about
Big Crunch Amplifier Service and Design opened in February of 2008. We specialize in vacuum tube-based guitar amplifiers. Our shop is located in Baltimore City, Maryland. We share a building with esteemed colleagues, The Magpie Cage Recording Studio.
Brooks Harlan – owner/tech – Brooks has been servicing guitar amplifiers for over two decades. He began tinkering with electronics as a kid. When he started playing in rock bands, he naturally became interested in how his gear worked. Brooks has a degree in Music Composition from Texas Tech University and is a seasoned recording engineer, live sound engineer, musician, and father.
Shawna Potter - manager/tech - Shawna picked up guitar at 12. She was the manager of a vintage guitar shop before co-founding Big Crunch with Brooks Harlan. She learned on the job and became the go-to Fender cap job guru. She currently sings for War On Women, is the author of Making Spaces Safer, and during COVID started a podcast so she could spend more time at home with her new rescue dog, Rosie.
Press / Media
Mojotone.com featured our shop in their Make It Monday e-newsletter series. Read the full article on their website.
“If you find yourself anywhere near Baltimore Maryland and in need of gear touch-ups, Big Crunch Amp Repair & Design is the place to go. Big Crunch, we salute you. Keep up the rock doctoring!”
Rig Rundowns
Kyle from The Sword gives our One Knob amp a shout out on his Premier Guitar Rig Rundown (around minute 7:50).
Jim Ward (At the Drive-In, Sparta) talks about our Overdrive pedal in his Premier Guitar Rig Rundown video at 25:30
Big Crunch has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Here are some older videos showcasing our shop and our custom designs:
This is a short, live iPhone video of The Sword playing the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD in 2013. Guitarist Kyle Shutt is playing a 50 watt Big Crunch One Knob amp head.
Our shop is often used as a location for local film students. James Larson Video made this “commercial” for Big Crunch and Old Town Lutherie in 2018.
In April of 2015, Brooks and Shawna of Big Crunch Amp Repair were interviewed about their shop, how they got started, their custom-designed and -built amps, and more. A student project by Tony DeFilippo.
Another great student project from 2013 where Brooks and Shawna talk about how their musical projects and amp work intersect. Filmed by Robbie Arp.
We are a safer space.
No harassment or discrimination will be tolerated in our shop. We have taken the Safer Space Pledge and we are committed to the idea that music should be accessible to all. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to tell us.
Find out more about this program here.