My jazz guitar tone sucks, i need help

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 09:44 AM

I Have a Ibanez Arctop, The Artcore series model AF95. I also have a VOX amp which i'm not crazy about. Notr sure if my tone sucks cuz of the guitar or my amp or both. Any suggestions.
thx
Ken

**max chill** · 05-18-2011, 10:03 AM

You can't buy tone. You make it.

**IbanezAS100** · 05-18-2011, 10:11 AM

In what way are you not happy with your tone? Too bright/thin/weak? Can you describe what you think is missing? Anyone you aspire to sound like?

There are too many parameters (apart from the obvious one of skill, tone is in the fingers etc) but if you give us an idea of what you're after we might be able to help a bit more. Your gear sounds fine, maybe it just needs a bit of tweaking...

How about a sound clip and/or a description of your current setup (strings, amp settings, pick thickness, light/heavy touch etc)?

**mr. beaumont** · 05-18-2011, 10:22 AM

What are your settings on the amp?

**MortenFaerestrand** · 05-18-2011, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by guitarplayer007

I Have a Ibanez Arctop, The Artcore series model AF95. I also have a VOX amp which i'm not crazy about. Notr sure if my tone sucks cuz of the guitar or my amp or both. Any suggestions.
thx
Ken

Voxes are kind of Marshallish, aren't they? Not the best choice if you want a jazz type sound.

Most Fenders are nice, to my ears anyway, Roland Cubes are great for their price.

Then you have the more expensive stuff, Henriksen, Fender Twin, Polytone, AER etc.

Then again, it could really help with a good EQ, or maybe even to roll down your tone control..

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 11:07 AM

I have 13's for string, i have my tone switch on guitar on zero. i think you can hear it on youtube under kidpoker007. i think the video is #49. i did Just Friends some improv, pretty crappy improv i might add...lol for Jimmy Bruno Site.

**mtierney** · 05-18-2011, 11:11 AM

What kind of Vox amp? They have tons of models... I use an AC30 and it sounds fantastic, but my friend uses a Valvetronix amp and he says he can't get a fat enough tone for jazz. I hope this doesn't turn into a Vox-bashing thread, I really do love the amp I use...

However, MortenFaerestrand has a good point as well. Fenders are also great for jazz and so are the larger Roland cubes.

Best of luck

**IbanezAS100** · 05-18-2011, 11:24 AM

Well, I had a quick listen and I don't think that you tone (or playing) is bad at all...definitely a decent, classic jazz guitar sound. Is it the Wes thing you're after, Jim Hall type round and mellow or something else?
I assume you've tried rolling back the volume or tone knobs a bit...and if it's a modelling amp you're using, you could try Fendery presets maybe...
Even AC30s have great jazz tones-just ask W. Muthspiel....

So who has the dream tone for you?

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 11:33 AM

Well just about everyone, my tone is so thin and weak. What really got was this guys video on the Jimmy Bruno site, His tone was amazing. Now he may be playing a $2000.00 guitar compared to my $500.00 Ibanez. All i know is i want that sound!!!!

**mr. beaumont** · 05-18-2011, 11:33 AM

Tone on zero? Well, there's trouble right there.

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 11:47 AM

On the guitar , yes most of the time. the pickup switch is up and tone zero or on 1

**hot ford coupe** · 05-18-2011, 11:56 AM

One thing I noticed is that your pickup might not be fully balance. In one video called bebop blues, it sounded like the bass E and A strings were overpowering the other 4 strings. Have you ever fiddled with the poles on the pickup? By rebalancing the pickup, you can boost the volume a little and possibly get s little more fat on the treble "bones". Another thing, I do agree with Mr B (ooh, a poem) that there may be a problem with the tone control. I'd get that checked out too. Also, to be honest with you, your tone really isn't bad. I noticed that with more practice and work, my tone has greatly improved. You really can't buck that old adage that tone is in the fingers.

**Jake Hanlon** · 05-18-2011, 12:00 PM

how does your guitar tone sound when you're not plugged in. Tone is 75% technique if not more.

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 12:33 PM

it sounds good when not plugged in

Stringbean · 05-18-2011, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by guitarplayer007

it sounds good when not plugged in

Try rubbing some duck butter into your speaker cone.

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 12:38 PM

Wtf

Stringbean · 05-18-2011, 01:15 PM

Have you tried replacing your nut with a bone? The best bone come from a black cat.

**Little Jay** · 05-18-2011, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Stringbean

Have you tried replacing your nut with a bone? The best bone come from a black cat.

Don't forget y'r mojo and play it on the seventh month of the seventh year.....

More seriously: experiment! Turn those those knobs untill you like it!

**guitarplayer007** · 05-18-2011, 02:42 PM

morons

**Little Jay** · 05-18-2011, 06:06 PM

Oh come on! A little humor makes life better!
(I think Stringbean's comments were quite funny....)

To prove I'm not a complete moron, things to try for your tone:

- put .011 or .012 flatwounds on your Ibanez
- play with a thick pick. I prefed the Dunlop Jazztones, 206 or 207 I think
- use your neck pu, roll off the tone a bit, but also you volume control! That gives a different darkness then rolling off the tone
- experiment with your picking technique: angles and force you pick with. Change to an angel and a picking force that gives you the desired tone
- amp: just a nice clean tone

Of course trying out different guitars and amps in stores etc. can also teach you what guitar/amp combination gives you your desired tone.

**maxmulloes** · 05-18-2011, 06:08 PM

The tone nob down does not make a good jazz tone fiddle with the knobs on the amp and guitar until something nice comes out

**caravan** · 05-18-2011, 08:51 PM

hot ford coupe wrote:
"One thing I noticed is that your pickup might not be fully balance. In one video called bebop blues, it sounded like the bass E and A strings were overpowering the other 4 strings. Have you ever fiddled with the poles on the pickup? By rebalancing the pickup, you can boost the volume a little and possibly get s little more fat on the treble "bones". Another thing, I do agree with Mr B (ooh, a poem) that there may be a problem with the tone control. I'd get that checked out too. Also, to be honest with you, your tone really isn't bad. I noticed that with more practice and work, my tone has greatly improved. You really can't buck that old adage that tone is in the fingers."

Here's a pic of the pole pieces on my Ibanez (before more modifications). As you can see, the wound G string needed to be stronger and the bottom E string was too over-powering. Six of the pole pieces on this Ibanez pickup were relaces with Alnico magnets.