Back to my PM-120 for this original tune

**jzucker** · 02-13-2026, 11:03 AM

I'm using .010 strings on it for the solo and it sounds amazing. Making me think of ditching the thomastic strings altogether.

A rough mix of my latest composition. A song about 2 people walking along a parallel path. At some point, their paths intersect, they look in each other's eyes, and they join.

This is the first time I've recorded any jazz guitar playing since my 3 month depression back in october. I feel jazz calling me again.

For the tech geeks, I'm playing a PRS NF-53 for rhythm guitar, an Ibanez PM120 for solos and I'm also playing a Skjold Erskine whaleback bass.

Playing through a kemper mk2 head, purple plexi amp for rhythm, 64 vibroverb for the solo.

**Stringswinger** · 02-13-2026, 12:08 PM

Which 10's are you using? I have been using DR Pure Blues 10's on my solid body guitars and also on my semi hollow guitar. On my fully hollow electric guitars, I am still using TI 11's (both Swings and Bebops).

10's feel great on my 68 year old fingers, but on a full hollow body guitar, 10's seem a little thin on the high end when I try them. You are able to get a pretty fat sound with them. Nice playing!

**Jx30510** · 02-13-2026, 01:38 PM

Great song, very nice playing (dare I say "as usual") and luxurous tone
I've come to realize that on electric guitars (archtop, semi hollow, solid body), the best string gauge is the one you're comfortable with, not the size.
I see so many guys craving Stevie Ray Vaughan 's tone and putting 13-56 strings on their Stratocasters.. and realizing after bleeding their fingers off that's not where his tone is

**jzucker** · 02-13-2026, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Which 10's are you using? I have been using DR Pure Blues 10's on my solid body guitars and also on my semi hollow guitar. On my fully hollow electric guitars, I am still using TI 11's (both Swings and Bebops).

10's feel great on my 68 year old fingers, but on a full hollow body guitar, 10's seem a little thin on the high end when I try them. You are able to get a pretty fat sound with them. Nice playing!

Thanks, i'm using d'addario 10s, the regular ones, not the NYXL ones. I'm also 68 so the 10s make it easier. Metheny is also using 10s now. He uses the NYXL versions. I was surprised how fat they sound. I need to raise the action a little on the treble side because I can't dig in without buzzing.

**jzucker** · 02-13-2026, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jx30510

Great song, very nice playing (dare I say "as usual") and luxurous tone
I've come to realize that on electric guitars (archtop, semi hollow, solid body), the best string gauge is the one you're comfortable with, not the size.
I see so many guys craving Stevie Ray Vaughan 's tone and putting 13-56 strings on their Stratocasters.. and realizing after bleeding their fingers off that's not where his tone is

Thanks.

I have 10s on my solid bodies and they seem to work just fine for SRV type stuff. I was surprised that they sound good for jazz because I was one of those who used to use .014 and .018 even on a .012 set.

**Zigracer** · 02-13-2026, 07:58 PM

Sounds great to me. Nice playing. I like the bass part a lot too. One of the progressions in there reminds me of something from a Steely Dan song.

**jzucker** · 02-13-2026, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Zigracer

Sounds great to me. Nice playing. I like the bass part a lot too. One of the progressions in there reminds me of something from a Steely Dan song.

yes, a definite nod to steely dan, i'm trying to remember what tune it was from? Peg maybe?

**Zigracer** · 02-13-2026, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

yes, a definite nod to steely dan, i'm trying to remember what tune it was from? Peg maybe?

Ha! I can't remember either. I'll have to think about it.

**MiniMerckx.22** · 02-15-2026, 08:56 PM

Great solo Jack, really fits the song! Everything sounds excellent. Fwiw, I guess I was expecting a slight ritard. but then I was surprised by the abrupt ending. Didn't like it, for about 5 seconds then realized...that was cool, probably because it was a surprise.

**tolstoi** · 02-16-2026, 08:25 PM

Very nice from start to finish. Thank you for sharing this with us.

**jzucker** · 02-16-2026, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by tolstoi

Very nice from start to finish. Thank you for sharing this with us.

thanks for listening.

**yebdox** · 02-21-2026, 09:23 PM

Really nice, Jack. Glad you were able to lift yourself back in the groove. I've struggled a bit myself these past few years.... the best advice 'I've received is to just be present. Seems to heal so many challenges.

Keep playing my friend, music keeps you centered in the now.

**jzucker** · 02-26-2026, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

Really nice, Jack. Glad you were able to lift yourself back in the groove. I've struggled a bit myself these past few years.... the best advice 'I've received is to just be present. Seems to heal so many challenges.

Keep playing my friend, music keeps you centered in the now.

thanks, struggling this week. I have a weird combination of borderline and bi-polar so there are times when the bi-polar is pushing me into mania and then my borderline making me depressed.

But back to the pm-120, i was playing my 175 yesterday which has chrome .012s on it. And I think the PM-120 (which has .010 rounds) sounds more dynamic. I'm going to put a set of .011 rounds on the 175

**jzucker** · 02-26-2026, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

Really nice, Jack. Glad you were able to lift yourself back in the groove. I've struggled a bit myself these past few years.... the best advice 'I've received is to just be present. Seems to heal so many challenges.

Keep playing my friend, music keeps you centered in the now.

thanks, struggling this week. I have a weird combination of borderline and bi-polar so there are times when the bi-polar is pushing me into mania and then my borderline making me depressed.

But back to the pm-120, i was playing my 175 yesterday which has chrome .012s on it. And I think the PM-120 (which has .010 rounds) sounds more dynamic. I'm going to put a set of .011 rounds on the 175

**arnie65** · 02-26-2026, 10:21 AM

Very nice Jack, I've started using Curt Mangan 10.5-50 myself. Sometimes carpal-tunnel shows up, and this is a lot better on my hands...

Cheers,
Arnold.

**Archie** · 02-28-2026, 11:45 AM

Jack you have a rare talent of being not only a world class improviser but a great composer.

That’s a very good song.

Not that it needs to be compared to anything as it stands on its own merits but the Steely Dan nod sounded to me like "Deacon Blues”.
Also some Jessie Ware “remember where you are” but I think that's down to the singers style.