Tribute Session Guitarist

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently on tour with Joey Fatone of NSYNC and AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys. Also working with The Fab Four, 1964: The Tribute and Beatlemania.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I like a mix of both. Digital is consistent but all of the character comes from analog. Each project requires a different outlook.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: We will have a fun unique experience and I’ll give you my honest best!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to play guitar for a living!

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Normally I get asked about what gear I use and I send them a detailed list.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it is easy!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What exactly are you looking for in your song? How long? What is your deadline? Do you have references to styles?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: I believe in getting the best result for your project. I’d be willing to let something go if I felt like I wasn’t technically the right person for your song.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Assuming I’d have no electricity my trusty Gibson J200 but a Princeton Reverb, Nobels ODR1 and an ES335 can cover almost anything!

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started touring the country in a hard rock band in 2007. From there I ended up working at Disney World playing lead guitar for 2 years in a show called The British Invasion. I have been touring various The Beatles tribute shows for 14 years. I have also worked various sessions and played live with memebers of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men and Creed just to name a few.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Melodic

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Lady Gaga. She is one of the best of all time.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Surrounding yourself with the right people not always the best people will get you the best results.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Rock, Pop, R&B, Alternative, Country

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I work fast and am very good at recreating iconic guitar sounds.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I typically will serve the song. I don’t believe in “showing off” just because you can.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to listen to the song and understand it. Then I workshop ideas until I find the right thing that fits the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a small army of guitars, amplifiers, microphones and pedals. Both new and vintage. I also have the latest digital processors so there is no sound I can’t achieve. All of the guitars are recorded with a UAD Apollo, Mac Mini and various outboard preamps, EQ’s and compressors.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I get inspired by the music of the past and find ways to incorporate those styles into today’s music. The session players are the unsung heroes of pop music.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I play electric, acoustic and lap steel guitars for a variety of genres adding some layers to something that needs a finishing touch or starting from scratch.