“I was hitting sessions until my eyeballs were popping out. I’d go in early in the morning, start at 10 and get home midnight”: Session hero Brent Mason has played on over a thousand records. Here’s what he’s learned about getting the job done

Studio ace Brent Mason with his Primer Gray signature Fender Telecaster, a heavily modded electric that can cover all bases.

With his well-worn Primer Gray Tele in hand, Brent Mason has redefined session excellence throughout his stellar career, which includes appearances on over a thousand albums.

While appearing on records by George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Zac Brown, Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire and Willie Nelson, to name a few, there’s a simple six-string principle that’s guided Mason: “When things get worked out too much,” he tells Guitarist, “they kind of lose their charm. The first takes are usually the best takes.”