Nashville Pro Acoustic

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Absolutely, there are several it would depend on the instrument. Trey Bruce and Mark Prentice are the two that have given me invaluable advice on being a member,

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, my signal path is 100% Analog recorded to Digital, but I use a slew of digital effects and VI's and Plugs. The elements are all married in the modern domain, the only difference being Tape or an SSD.

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

A: Make sure your song is complete and by all means share any ideas you have freely, if you have a way to record a version (With some sort of DAW with a BPM) that's gets us on a grid, which really helps especially if your using my part and a build bed for other players. I do that all the time.

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

A: Two Guitars with pickups installed, traditional steel and nylon string (Slew of Strings in the cases), Mac Laptop, Digital Interface and Solar USB Charger. The mic in the Laptop actually sounds decent:)

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

A: Started with an interest in guitar playing at age nine or so, pro in high school in NY in the late 60's various rock bands etc. Moved to Nashville in 1972 doing a band project here, that's where the real studio work started when I started playing for Eddie Rabbitt and grew in a thousand directions as a player, writer and producer. Best to go to my website and check the info page.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: A Mix of American & British Rock, Country and Newage World Music.

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

A: That's a tough question I've worked with many, maybe Vince Gill, he sure covers allot of ground, inspirational player writer and performer.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Start with a thorough knowledge of what trends are but don't be afraid to be yourself, you might be the next "Trend"

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

A: Indie pop rock, Country modern and traditional, Heavy edge Country Rock, Christian rock, Southern Gospel, Newage, World Music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Pristine acoustic guitar audio tracks with great respect to the writer/producers original creation and internal musical nuances. One of the things I've always done in my 55 years of pro-session work is do exactly that, if you lose sight of the "genesis" of any song then you lose the magic of what it was initially, I never ever just Fluff over important passages the writer wants or "Meant" for that matter. Many times a part may not be well performed on a work demo as some of our writers as brilliant as they are are not "great pro players", none the less that's the time to pay close attention to what they meant to play and get it right. If a player doesn't do that two professional things are wrong, your not honoring you client!! your also honoring yourself as a pro player.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Playing, arranging including signature licks, instrument choice, engineering and mixing.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: This always starts either a request from a client "starting" a project or an "existing" work in progress. Could be an Indie artist/label or an existing major artist/label. There's always a conversation regarding specifics of what they need and looking for..that includes BPM/File Transfer if work has started, feel, instrumentation, inspiration of the work, specific Timbre of instruments I'll use or they want IE:delicate stacked finger picking/rhythm to full on PopRock Alternative Power AC. Most of the time they want suggestions also. My studio is always setup though I may change some mics based on the criteria above. I always record in Stereo and never do less that two tracks, many times three as I use anything from Bari AC to Tenor guitars, thats my signature work.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a major investment in my studio spanning four plus decades starting with 1/2" 16trk to a 2" Sony APR 24 Trk and then on to full digital as times and requirements demand. Center of my room is a 32 Channel Custom UK Allen& Heath GS-3000 analog recording console being used with my 1st choice DAW Digital Performer-11 (which I've been on since it's inception) mated to 2 MOTU 24-IO's on my two Late Model 12 Core SSD MacPro's My signal is 100% Analog to Digital through my desk with the use some of the best pre's on the planet. I have a Pre Rack of 2-Daking 52270 B Pre's w the FET-111 Stereo Compressor, 2- DBX 576 Pre/Comp, 2-UK TLA St. Pre/Comp, Warm Audio WA73 Pre with WA-2A Comp. Main AC Mic's are 2-Vintage AKG 414 with C-12 Capsules, 2-Vintage Neuman KM-84 Sequential Serial Numbers (Priceless) Sanken C41, John PelusoC-41, Warm-WA47 & CX12, 4-Shure Vintage SM 58&57's- Shure KSM 137, AKG D-224, 2-Sennheiser 421's...assortment of MXL Lg&Sm diaphragm Mics. I have over 120 Highline guitars of all sorts too many to go into in detail but you can always ask anything about my instruments, I love sharing guitar talk:)

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

A: Scott Hendrix, Dan Huff, Chuck Howard, Jay Joyce, JT Corenfloss, Eddie Bayers, Michael Rhodes, Michael Hedges, Greg Morrow, Mike Brignardello, Bruce Bouton, Scotty Sanders, Mike Johnson Kenny Greenburg, Tom Bukovac, Chris Leuzinger, Michael Daws, David Crosby, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Tony Ioma, Abba, Segovia, Aarron Copeland, Enya, The Coors, Clannad, Loorina McKennitt, Journey, Jeff Beck, Big Band all, Aerosmith, Beatles, Prince, Dwayne Eddie, Neil Schoen, Steve Vai, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Richard Thompson, Alex DeGrassi, Willy Nelson, Harold Bradley, Quincy Jones, Will Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Brent Mason, The Everly Brothers, Billy Joe Walker, Troy Lancaster, Pat Bergeson, Dane Bryant. to name a few.

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

A: I chart from a rough client demo or "Master" and lay down bed acoustic tracks locked to a grid BPM for writers, label and publisher Artists as a base track for other instrument overdubs (Drums, Base, Electric,Keys etc.) I replace existing AC work or tracks that may have a flaw or need an arrangement or feel change.