f you’ve ever delved into the world of guitar techs, one name you’ll likely come across is Rene Martinez. Currently touring with one of the industry’s biggest names, John Mayer, Martinez has built an impressive resume over the years.
The fact that Mayer entrusts Martinez with the care of his prized guitars, like his 1960s sunburst Stratocaster, is no coincidence. Mayer’s biggest musical influence was the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Martinez’s connection to Stevie only adds to the significance of this partnership.
How Rene Met Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rene Martinez’s career as a guitar tech kicked off in 1985 when he started working for Stevie Ray Vaughan, right after the release of Stevie’s second album, Couldn’t Stand the Weather. With the growing popularity of Vaughan’s albums and a global demand to see him live, Stevie needed someone reliable to maintain his guitars on tour.
Before joining Vaughan’s team, Martinez had already spent 13 years repairing various musical instruments and gear, so he had the technical expertise needed for the job. However, working with Stevie required a big lifestyle change, as he transitioned from shop work to being a full-time roadie on the road.
Initially, Martinez’s duties were relatively simple—cleaning guitars and restringing them. But as time went on, he took on greater responsibility, eventually becoming Stevie’s main guitar tech.
As time progressed, the guitar guy who was doing all the set up and everything wound up quitting, and then I took up his place because we needed somebody to do that. I’ve been setting up and touching them up ever since. I learned about guitar cables, shorting in plugs, I learned about tubes and about pickups. You name it.
Rene Martinez – Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Tech, Adam St. James, Guitar.com
By the end of the 1980s, Martinez and Stevie were working seamlessly together. Martinez knew exactly what Stevie needed and when. One of the best examples of their synergy happened during a performance of “Look At Little Sister” in November 1989, when Stevie broke a string mid-solo. Without missing a beat, Stevie finished the solo on five strings, knowing Rene was already on his way with a backup Stratocaster, tuned and ready to go.
Rene with Other Guitarists
After Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tragic death in 1990, Rene Martinez continued to work as a guitar tech for several high-profile musicians, including Mick Jones of Foreigner, Prince, The Moody Blues, Carlos Santana, and of course, John Mayer.
In addition to his work on tour, Martinez has contributed to the design of various guitar products. Notably, he helped develop Big Core Strings (produced by GHS) and GraphitALL, a guitar lubricant designed to reduce friction at the nut, particularly useful for players with Gibson-style headstocks that are prone to tuning issues.
Martinez’s influence on guitar maintenance and design has made him a respected figure not just among the artists he works with but also within the broader guitar community. Whether he’s fine-tuning John Mayer’s guitars or developing products for fellow musicians, Rene Martinez’s legacy as a master guitar tech continues to grow.
I believe it’s the same person who does an even smoother change during “Life Without You” in Passaic NJ in Sept of 1985. Seeing that is what led me to look up who SRV’s guitar tech was. Near the end Stevie says “Thank you“ to what I thought was Tony. But not Tony. Rene. Thanks for the video and information.
Wow, Amazing information. Thanks for sharing.
Saw them do the exact same thing mid song when Stevie opened for Robert Plant in Toronto on Plant’s Now & Zen tour.