PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[jazzman930]

With contemporary jazz ripping out of the gate [so to speak] , strats continue to create new jazz sounds all the time. Look at Jeff Golub. He records alot of his stuff on a 65 strat through a Fender Vibro King. This guy has practicaly reinvented the way you can play a guitar. And as long as you`ve got soul, let your fingers supply the tone...

[Felixthejazzcat]

Isn't this topic putting the cart ahead of the horse? It's decided by the final product regardless of the tools used to create it. If you hear a great recording that sounds like jazz, then find out the player used a Strat, would it become un-jazz? What if Joe Pass used a strat? He did use a Fender Jaguar in his early Pacific years (1961~1963). Sounds like jazz to me.

This discussion seems to be morphing into a new subject which is, who is a player today who is truly evolving the artform of jazz while still maintaining the historical lineage (Regardless of the type of instrument)?

There are those who claim "real jazz" is only what was played in the past i.e., the previously stated "bepop argument". Do you really think jazz is only available in the museum? What if I said jazz can be only played on red instruments and not blue, on odd days of the month except if it's a Tuesday?

We already have enough pressure from outside sources that try to categorize our creativity so it fits conveniently in a record store CD bin. It's unsettling to see prescriptive or narrow definitions coming from within the artistic community. True creativity consists of transcending boundaries within a contextual framework.

[Jimmy James]

I think I can answer your question, as I have a strat and a mesa. Strats are to most veristile guitars around, whether they're the best is all up to opinions. I have an american standard strat with an ash body and maple fretboard, which is even brighter than the normal alder/rosewood strats. The guitar came with Texas Special pickups, which are horrible. I put Kinmans in it and they have a BEAUTIFUL tone. Perfect for jazz, or anything. Position 1 (Neck pup) is a very sweet, full and warm jazz tone but still that beautiful 'strat' qualities with the tone rolled down. Position 2 (Neck+Mid) is a 'hollow' warm sound with a different pick attact, which can kinda immitate archtops with the tone right down. Position 4 (Mid+Bridge) is a perfect funk and latin-jazz tone, its nice and sweet and bright. I actually prefer the more single coil sound of the strats to archtops for ME. The Mesa I have is a Heartbreaker ombo, which is a different kind of Mesa I think. Its really a big warm, smooth amp, beautiful full cleans and dynamic distortion. I dont think a Dual Retifier would be good for anything exept metal, but all i know is a heartbreaker is great. Id imagine the Mark series, Nomad, Lone Star, F series, Maverick are also good Mesa's for Jazz.

[gueat]

Jazz began as a verb. To jazz is to inprove upon something through improvisation. To say that in order to play jazz, you must play fast bebop lines on an expensive hollow body "humbuckered" non-strat is rediculous! Jazz is the freedom to express yourself through music. If you speak best through a strat, then go for it!

[Ronjazz]

Mike stern played a Strat with Miles, and now plays a Tele, as does Ed Bickert...I myself was pretty sure that a righteous jazz sound couldn't be had from a "plank", but Ed Bickert sure changed that view. Jim Hall early in his career played a Les Paul, but didn't like it for rhythm...I am partial to Gibson L5, but have a Tele with humbuckers and a Samick Royale, both are fine for most jazz gigs...as an aside, if you were to buy the new Bose PAS and a good multi-processor, you could get a good jazz sound out of a Harmony Meteor or a Fender Mustang....

[Strat.]

Oddly enough I play a Strat. and plan on buying a Boogie F-50. I also play Jazz, among other styles. I've been playing, practicing, listening to and studying Jazz for almost 40 years. It's endless. Check out Ed. Bickert on his beat up Tele., the sweetest tone I've ever heard for Jazz in the style he plays and a tone that many have tryed to imitate but at very best come close. When I've seen him live he used a Roland Orange Cube amp.. As Barney Kessel said "there's no such thing as a Jazz guitar". Jazz is the music not the instrument. Have you ever heard of a Jazz piano? Just experiment and keep at it. It's an endless road but a beautiful trip.

AL.

[electric_chairman]

I personally use a 1964 Gibson ES330 + a 2001 Ibanez 7 striing with a 70's Ampeg Bass amp for Blues + Jazz. It works for me! Jazz is a musical expression which has a rich mass of standards while still allowing personal expression both in playing + instrument. If the combination you prefer doesn't fly in a commercial setting you can still perfect it for your own enjoyment. If you really enjoy your sound it will come through in your playing and have a positive effect on your listeners unless they are among the unluckey individuals who go through life with a "CLOSED MIND." Any song has the potential for being played in any style by a talented musician who likes the song enough to take the time neccessary to transpose it without modifying it to the point it is no longer recognizable. Then it becomes a different song. Don't let people put you in a box. Do it from your heart and others will come to love it too.

[Jazz]

Play whatever guitar speaks the best for you. My 3 favorite guitars are my little custom archtop by Tim Brockman, my custom strat, and my custom classical by Alex Mendoza. I have played bebop to cool to fusion on all three. And remember, check out what kind of guitars Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, John Scofield Mike Stern and John Abercrombie play. All great players. All different guitars!

Ken Karsh

[Mark Bailey]

I have a great video of Larry Carlton and Tal Farlow playing a duet. Larry uses a strat.

An all star jam at the end doing All Blues - Larry Coryell a Gretsch or similar, John Scofield - 335 copy, John Abercrombie I think with a Les Paul double cut away, Tal Farlow a traditional archtop and Larry Carlton start copy.

I am sure if Louis Armstrong heard this jamn he would say in his gravelly voice, "Yeah! That's JAZZZZ!"

[jazzmatazz]

When I saw the post by electric_chairman about using an Ampeg bass amp for Jazz, I couldn't agree more. Out of all the recordings I've made for Jazz demos and such, the best guitar tone I ever got was out of an old 70's Ampeg B25B bass head (55w, all-tube) pushing a 15" EV speaker. I was using an Epiphone archtop and it had the most classic, 'woodiest' sound ever. I've used a whole array of guitar tube amps since, but none have sounded as good as that one. It really had the vintage Wes or George Benson sound heard on those 60's recordings. Whodathunkit?!?!?

[Robert Burton]

The only prob I can see in using a strat (other than the apperance and I used on for years) is that the sound of the strat is sooo common. It is nice to have a non pop/rock sound when playing jazz.

I played a lot of jazz with my strat but not till i went to a es335 then a Ibanez PM did i feel like i was getting the tone I herad in my head.

[russjm]

I have a strat with texas specials in it, and as much as I love it for most other styles, I always pick up my Les Paul for the jazzier stuff. The burstbucker in the neck position, with the top end rolled off a bit, is just a great sound. Funilly enough, I use the same tone, with a little overdrive for blues, I love that warm sound.
_________________
Life's what YOU make it.

[Greg]

Kudos to all who recommended an open minded/expansive definition of jazz. And shame on Ken Burns for implying that nothing relevant has been said since the middle of last century!
By the way, Allan Holdsworth does have an album called "None Too Soon" with standards (including a smokin take on Coltrane's "Countdown"). That guy can play pretty much anything, and hang with anyone. He's much more influenced by horn players than are most jazz guitarists. If you agree with me that, when it comes to killer solos, jazz has been dominated by horns, then in the sonic sense Holdsworth might be considered more traditional than most trad jazz guitarists. Why would you want a wimpy little plink, when you could have a big fat gorgous legato sound. Screw "authenticity"; what sounds beautiful is what matters; real authenticity is doing what pleases your ears and your soul. So There.

[guest]

From a strat, you'll get a strat sound. From an archtop you'll get an archtop sound its that simple. And a Super 400 sound from a variax ?, I doubt it. Ive been kicking around for a while now and I dont think jazz should be played on anything other than an archtop. Fusion maybe....but thats not jazz.

[eh ? what ?]

Sorry I DO NOT agree with what you say about who you claim "practically reinvented the way to play guitar" Playing blues scales that shift key is not jazz, nor is being able to play a few octave runs from a major or minor scale. Not jazz at all. Once you listen to more players you will understand what I mean. I suggest listening to Jim Hall, Martin Taylor, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrel, Wes, George Benson for starters then have a think about what you have just said.