I provide the right sounds, the right arrangements, and the right feels for just about any popular genre you need. I record high quality guitar and bass tracks in a multitude of genres, styles, and feels. I am specifically good at providing entire guitar and bass backing tracks for your songs, and bring a creative and educated ear.
I have 35 years of experience on guitar and bass. I have played on stages all over the country, and have done countless recording sessions and performances in all kinds of genres and situations. I have played in many professional event bands, have helmed many original projects, and have provided guitar and bass tracks for artists for over 3 decades. I was educated at the Berklee College of Music and Full Sail University, so I understand both the craft of music and the technical elements of what make it work. I am incredibly detailed in both my playing, recording, editing, and mixing, and I can provide you with high quality tracks that will make your songs sound great. I'm easy to work with, prompt, and dedicated to getting you the right final product. Beyond that, I am creative and a free thinker, and able to come up with interesting creative solutions to problems and just the right track to make your song complete. I serve the song, and give it all I have in terms of making the arrangement work, not just "my parts". I will work with you to create exactly what you're looking for.
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Interview with Josh Witmer
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Finishing up cover songs a client requested. Most of my work involves doing all the string parts, bass, rhythm, and lead guitars. My current project is a southern rock song, so there are like 11 tracks ;)
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you play _____? I hope so! I will be honest and upfront with you about my abilities. I am skilled, but if you need shredded 64th note sweep arpeggios or a blazing solo over Giant Steps, I will probably tell you I am probably not going to be able to provide that. But if you need the right vintage rhythm part, the right burning lead, or the right supportive rhythm section park, I'm here.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Adapt-to-fit. I am funky, and can rock hard, I can country, I can jazz, and often find myself in between. Trying to get the right parts, the right sounds, and the right feels always, no matter the genre.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: If there is one thing I’ve learned by doing this, it’s that what a track sounds like on its own and what it sounds like in a mix can be very different. Sometimes what’s needed to get a track to sit just right sounds a little weird in the abstract, but works perfectly in the mix. Don’t get hung up on it, listen to the the song as a whole- the larger perspective is so helpful.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Anderson Guitars, Music Man guitars, Warwick Basses, Taylor Acoustic Guitars, Suhr Amplifiers. Universal Audio Interfaces into iPad Pro running Logic.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I record guitar (acoustic and electric, rhythm and lead) and bass tracks for my clients based on their needs. This includes cover songs, originals, full songs and indivisual tracks. I have a large repertoire, and have the ability to get the sounds and arrangements you’re looking for in many genres.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My original music, and for the probably obvious reason that it comes completely from me (in as much as any music comes from one single person).
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital, because it’s practical and generally limitless. I love the sound of analog, and so many of my favorite albums are recorded that way, but the logistics and the vast possibilities of digital have made it ubiquitous.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will work as hard as I can. Not much reason to do it otherwise.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The craft. Learning or coming up with the parts, getting the sounds, and getting all the tracks to sound great together.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Probably just that it’s easy, or that anyone can do it. While skill is important, it takes a lot of time and effort, and attention to detail.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I basically try to get as much information and detail about their needs as they can. We talk about what they’re trying to accomplish, and figure out how to get there.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: The best results come from a good plan. Having a clear, concise idea of what you want, and how you’d like it to sound, is the easiest path to success!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Acoustic Guitar (nylon strings, can’t have them rusting.) Acoustic Bass Tar (Indian frame drum) Weissenborn (Hawaiian lap slide guitar) Piano
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing guitar when I was seven, was in bands from elementary school onward. Went to Berklee College of Music (majored in Synthesis), then Full Sail University (Live Sound and Show Production). I’ve been involved with show business on both a performance and technical level for at least 30 years.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Wow, there are so many. Probably Daniel Lanois, he is an amazing producer and musician, and his body of work and resume are truly enviable.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, pop, funk, r&b, soul.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: As a player, guitar; as a musician, probably arrangement/sound design. Getting all the tracks to sound good together, getting the right voicings and arrangements for each instrument, etc. The overall picture.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A really wide range of musical interests, attention to detail, years of music and engineering training and experience, and a receptive ear. My goal is to make your tracks sound as good as they can, and I have spent decades helping other artists do so.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I communicate with a client to find our his/her needs, and we discuss what they need. I make a preliminary demo track and share, tweak as necessary based on client feedback, and complete the track(s). After tracks completed, we discuss if they are satisfactory, and modify as needed.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Frank Zappa, Ween, James Brown, Tortoise, Battles, Fishbone, Queen, the Roots, Parliament-Funkadelic, Genesis, Brian Eno, Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Wilco, Nels Cline, Dan the Automator, Neil Young, Jerry Garcia, Phish, John McLaughlin, Jurassic 5, Living Colour, Bill Frisell, Jimmy Herring, Marc Ribot, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, the Sea and Cake, Sugar, Mix Master Mike/Invisibl Skratch Piklz, The Band, David Bowie, Air, Daniel Lanois, the Ventures, Herbie Hancock, the Avalanches, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd, QOTSA, King Crimson, Yes, Danny Gatton, Junior Brown, Built To Spill, Mike Patton, Bob Dylan, Motown/Stax labels, ELO, Fela Kuti, Warren Zevon, John Scofield, John Zorn, Slayer, Sabbath, NWOBHM, Prince, Steely Dan, J.J. Cale, Steve Cropper, the Meters, etc.
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $150 per song
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $150 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $150 per song
$150 per song. Unlimited tracks, within reason. We can discuss.
- Steve Lukather
- Steve Cropper
- Nels Cline
- Anderson Guitars; Music Man Guitars; Suhr Amplifiers; Warwick Basses; Carr Amplifiers; Friedman Amplifiers; Universal Audio interfaces; Scumback Speakers;
