Jazz Tone from a halfstack amp

[Tcoov03]

I have a Fender Stratocaster running into a Carvin x-100b half stack. I've been fiddling with it and i'm trying to get a really fluid jazz tone. I have active parametric as well as selectable graphic eq, yet i find that if i get a jazzy tone, it seems heavy and not fluid. Fluid would be less pick noise.

So if anyone knows what Eq frequencies to boost or cut, that would be very helpful.

[randyc]

Some amplifiers are slightly more difficult to adjust than others and a Stratocaster is a challenge - might not ever get a "traditional" tone from thate combination but you should be able to get a pleasing sound.

What works best for me is to sit directly in front of and close to the cabinet, tweaking both guitar and amplifier tone controls at a low volume setting and making notes. I'm never happy with the results but when I find the most desirable combination, I turn up the amplifier to normal playing level, move away from it and the sound is inevitably 100% better.

What a difference just a little distance from the speakers make.

[Little Jay]

Be sure to try Randy's advise, but there is a chance that the tone you're hearing in your mind requires a different amp/guitar combination, since it's definately not a typical set up for jazz you have there. (That being said: there are enough jazzplayers using strats and having a very nice tone, so I'm not saying it's impossible, but to use Randy's words: it's a challenge!)

Just try to dial in a good clean tone and back off your tone and/or volume just a little (*EDIT: on the guitar that is!*). Keep in mind that backing off the volume also reduces treble-response, but in a different - and for jazz better imho - way.

As for your amp, I use a method to find the amp's "sweetspot" (or neutral spot maybe) that goes like this:

1) select your neck pickup and play an E-chord in open position. While it rings, turn the bass-pot from completely left to right and back a couple of times. You will hear that somewhere there is a spot where the bass kicks in and right after becomes to much. Fine tune around this spot to what you like.

2) select your middle pickup (in case of a dual HB guitar you would switch both pickups on), play an open A-chord, let ring and dial the middle pot in just the same way as above

3) select you bridge pu, play a open D and dial in the treble pot according to the same method.

(this obviously works best with simple amps with just t/m/b tonepots. If you have a presence pot: leave it at 12 o'clock and just use it to fine-tune after going thru 1-3)

Now you have created an amp setting from where you can work.

Another more drastic trick that works for some amps is to dial out treble and bass completely and turn up the middle pot all the way.

If you still don't like what you hear then it could be time to re-think your equipment.......

[fep]

Randy's suggestion sounds like a good way to start. It's what mixing engineers often do... they mix at really low volumes. If you can get it sounding good at a low volume it will sound really good at a louder volume.

Don't forget to play around with the strat volume and tone control. When I play a jazz tone on a strat I use the front pickup, I have the volume around 6 and the tone around 3. You might try that as a starting point and tweek from there.

[Tcoov03]

I've never tried mixing at low volumes and then turning up, definitely a suggestion I will try. Thanks.

I am also slowly noticing that turning the volume pot down on your guitar does some good as well. Like you said, it seems to cut harsher frequencies. Again, thank you.

I'll also need to try the sweet spot for the amp.

Thanks guys

[Russ Kapp]

If you are dead set on using a strat to play jazz and you're not attached to the one you have, you might spring for the American Fat Strat Delux. It has the capability of putting the neck and mid P/U's in parallel to get a more humbucker sound ( depending on your set up, tho. it might add a little quack that needs to be adjusted out ).....try it in the shop tho before you but if you can.....mine sounds fairly convincing......

[mongrel]

Putting flatwound strings on the Strat and turning down or off compressors should greatly reduce or eliminate pick noise.