Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing

session guitarist, Mixing

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199 Reviews (186 Verified)
Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing on SoundBetter

Session guitarist, track record includes recording sessions and international tours with artists including Roger Waters, Mike Oldfield, Suede, Scott Walker, Slim Whitman, David Allen Coe, Kirsty McColl, Sarah Brendel, David Dundas, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Westernhagen, David Mead, Henning Staerk, Toyah, and many more.

I have a wide range of guitars and amps and play styles from classic rock to Indie, folk, Country, Americana, Blues, ambient, electronica....
If required, I can supply each track recorded with one close mic, one room mic, and one direct from the pick-up with no effects for you to re-amp at your will.

I have Pro Tools, Logic Pro X and Ableton Live 8.
Guitars include Fender Strat, Tele: Gibson Les Paul, 335, Hummingbird; Danelectro baritone, Epiphone SG & J400, Yamaha acoustic hi-strung, 12-string acoustic, and more.
Amps include Marshall, Fender, WEM, Kemper Profiling Amp, and more.
Mics include AKG, Shure, T-Bone, etc.
Mic pre-amps include Neve 1073.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Jay Stapley
  • Fuzzbox
  • Jay Stapley
  • Jeb Loy Nichols
  • Jake Searson
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Jay Stapley
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Sarah Brendel
  • Sarah Brendel
  • Jake Searson
  • Scott Walker
  • David McWilliams
  • Nigel Dick
  • Nigel Dick
  • Nigel Dick
  • Westernhagen
  • Westernhagen
  • Tacye
  • Julian Dawson
  • Klaus Schulze
  • Klaus Schulze
  • Klaus Schulze
  • Toyah
  • Jay Stapley
  • Roger Chapman
  • Jay Stapley
  • Jay Stapley
  • Roger Waters
  • Roger Waters

199 Reviews - 32 Repeat Clients

Endorse Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing
  1. Review by Gian C.
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    Jay once again delivered exactly what we needed for our track. We're so happy to work with him. Highly recommended.

  2. Review by Gian C.
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    Jay is really nice to work with. The tracks he delivered are beyond our expectations. He‘s a true artist. Highly recommended

  3. Review by Josh Stewart
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    Another track nailed to perfection! Jay is the man.

  4. Review by Josh Stewart
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    Still to this day, I've never met anyone who can make a guitar sing like Jay can. If you need guitar overdubs on your tracks look no further, Jay is the man.

  5. Review by Ewan K.
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    Not really much to say here - Jay understands what you need, does the job really well and in a timely manner. Great, friendly communication is a bonus!

  6. Review by Nelsvn
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    by Nelsvn
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    Another great job by Jay. So much good ideas and its always a pleasure to work with. Amazing.

  7. Review by William
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    Did his best. Prompt and courteous.

  8. Review by Jesper S.
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    As always, a very good experience working with Jay. Highly recommended.

  9. Review by Ewan K
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    Jay understood what I was looking for, communicated well and provided me with three perfectly played guitar lines. Each line has its own distinct style which is a good indicator of Jay's flexibility. He also turned this around in a couple of days. I highly recommend him.

  10. Review by Nelsvn
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    Amazing work. Amazing sounds. Jay does magic.

  11. Review by Lei W.
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    Classic and beautiful!

    Thank you Jay!

  12. Review by Aurélien D.
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    Beautiful. Jay found the sweet spot for this track directly. His play on both acoustic and electric guitar is simply brillant. ❤️

  13. Review by Pete H.
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    Jay really brought my tracks to life in a way i just couldn't manage at home. Really leveled up my recordings and made everything come to life.

  14. Review by Pete H.
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    Running out of superlatives honestly. Whatever I've thrown at Jay he's absolutely crushed in terms of style and sound. Gets the job done and gets it done fast. Can't recommend highly enough.Really brought my tracks that extra dimension with his accuracy and feel.

  15. Review by Pete H.
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    Absolutely nailed the blues/boogie.rockabilly sound I was looking for. Great playing and great sound...as always. Used Jay a bunch recently and has been first class.

  16. Review by Pete H.
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    Have had three tracks done by jay now. His understanding of the world of pop and rock have made it super easy to convey my ideas and have him knock the projects out or the park.

  17. Review by Pete H.
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    Wonderful tone and feel. Was really great with being thorough and understanding the brief and made some great recommendations to make the track better. Truly great work

  18. Review by Pete H.
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    Absolutely nailed the style and feel at the first time of asking. Wonderful playing and super quick turnaround. A wonderful professional and I would definitely use him again

  19. Review by Steven C.
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    Jay did a great job interpreting what I was looking for and turning it around in a timely manner

  20. Review by Therese (Thia)
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    Easy to work with, fast turnaround, and great results!

Interview with Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing

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

  2. A: Roger Waters "Radio KAOS" album and tour: it was a technically challenging tour and an early example of the marriage of computer and analog technology. I played guitar and guitar synths.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: A recording of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" for a guitarist who performs it live, a library (production music) album of Ambient Electronica, a Rocktronica album, and acoustic EP for a local artist, and a new collection of my own material.

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

  6. A: Chuck Sabo, Simon Edwards

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: It depends on the style/genre of music. If the project is Rock/Blues/Country/Folk/Acoustic, analog. For ambient/EDM, digital. I always use valve amps for electric guitars (even if I'm using the KPA, it goes into the power amp stage off a valve amp) and Neve 1073 mic pre-amps.

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

  10. A: When I'm working on your project I will believe in it as much as you do.

  11. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  12. A: They don't call it "playing' for nothing:-)

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

  14. A: When can I have the tracks back? My answer? By the agreed deadline. How many stages of revision do I get? Answer: 1, and after that we can negotiate, but I recommend that we Skype while I'm doing that revision.

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

  16. A: That it's easy.

  17. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  18. A: What does this song mean to you? What do you expect from me?

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

  20. A: Trust us: there is a reason why we are all professionals.

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

  22. A: My Hummingbird, Strat, Deluxe Reverb,a laptop and a Shure SM58 beta. Can't I have more, please?

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

  24. A: I've been a session musician for over 40 years, starting in London in the late 1970s and rolling with all the changes in that time. My starting point was simple: I'd do whatever I was asked, even if there was no money, because I'd meet other musicians, and other (paid) jobs would come out of those freebies. My aim was always that when I left the session the artist/producer would say "what a great musician." Notice that distinction: I didn't say "guitarist," I said "musician."

  25. Q: How would you describe your style?

  26. A: Clean, simple, powerful.

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

  28. A: David Bowie, but sadly that won't happen now... He always had an ear for great guitarists and his music was honest. He also had a reputation amongst musicians as being one of the good guys.

  29. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  30. A: The equipment is only as good as the people on either end of it. Your bedside manner is as important as your technical skill.

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

  32. A: Anything except Jazz and metal.

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: Being sensitive to the song.

  35. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  36. A: I play the song, not the chart. I look for parts rather than just jamming along, and whatever I play is done with passion and belief: that combination of feel and accuracy is what makes for good recordings. I provide the client with one close-mic, one room mic, and one track direct from the guitar pickup so they can re-amp if they want to.

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. A: It depends on the job: for mixing I listen to the reference tracks and the client's rough mix, discuss their requirements and then get to work. First job is to put everything up and see what's on the tracks, then I start to build the mix around the vocal. I make a balance first, before touching EQ or compression. For guitar sessions, I set up a suitable amp, play the song a few times (recording everything I do to catch those initial instictive ideas!) and then start refining the parts.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: I have a studio with 2 live rooms, an acoustic piano (upright oblique-strung Erard) and lots of guitars/amps and odd stringed instruments such as a Timple, Banjolele, Autoharp, etc.

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

  42. A: Jeff Beck, Underworld, Bob Clearmountain, Keith Richards, Vince Gill, and all the unsung heroes behind the desk whose names no-one knows.

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

  44. A: Guitar recording, mixing, editing, songwriting.

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Thermals by Jay Stappley

I was the writer, producer, guitarist, programmer, mixing engineer in this production


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    Thermals by Jay Stappley
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    Till I'm Blue In The Face by Marcus Valance
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    Rocktronica production and Mix by Jay Stapley
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    Edge of the World, Jay Stapley
Terms Of Service

I'm always interested in the song primarily and will discuss with the client to gain an understanding of how they see their work. I'll do revisions, and am happy to have clients sit in on Skype while

GenresSounds Like
  • Jeff Beck
  • David Gilmour
Gear Highlights
  • Strat
  • Tele
  • Les Paul
  • 335
  • Hummingbird
  • Marshall amps
  • Fender amps
  • WEM amps
  • Kemper Profiling Amp
  • AKG mics
  • Shure mics
  • T-Bone mics
  • Neve 1073 mic pre-amps
More Photos
  • Another job completed on soundbetter.com...Mar 30, 2016

    Just completed a job on acoustic guitar for a producer on soundbetter.com: a pleasure to work with him. I used a mixture of standard tuning and DADGAD to give it a different flavour.

  • Recording Steve Reich "Electric Counterpoint" with Steve SmithFeb 24, 2016

    I've just finished recording the backing tracks for Steve Smith's live performances of this minimalist composer's classic guitar work "Electric Counterpoint." I'll post the mixes on my studio site (driftwood studio.uk) when they're approved.