walk in the door, I feel 10 times cooler than I actually am."
-Another Happy Customer
The personal and passionate approach of this boutique guitar lounge sets it apart in its ability to carefully make improvements to individual instruments.
Traditional luthier techniques ~ flawless work that make instruments feel, sound & play better.
Expert handling of even the most challenging repairs and restorations. Fretwork (fret dress all the way to plane + refret); Neck reset; Body work; Structural issues - Body cracks, loose braces, fill holes, repair broken headstocks.
I get calls from all types and levels of players, from garage bands to multi-platinum super celebs in Rock, Alternative, Pop, Fusion, Metal, Hardcore, Blues, Rockabilly, Punk, Funk, Prog, Modern, Bluegrass, Country-Western, Soul, all genres .. and every instrument that goes on the bench receives equal consideration; set ups are tailored to players' individual taste, style and intonation.
"... Andy Brauer is one of the finest individuals in the music world today... a thorough gentleman. He deals with the likes of Dave Mustaine, Eddie Van Halen, and Eric Clapton on a daily basis, yet he gave me a great deal of his time and personal effort to make sure I was happy. Thank you Andy." [more raves from friends].
pix: TECH SUPPORT for STUDIO /LIVE /VIDEO /FILM /TELEVISION /TOUR.
GUITARS, GUITARS! BOUTIQUE AMPLIFIERS, EFFECTS, CABLES, TUNERS, CASES. Something for everyone to discover; always the best of its class. If you are looking for a particular item, just ask. It's possible that Brauer has it or, as is his specialty, can find it for you.
CHECK OUT THESE ELMWOOD CLIPS:
Want more? See blog.
"I make sure everyone in the band is feeling good and they go on happy, with everything working perfectly, so they can just play." (Andy Brauer quoted in Vintage Guitar, April 2005)
I believe that the quality of my life is a direct result of the amount of service provided to others. As Einstein wrote: "Do not look to be a person of significance, look instead to be a person of value."
Other interests include: Family. Surprise chats with old friends. Great restaurants. Great situations. Fresh Hawaiian mango. WWII airplanes. Adventure. Health. Intention. Energy. Emotion. The story of Seabiscuit. Future. Past. Creativity. Alt fuels. Peace. Fun. Work. Play. And of course, all things Music. Bands. Instruments. Stomp Boxes. Recording. Gear. Vintage gear. Footswitches. Speakers. Schematics. NOS tubes. Guitar Amps with Tubes. Tuners. Bias Tools. Guitar Cables. Guitar Parts. PAF Pickups. Cool mods. Bumble bee capacitors . . .
ANDY BRAUER Guitar and Amp Service (Los Angeles)'s Details
ANDY BRAUER Guitar and Amp Service (Los Angeles)'s Blurbs
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:
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.]
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"We are the makers of music and we are the dreamers of dreams." - Willy Wonka.
Who I'd like to meet: Everybody. Musicians, bands, engineers, producers, techs, tinkerers, songwriters. Funny pharmacists, baristas and touristas. Artists, art lovers and performers. Inventors, librarians and vegetarians. The brazen, humorous, inspiring, underground and outrageous. The cosmically conscious. Backyard composters, green architects, cyclists and re-cyclists. Emma Peel, Anthony Bourdain, Eddie Izzard and your mom, if she's nice.
It's great that you stop by this page. I'm always listening. I care a lot and am eager to hear from friends and fellow musicians, so please comment on how I have helped you, what's on your musical mind, your impression of the page, etc. I read every comment and respond as time allows.
I would like to thank Sir Paul McCartney for leaving my first-ever comment.
This space looked after by the Webprincess. WP speaks:
If you've always wanted to tell the man who made you sound better how it's made a difference in your life, now is your chance. You never tire of hearing how cute and smart your baby is, right?
BEFORE YOU COMMENT: Let's keep it real. What's welcome are thoughtful, meaningful comments.
Take a second to read some existing ones, if you want,
to get the idea of what to say to the tonal matchmaker to the stars.
Gush if you want to.
You are ALL Andy's top friends!
If you're looking to be added: depending on workload, it may take a few days, so hang in there!
Enjoy Life - this is not a rehearsal. Life is a concert and YOU have ALL ACCESS!
If any of this has interested or angered you,
feel free to ring me. Let's talk about it.
Hi ANDY BRAUER Guitar Bass & Amp Repair [Los Angeles], Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers & Chickenfoot) presents the Bombastic Meatbats, a sexy and loud, sonic funk experience that fuses together styles as diverse as funk, punk and 70's R&B! The CD will be in stores on September 15th and is available for PREORDER NOW, along with free banner and wallpapers downloads!
http://www.warriorrecords.com/bombasticmeatbats
Please help spread the word and thanks for supporting Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats!!!
Hey Everyone, if you couldnt make the show because you live in another stat or country or far away we are going to be broadcast live on Aiiradio.net around 9pm PACIFIC TIME, you get to hear and SEE our whole set list even if you couldnt make it. so on sat night go to aiiradio.net click live feed and enjoy, all you need is real player and speakers youll be set for a great 45min of music. SAT NIGHT AROUND 9PM aiiradio.net check it out. thank your Friends @ FAR FROM FATE
we'd love for you to come out to the Viper Room next thursday, june 25th, we play at 8pm, please contact us with your first and last name and we'll put you on our unlimited guest list! hope you can make it out, its gonna be a great night, and hey, its free!!!
I love what you did for my LP Andy, just unreal that it can play this good with the action so low...WOW. The pick ups are totally hot, litterally, that's a trip too. Just amazing what you can do, like a just tuned up Ferrarri. Maximum Respect Loomon
Hi everybody, just here to say our new RORY GALLAGHER HAWK BOOSTER is ready for shipping. Have a listen if you get a chance, All the best, Stevie Flynn.
Hi ANDY BRAUER Guitar Bass & Amp Repair [Los Angeles], Crash Kelly's CD, "One More Heart Attack" is in stores and on itunes now, please help spread the word and if you haven't already pick up your copy today - for a listing of U.S. store locations, check out the "Where Can I Get My Crash Kelly CD" blog on the MySpace page!!!
http://www.warriorrecords.com/crashkelly
Also, get back to your rock roots with Crash Kelly's label mates, Saints Of The Underground in stores and on iTunes now! Please help spread the word and pick up your copies today.
Hey Andy! Just finished putting new strings on guitars . . . hope you have too!! Just given them a good stretch so they stay in tune in the studio tomorrow!! Duncan KL.
an tagen wie diesen, wenn der abend sich langsam und still über die frühsommerliche erde legt, höre ich den wind deinen namen flüstern,
dann stehe ich ruhig da und blicke scheinbar weit, bis zum horizont, aber ich nehme ihn nicht wahr, denn alles was ich sehe ist dein bild in meinen augen,
das einzige was ich dann spüre ist diese tiefe sehnsucht nach deiner nähe, die leidenschaft und die wärme die uns vereint
und ich strecke im geiste meine hand aus, vorsichtig und voller liebe - ich weiss, am ende wird alles gut, denn das herz vergisst nie..............
On days like these, when the evening lies, slow and still over the early summer earth, I hear your name, whispered on the wind.
then i stand still and look out wide to the horizon but I don't believe it because all that I see is a picture of you in my eyes
The only thing I feel is this deep longing to be near you, the passion and the warmth that binds us
and I stretch my hand out, carefully and with love - I know that everything will turn out good in the end, because the heart never forgets
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