About the Instructor

One Instructor

While having many different instructors seems appealing, it can actually be quite confusing to the student, especially beginners. At Center Stage Guitar Academy you will have one instructor in a systematic approach that takes you through the process step by step covering many styles. Why pay a high price for thousands of videos that are essentially repeats taught be a different teacher?

Center Stage instructor Bryan Billhimer is a 20 year guitar veteran with experience in teaching, live performance, and studio recordings. Bryan began his guitar playing career at the age of 14. Over a few years he learned all the fundamentals necessary to further his craft via self teaching and motivation.

During high school and college Bryan performed in several bands on a regular basis playing blues and rock. In this time he earned a Bachelors degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduating college he worked in a local studio where he met producer Emosia (produced Blessid Union of Souls, Lakeisha Berri, etc.) and members of Blessid Union. After a year or so he was asked to join the band and toured for nearly ten years with the international recording artists covering the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Afghanistan.

Throughout his career in music, Bryan has also taught multiple students. Beginning in college and to the present, he has taught over 50 students in private lessons.

Bryan’s Guitar Setup

Electric Guitars

  • ’65 Gibson SG
  • Gibson Les Paul Special
  • ’78 Fender Strat
  • ’84 Fender Squier Strat
  • Fender Tele Delux
  • Gretch Electromatic

Acoustic Guitars

  • Martin
  • Taylor
  • Cordoba

Amps

  • Matchless Chieftain 4×10 combo (open back)
  • Matchless Clubman 35 w/ custom 2×12 cab

Pedals

  • Boss Tuner
  • Boss Blues Driver
  • Boss Tremelo
  • Boss Octave
  • Crybaby Wah
  • Ibanez Tube Screamer
  • Heil Talk Box

Picks

  • Jim Dunlop Jazz III

Slide

  • Blues Bottle