Pro guitarist since 1996, I played more than 40 albums and more than 1000 concerts. I am also bass player, producer, mixing engineer and label owner. That's the reason why I have a global vision of the song and of the album. It helps me to focus on the guitar parts, being conscious of what kind of arrangement the song would need.
I can write, play and record great guitar and bass layers on your tracks.
I really like to find the part that fits the song.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
10 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
Endorse Ruggero Catania
check_circleVerifiedThis is not a song, this is a masterpiece of groove. When music talk we don't have to add any words, just listen! Giù il cappello maestro Ruggero.
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Also in this second work I've got the chance to take the most out of the collaboration with Ruggero. His ability to "understand" the songs has been confirmed but in this one he also added a personal touch, with a solo that has all the elements to become iconic. It moves the songs in an unexplored land raising its potential to the maximum. Very satisfied.
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Working with Ru was inspiring and I'm looking forward to work with him again. He has been able to "feel" the song in the proper way and to create something that is elegant and at the same time scratchy and bold. That was what I was looking for.
check_circleVerifiedRuggero is a serious and competent professional. He created the required tracks respecting the agreed objectives and times. He has musical taste and a lot of groove. He is very helpful and kind. Recommended!
check_circleVerifiedRuggero was very pleasant to work with. Professional, knowledgeable and a very talented guitarist and experienced producer. When I made observations on the first version of the solo he recorded and requested changes, he responded with why he made those choices, and then proceeded to make the changes I requested in a very timely manner. Again, Ruggero is very easy to work with, on-time, and provides an excellent end product. I will definitely request his services again should the need arise.
Ruggero is a musician of incredible talent and inspiration.
He made a wonderful job.
An excellent sound engineer, an excellent guitarist.
Great tools.
Really recommended.I've known Ruggero for almost twenty years now, I still consider him one of the most stylish Italian guitars and after ten years from my first record I would have no doubts, I would like him to play the guitars on it and of course be the producer!
During his stay in Italy, Ruggero collaborated with important musicians from the Italian pop scene. But it was during an EP production that I had the pleasure of hearing that a wonderful guitarist can be, as well as showing incredible versatility.
Ruggero ha collaborato per anni con noi (Africa Unite) mettendo la sua bravura chitarristica e non solo al servizio del progetto.
Ruggero è un chitarrista assolutamente non scontato,i suoi arrangiamenti sono sempre risultati particolari e con molto carattere. Un carattere ed uno stile inconfondibile che ha sempre aggiunto flows che il piu' delle volte, volutamente, poco appartenevano al genere ma proprio per questo motivo risultavano geniali.
Big up yourself, brother,we miss U!Impeccabile.
Ho chiesto a Ruggero un arrangiamento di chitarra elettrica su un pezzo vagamente reggaeggiante per il mio gruppo acustico e ho ricevuto ciò che serviva a dare spinta e spessore al brano. Il tutto in tempi brevi e con un suono di Gibson Firebird meraviglioso. Big up!
Interview with Ruggero Catania
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Playing in front of thousands fans singing your song is something worth the effort of being musician. I had this opportunity for 15 years playing the guitar with Africa Unite. I'm grateful.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm finishing 2 albums (with Romano Nervoso and Kiss & Drive), and I'm writing solo stuff for licence libraries and my solo project.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, absolutely. Digital is pretty good nowadays, so I like use it side by side with some good old piece of gear. Be purist is pointless.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I'll do my best. There is no session I do without being in at 100%. If I accept the job, I want it to be killer.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: It keeps me alive. And I love the fact I'm still learning after 35 years of music.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I'm a musician. A creative musician. I can help with my aesthetics vision, for me, that's more important than simple "scales" on the guitar, or "frequencies" when mixing. If your ideas are too precise and settled, try to do it yourself. I'm not saying I'm not able to do it. But I think my value is more than that... like "see the picture"
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Tell me about your vision. I like to be creative when playing the guitar or mixing, but I really care about your vision, and I will respect it.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Free your mind. Don't get stuck in what you think the arrangement should be, in your opinion.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: 5 Telecasters in different colours.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing the guitar in 1988 at the age of 12 due to the "Back to the future" guitar solo. After the high-school metal band, I joined a professional reggae band at the age of 19 and it was my main job for 15 years. I started recording, producing and mixing and I started a record label. I moved from Italy to Belgium in 2012, where I started again with my first love, the rock'n'roll music.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Solid, mature and catchy at the same time.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: I started to mix my guitars using both virtual amps (Guitar Rig 5, Brainworx, Positive Grids, S-Gear) and real amps via reamp mixed together. I love the pure vintage guitar tone, but we're not in the '70ies anymore, and I like to combine vintage and modern tone. I think it fits better nowadays, in most cases.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: At the moment rock, pop, electro, folk, blues and funk. But I've made a lot of reggae, ska, and rocksteady in the past.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I'm open minded. I was in love with heavy metal but I studied bluegrass, and I ended up to make a living as reggae guitar player, but I have a blues touch. With more than 20 years of experience recording and playing live, I can say I have more than one arrow to invent and play a good guitar or bass arrangement. Strings should sting, but they should groove, also.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I play guitar as session player at pro level since 1996 (more than 50 albums and more than 1000 shows) Send me your tracks, I will find the right guitar parts and I will record it with high quality rig.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q: How do you achieve that sound? A: I just change my strings every single gig or recording session. Much better than adding high from the amp.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: R.J. Ronquillo. He's awasome.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: The right part with the right tone. When I was young I was more into guitar-ego related stuff, but now I want my guitars to fit the song and make it shine. Add a brillant touch without to really make the difference.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I listen to the song and I record 2 or 3 different takes with a few ideas. Then I try to listen it back just to understand which part fits the song better. At this point I record the good take, using analog or digital rig, depending on the part. I tend to record the right take instead of spending time editing clips.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a home studio equipped for the perfect guitar and bass tone. I own all the "must have" to record my axes: Royer R-121, AKG 414, MD 421 Vintage White, Telefunken V72 vintage tube preamp, Golden Age Project Pre 73, UREI Universal Audio LA-5A, Avalon U5, Radial X-amp for reamping, many stompboxes, amps, virtual amps, plug-ins. We have a recording studio with my main band with a huge backline list about guitar and bass, like Ampeg, Fender, Marshall, London City, Vox, and some handcrafted stuff.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Paul Gilbert since he's a guitar enthusiast. Eels since they changed my life with the sound of their 1st album. Beck because he's a genius.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Graham Coxon for his freshness. There is a sweep spot between the strong identity of a guitar track, and the fact that that it's not about you, but it's all about the song.
I was the Guitar Player in this production
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $125 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $125 per song
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $125 per song
1 revision included
- Graham Coxon
- Randy Rhoads
- Paul Gilbert
- Telecaster
- Stratocaster
- Firebird
- Danelectro Baritone
- Epiphone 335
- Washburn N2
- Gibson Acoustic J200
- SSL
- Royer
Forfait for more than 3 songs
