Ask the Experts | November 27, 2024
Andy Mennen: Guitar Tech
These questions aim to delve into various aspects of acoustic guitar care and maintenance, travel tips, unique situations, and funny stories from the road. We hope to offer insights and inspiration for both beginners and experienced players alike.
What is your official title?
Guitar tech for Tom Johnston and John McFee of the Doobie Brothers.
What artists have you worked with?
In a touring capacity: Carrie Underwood, Colbie Caillat, Adrian “X” Eccleston (Drake), Phred Brown and Jamareo Artis (Bruno Mars), Patrick Greenaway and Ledaris Jones (The Weeknd), Nick Jonas, and Tom Johnston and John McFee (The Doobie Brothers).
In a non-touring, TV, or one-off capacity: Jennifer Lopez, Wendy Melvoin, Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Simon, Sinead O’Conner, Ted Nugent with Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Dispatch, Big & Rich, and many more I am likely forgetting. I did quite a bit of fill-in work in my eight years at CenterStaging Burbank.
Can you share some insights into your daily responsibilities when working with high-profile artists and their acoustic guitars?
I have come to the conclusion that a lot of artists, even some of the best you know, actually know very little about proper guitar setup. I don’t see a single problem with this. The math is my job. It is a plus if you know what makes your instrument feel the absolute best, but the “art of maintenance” doesn’t always go hand in hand with “the art of playing.”
Their job is to stay inspired. If they’re inspired, they play well. When they play well, they have an amazing show, and so does the crowd. That really all starts with me. Therefore, my most important job is to ensure that the guitar feels perfect when it is picked up. This includes a big ol’ checklist – strings need to be changed AND CHECKED to make sure those suckers sing. Fretboard needs cleaned and conditioned, if necessary. Check frets are level with no sprout. Make sure the 9V battery is fresh (preferably when the strings are off, otherwise that’s why the good lord made tools… in this case 12” hemostats). Most artists I work with use wireless systems and have the luxury of IEMs (in-ear monitors) and very talented monitor engineers; therefore, they don't need to change any preamp parameters on their guitars. Tape those up so they can’t be accessed and attach their wireless packs as high as possible on their straps… Far away from their cell phones (wink).
What are one or two essential tips you would give to beginner guitar players regarding acoustic guitar care and maintenance?
Everybody knows the excitement of beginning to play guitar STRICTLY prohibits you from bringing yourself to put it back in the case. It must be out of the case so you can look at it whenever you want, and so everyone who enters your living space sees that gorgeous investment into your future as a world-famous touring musician... It’s not ideal for storage, but if you’re gonna (you are), just be reasonable. Don’t lean it up on the wall or couch for long periods of time. Don’t store it near air vents if possible. Keep the fretboard oiled. And most importantly, if it’s collecting dust over there in the corner... you need to play more.
Could you elaborate on the common issues or challenges you encounter with acoustic guitars while on tour, and how you address them?
Humidity is a big issue in touring. The summer heat and humidity can be insane in outdoor venues. The freezing air in cold arenas or the occasional outdoor TV special or ski slope festival can also be just as bad, if not worse. You have to keep an eye on the curvature of the neck from day to day. I also like to keep all points of string contact properly lubricated.
Really my biggest issue in touring with acoustics is tuning during a show. I use five different tuners. One reason for that is common with acoustics. There are many different types of interference in a large show environment, and often, the acoustic becomes a giant antenna for all of them. Imagine having a subwoofer in your living room playing The Doobie Brothers at 98 decibels while you try to tune your acoustic... That’s close to what I do nearly every day. I have learned to read my tuners in a way that changes from night to night, from one venue to the next.
What specific steps do you take to protect acoustic guitars from environmental factors such as humidity and temperature changes, especially during travel?
Our guitars travel in ten-space guitar vaults. When shipping, I always add larger bags of desiccant if they are going to a high-humidity area or humidifiers in drier climates.
Can you share any memorable anecdotes or experiences you've had while working with touring musicians and their acoustic guitars?
I once had the honor of being a fill-in tech for Willie Nelson and the Family band at a billionaire’s house party in Bel Air. I spent all day in awe of the Baldwin amp. As the day went on, I became fast friends with Poodie, Willie’s long-time road manager. When it came time to pull out Trigger, he gave me a very special opportunity to play it.
How do you approach troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with acoustic guitars during live performances or recording sessions?
I always have a spare guitar ready, but in the event I don’t, I try to keep a cool head and quickly go through my internal checklist of possibilities. Cable? Input? Battery? Is it even a guitar issue? Is there a tuner? Does that tuner read the notes played on the guitar? If so, it is not a guitar issue. If not, go back to step one.
What advice would you give to aspiring guitar techs on how to get started in the role?
For starters, you need to buy the “Guitar Player Repair Guide” by Dan Erlewine... read it, read it again, then keep it with you for reference. It is helpful if you live in (or are willing to move to) a city with a rehearsal studio/backline rental company such as SIR, CenterStaging, SoundCheck, or Clair. This business is 100 percent networking. You need to be in the same buildings as people in the business.
What's the most valuable lesson you've learned throughout your career as a guitar tech, and how can it benefit guitar players of all levels?
Calm yourself. The second most important trait in a touring professional is the ability to work well under extreme pressure. The first is being a decent human being on and off a tour bus.
What's the most unusual or unconventional venue you've had to set up for a performance, and how did you adapt to the unique circumstances?
In my time doing this work, I have performed shows in bull rings, rodeos, on rooftops, gravel pits, beaches, in celebrities' backyards, plane hangars, actual aquariums, in the middle of lakes, and in the desert. I've even packed a full five-piece band onto a small balcony in the Avalon Theater in Hollywood... I carry tools to do nearly any job in nearly any condition. That is what roadies do. It is pretty much a way of life.
What are some lesser-known factors or techniques that can significantly impact the tone and playability of acoustic guitars?
A loose brace rattling around in your acoustic can really squash your resonance.
Can you recall a funny or lighthearted moment involving a famous musician and their acoustic guitar while on tour that still brings a smile to your face?
Nearly every single time I hand a guitar to Tom Johnston, acoustic or otherwise, he has something funny to say. Working with Tom and John McFee and the rest of The Doobie Brothers has been one of the greatest honors of my life. On a deeper note, everything I have experienced and accomplished in this business, good or bad, either makes me smile now or certainly will when I think back on it in the future. I feel very fortunate to be where I am. Guitars brought me here, and they will damn sure keep me here as well.
What's the most unexpected or unconventional request you've received from a musician regarding their acoustic guitar setup or maintenance?
I have done many different tunings... the most unexpected being drop C on an acoustic. Also, I once had to make a nut riser/height extender for John McFee out of a guitar slide I cut up with a Dremel tool and nut files.