Phil Brug - ZETA Violins | Electric Violins Cello Bass | ZETA Mandolins | Pickups Repairs (original) (raw)

Phil was born and raised in the Cody area of Wyoming. His parents were some of the last homesteaders in the United States. Growing up farming and ranching on a homestead instilled a good deal of practicum at an early age, for both he and his brother. Their grandfather was a blacksmith and tinsmith and their uncle taught engineering. Phil’s brother became a research physicist while Phil got his degree in Civil Engineering from MSU in Bozeman. During his college years Phil took all the available musical instrument repair classes, while at the same time working as an electronic technician and a professional jeweler. Following graduation he spent time in the Middle East as an offshore oil construction engineer, eventually finding his way back to Montana, where he spent the next few years ranching.

In the spring of 1988 it was decided that Gibson acoustic guitar production would move to Montana. The challenge for Steve Carlson was not only setting up production for the then current line of Gibson acoustics, but also recreating and reviving the many historic Gibson models. One aspect of taking the quality of Gibson acoustics to new highs was dealing with the amount of pearl inlay so uniquely charactertistic of Gibson guitars. Steve’s vision was to setup and produce these inlay patterns in house, and even though CNC technology was emerging into the industry at the time, cutting shell this way would be revolutionary. On one of his ‘used equipment junkets’ Steve encountered a small CNC that seemed exactly right for the shell cutting ‘experiment’. With this small CNC back in Montana, the challenge became finding the time to work on this singular component of the Gibson acoustic startup, and then in walks Phil Brug. Phil’s mechanical background combined with both AutoCad and LISP experience seemed perfectly matched to the task of setting up and testing CNC shell cutting.

The fortunate conclusion to the above story is that during the next few months, Steve was so busy with all the other aspects of the Gibson acoustic guitar launch that Phil was completely left to his own devices to find success with the CNC cutting of shell inlay. This singular success on Phil’s part launched a working relationship between Phil and Steve that has not only endured the last 26 years, but flurished.

In 1996 Phil joined Steve’s engineering firm NC Solutions, where he worked both building and documenting the manufacture of the Apex7 CNC machining center Steve had designed and was producing. Over the next few years Phil’s expertise expanded to include responsibility for the creation and maintenance of customer’s 3D parts geometry the firm had built their reputation on. Ironically, the last turnkey ‘Apex7/Parts Fixturing/Parts Programming’ project was done between the years 2000-2004 for ZETA Music. After that turnkey manufacturing cell was delivered in 2004, NC Solutions emphasis switched entirely to O.E.M. parts production and engineering services. Phil’s expertise at CAD/CAM manufacturing continues to expand, having now drawn and produced every acoustic/electric neck and body conceivable; including guitars, basses, ukes, banjos, mandolins, violins, etc. Phil considers “Engineering as a diagnosis, not a profession”.

“In business . . . to share visions, discuss options, walk away, then return and find your highest expectations met . . . to have that occur as a matter of routine is unheard of, yet it is my experience on a daily basis when working with Phil Brug. A trusted friend who gets the job done, whatever it is.”

Steve Carlson

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I've now finished the top coloring and sealing process of ZETA's custom #1,000. A rich golden brown nicely frames and shows off the delicate pearl and abalone shell inlay of this one of a kind ZETA. Rubbing naptha over the sealed top . . . reveals the color and pop of the inlay. Next is coloring the body and neck . . . then final spray. Hope you enjoy. ... See MoreSee Less

OIBF Jam with Greg and Henry Burgess . . .
Featuring ZETA's Acoustic Pro violin and our latest A5_v3 mando. ... See MoreSee Less

ZETA's OIBF auction item. Auction is Saturday @ 3:00 pm. ... See MoreSee Less

OIBF day 2: ZETA smiles abound. ... See MoreSee Less

OIBF day 1: ZETA's Stage A_v3 . . . 'Jerusalem Ridge' with Henry Burgess.

Note: v3 (aka #18), is acoustic only, ie without pickup at this festival.

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Day 1, ZETA at OIBF . . . Guthrie, Oklahoma . . . with Henry Burgess trying out ZETA's Stage AE, ver3. ... See MoreSee Less

OIBF day 1 with Andrew Hunt . . . The Hunt Brothers Band . . . playing ZETA's 2023 OIBF Youth Music Scholarship Auction item: ZETA Acoustic Pro 5-String (with Case) ... See MoreSee Less

Decisions . . . Decisions

ZETA . . . available at these fine music dealers:
Electric Violin Shop . . . Durham, NC USA
Fly Music . . . Bosanci, Suceava, Romania
Henglewscy Music Salon . . . Poznan, Poland
Scavino Musica . . . Torino, Italy

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Special Order Dark Cherry Burst . . . Oh My!

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Mystical Adventures . . . Part V

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Mystical Adventures . . . Part IV (I was 30 . . . building Flatiron F & A style carved top mandolins . . . Keith McMillen was 26 . . . building his '2nd generation' of ZETA electric violins . . . one went to Jean-Luc Ponty)

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Mystical Adventures . . . Part III (Contemplation)

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Mystical Adventures . . . Part II (arrival of the 6th Element)

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Mystical Adventures . . . Part I

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LEGENDS . . .

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Our ZETA JV45 Fusion TransBlack BlackEdge Burst continues to gain in popularity . . . but seems to be developing a bit of an attitude here lately.

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Custom ZETA Acoustic Pro for Yilian Orama. Thank you Yilian for bringing your sunshine into the world. Check out her video here:
www.facebook.com/zetaviolins/videos/920835249043501

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Thank you Yilian Orama . . . bringing your sunshine into the world. So BEAUTIFUL! ... See MoreSee Less

2023 finds us making progress on ZETA's new website featuring all new pics. Forcing myself to find a little bit of time for some photo fun . . . hopefully fun for you as well.

Stop by and check out our recent shipments to these fine ZETA dealers:
Electric Violin Shop . . . Durham, NC USA
Fly Music . . . Bosanci, Suceava, Romania
Henglewscy Music Salon . . . Poznan, Poland
Scavino Musica . . . Torino, Italy

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Finished up 2022 strong, with many custom builds and a wide array of classic ZETA's . . . all thanks to you and these fine dealers:

Electric Violin Shop . . . Durham, NC USA
Fly Music . . . Bosanci, Suceava, Romania
Henglewscy Music Salon . . . Poznan, Poland
Scavino Musica . . . Torino, Italy

Be sure and stop by and check out their recent ZETA arrivals. You'll enjoy, I'm sure!

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Received today from ZETA's Poland dealer Henglewscy Music. Thank you Nell for sharing with us. An odd juxtaposition of heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time. Violinist Pavlo Lesiuk, escaping from Ukraine and making it to Poland where resident Cellist Szymon Walenciak and Pavlo find a moment to share some music. Our prayers go out each day for all of Ukraine and all those impacted by the tragedy unfolding in Europe. ... See MoreSee Less

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Ready for Day 2 . . . Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival (OIBF) - Guthrie, Oklahoma. Despite some early rain yesterday . . . when the music started at 3:00 pm it was one gorgeous afternoon and night full of that sweet bluegrass sound resonating from the stage and parking lot. We all miss Byron Berline, a good friend and longtime supporter. I think he'd be touched by all the fans that have turned out and the great bands carrying on the legacy of the OIBF festival he started. Rest in peace Byron.

Back in the vendor tent we had a good number of players testing out our ZETA fiddles and mandolins. Our ZETA Stage Mando turned quite a few heads . . . more than one were seen returning a time or two . . . pulling some tone and checking out that pickup.
We're hoping to get one up on stage before long, perhaps tonight?

Tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, is the Young Bluegrass Musicians Scholarship Benefit Auction. ZETA is donating an Acoustic Pro 4-Stirng Fiddle for the auction. If you want to bid you can message me your bid. Auction starts at 4:00 pm Saturday. Serious bidders will be messaged by me live during the auction if desired. So this is a great opportunity to take part and support an over the top worthy cause and own a ZETA Pro 4 .

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A very special time at our ZETA Shop yesterday . . . receiving our first visitors from Romania! ... See MoreSee Less