I am a guitar gadfly. I find music in general and guitar in particular to be endlessly fascinating. I enjoy discovering new things about the guitar and about music theory, and I also enjoy helping others make musical discoveries. I got into guitar to play rock, but I have drifted toward jazz as the years go on.

My gear:

• Fender Strat
• Fender Squier Vintage Jaguar
• Jasmine acoustic by Takamine
• Yamaha 70s-era 12-string acoustic
• Maestro acoustic by Gibson; $5 at a garage sale!
• Peavey Vypyr 30 amp with Sanpera II footswitch
• DigiTech JamMan looper pedal
• Korg Beat Boy drum machine

My music history:

• Piano lessons age 6-9
• Trumpet lessons age 9-17
• High school jazz band, marching band, symphonic band (trumpet/euphonium)
• Strummed first guitar chord in 1989 (age 21)
• Mostly self-taught on guitar (two 2-year stints taking lessons)

I grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I graduated from Northwestern University and served nine years in the Navy, flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. I live in Billings, Montana with my wife and daughter.