Getting a Jazz Sound from a Strat?

[cdollar1]

Originally Posted by Squint

D'addario ECG 23 Flatwound 10's and don't forget to have your amp phased!

How the heck do you "phase" an amp?

[hans halmackenreuter]

Originally Posted by kobrian

I'm using 9s now so I'll move up to 10s until I get used to them and then onto 11s. My trem currently has three springs so I'll add two more. Thanks for the advice. Also, I did finally find someone who actually used a Fender Jazzmaster for Jazz! Joe Pass recorded and album called Sounds of Synanon using a Jazzmaster. (Then again, he was in drug rehab and it was the only guitar they had in the place!). Still, I'm trying to track down the album--I'd love to hear what it sounds like.

in the beginning i used a 50's strat and from time to time i stil like to play on my strat. i have 13 flatwound on it + i blocked my trem to get more sustain. in order to do so try to get rid of the finish between your trem-block and your guitar body and than you have to insert a wood-block between your trem-block and your guitar body.

and by the way, i guess you can skip to an 11 gauge set of strings.

[Revelation]

Everyone has different taste and what works for one person will not work for another. I have a Fender Strat with 010's on it, and I personally do not like it for jazz. The G&L Legacy (Leo Fender's design) has pickups that have a Strat sound but the pickups sound fuller than the thin sound of the Fender pickup. If I was going to do jazz on a Strat type of guitar, I would go with a G&L Legacy with 011's or 012's on them. I would also only play without a pick to get a warmer tone. But like we know, put 5 guitar players on the same guitar and amp and they will all sound different.

[TruthHertz]

Originally Posted by cdollar1

How the heck do you "phase" an amp?

With a phaser?

YouTube Video

I think I remember an article where Pat Metheny had problems with his amp. He tried all sorts of techs all over the world and nothing worked. He finally found someone playing in a club in Tibet, of all places, and this cat had the perfect sound. Pat said "How'd you get that sound?" and the guy pointed him to a cave where an old hermit shared a secret with Pat. Pat did a dance of joy and his amp sound became the key to his appeal and sound. I think he wrote a song about the experience. Phase dance?
David

[Kojo27]

Originally Posted by kobrian

I'm using 9s now so I'll move up to 10s until I get used to them and then onto 11s. My trem currently has three springs so I'll add two more. Thanks for the advice. Also, I did finally find someone who actually used a Fender Jazzmaster for Jazz! Joe Pass recorded and album called Sounds of Synanon using a Jazzmaster. (Then again, he was in drug rehab and it was the only guitar they had in the place!). Still, I'm trying to track down the album--I'd love to hear what it sounds like.

First thing I'd offer up is DEFINITELY lose the 9s.

I had a Mexican Strat for a while and tried to get a clean jazzy-fusiony sound out of it. I used 11-52 Earnie Ball Custom Set, with a 12 replacing the 11, if I recall. This recording (attached) is TERRIBLE quality, but it shows what a Strat can sound like with the tone rolled down, bass rolled down to 2, mid up to 8 or higher, treble at 4 or 5.

I have several examples of this setting, but this is the slowest tempo, so the tone is more apparent. Hope it helps a little anyway - sorry for the shitty quality. Use headphones.