RAFAEL BARAJAS
Rafael Barajas has been in the music/manufacturing industry for over 14 years. After graduating from the Musicians Institute Guitar Craft Program, he began his first job with guitar guru John Carruthers, where he learned all about guitar repair. He then moved to the James Tyler guitar shop where he began his hands-on training in guitar building. Rafael was privileged enough to have been able to work in all the departments, from building, to painting and assembling, in addition to the everyday operations of a mid-scale production shop, specializing as the main painter for several years. After some time in Tyler Guitars, Rafael was given the opportunity to help the folks at Schecter Guitars re-start the USA custom shop again as their main painter, setting up production colors and a finishing schedule/system.
Over the years Rafael has also worked at Charles Music in Glendale, CA, as their main in-house repair technician, and provided assistance to the Yamaha US custom shop with their guitar and drum divisions. Currently, Rafael remains an Instructor at the Musicians Institute, giving back to the community and teaching what he has learned over the years. Rafael has built guitars for the musicians of artists like Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, Jon Secada, Ricardo Arjona, Prince Royce, Daddy Yankee, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian, Alicia Keys, Zach Wylde, Nikki Sixx, and many more.
After so many years in the guitar industry, Rafael decided that he wanted to provide working musicians with an opportunity to obtain truly custom, handmade guitars, meant to be played and not just displayed. These fine instruments, all exclusively hand crafted by Rafael, are made with much endearment to inspire musicians to create and express themselves in the way only they can. |