Los Angeles‑area residents have a new reason to be proud of Boyle Heights. Luis Muñoz, a native of El Paso who moved to the City of Angels in 2009, now runs Modern Guitar Tech, a small shop that repairs and builds guitars for musicians ranging from the Deftones to the Smashing Pumpkins.
From humble beginnings to a family business
Muñoz grew up in a household where his father, an immigrant from Juárez, Chihuahua, loved The Beatles despite not speaking English. The family settled in the United States with four children, and as a teenager Muñoz began tinkering with his dad’s acoustic guitar, eventually teaching himself to play and joining a local band.
With $1,000 in his pocket and a broken‑down truck, he pressed on toward his dream, graduating from the Guitar Craft Academy in 2010. After stints with several luthiers and playing live gigs, he decided to focus on guitar repairs full‑time and gradually built a client list that included touring musicians.
Tour life and a growing family
While on tour with singer‑songwriter Alex Feder, Muñoz met his future wife, Moa, a bassist who later joined Olivia Rodrigo’s band for the 2024 “GUTS” tour. The couple traveled together, welcoming their daughter, Rosemary, on the road. When the rigors of touring proved unsustainable for their young family, they returned to Los Angeles and settled back on the Eastside.
Designing a heart‑shaped guitar for Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo’s team reached out to Muñoz after learning he was back in town. The pop star wanted a guitar shaped like a heart, not just a heart‑themed pickguard. Muñoz sketched dozens of concepts, staying up late to perfect the design. “I thought, ‘What’s her favorite guitar? A Jazzmaster. It’s an offset body. An offset heart.’” he recalled.
After a quick 3‑D rendering and approval from Moa, Muñoz finalized the offset‑heart shape, painted it, and built the instrument with input from Rodrigo’s sound engineer and monitor crew. He says the guitar is a labor of love – “hecho con amor” – and he hopes to see Rodrigo play it during her upcoming Los Angeles shows in January.
Why the guitar matters to the community
Beyond the novelty of a heart‑shaped instrument, Muñoz’s story highlights the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in Boyle Heights. His shop provides local musicians with affordable repairs and custom builds, keeping the neighborhood’s vibrant music scene alive.
When he watches fans, especially young girls, react to Rodrigo’s performance, Muñoz feels a deep sense of purpose. “Those little girls see their idol with a guitar they can relate to. It shows them they, too, can create and express themselves,” he said.
Modern Guitar Tech remains open to the public, offering services ranging from simple string changes to full custom builds. As the city continues to celebrate its cultural diversity, stories like Muñoz’s remind residents that dedication, family support, and faith can turn a modest dream into a lasting contribution to Los Angeles’ artistic legacy.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
