Local Makers Send Their Sound to the Big Stage
Our Friends at Central Oregon Daily recently visited with two local intrument makers whose players include many big names seen on stage this summer at Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend and beyond.
Full Story as published on CO Daily by reporter Peyton Thomas below:
Big names roll through Bend every summer at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. And some of those artists are picking up instruments built right here in town.
Breedlove Guitars has been a Central Oregon staple since 1990, first starting in Tumalo before moving operations to Bend. Today, about 35 employees produce nearly 2,000 handcrafted acoustic guitars each year, with each one going through Breedlove’s unique sound optimization process.
“There’s a lot of people that don’t know that we’re here in Bend, even though we’re building world class instruments,” said Angela Christensen, Breedlove’s vice president of operations. “We’re known for the playability in our guitars, the incredible sound, and of course the exotic woods that we use.”
That wood doesn’t come from an average lumber yard. Breedlove sources wood carefully and sustainably, selecting pieces that are as beautiful as they are sonically rich. Price points start around $2,500, but some instruments climb much higher. Last year, one Breedlove guitar sold for $24,000.
For artists like Bozzy Keller, guitarist for Rainbow Kitten Surprise, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the Bend factory was a dream.
“Been a big fan of Breedlove ever since my freshman year of college,” Keller said. “Just a great opportunity to see the behind the scenes. And I love what Breedlove’s doing with sustainably harvesting wood.”
During the band’s Bend concert, Keller even gave away a Breedlove guitar to a fan in the crowd. His connection to the brand is also personal.
“I actually picked one of the Myrtle Wood guitars because my grandmother’s name was Myrtle… I felt a connection to that,” Keller said. “It goes deep, musically and personally.”
Across town, another builder is making instruments that are finding their way onto big stages. Ryan Fish is the only Weber Mandolin builder in the world. He works out of Bend, personally setting up instruments for touring artists.
“We used to build in the same shop right next to each other, and then Weber moved to Bend. I just dove in head deep after that,” Fish said. “Bands come to town, kind of check out their instrument, make sure it’s playing good, spend a little time with them. This is what I want to be doing, even if I didn’t have to work anymore.”
Weber mandolins are played by Erik Berry of Trampled by Turtles, who says the instrument feels like an extension of himself.
“When I’m having a particularly good experience playing music, it feels like my hands are a lot bigger than they really are… and able to effortlessly go everywhere I want them to with every idea I’m having,” Berry said. “I was really struck when I got it and just how effortless it was to make it do what I would like it to do.”
From Myrtlewood guitars to hand-tuned mandolins, Bend’s instrument makers are sending their sound far beyond Central Oregon, one stage at a time.
Several artists have recently played Weber Mandolins, including Dave Bryson with Counting Crows. Breedlove Guitars have also made appearances with Jim James from My Morning Jacket and Mt. Joy, who plays at Hayden Homes Amphitheater Friday night.
One of Breedlove’s goals moving forward? To make the amphitheater’s famous selfie guitar a Breedlove guitar. Watch the full story here:
