In-demand guitar tech Larry Melero, who has toured the world with everyone from multi-platinum rock acts such as Incubus and Gwen Stefani to his current client, jazz and vocal legend George Benson, took time to deliver a special seminar about “Guitar on the Road” exclusively for students at GIT, the Guitar Program at Musicians Institute.

Sponsored in part by D’Addario/Planet Waves (who provided guitar and bass strings, cables, tuners, and other accessories for attendees) and hosted by GIT Director Jude Gold and Instrument Repair class instructor Paul Roberts, the clinic was presented in two parts. In the opening segment, Melero offered his tips on how build a career as a professional guitar tech (“You won’t find ‘Incubus Guitar Tech Needed’ on Craigslist”). He also advised students on which tools and emergency supplies to bring on the road if they can’t yet afford to hire a tech, the number-one rule of being a professional guitar tech (“No matter what goes wrong, never, ever, panic”), and several crucial must-know gig-rescue tricks, such as running a 100-watt head on only two power tubes or quickly diagnosing the cause of a failed pedalboard.

The second half of the clinic turned to Q&A, with students asking everything about which tools and backup supplies Melero brings on the road (“My toolbox is as big as an Ampeg 8x10”), how to run tube amps direct into a recording console, power “soak” and conditioning options, and guitar rig secrets of everyone from Fear Factory to Static X to George Benson.

“It was the first time in my 16 years as a full-time guitar tech that I ever did a seminar, and it was surprisingly fun,” said Melero. “All kinds of great questions came my way—questions I never expected—and it was really fulfilling to share my experience with the next generation of techs and players.”