Andy Wood Interview

Andy Wood is a young American guitarist who has recently released a solo CD with some amazing
music and playing, called "A Disconcerting Amalgam". He is also guitarist for rock band Down from
Up, and an Artist for respected guitar and amp makers Suhr Guitars.

Do Fret conducted this interview with Andy, to get some insight in his music and approach.

Q: Hi Andy! Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Do Fret! For those unfamiliar with
the name Andy Wood, tell us a bit about yourself? I understand you come from a musical
background and became involved in music at an early age?

A: Yeah, I started playing music when I was about 5 or so. I'm actually a mandolin player who
ended up a guitarist. My grandfather, Paul Birchfield, got me started in bluegrass when I was a kid,
I started playing electric guitar around the age of 18 or so. We went to all the bluegrass/old
time conventions when I was young, so I grew up in a great, musically diverse environment. A few
years back I was a founding member of Down From Up, a hard rock outfit based out of TN.
Basically I'm just a guy who wanted to play music instead of getting a real job!

Q: Your solo CD is a must-own for fans of instrumental guitar music and on the CD you cover a
wide range of styles. There are also some blinding musicians such as the mighty Stu Hamm, Adam
Nitti and Jeff Sipe. Can you tell how the album came about and the processes involved?

A: Ah man, thanks for the kind words 'bout the record. The record started out as just something to
throw together for Namm shows, clinics etc. Other than one song (Chelmsford which was recorded
prior to the Amalgam sessions) It was written, recorded, and mixed in about 9-10 days total. I really
wanted it to be like a snapshot of who I was as a musician at that point in my life ya know? Also
touring was heavy and I just didn't have an entire year to devote to an instrumental solo cd! It was
released last August and I'm really shocked and pleasantly surprised at how well that little album
has been received. The Amalgam record was supposed to be just something fun to do in between
touring with DFU last year, but instead gained positive attention in the guitar circles.

Q: You are also the guitarist for the band Down From Up, who's newest CD is due to be released
soon - can you tell us a bit more about the band? What plans do you have with the band for the
rest of this year? Any UK or Europe dates coming up?

A: I'm so stoked about the new Down From Up stuff!! It's currently in the later half of the writing
stages but this record is a bit different from the previous album. I'm really aiming for every song to
be just a huge anthem! I really love albums like Appetite For Destruction, Van Halen's
1984, Metallicas Black album, and thats the kind of rock record I wanna make, an album full of
anthems! Other fun things that are new to DFU is the introduction of 7 string guitars into the music,
with Suhr on the edge of the release of their new 7 string Modern I just felt the need to bring all that
fun low B stuff into DFU. Also, the writing process has been A LOT longer this time around, I'm
really hoping for the record to touch just as many non-musicians as it does all of the guitar guys out
there, and thats a big challenge. To help on that front we are working with several really big names
on this record (although I'm not at liberty to let the cat out of the bag just yet). But in the end I think
the album will be worth all of the extra time and effort put into it. As for the rest of this year, it will
consist of going into the studio and recording the new DFU album and getting ready for launch.
We might do a small tour this year but it really depends on how the studio scheduling goes. As for
Europe, I certainly hope its a possibility in the not so distant future, but right now everything is
hinged on the new DFU record.

Q: You are a Suhr Artist, as well as playing Tom Anderson guitars. I heard on the grapevine that
Suhr are in the process of designing an Andy Wood Signature model? Are these rumours true?
Can you give us a sneak insight into the specs? What is it like working with Suhr?

A: Yeah man, all I can say is that im EXTREMELY honored to be a part of the Suhr family. Ed
Yoon found my music about 2-2 1/2 years ago and since then its been great! John (Suhr) is one of
the worlds greatest guitar builders (as well as an all around cool dude), all of the guys that work out
there are super nice guys, and not to mention the company I get to keep on the artist roster, I
mean some of the other Suhr artist are downright FRIGHTENING players! As for the rumors of
an Andy Wood sig model.. I dunno what I'm allowed to say but, I can say that the Suhr guys are
working with me to come up with some very fun and unique things in the very near future, it will
definitely be something special and something very shredneck! My specs are based on my current
2 Moderns, but I'm trying out some different pickups. I currently use the popular SSV and
SSH+ combo but I'm in the process of trying out all options and going with what suits my stuff the
best. There is also something that will hopefully pass the Suhr inspection and make a debut on the
final product, I can't say yet what it is, but I can say its something I have yet to see on a Suhr
before ;) And of course it will have my favorite secret weapon, the "redneck mod"!

As for working with Suhr, It's downright fun! Working with Suhr doing NAMM's and clinics and
things has just been a blast! I have done 4 clinics with Guthrie Govan, and 1 with Pete Thorn.
Actually, Pete just hit me up the other day and I think we are gonna collaborate on a tune called
"The Battle for Middle America". It's a great idea he had and it's an opportunity that would have
never came up without being a part of the Suhr family. I really can't thank Ed Yoon enough, he had
lots of faith in my silly shredneck music early on and its been an honor working with him. And
hanging with all the other Suhr players is great fun too. Guys like Guthrie, Scott Henderson, Mike
Landau, Pete Thorn, those guys are all real scary players and super popular in guitar communities,
but there is another benefit to the Suhr family, and that has been getting connected to fantastic
players from the UK and Australia. Guys like Chris Brooks, Tom Qualye, and Rick Graham,
all just monster players and super nice guys. For those reading this please go check out their
music as well! All in all, Suhr really has made me feel like I'm part of a family, and it's a family of
people who are the absolute best at what they do, whether that's building necks and bodies,
winding pickups, or playing the hell out of the guitar, it's a great feeling being surrounded by guys
that are the best in the business!

Q: What are you using as far as amplification? I understand that the Axe-Fx is a part of your set-up
now? How do you find that?

A: I have a soft spot for Diezel amps, both in the studio and live. I really prefer the Herbert and
Einstein, those 2 amps just have something in the feel that I really like. And for me their versatility
is second to none. As for the Axe-Fx, man wow!!!! That thing is crazy awesome! I just took delivery
of one for my new live rig (which will be 2 Herberts plus the Axe-Fx plus some other goodies) and
was so blown away I had to get another for home recording on demo's and a nice "grab and go"
session/studio rig. For those that haven't played with one, do yourself a favor!! I will be running the
new rig in stereo, with a default down to mono if one of the heads go out. If for some reason
both heads go down, I will have a line straight into the house out of the Axe-Fx, if all 3 go down in
one show I guess I'm screwed! Haha!! I also have a Suhr Badger; that thing is a killer little amp
too, and the great part is, it really likes most any pedal you put in front of it!
Q: You can play a really wide range of styles - all with conviction and authority - is that a product of
your background in music or is it something you've worked hard to achieve? Is it difficult
maintaining such a level of technique when your schedule is so busy? What's your approach to
practise?

A: I think it's a combination of everything. I mean growing up the way I did really influenced my
approach, but playing music is something I work really hard at. Lately I'm getting more into trying to
play with conviction regardless of style or genre, it's really funny you mention that and thanks! I'm
really not into hearing a shred guy play country and still sound like a shred guy, or a jazz guy trying
to play a Van Halen tune and it not having the fire. There are not very many guys that can just
jump genres seamlessly; you got Guthrie of course, and the mighty Andy Timmons, but that circle
of players is really small. What sets those guys apart (as well as what sets the session elite apart)
is really playing everything like you mean it. It's tough to devote enough time to a genre to really
get a grip on it's nuances, and it's those nuances that translate into conviction, at least to me
anyways. I got into the rock shred thing backwards, I grew up on a strict diet of Tony Rice, Brent
Mason, and Albert Lee. My cousin plays fiddle and so as kids we listened to a lot of Django and
Stephan Grapelli simply because it was guitar and fiddle, so we thought hey that's what we play,
lets learn those tunes! So there was a bit of jazz and "Newgrass" thrown in the mix growing up as
well. Then I got a little older and I heard Steve Morse and the Dixie Dregs and I was like
WHAT!?!?! That sounds AWESOME! From there I delved into more of your standard shred fare,
Vai, Gilbert, Petrucci etc. So getting into different styles is an ongoing and never ending challenge.
That's the fun of music, and specifically guitar. Lately I've been trying to improve my slide chops, I
have been on a huge Jimmy Herring and Derek Trucks kick lately, but man ireally suck at
slide! Lol!

As for keeping up chops with a hectic schedule, yeah it sucks! it's tough when your touring or
writing constantly and have limited time to just geek out for a few hours and noodle away on a
guitar. But I try to do the best I can and get some woodshed in when possible.

Q: Tell us a bit about the Summer Workshop you are doing with Andy Timmons at Paul Warren's
Raleigh Music Academy?

A: Dude it's gonna be a BLAST, I can promise you that! Paul has such a cool setup and he is an
awesome guy. I'm flattered that he asked me to do the Summer Workshop with Timmons, it's
really cool! The workshop is 5 days I think, various classes ranging from Chicken Pickin' 101
to songwriting and songbuilding which will be with both Andys at the same time so that should be
good fun. Also Paul has several other teachers who teach things like how to setup your own guitar
and gear based things like that, I think Chris Ptacek (a great guitar teacher from Chicago)
usually has a class or two. There is just a lot of really cool things that Paul somehow manages to
jam into a weeks time - I honestly don't see how the guy does it. For anyone that's a guitar player,
it's worth it, I mean you leave there with tons of knowledge and lots of new friends you can stalk
on the Internet :) There will be performances at the end of the week from both of us and it would be
a safe bet to say there will be some jamming with each other as well ;) I think there are a few
spots left so if anyone out there is interested please contact Paul, its really gonna be serious guitar
geekdom at its finest!

Q: Any final words of wisdom to any aspiring guitarists out there?

 A: Don't do it!! Just kidding - the best advice I can give is get out there with other musicians!! Don't
fall victim to the backing track!! There is nothing like playing with real humans and interacting
musically. It doesn't matter if your'e in a cover band or if your'e trying to be the next
Dream Theater. It's all about that live interaction, so do yourself a favour and find some fellow
music dorks and play!

Thanks Trevor, you rock my friend!

Thanks to Andy Wood for taking the time out for this interview - you rock too Sir!

http://www.myspace.com/awoodshreds
http://www.myspace.com/downfromuponline
http://www.suhrguitars.com/
http://www.diezelamplification.com/