Meet John Armentrout of John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair in Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Armentrout.

John, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a kid, like many others my age, I grew up with a true love of music. I started playing guitar at 12 and have enjoyed playing in many bands through the years. As a young musician with low funds, I found a need to repair and customize my equipment on a budget. Years later, I was able to convince management at Guitar Center Hollywood to give me a 25 square foot area where I could provide the service of guitar and bass repair. “John’s Corner” was born and found years of success. After seeing the success of this business plan, GC took this blueprint nationally. GC Hollywood built a 700 square foot area for the sole purpose of instrument repair named “GC Garage” which I headed. While always feeling that quality repair should be a priority over quantity, I realized I needed to leave the GC culture and bring my business home to Burbank.

John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair started in May 2014 and has been thriving ever since! Many clients have followed me to my new location and I have many new customers coming from Burbank and the LA county area. I have always been a big believer in small businesses and I am proud to now have my own.

Daily, I work on a variety of instruments from vintage pieces worth tens of thousands of dollars too much less expensive instruments requiring a simple string change. I work on electric and acoustic guitars, basses, ukuleles, mandolins, banjos, sitars, dulcimers and much more. With this vast wealth of experience, I’ve has seen just about everything that can happen to an instrument and has learned how to fix it.

John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair is a family business. My wife, Julie heads up the office and marketing while my 17-year-old son Derek helps as a trustworthy intern. Having my family by my side has had made this the perfect business and I look forward to years of continued success.

Has it been a smooth road?
Growing up with a passion for music, I found myself being persuaded into other fields. I was told there was no future working as a musician.

As a young man, I struggled with finding balance between artist integrity and earning a paycheck. But my love of music always made it worth it. Now, with years of experience as a player, as an experienced luthier, and as a father, I have found that finding a balance between doing what you love, spending time with those you love and making a decent living is true success.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair offers a full range of expert repairs and customizations for all of your stringed instruments. With years of experience, I have seen it all and have learned how to fix it. As an independent, I can offer the lowest prices while maintaining the highest quality. Not having to follow the corporate model allows me to spend more time with each customer, finding out their styles and abilities and then customize the work I do to fit their needs. Having my shop in my home allows me to be more flexible with my time. Sometimes just spending extra time on a project can really make that difference most artists are looking for today – a great sound all their own.

Services Include:
-Restrings
-Setups
-Fret Work
-Electronic Work
-Pickup installs, replacement of jacks, switches, and pots, as well as rewiring

Repairs and Restorations
Nut and Saddle Fabrication, brace repair for acoustics, binding repair, bridge repair, neck resets, headstock repair, top crack repair, minor finish repair, tuner repair

Customizations – if you can dream it, I can make it happen.

• Pickup and delivery are available in some areas.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love all the opportunities Los Angeles has to offer. I love that we can enjoy great urban culture, beautiful outdoor spaces and everything in-between. I love all the diverse people I get to meet on a daily basis and learning about the different styles of music.

What I don’t like is the traffic!

Contact Info:

• Address: John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair
  2723 N. Keystone Street
  Burbank, CA 91504
• Website: www.JohnsGuitarRescueandRepair.com
• Phone: 818.749.0565
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair
• Yelp: John’s Guitar Rescue and Repair

Image Credit:
Julie Armentrout & John Armentrout