[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Meet North Hollywood guitar maker Greg Brandt. Our NoHo Artist Feature is a way to highlight the visual artists who call NoHo home.
The NoHo Arts District is just one-square mile, but what we do in this one-square-mile makes us a vibrant and creative neighborhood. Although we are known for our performing arts, a lot of creative individuals make up a significant portion of our community. Our NoHo Artist Feature hopes to introduce you to your unique neighbors.
Tell us a bit about your background, Greg. How did it all begin?
My first “pivot point” happened to me at 7 or 8 years old, hearing The Beatles on the radio, and then seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show. The seed was planted and every rake and tennis racket became a guitar. I got one and learned how to play. I played in bands as a teenager, wrote songs and sang in a choir. There was a lot of music in my life.
The next pivot points came fast and furiously. At the time, I was running a kitchen in a local cafe. A customer knew I played the guitar and handed me a slip of paper with a book title and author’s name and ISBN number of a book on how to build a guitar. A week or two later, I went to see the late, great sci-fi author, Ray Bradbury, give a talk at the Troubadour. I knew he didn’t drive and offered him a ride home, which he took me up on. While driving, I figured I had to ask him a question. I asked him what he thought man’s greatest invention was. He answered “the library system – where anyone could go into and invent – or re-invent – themselves.” Another few weeks later, I was having lunch with my dad in Venice. I looked a cross the street and saw a guitar-shaped sign. I had to check it out and I walked thru the doors of a guitar maker’s shop. As I remembered the slip of paper, the chat I had with Mr. Bradbury and registered what I was seeing in front of my eyes…..and a giant, cosmic jigsaw puzzle piece fell into place in my brain: people make guitars! The next day, I got a library card, ordered a copy of the book…and was on the path of inventing myself. This was in 1977 and I was 21 years old. I started to build a guitar, had a “my hands know this work” moment, served my apprenticeship in ’78 and have been building ever since.
Do you play guitar yourself? If so, how does that influence your craft?
I used to play a lot. I really don’t play for fun anymore. I work where I live and I spend a lot of time in the shop. I don’t lock the doors to the shop, come into the house and pick up a guitar. That’s the only casualty of my work. But…I know how I want my guitars to sound. I have an opinion and that probably comes a lot from having played.
What sets your guitars apart? Do you have a signature technique or design element that sets your guitars apart?
What sets my guitars apart is that my guitars are made by me and me alone. I’m a one-man shop building one guitar at a time…the exact opposite of guitars made in a production setting. I build nylon string guitars – classical guitars. I build in a pretty traditional manner. I use some small power tools and a lot of handwork. I have my own ways of voicing the guitar, to try and get what I’m aiming for. I’m sure all hand makers have their own ways to meet their goals. All can be very similar, but at the same time, very unique and personal.
What types of wood do you prefer for nylon-string guitars, and why? Have you ever experimented with unconventional materials in your builds?
Typically, classical guitars are made with some sort of rosewood for the sides and back, a softwood like spruce or cedar for the top, necks made of mahogany and fingerboards of ebony. As our traditional woods are getting more scarce, some makers are using different woods. Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of the traditional woods – Indian and Brazilian rosewoods, western red cedar and European spruce, Honduras mahogany and African and Indian ebonies. These are woods that I am happy to build with….plus they are very beautiful!
Occasionally, I will use, what for me are, less traditional woods. I’ve used curly walnut (that was intended to be a gun stock!), Hawaiian koa and European violin quality curly maple. I’m happy to stick with the woods that I have a lot of and am most familiar with.
What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from a musician who plays your guitars?
The most rewarding thing is when players use my guitars and have a good time playing them. Whether it’s in a recital hall, a film soundtrack recording, a jazz club or simply a local guitar society or practice for their next lesson…if they are comfortable and having fun playing my guitars – I’m thrilled! It’s also very nice when players give me credit on their projects. That’s very rewarding!
Do you have a favorite guitar(s)? Do you have a dream collab?
If you’re asking if there’s a favorite guitar I’ve made – no, not really. There are certain guitars that were /are markers that I think back on: #100 and #200 (I’m sure #300 will be too), my first 10 string, the first two guitars where I made some of my less traditional rosettes.
If I was a collector….there are a lot of other companies’ guitars that I could lust for LOL.
I think it would be a challenge to collaborate with another maker. Most maker are set in their ways of doing things. However, I’ve had students and an apprentice that I really enjoyed my times with in the shop and continue to have very rewarding relationships with.
I do enjoy collaborating with clients to build the guitars they want made. Most of my work is bought before it’s made, so each order has some aspect of that. It’s always special. If there was a dream collab and I could dream really big….I’d love to build a guitar for Bruce Springsteen!
What are you working on now?
I just finished a spec guitar that was built for the recently completed L.A. Guitar festival that happened in Santa Clarita. Show guitars are also “show off” guitars, so it was great to display it, have wonderful players play it and for it to have found its new home!
What do you like about living in the NoHo Arts District? What would you like to see more of?
I’ve lived and worked here since the late ’80s. I’ve seen the subway and bus line come through, Phil’s Diner turn into Bruxies, and Nudies Western Wear and the Palomino go. My wife and I had season tickets for the re-opened El Portal. The NoHo Arts District has gone from being a sleepy spot into being a really vibrant area. We enjoy many of the restaurants and theaters in the area and love the local breweries and tap rooms. We both look forward to whatever comes next…it’s bound to be great!
Stay in Touch with Greg Brandt
https://www.instagram.com/gregbrandtguitars
https://gregbrandtguitars.com/
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If you are a visual artist living in the NoHo Arts District or North Hollywood, or if you know someone who we should feature, please fill out this quick form, and we will take it from there.