Vundabar's Brandon Hagen

Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/vundabar

Visit Grimey's: https://www.grimeys.com/

A pair of Fender amps and a custom-built Baranik helped the Boston band’s guitarist come back from a broken arm.

When Brandon Hagen broke his arm a few years ago, his life changed in an instant. He’d been fronting Boston indie rock outfit Vundabar since 2013, and suddenly, he was unable to do the things he’d built his life around. Recovery came, in part, in the form of a custom guitar prototype built by Mike Baranik of Baranik Guitars. Hagen deconstructed and rehabilitated his relationship to the 6-string on that instrument, an experience that led to Vundabar’s sixth LP, Surgery and Pleasure, released on March 7.

On tour supporting the record, the band appeared at Grimey’s in Nashville for a performance on March 11, and PG’s Chris Kies caught up with Hagen to hear about his journey and learn what tools the guitarist has brought on the road. As Hagen tells it, his setup is less about expertise and received wisdom, and more about “intuitive baby mode”—going with what feels and sounds good in the moment.

Shop Vundabar's Gear:

Ernie Ball Slinky Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzZAay

Fender Hot Rod Deville - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DynQvn

JHS Colour Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmeQkM

Keeley Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0drY9

Electro-Harmonix 2020 Tuner - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeZz95

Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxEPQ

Electro-Harmonix Micro POG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX5qZ0

Boss Blues Driver - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55YAvL

Way Huge Swollen Pickle - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1gqLj

MXR Carbon Copy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyn3X9

Boss DD-7 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjDAax

Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/vundabar

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0:00 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard

0:15 - Vundabar "I Need You" Live at Grimey's

1:06 - Chris Kies Intro

1:39 - Brandon Hagen's Custom Baranik B4

4:56 - Fralin P-90s & Baranik Goldfoil Pickups

7:51 - Baranik B4 Controls

9:15 - Klon Clone in the Guitar?!

13:02 - Brandon Hagen's 2009 Japanese Fender Jazzmaster ’62 Reissue

15:54 - Recording "I Need You" & Surgery and Pleasure Album

22:47 - Relearning Guitar After a Broken Arm

24:25 - 2009 Japanese Fender Jazzmaster ’62 Reissue Sound Demo

26:02 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard & John Bohlinger

26:51 - Brandon Hagen's Fender Fender Pro Junior & Blues Junior

31:37 - Brandon Hagen's Pedalboard

42:48 - Creating Tones for "Greenland"

44:39 - Brandon Hagen's Strings & Tunings

49:35 - Vundabar Live at Grimey's

[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]

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