Sterling defines his approach to recording in his studio as a “pedalboard approach” and explains:
“When guitar players started getting more pedals, in the old days, and then they started getting a pedalboard. And then there’s the rack. This was this evolution where you guys started controlling more and more of your sound and it was less waiting for a mixer to do interesting things later. And you were just like, ‘Here’s the sound.’ You have your own plugin, you have all this stuff that you’re doing to control your sound so that there’s less work later.
I got inspired by that concept when I started recording, even before I had my own studio, to give an engineer the most amount of stuff that’s done. So that when I started recording myself, my philosophy was always the pedalboard philosophy, which is I’ll give you the sounds, I’m not just gonna play the drums and let you do stuff later. I don’t wanna think of myself as a drummer. I’ll think of myself as a creator using drums to give you sounds that hopefully are the right thing for the song.
”Stick around for the drummer’s opinion of the Beatles’ “Now and Then” and learn why he prefers large cymbals.
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10. Bruce Hornsby: “Trying to Keep the Self-Loathing at Bay”
Cory WongHow does a legacy artist stay on top of his game? The pianist, hit singer-songwriter, producer, and composer talks about the importance of musical growth and positive affirmation; his love for angular melodicism; playing jazz, pop, classical, bluegrass, jam, and soundtrack music; and collaborating with his favorite guitarists, including Pat Metheny and Jerry Garcia.
9. Yngwie J. Malmsteen: "I Never Felt That Art Is a Sport”
Cory WongThe tennis-playing, art-enthusiast, Ferrari-collecting shredder talks about his passion, his practice, his love for the Strat, and who he thinks is the greatest guitar player who’s ever lived.
8. Mike Campbell Likes the “Real Stuff”
Cory WongThe Heartbreakers guitarist and Dirty Knobs frontman answers deep questions about songwriting, producing, and hitmaking.
7. Ariel Posen: “Dynamics Are the Most Important Thing.”
Cory WongThe roots-guitar innovator talks about controlling his sound, when to play large or small amps, using overdrive and compression, mastering slide, building community on social media, and the overall role gear plays in defining his distinctive tone.
6. Victor Wooten: "Music Needs Us."
Cory WongThe bass wiz and author shares deep wisdom about bass, music, and more.
5. What Scares Julian Lage?
Cory WongThe jazz phenom chats about flying with his guitar, how he approaches fluidity on his instrument, overcoming injury, and his take on pedals and tunings.
4. Derek Trucks: “There’s a Lot of Music Out There”
Cory WongThe slide master talks about amalgamating influences, keeping it fresh, how he approaches tone, and the best amp ever made.
3. Vai on Vai: “That’s Me—Obtuse and Quirky”
Cory WongThe legend talks gear, almost jamming with Prince, guitar heroes, melody, fear, swapping technique for passion, his hydra guitar, why he chose the players on his latest album, and his true superpower.
2. John Mayer Pt. 2—A Song Too Perfect to Record?
Cory WongCory and John Mayer sit down with their guitars to jam and discuss how they approach playing, songwriting, record-making, and the music business.
1. Mayer Is King
Cory WongCory and John Mayer sit down with their guitars to jam and discuss how they approach playing, songwriting, record-making, and the music business.