Scott Stine: the eg interview

News:

16-03-2008:
While essential guitar is off line, I've republished my interviews for essentialguitarist.com

Scott Stine interviewed by Laurie Monk March 2006

Scott Stine needs no introduction for those who are fans of high tech guitar and Shrapnel Records. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Scott's last recording, so I took some time to cover all aspects of his playing.

From a guitar playing point of view you started guitar playing quite late, from the age of sixteen. Did you play any other musical instruments before playing guitar?

Scott Stine: Yes, I played trumpet in Junior High and High School.

How interesting, I know that Todd Duane won awards as a Trumpet player at High School!...Does this mean if you want to be good at guitar buy a trumpet?

Scott Stine: I think playing another musical instrument can definitely expand you musically. I took sax, trumpet and drum lessons a few years ago for about a year just to try and get inside the head of other players and to see how they think and phrase. Horn players have to breathe which is something I never really thought about. And drums really got me thinking about rhythm. So if you apply all that to guitar playing I think it can really help.

I guess your home must have been pretty noisy at times, with your brother Brett playing music too. Did you two get along well while the two of you were embarking on your musical journey or was the learning more competitive?

Scott Stine: Yeah, I thought we did, Brett may have a different story.

Laughs...oh the struggles of sibling rivalry.

Scott Stine: He'll tell you that I told him his hands were too small when he wanted to start playing guitar. But we've done gigs, jazz , together in the past. He would play guitar or sax and I would play 7-string, comping the Bass and Guitar parts. That was a fun gig.

That sounds really cool. Do you have any video of you playing together? I know the people who watch YouTube and Google Video would like to see that.

Scott Stine: We never did video any of those gigs. I wish we would have.

I remember hearing a cassette tape of you playing in the early 90's sent to me by Matt Williams from Liquid Note Records. I know that Shawn Lane was a really massive influence for players at the time and there was a bunch of hot young players from the USA people like Rich Kern, Terry Syrek , Ron Thal, Todd Duane, Rob Johnson, Derek Taylor et al who picked up on that energy.

What were your recollections of the playing and players around that time?

Scott Stine: I remember listening to Yngwie, Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, Greg Howe, but at that point I hadn't heard much from Shawn Lane.

...my impression may have been warped a bit then...I know Matt Williams from Liquid Note sent me a lot of Shawn Lane tapes and the other hot players around that time to! So what did you pick up from Shrapnel Records guys?

Scott Stine: The main thing I was picking up at that time from these players was picking technique and phrasing etc.

I understand that Derek Taylor and you came first and second respectively in the Ibanez Tascam Guitar Center 'Jam with Paul Gilbert' contest. Is this how you met Derek Taylor and joined Tommy Lamey?

Scott Stine: No, I knew Derek for a while before that contest. When I got the call from Ibanez that I had placed, I thought it was Derek playing a joke on me. I think Tommy Lamey was already together in some form at that time.

I know you played with Derek Taylor and Kyle Honea in Crimeny. The Crimeny album was quite heavy duty in terms of playing style, not like the neo-classical / neo-blues styles that Shrapnel had released up until that point. Was this a conscious decision to be different?

Scott Stine: We wanted to be different during the Tommy Lamey years, but not necessarily in that way. It was Mike Varney's decision that we be a cross between Pantera, Alice in Chains, and Racer X. Grunge was the thing then and we were trying to do it with licks and heavy riffs. I wish we could have done at least one Tommy Lamey CD, we put a lot of practice hours into that band. I probably wouldn't dig it now but it would be cool to have.

In hindsight did you think that was the right thing to do?

Scott Stine: No, we should have stuck to what we did originally. That was who we were then. I have seen some old videos and listened to some old demos that I think were way cooler for that time than anything Crimeny did.

I still hear a lot about the bass player, Kyle Honea, but have not heard much from Derek Taylor recently, do you still keep in contact or play together?

Scott Stine: Yes, I still keep in contact with Derek. He doesn't live far from me and he owns a studio and is mixing and mastering bands some of which get heavy radio airplay. He doesn't play much any more unless someone he's working with needs guitar.

That always surprises me when someone like Derek, who is so good, doesn't make a living out of it. That is like Blues Saraceno who make more money doing TV work like " Nick and Jessica", "The Newlyweds", to the "Ashley Simpson show" and "Queer Eye for the Strait Guy"! Have you been asked to produce or do TV/film score work?

Scott Stine: No, do you know anybody who needs a TV/Film score?

No sorry, but I'll let you know If I do!

Your first solo release was for Mike Varney's Shrapnel records label. There is some pretty intense playing on that CD for example tracks like the hyper shred of "Self Indulgence", which my kids love. But there is also the more thoughtful legato fusion approach of "Next". Did Mike have any influence with what went on that CD and which was your preferred playing style at that point, fusion or hyper shred?

Scott Stine: No, Mike didn't have influence on that, I had creative freedom. At that point I was somewhere caught in the middle between the whole fusion/hyper shred thing. The real confusion came in after the CD was done. I didn't know which direction to go in , it was like "now what?" I still struggle with what to do, I feel I listen to so much different stuff that I would like to incorporate together, it just makes my head go in too many directions.

Yes that's interesting, I guess you are better off with doing what you think is right than chasing the market which is moving all the time. Is that how you feel?

Scott Stine:I think it depends if you're trying to appeal to a commercial market. I was just doing whatever without any regard to what was happening commercially. I think about Alan Holdsworth who didn't even have a label at one point but stuck to what he does anyway. Or Charlie Hunter who went to a smaller label for creative freedom and in my opinion has done his best work. I think their stuff is timeless like the old school jazz stuff- it's not just the flavor of the day.

Rumour has it that you had recorded another CD for Shrapnel Records in 1995 but this was shelved as it was too "jazz fusion" for Mike Varney at the time...or was this your brothers CD where you were playing bass?

Scott Stine: That was Brett's CD and yes, I played bass on it. He put in a lot of time on that CD. It's too bad it was shelved, there was some really good playing on it. Now he's just burned out on music.

damn..I hate that when it happens, as a fan I wait months for a CD that never appears. Do you ever consider just publishing that music yourself or putting it out on your respective web sites?

Scott Stine: Yeah definitely, I've been wanting to do something like that for a while it just boils down to making the time to do it. It seems like a lot of guys are having good luck on their own through their sites. Derek and I have talked about what it would have been like if we had the Internet technology we have now. We probably wouldn't have gone with Shrapnel and done it on our own.

You did other stuff for Shrapnel as well. I understand that George Bellas was pencilled in to record guitars for John West's second CD Permanent Mark, on the Shrapnel label, but this didn't work out due to other commitments. How did you get that gig instead of George?

Scott Stine: It was actually supposed to be both of us. I talked to him on the phone and we discussed some of our song ideas. I didn't know he wasn't doing it until I got to California. For whatever reason he couldn't do it, and Jeff Kollman came in to do it. That was really a tough recording session, I didn't have my gear, my tone sucked- I couldn't play well with a bad tone, it was a nightmare.

That's too bad, it would have been good to hear you and George wailing together! May be some other time?

Scott Stine: Yeah, I was looking forward to hanging out and jamming with him.

I was really impressed by the Shrapnel release by Eniac Requiem "Space Eternal Void". The guitar playing and keyboards are excellent from you, your brother Brett and Derek Taylor. Can you tell us about this release as I feel that the CD should be on any rock guitars fans "must have" CD list.

Scott Stine: This was all Derek's project and we were supposed to be a touring band to do material from the CD and it just never evolved.

That surprised me that Eniac Requiem didn't get a second release. However, your still a pretty versatile session player recording on rock, jazz, blues and country albums. Can you give us some more insight into this?

Scott Stine: I really started getting into different styles of playing, wanting to expand my knowledge of music and guitar, and then I had opportunities to play other styles of music that incorporated themselves into my playing. I did a country gig for a while, then a cover gig for years where we played everything from jazz, James Brown to Michael Jackson, you name it we probably played it.

It was a great learning experience but after playing Brown Eyed Girl and Brick House umpteen million times. I thought I'm going to end up on a tower with a rifle if I don't move on.

Laughs...

Scott Stine: You're just being a juke box anyway, no one is paying attention. The latest gig I've been doing is a latin gig with a friend of mine where I'm using the 8-string.

That sounds really interesting, I assume you prefer live to studio work then?

Scott Stine: I like the live stuff when it's creative and stretches you musically, and you're able to connect with the audience, otherwise you're a live jukebox and it's just a paycheck.

I know your playing has influenced players like Rusty Cooley. Are there any other players you really admire and what do you think of the new crop of guitar players?

Scott Stine: I don't know how Rusty Cooley does what he does without hurting himself.

Laughs...

Scott Stine: He came to a clinic I did in Houston years ago and we hung out after. He is really cool and an amazing player. But I'm really not up to speed on the new crop of shredders. As far as players I admire it would be Charlie Hunter, Pat Martino, and more players in the jazz vein.

Yes Charlie Hunter is one of my favourites. He has got amazing chops...and may be.. two brains? Any particular CD you would recommend for fans or guitarist to check out?

Scott Stine: Right Now Move is really cool, his first solo CD Charlie Hunter Trio where he actually used a modified 7-string. I listen to it and think his approach to the 7-string was way cooler than mine.

Yes I have his first solo CD...the man definitely has two brains on that CD. I know you have released a guitar instructional DVD / CD ROM on "Chops from Hell". How did that come about and do you have plans for another one?

Scott Stine: Derek had done one and I called up Chris from "CFH" to see if he had room for anyone else to do one and he did. The biggest thing holding me back from another one is time and what to do.

I was talking to one of the new fusion players, Lorenzo Venza, about this and he said the exact same thing. So what did you put on your DVD?

Scott Stine: I was really just getting into the Charlie Hunter stuff at that time, which I did on the DVD, but I get more comments on the licks and stuff. So once again I struggle with which way to go.

I guess you see your self as more a jazz fusion player than a shredder then?

Scott Stine: I don't really see myself as either one. I feel like I'm getting back into just playing whatever comes out for the sheer enjoyment of it again. Like back when I first started playing it was fun and challenging just to play. There was no "I have to do this style, or this lick at this tempo", just because that's what people want to hear.

One of your tracks appeared on Liquid Note Records The Alchemists CD, how did you get involved with that project and will you be featured on the Alchemists II?

Scott Stine: Matt Williams emailed me about doing the first one which was awesome and fun to do, but I don't know anything about a second one. I'd love to do it.

I'll let him know! But if you miss out on Alchemists II, I'm sure you'll fit on Alchemists III.

I see you have a sponsorship deal with Novax guitars the the Charlie Hunter 8 String guitar. How did that come about and does this guitar reflect your current playing style?

Scott Stine: It's not a sponsorship deal, but since I play a Novax, I was put on players and friends page. After I saw Charlie Hunter with the 8-string, I modified my 7-string and played that for 3 years until I could afford the 8-string. I called them and discussed specifics of what I wanted and had it made. It doesn't reflect my current playing style as much as I would like it to.

Laughs...more indecision?

Scott Stine: No...I wish I had more time to devote to that instrument which is completely different than playing regular guitar. It kicks my butt.

Laughs...Can you give us some detail about your current effects rig, the gear that your using right now?

Scott Stine: The main thing I use right now is a Line 6 Pod because I feel they come the closest to amp modeling than anything else I've tried and it's convenient for what I do with my job. We use in-ear monitors and no live amps on stage so the pod works out great. But you just can't beat a real tube amp.

I heard you worked with Progress Arts Music artist and Texas shredder Doug Stapp on an instrumental album together. Can you tell me a bit more about this project?

Scott Stine: Doug called me up and thought it would be cool if we got together to record the version of "Frankenstein" that I used to play with Tommy Lamey. Kyle Honea who was in Tommy Lamey and Scott Weltner, who I played with in a cover band for years, played Bass and Drums. We've talked about doing a full CD together in the future as time allows.

That would be very cool. Let us know if that happens and well tell the world! Moving on to what your doing currently. From your biography, it says that you are the instrumental music director for the Grace Community Church in Texas. How did that come and about and what does that involve.

Scott Stine: My wife started going to this church and would come home telling me about the band and how they had a 6-string bass player, which I had never heard of in a church before. I started going and before long they spotted and recruited me to volunteer for the worship team band.

In 2000, the church offered me a position as Instrumental Music Director and that's where I am now. I have four bands of volunteers (around 30 people) that play for services every weekend. I put together the charts, run rehearsals, help with service planning, and work on leading and growing the volunteers

However, I have learned so much from them. We now open services with an instrumental piece, for example we've done Greg Howe, Transiberian Orchestra, Pat Martino - we've even done Yngwie's Trilogy Suite, but on violin instead of guitar.

Wow that sounds amazing...not like any church I know...maybe I should try attending your's but I would have to travel along way to get there!

Do you think you have finished you guitar playing style or, like Michael Angelo, do you consider yourself "still learning"?

Scott Stine: I consider myself still learning music, not just guitar. There are so many amazing musicians in the world to learn from, it's just never ending.

Are there any albums you would recommend guitar players and fans to listen expand their musical horizons?

Scott Stine: Pat Martino "Stone Blue" and anything by Charlie Hunter. I love listening to horn players like Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw and Miles Davis. Also Greg Howe Introspection , and Extraction and there's a worship guitarist named Lincoln Brewster who is an awesome player.

I have not heard of Lincoln Brewster, I'll see If I can find out more about him. What do you like about his playing?

Scott Stine: I really like his tone and his feel, he kind of reminds me a lot of Andy Timmons. You know the guy has amazing chops but he uses them musically. Where and how he places his notes and his phrases just blows me away. And on his latest album he's using a strat, and it just has that tone only a strat can get. You know, Eric Johnson, Yngwie, Stevie Ray Vaughn- their playing is so different but you can still hear the strat sound.

Yes that distinctive strat sound is just great. What other equipment do you currently use for recording?

Scott Stine: For the last recording I did, which was our church worship CD, I used a Fender Hot Rod Deville, Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9, and a Sadowsky Standard Strat.

What are your future plans for musical output?

Scott Stine: I would like to do another instrumental CD incorporating the 8-string with varied musical influences that I've gotten since my last CD.

I think that sounds great and I'll look forward to that. Scott, Thanks so much for taking the time out to talk to us, it has been really great. I am really looking forward to your hearing some more music from you in the future.

Scott Stine: Thanks for having me.