PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

mrhinman · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 1

I'm a newbie to jazz guitar and own a low-end guitar and amp setup. My guitar is a Greg Bennett Malibu with SSS pickups and I have a cheap Peavey amp with some built-in effects. I also use an iPad for effects often.

I've tried a number of combinations to get the 'jazz guitar' sound, but cannot nail it down. Can anyone recommend a pedal or combination that will get me close to the sound?

Gorecki · Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: That 'jazz guitar' sound

Viper · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 566 Location: Bristol, UK

An exception one might argue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5K6s7h-kSo

You've got to fiddle with knob so ter speak.

though long ago.

Henryrobinett · Joined: 01 May 2010 Posts: 180 Location: Sacramento, Ca

Love it! The Song Is You! Mr. Pass.

As long as you put the guitar on the bass pick up, boost some of the low-mids. If it feels good and sounds right, do it. I use a Gibson ES-355, which is not a "jazz guitar" at all. But it feels right to me. But some guitars, most solid body's just don't physically feel right. I can't play most jazz things on them. I'm sure with practice that could change. There are enough folks who use Telecasters for instance. Ed Bickert. Stern.
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JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

start by rolling the tone off a bit, only using the neck pickup, and simply picking very, very lightly.

thicker strings can help, but some slightly more modern jazz guitarists don't always use thick strings.
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greentone · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 667

What people seem to forget when discussing Joe Pass' early 60s clip with the Fender solidbody is that he was using fat, flatwound strings. I have gotten a similar sound from a Hagstrom solidbody--not much wood there--with the same setup. (In the mid-60s, Hagstroms came from the factory set up with fairly heavy, flatwound strings. The actions were low and this really set off their ultra-thin necks.) On the neck pickup, a Hagstrom I with flatwounds sounded like a jazz box.

You can make almost any guitar sound like "that sound" by going to a medium or medium-light set of flatwound strings. A Telecaster set up this way is a serious tool. (Remember, the bebop guys in the 50s and 60s were chromatic players and bent about one note in 1000.)
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zonshti · Joined: 14 May 2012 Posts: 3

try putting 13 flat wounds

greentone · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 667