Audio Zephyr

These are some testimonials I have received from clients who have brought their guitars to me. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed receiving them!

I am the proud owner of two Japanese Tokai Love Rock LS85′s. Warren at Audio Zephyr was recommended to me by my local music shop guitar technician as ‘the only guy I let touch my own guitars’ when I decided to upgrade my electronics. Having recently ‘mastered’ setting up action and intonation myself I dropped off my flametop with instructions not to touch the set-up as it was ‘just right’. When Warren pointed out the list of deficiencies I reluctantly agreed to have him redo the set-up.

I was stoked when the job was completed on time (how often does that happen these days?) but absolutely floored by the improvement in playability - has the feel and vibe of a high-end custom shop model, plays like butter and is easily the nicest guitar I have ever played. My goldtop suddenly became unplayable by comparison and was dropped off to Warren within a matter of days. My advice – Don’t go changing guitars, when for less than the price of a crappy pedal you can let Warren unleash the true potential of your guitar!

- Chris, Tokai ‘Love Rock’ Les Paul

Warren has worked on my my largish collection of (working) guitars for nearly a decade and his work and attention to detail are unmatched by anyone who I have used in my 40 year career both here and the UK. He has turned some of my older instruments from being “collectors items” into “don’t put me down playing instruments”.

I would honestly not think of owning a fretted instrument unless Warren had given it a going over be it a slight “tickle up” to an “intensive care” hospitalisation.

Instruments of mine he has worked on include a 1952 Martin nylon string, 1958 Maton C&W dreadnought, 1963 Fender Stratocaster, 1965 hofner violin bass, 1965 Fender Precision Bass, 1968 Epiphone Espana nylon string, 1988 Gibson Les Paul Standard, 1990 Fender telecaster ’52 reissue, 1998 Martin 00028 acoustic,  2000 Gretsch duo jet, 2002 Rickenbacker “Capri” 325 3/4 scale, 2004 Gibson ES336, 2005 Fender Stratocaster Eric Johnson signature model.

Everyone of these instruments now plays like a dream.

- Jim Hall, composer/musician/producer, Franklin Road Ltd (http://www.franklinrd.co.nz)

I first took a guitar into Warren at AudioZephyr on April 21st 2010 for a professional setup: Until then I didn’t know him from Adam. I had had the guy at the shop where I had just bought this Stonebridge set the action a bit lower for my playing style, and when I got it home, I was mostly depressed with the result. Being a man who doesn’t keep his feelings to himself I immediately consulted two of my friends as to “WHO ON EARTH does this setup thing properly?” and they, being two of the nicest but finickiest dudes in the world, told me to take it to Warren at AudioZephyr, with the remark that: “he’s the Man.”

So I emailed Warren and soon got the guitar over to him. He exudes knowledge and confidence and is no bullshitter. When I picked it up a couple of days later (because I wasn’t in any great hurry) and played it, I was immediately impressed. Then, after playing it at home for two hours straight, I realised I couldn’t wait to bring him my other two guitars. I wanted to see what he could do with them, because by now I was convinced that Warren hadn’t just “set” my guitar up, in action, in fret board, in fret leveling, and created a new bone nut and saddle… but had the intonation perfect too.

I was thrilled, I was inspired: luckily Aussie is two hours at least behind our time zone because then I rang my brother John in Sydney, after midnight NZ time, to tell him that “hang the expense!” I was going to treat his Martin to the AudioZephyr Deluxe setup when he came down to tour in June. Some days later, after raving to Warren about how great the Stonebridge sounded and by now playing the Larrivee he’d just done for me with a bone saddle I heard him extol the virtues of Ivory and I went away thinking, “Geez, all I need now is the Holy Grail of sound, The Ivory Saddle…” And I’ve got that now, and so have a couple of my friends and as the Scaffold song goes: “Is everybody ‘appy, you bet your life we are…”

- T.J. Hanlon, Stonebridge, Larrivee

I play a Martin X series, a Lakewood D14, a Squier Strat and a Collings mandolin. I have used other guitar techs but found that what I was led to expect and what I received were not very closely aligned!

The first gat I took to Warren was the Martin for a set up. I was so thrilled by the improvement that over time it has had a replacement nut, bridge and saddle. Not to mention a couple of partial refret jobs. I now have a much better playing—and sounding—guitar than the one I bought. It’s set up for mainly rhythm playing and it’s a real stinger. The Lakewood was bought with more nuanced playing in mind. Warren suggested full set up and replacing the nut and saddle to ivory. I wasn’t sure about the ivory but went with it on trust. Whoa! I spent time looking for the best gat I could afford, but now it plays and sounds way, way over the price range. Stunning! Everything that was hinted at is now fully there, and then some!

When I asked about a pickup for it, Warren suggested K&K. I went with it. The gat sounds just the same as it does acoustically but louder! Seriously. Just the same! The Collings has had a full set up and will get K&Ks in the near future. It deserves them. The cheapest guitar I have is a $200 (from Trade Me) Squier Strat. Came ‘as new’, with budget pickups, tuners, bridge/vibrato and that famous Squier hum! Warren suggested shielding, new tuners, and a full set up as the least that should be done. I opted for Fender pickups as well. As time goes by, I’ll replace the bridge/vibrato. At present though, whenever I have it out jamming with friends, and friends of friends, someone usually says “Man that’s the nicest Squier I’ve heard.” Then after they’ve had a play, “Man that’s the nicest Squier I’ve played.” Even the cheapest guitars have the capacity for improvement! I don’t think Warren is a magician (although the results of his work have been magic for me), but he is more than a tech. Being a player and a music lover gives him a ‘big picture’ view so he offers straight shooting suggestions, alternatives and advice focused around your wants and needs. He is serious about his work because he really loves doing it. No matter what the instrument costs he enjoys bringing out the best in it. He understands that not guitar is a commoditiy, it’s a key to the soul of music, and that’s as important to him as it is to you and me. In my case he has tailored each of my guitars for the playing style(s) for which it is used. For what I’ve paid for work undertaken, compared to the improvements in the instruments, I am ripping this guy off!

- Eddie,Martin DX/Lakewood D14

I had a 1974 Martin D35 which was in need of a major overhaul. Worn frets, dips/hollows in the fret board, the fret board white binding was cracked/loose and the action was not that great.

Warren George of Audio Zephyr was highly recommended.

I presented my very sad D35 to Warren to execute all repairs and maintenance. He suggested an ivory saddle fit and remove the under-saddle pickup to achieve the best possible transmission of sound to the guitar body. He replaced this with a K&K that is fixed inside the guitar body under the saddle.

Once all repairs and maintenance were complete, I collected my repaired D35. When I played it for the first time, it was like an entirely different instrument.

Warren had transformed my D35 into a work of art and I could’t believe how beautifully warm and clean it sounded. Plus the action and intonation were the best they had ever been. The new pickup sounded better than the under-saddle I previously had as well.

Warren has completed setups on my two electric guitars as well. It’s unbelievable the difference he has made to the action and sound of these.

In my opinion, Warren is a master at his craft and I have no hesitation in recommending his talents and expertise to all guitarists who require the best.

- Greg, Martin D35, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul

I have tonight for the first time plugged my classical in since getting it back home.

WOW!!!

What  ivory does for the K&K is fantastic. It somehow produces the harmonics that you hear from the guitar when not plugged in.

I cut my effects send by half.

Best I have heard yet.

- Simon, Martin/Humphrey Classical

My guitars mean the world to me. They had never had a proper set up since I first purchased them. Myself and my guitars are so thankful for the hands of Audio Zephyr. Since finding Warren, whenever I pick up my SG and my Sigma, they feel and play with new life and with a restored sound that is both authentic and definitive.

- Billy, Gibson SG/Sigma Acoustic

Just wanted to say thank you again for the work you did on ‘Pete’ my Gibson SJ-200…Played an acoustic gig last Sunday and the improvement in the sound was awesome….

-Trevor, Gibson SJ 200

The Breedlove is really sweet.  It just gets better and better or should I say we; as I feel like I’m finally gettin somewhere with my whole sound, guitar and vocal. I find the action and tone so good that I can really relax into it and let my voice go do whatever it wants. The bone at both ends is waaayyyy better,… deeper,.. more colour.  Cows rock!

- Jerome, Breedlove acoustic

Thanks heaps for the work you did on my guitars.

I’m very pleased I got the  Ivory done on the D28 – sounds great.

-Bronwyn, Martin D28

Just had Warren do a set-up on my HD28V, and also install ivory nut & saddle. Went from fantastic sound to unbelievably fantastic sound! Has improved clarity, presence and power without the slightest compromise to that warm tone top to bottom end. Also, I’d been researching and experimenting with preamps/pickups and microphones etc. for it. Eventually settled on a K&K Trinity system which he has installed. A VERY authentic sound reproduction for this guitar, again maintaining that gorgeous tone!

- Tim, Martin HD28V

Bloody unbelievable sounds come out of these gats!!! And they feel soooo nice to play. Nice work. Pristine work actually.

- Joel, PRS SE / Ibanez “John Scofield”

I recently bought a Martin D1. Nice guitar, great sound, but the action was too high for my style of playing. A friend recommended Warren at Audio Zephyr so I took the D1 and also my Martin LX1 to meet him. (The LX1 had intonation problems).

As well as the lowered action, I also opted for a bone nut and ivory bridge on the D1.

When I played the D1 after Warren had worked his magic I had to check to see that I had the right guitar!!

The sound was unbelievably better, the action was perfect and I couldn’t stop playing it. Absolutely superb!!When I finally got around to playing the LX1 I discovered that Warren had used an equal amount of his magic on it – the intonation and set up was perfect I can’t recommend Warren enough – he delivered way more than he promised and I can’t wait to get my other guitars to him to work on.

- Alister, Martin D1/LX1

I first met Warren after buying a guitar he had built some years back and I was lucky enough to locate him. Over the years Warren has set up all of my USA Strats, Gibsons etc and each guitar has taken on a new impressive lease of life as a result. I’d mentioned building another custom Strat and Warren recommended the parts and approved a body and neck. The end result is like a “living entity”, I could almost swear it’s hiding my mistakes. Warrens configuration of switching on the  Di Marzio 36th Anniversary humbucker & True Velvet singles is unreal. Not only is this the best guitar I’ve ever played, it really is a tonal head turner. Now I know what it feels like to be the Pied Piper. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

John, Custom Strat / Various Strats & LPs

My first meeting with Warren was when he was recommended by Lewis Eady’s to fit a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup to my newly purchased HD-28, which gave me all the sound reinforcement I required.  Subsequently I had him look at my Gibson Gospel (1974), which required some work.  Upon inspection, he noted that new frets, nut, saddle & fret board radius all needed attention, which he duly completed within 2 days. The result:  A vast improvement in the set up, intonation & brightness of my favourite guitar, which effectively “brought it back to life”.

Next up was my Baby Taylor, which, after 10 years of being well played & travelled, needed a “birthday”.  A partial refret & set up brought this little” gem” back up to speed & will again be a feature of future travels.

My D12-28 will, at some point, also come under Warren’s expert treatment, with equally pleasing results, I’m sure.

It is a pleasure to know that there is a luthier of Warren’s expertise &  total passion for getting the very best out of the guitars he works on.

Brian,Martin HD28/’74 Gibson Gospel/Martin LX1

Warren, just a short note to say that I am continually wow’ed by the set up work, response of the new Ivory saddle and nut, K&K pickup, and the feel of the neck! Just this weekend I also put on some of those Martin long life’s you mentioned, another wow moment! It feels like the same guitar when I pick it up but a completely fresh, sweet sounding new instrument ,as soon as my hand touches the neck and the notes start jumping out!….I can’t find enough time to have this guitar in my hands!……. I will get in touch later in August when we get back from Aussie and come round and let you work on the Larrivee, can’t wait to see, hear, feel the outcome of that!

Steve,’Paddy Burgin’ Custom Acoustic