FIrst and foremost, I can’t even tell you how many times the “hourly wage” mentality snags people up in the studio. The amount of takes something requires makes absolutely zero difference to the audience. They can’t hear that you comp’d ten takes together....if it’s right the first time, it’s right.
Love the mentality that it’s all the preparation that went into the session, not the session itself that matters because -that’s- what my day to day running a studio has made abundantly clear to me.

That being said, like Al i have go to people for instruments I can’t handle myself. On records that can afford it nothing is better than bringing in a ringer and dazzling the client. Wherever Al found his harmonic ace, he should hold on to him because I’ve had a hell of a time finding somebody reliable the few times I needed it and I’m not investing in a full chromatic set of them myself. : )