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LVN file photo Bob Johnston, former chairman of the Churchill County Democrats, shows off an electric guitar made by Don Brandfas that was sold at a fundraising auction in April.
VIDEO: To view a video of Don Brandfas playing his music on one of his guitars, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlKRPn_3M5U
Fallon resident Don Brandfas slings his guitar over his body and grips it comfortably - almost like he was born with it in his hands. He punctuates his conversation with short-picked melodies and strong chords. Not bad for a guy who picked up the instrument again just a few years ago when his career took a twist. And the guitar he holds is one he built himself.
Brandfas, who admitted he'll be 60 by the end of the year, said he and a few high school friends formed a garage band "that never got out of the garage." Following high school, he served in the military during the Vietnam War, where he lost some of his hearing due to loud explosions.
"I couldn't even tune the guitar by ear," he said.
Following his military service, Brandfas made a living as a magician, performing "up-close" magic at VIP parties. He said his father, an assistant warden at a prison, confiscated a book on magic tricks from an inmate and let Brandfas have it in high school.
Brandfas, who admitted he'll be 60 by the end of the year, said he and a few high school friends formed a garage band "that never got out of the garage." Following high school, he served in the military during the Vietnam War, where he lost some of his hearing due to loud explosions.
"I couldn't even tune the guitar by ear," he said.
Following his military service, Brandfas made a living as a magician, performing "up-close" magic at VIP parties. He said his father, an assistant warden at a prison, confiscated a book on magic tricks from an inmate and let Brandfas have it in high school.
He said he put together a magic show with illusions, the guillotine trick and the "sub trunk" trick in which two partners in a trunk and behind a sheet traded places. He recalled a performance where he killed some time smoking a cigarette - while in the trunk. The act went long, and when the trunk was opened he sprung out in a billowing cloud of smoke, lungs burning.
Gigs in Reno became few and far between, and he's since given up performing magic in favor of building and playing guitars.
Brandfas said he picked up the guitar again about five years ago and built up calluses on his fingers. He started tinkering with the instrument, disassembled it completely and rebuilt it again. Inspired, he bought manuals on how to build guitars and purchased the electronics and strings to build them from scratch.
Gigs in Reno became few and far between, and he's since given up performing magic in favor of building and playing guitars.
Brandfas said he picked up the guitar again about five years ago and built up calluses on his fingers. He started tinkering with the instrument, disassembled it completely and rebuilt it again. Inspired, he bought manuals on how to build guitars and purchased the electronics and strings to build them from scratch.
He starts a new guitar with a raw body made from alder, ash, mahogany or maple and hollows out the cavities for the electronics. Raw bodies run $80 to $500, depending on how exotic the wood is.
It takes Brandfas a minimum of four months to build a guitar from scratch including sanding, painting, buffing, painting again, adding layer upon layer of clear coat gloss - and lots of waiting.
"The hardest part is waiting for the body to dry," he laughed. The bodies need to dry about 20 minutes between coats of paint before the next can be applied.
After the body is painted, Brandfas attaches the neck, installs the electronics and strings the instrument. He said he's built 10 guitars to date. He just sent off a guitar to his youngest daughter in Alaska.
It takes Brandfas a minimum of four months to build a guitar from scratch including sanding, painting, buffing, painting again, adding layer upon layer of clear coat gloss - and lots of waiting.
"The hardest part is waiting for the body to dry," he laughed. The bodies need to dry about 20 minutes between coats of paint before the next can be applied.
After the body is painted, Brandfas attaches the neck, installs the electronics and strings the instrument. He said he's built 10 guitars to date. He just sent off a guitar to his youngest daughter in Alaska.
Brandfas peppers his story with a few licks here and there of his own songs. He's just recorded a seven-song CD of surf-style guitar instrumentals and happily plays a selection.
Eyebrows furrowed in complete concentration, his slightly spiky dark blonde hair bounces to the rhythm and he strums "Tsunami," a tune with a driving rhythm and howling melody that inspires you to pick up a surfboard. With his casual attire of jeans, T-shirt and an earring in his left ear, he looks the part of a baby boomer musician.
Initially, he wanted to record cover songs with his digital guitar workstation, but licensing problems led him to pen original songs of his own. Punching various buttons and programming different sounds, Brandfas readies his "band" to play behind him while he picks the melody. He's recorded all rhythm, bass and lead guitar parts for his CD using the GNX4 machine and computer software - something he learned on the fly.
Eyebrows furrowed in complete concentration, his slightly spiky dark blonde hair bounces to the rhythm and he strums "Tsunami," a tune with a driving rhythm and howling melody that inspires you to pick up a surfboard. With his casual attire of jeans, T-shirt and an earring in his left ear, he looks the part of a baby boomer musician.
Initially, he wanted to record cover songs with his digital guitar workstation, but licensing problems led him to pen original songs of his own. Punching various buttons and programming different sounds, Brandfas readies his "band" to play behind him while he picks the melody. He's recorded all rhythm, bass and lead guitar parts for his CD using the GNX4 machine and computer software - something he learned on the fly.
"My previous recording experience was reel-to-reel with two microphones in the 1970s," he said.
"I'm happy now with my drummer, rhythm guitar and bassist," he said, pointing to the machine.
Brandfas called his band, "Jienexfore" (GNX4) and titled his CD "High Desert Surf." His goal, he said, was to relate the songs to the Fallon area - evident in tracks titled "Shifting Sands," "Sandy Waves" and "Sand Mountain Surfing."
He's recorded the CD on his computer, but it will be distributed through www.cdbaby.com. The CD will also available be through www.Amazon.com and www.cduniverse.com.
"I'm happy now with my drummer, rhythm guitar and bassist," he said, pointing to the machine.
Brandfas called his band, "Jienexfore" (GNX4) and titled his CD "High Desert Surf." His goal, he said, was to relate the songs to the Fallon area - evident in tracks titled "Shifting Sands," "Sandy Waves" and "Sand Mountain Surfing."
He's recorded the CD on his computer, but it will be distributed through www.cdbaby.com. The CD will also available be through www.Amazon.com and www.cduniverse.com.
