Michael F. Glass applies his skill in optimizing guitars to play better and sound awesome.
With his highly developed mechanical aptitude and a burning desire to make the best music he possibly could, Michael applied his talents to improving his instruments, making them play and sound better than they did in the condition they were originally acquired.
“For my money, the very best instruments are the ones hardest to put down. These are the guitars and basses that deliver that the stoke and excitement of an instrument that feels like a natural physical extension of my being every time I pick them up. It feels like the promise an of unlimited musical potential resting in my hands. Having my instruments perform at this high level has allowed me to stretch and reach to musical spaces that I don’t think I could get to with an instrument that I had to fight with physically. I still sound like me, but optimizing my instruments and gear has allowed me to access my highest given potential quickly; and that has been worth all my effort!”
Michael’s guitar tech efforts were further proven as he lent his skills to helping friends and bandmates. “I knew for a long time that after decades of experience I knew how to setup a guitars and rigs that it would work great for me. Everyone who ever picked up one of my guitars would love how it played but I still was in a bit of a bubble, I’d help friends with fixing their guitars but I wasn’t really open for business. For many years I had thought that it could be a service that I could offer to people but it was just a thought, out there in the abstract ether.”
This all began to change when Michael was tapped by longtime dear friend and fellow guitar enthusiast Brett Gurewitz (song writer, record producer, Epitaph) to go through his guitars, getting them set up and performing the required work elevating the instruments to their highest playability.
Michael playing at the 2024 RippleFest with Mario Lalli’s Rubber Snake Charmers, in Austin, Texas.
Michael playing with the remaining members of White Flag at the Bill Bartell Tribute Show at The Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA. 2013.
The journey, how it all started.
The story begins long ago when Michael’s mother shared her deep passion for music with him from his very beginning. This was the seed planted that grew into Michael digging into his Mom’s Beatles records and memorizing every lyric before being old enough to enter grade school.
After trying his hand at a few instruments as a child, it wasn’t until Michael enrolled in the beginning guitar class offered at his middle school that he’d stumble upon the path that would to his calling: to play in a band!
Michael is quick to confess “I wasn’t good, I learned slower than my peers and wasn’t a particularly talented player but I was driven to stick with it!” Michael’s tenacious spirit would paid off sooner than he ever imagine!
Milestones were soon met in joining his first band playing original music (still a junior in high school), playing shows (and getting paid for it!), touring and recording; all before Michael was old enough to vote!
“Everyone in the band was improving but we worked hard putting the hours in but I had to scrap and fight for every inch, non of it came easily in the beginning!”
The one thing that did come easily to Michael was his savant-like mechanical aptitude, a natural ability that he exhibited from birth. “I remember my Mom telling me that she started me building models when I was only 3 years old! Things were different then, when we rode our bikes no one had helmets back then! So, choking hazards be damned, as I built anything I could with whatever was around, usually model kits and legos for me.”
It didn’t take much time for Michael to figure out that he could work on his guitar to make it sound better and much easier to play. He quickly learned that he could make the most out of his playing and performance efforts when his guitar was more comfortable in his hands. Playing a comfortable instrument offered greater creative expression as focus was shifted off of the physical muscling on the instrument.
These were the humble beginnings in which Michael began his lifelong journey playing as a musician and working on guitars, basses and amps. Five decades later Michael is still into music, performing, recording and applying his skilled hands as a guitar tech elevating instruments to the peak of their potential.
Michael after playing his first show in 1981 at Godzilla’s opening for the Descendents. The mess in the guitar is the result of a blood blister on his right thumb letting go mid set. Although the mishap was totally unplanned, some in the audience claimed that the spectacle was a fabricated stunt!
Michael playing his first show in 1981 at Godzilla’s opening for the Descendents.
Michael playing with SIN34 at the Whiskey on Sunset Blvd. in May of 1982, opening for the Minutemen and Johanna Went.
Michael filling in on bass with the Love Dolls.
Michael performing with The Luxury Cruisers at Mr. T’s Bowl, circa 1996-ish.
Michael & Bill (aka Mike Mess & Pat Fear) throw down the rock with White Flag.