Country Guitarist / Producer

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

A: Will my song be good enough quality for the radio or Spotify? My answer is: You need musicians that understand how to make a record! Combine that with today's recording technology and I will produce a totally radio ready track.

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

A: Communicate exactly what you’re looking for, your desired sound, and budget. Let’s discuss your project - click ‘Contact’ to share your vision and get started on a track that stands out!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: It's about the artists vision for the song. I make songs sound good by adding strong parts, hooks and arrangement ideas. I'm also an excellent vocal producer and arranger for vocal harmonies. I've got good musical knowledge and can communicate ideas to pro musicians to get their best performance.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pro tools, Universal Audio Apollo interface, Focal and NS10M monitors, Avalon and Black Lion Mic pres, ADL tube and DBX compressors, Plugins by UA, Sound Toys, Slate, Waves, Lexicon, Melodyne, Strymonetc... Mics: Pearlman TM-1, vintage AKG 414, Mojave MA100, Shure sm57s, Sennheiser, A full range of electric and acoustic guitars and amps and a Kemper profiler.

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

A: Kris Bradley. Is a great producer, vocalist and songwriter! I work with her a lot and she is awesome!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: At my studio recording is digital. There are so many more options that way and it’s way easier to work with and especially to recall a mix and make adjustments. But I do have access to an analog studio if somebody prefers that. Nothing sounds like a vintage Neve console into a 2” MCI 16 track machine!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What type of sound they want, any reference tracks, how big of a production, what they expect and budget. Its good to get all that stuff out front so there's no miscommunication. It’s all workable!

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

A: Guitars, a sun umbrella of some sort and a solar powered recorder of some sort.

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

A: I've been doing music and playing guitar professionally for 40 years. Started out playing in bars as a teenager, eventually moved to Los Angeles in the 80s where i attended Music school and continued playing live, recording, touring and producing. I continue to be very active recording, gigging and touring.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: In like to work towards whatever the songs dictates. I play really nice guitar hooky stuff and excellent acoustic guitar. I can shred some country guitar, rock out through a cranked Marshall, add a little funky skank or play it melodic, sweet and simple.

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

A: Lately a lot of modern country songs and also some traditional stuff. Guitar vocal demos for songwriters. Also I'm very comfortable with rock, blues, rockabilly and R&B styles also.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For guitar tracks I can work off of a stereo bounce or individual stems. I’ll work out a riff, some hook parts and whatever else the artist wants and send back for approval. A revision or two is not a problem. A lot of times I'll add another solo take or a fills track track so there's some choices for the artist. Many times, when the inspiration strikes, I'll add something completely different or an unexpected instrument to add a little extra spice. For full productions I can work 2 ways: 1- Start with a bare bones acoustic guitar vocal and start building the song from the bottom up with drums, bass, guitars, keys etc... Then add a few different vocal takes and comp a good vocal track. Add Harmonies as needed. Mix and Master. 2- I have access to a world class studio at a reasonable rate where we can record a whole band live. Overdubs and mixing back at my home studio. Add extra instruments and vocals as needed. Mix and Master. Everything depends on what your final goal and what sound you're looking to get for the song. All music comes out ready to compete in all today's music platforms.

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

A: What Mutt Lange did with Shania Twain is amazing. I try to be the modern version of that. Also Pete Anderson’s work with Dwight Yoakam was a match made in heaven!

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

A: Most often I’m doing electric guitar parts, solos and acoustic guitar. Also full song productions for artists and songwriters.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Probably the albums I did with Dwight Yoakam. One tune in particular, "Back Of Your Hand" ended up being just fingerpicking acoustic guitar and a live string section. I got to perform it on the Tonight Show with Dwight when Jay Leno was still hosting. That was a high point. Also my country guitar instructional book which was #1 on Amazon for a while and is being used as curriculum at Musicians Institute in Hollywood Ca.

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

A: Probably some people pigeon hole me as a country guy but in reality I do many styles from blues, RnB, jazz to rock styles equally well.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on finishing a new blues / rock album with Michael E. English and finished a debut album with a new country artist Simone Reyes. Recently finished acoustic guitars on a new George Ducas album and the Nightroamer album by Sarah Shook and the Disarmers with producer Pete Anderson. Just finished acoustic guitars with Pete producing a young country band from Bakersfield called Los Hermanos Mendoza aka LHM. I’ll keep you posted!

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

A: You will be100% satisfied. I check with clients every step of the way with guitar tracks or full on productions.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to play music all day and hang out with creative people.

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

A: I'd love to produce a track for Carrie Underwood. She's such a phenomenal singer and I've got a song that she would just slay!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Its all about the song!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Guitar playing and song production!