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Pondering just how many accomplished and renowned jazz guitarists have made their way playing essentially just one model, that in many cases they have become known by/for? Seemingly, GAS never quite got to them.
Wes (L5)
Mike Stern ( Yamaha 'Tele' )
Ed Bickert ( Tele )
Jonathan Kreisberg ( Es-175 )
Larry Carlton ( ES - 335 )
+++++++?
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08-30-2015 02:32 PM
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Ben Monder AS-50
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Django - Selmer
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Kenny Burrell - Gibson Super 400
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Tal Farlow...well a Tal
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Eddie Lang ( L5), Charlie Christian (Es150),Chuck Wayne(D'Angelico Excel), Les Paul (Les Paul),Freddie Green (Stromberg),John Collins (D'Angelico Excel) Irving Ashby(D'Angelico Excel) George Van Eps(Epi Delux and later Gretsch) and many others....P.S. of course some of them had limited choices early on.
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Jack Zucker - Aaaaa, oh I'm sorry I made a mistake..
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Barney Kessel with his modified ES350 is the classic example. Actually, during his studio days in LA as one of "The Wrecking Crew", he brought a small car trailer full of guitars as well as an assortment of other stringed instruments to his studio dates because he had to be prepared for about anything (he appeared on more than one Beach Boys album, operated the "Theremin" on "Good Vibrations"). But his preferred instrument when on his own was the 350 from before 1950 and to his death. He was seen on a few video clips from Europe with an Epiphone archtop - likely because he didn't want to bring his own instrument on a transatlantic flight.
As for Wes, he also used an ES125 and an ES175 on a couple of the early album sessions. They may have been borrowed instruments. A roumour says that he used a 175 belonging to Kenny Burrell on one of the sessions.
Tal was playing a prototype of the Tal Farlow Gibson model since its introduction. That guitar - like his earlier instruments - was modified by himself along the way. He was an eager tinkerer.Last edited by oldane; 08-30-2015 at 03:23 PM.
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That was in the 1940s and 1950s. Before 1940, Green used an Epiphone Emperor. He is also photographed with the Epiphone once during the 1950s, likely because he had kept is as a spare for use when the Strombergs were in for repair. He landed a Gretsch endorsement deal in the late 1950s and used a blonde Gretsch Eldorado from then and to his death at which time it was pretty much beat up and worn. A Danish jazz guitarist who happened to befriend Green reported that the Gretsch was in a "most awful condition" when he tried it a few years before Green died. Green kept his two Strombergs to his death but didn't want to take them on the road anymore because their value had gone up a lot after Elmer Strombergs death in 1955. Green continued to use the Strombergs for select studio dates in NY where he lived. Ella Fitzgerald has told a story from the recording of "Ella and Basie" in the 1960s. Green told her at the end of the first day that it had gone so well that he would bring his "best guitar" the next day. Ella didn't mention which guitar it was - she likely didn't have a clue - but it may well have been one of the Strombergs.
Originally Posted by Archtop Guy
Last edited by oldane; 08-30-2015 at 03:28 PM.
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Johnny Smith. Early on, he used a D'Angelico New Yorker made for him. Later, however, well...you know.
Herb Ellis. Early on, he used both an ES-150 and an L-5, but by 1953 he switched to the ES-175 he used the remainder of his life. He gigged and recorded for about eight years with an Aria Pro II Herb Ellis model, for which he was paid. However, when Aria reneged on the pay Ellis switched back permanently to the '53 175.
Ed Bickert. Although Bickert did use a Gretsch some, early on, he basically played the same 60s Telecaster for the bulk of his career.
Dick Dale. Fender Stratocaster, Fender Reverb Unit, Fender Showman Amp...for 53 years.
Tony Mottola. Gibson L-5CES with CC pickup at neck.
Hank Garland. Prototype Gibson Byrdland with CC pickup at neck.
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George Benson: Ibanez GB10 in public, Gibson Johnny Smith in private.
Gary Moore: Gibson Les Paul.
Joe Pass: ES-175 and its variants.
Pat Metheny: ES-175 and the Ibanez variants.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 08-30-2015 at 03:28 PM.
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While Larry is certainly known as "Mr. 335", I have seen him play 3-different Valley Arts Teles/Strats, Fender Strat, Fender Tele, Gibson Les Paul, Guild Blues Bird as well as his Valley Arts 00-28. Originally Posted by blackcat
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John Scofield-Ibanez As-200...;-)
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Wish I could say me......I would have money. Good one JD !!!
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Yes, Benson has been true (publicly) to Ibanez. Ibanez, in turn, is good to Benson. Before '78, Benson played a Gibson Johnny Smith, and before that a Guild Artist Award (also, if you will, a Johnny Smith). His records with those guitars sound dynamite. I suspect that some of his post-70s records also feature the JS, but he certainly wouldn't publicly say...the endorsement deal is on the line.
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jim raney used a gibby 150, till he "lost" it in a cab...
brad shepik pretty long time on gretsch tennessean
not jazz (but great) james burton been usin tele since his start..even when hes pictured with other guitars, they are usually photo ops
cheers
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Although Wes was known for playing an L-5, he had a number of them, so it's not like he didn't have GAS, it was just well focused. Originally Posted by blackcat
Kenny has used a number of guitars, including an L-5 or two, L-7C, D'Angelico New Yorker, and his signature Heritage model, although he mostly seemed to have played his florentine S400 for gigs. Originally Posted by Klatu
Danny W.
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Remember guys, the guitar a famous touring cat plays out with is not indicative of their level of GAS. Benson owns numerous extremely valuable guitars. He, and all the guys, seek consistency and reliability on stage. So they are seen with the same guitars all the time. At home they might own many, though. Metheny has a bazillion instruments. Carlton has a collection of top notch classics, as does Ritenour.
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Willie Nelson
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Angus Young!
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Yeah, but most of those guys got to play before the Internet spread GAS like a virus. That was back before you could buy a guitar without standing up.
I guess I'm one of the Grateful Infected. Another hopeless case. I'll just opt for palliative care here on out.
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"you still have to play it, you know" - Wes Montgomery
clip from interview: TubeChop - (00:26)
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This may be as close to the "one man, one guitar" rule as it gets.
It is true that some prominent guitarists settle down to one model, but I can't imagine that anyone of them didn't have a significant stretch using something else. And what fun would that be anyway??
Originally Posted by Longways to Go
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LC nearly abandoned the 335 in the mid 80s in favor of the then overwhelmingly popular fender sound. He didn't really return to using the 335 for the majority of his playing until many years later. Originally Posted by blackcat
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his main guitar in the 60s was a Super 400 Originally Posted by Greentone
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