Vundabar’s Brandon Hagen Rig Rundown Guitar Gear Tour
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]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
#guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
#Vundabars #Brandon #Hagen #Rig #Rundown #Guitar #Gear #Tour
Originally posted by UC5J-hZ4wNf7OlkzIn49LHoQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UA7bH866BY
Shop Vundabar's Gear:
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
Ernie Ball Slinky Strings – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzZAay
How did it take me 2 months to see this?
Just saw them live in London recently and was really intrigued by his guitar and the wonky looking tuner pegs. REALLY good sound when it was live.
No lie, Brandons guitar tone is the best live guitar tone I've ever experienced. Keep creating beautiful music Vundabar
Maybe I misssed this part but I couldnt find it in the video or writeup: what is that unmarked black pedal? Awesome rundown, I love how Brandon and Chris seemed like they were on the same page about the rig ethos
I’ve been obsessed with these guys since Gawk came out and it’s so awesome to get to see Brandon’s gear!
Brandon sounds so much like the presenter it threw me off
And super boring
19:20 based on The Peavey Decade ; which now has its own physical amp "combo" re-release as well I'm pretty sure. (It's just a lil practice amp btw folks:)
Bull shit
I bought a Carbon Copy after seeing Vundabar in 2014/15
Yea, he needs to bump up that pedal game, so I dont feel so silly about mine being so much more extra with mine! No really, if it works for him, keeping it simple might be the way to go. I will still be here programming my MC6 pro and midi pedals and loop switcher.
sick band and player but this pedal board is giving me anxiety.
loved this band since their first album. big hype for seeing them on RR
This is one of the best things that this band has been featured in! Always wanted to see one of these and I love how in depth this thing looks just from first impressions. Thank you so much!
Proof they mostly like to give rig rundowns to awful indie bands. I was at the store that day. Luckily I left before this horrendous noise started.
Awesome rundown! Love it… btw @premierguitar, the smaller amp is a Fender Pro Junior not a Blues Junior.
great chat! love the laid back vibe of the interview.
@9:15 🙂 "That Horse is Running"
Holy Toledo! What a great video ????
Glad to see Vundabar get the love they deserve. Always loved seeing them at house shows in Richmond ❤????