Is it good to move on to archtop from stratocaster?

[cosmic gumbo]

Save your pennies and some day pick up a Languedoc archtop strat.

[Dennis D]

And another issue may be - how adaptable will you be to changing back and forth between the two ? I do believe you'll always like the Strat feel & fit.

Seriously, I started in the '60's with a 335 style and went to a full archtop at that time. I had no reason to go back, but found a LP I really liked 3 years ago and had to have it. BUT - -I could not get used to it. I was all arms and finally gave up fighting the weight and the ' fit '.

So, again I agree with the ' keep it and find an archtop ' advice.

Good luck !

[pcjazz]

Wow!

I've been aware of Lorne L, from the Boss Brass, but I hadn't heard small group work.

Great player. Great sound.

And, notice the unorthodox technique. Thumbpick and long fingernails on a Stratocaster? Is anybody teaching it that way in college-based jazz programs?

Lorne teaches in the jazz program at York University, Toronto. When I took private group lessons from him years ago he encouraged participants to try his Lenny Breau-influenced thumbpick/fingers approach but did not require it. I find it more manageable than the hybrid flat pick/fingers approach.

[lammie200]

I still pick up my Strat more than any one of my other guitars. It is even more comfortable to play than the Steinberger copy that I just built. You might want to see if the Fender 25.5" scale length is something that you want in an archtop. It is what I like and I also like to tune down a full step with TI Jazz 12's.

[krusty]

I have a couple of Strats at the moment. I find the one I have equipped with Fishman Fluence pickups is great for Hendrix when I pull the knob to fatten up the tone, but the more vintage single coil sound with the knob pushed in is lacking a bit of midrange for jazz, and the fattened tone still carries too much on the top end. It's a bit of a challenge to get a nice jazz tone from. I have a Strat equipped with Tom Anderson M-Series pickups. I didn't add the Villex mid boost, as I can achieve the same thing with any number of boost pedals I own. The Anderson pickups are fatter than a single coil sound, but more polite than a P-90. Beautiful, full, easy jazz tone through a Quilter 101R.

The Strat is also one of the most comfortable guitars to play, imo.

[rio]

Save your pennies and some day pick up a Languedoc archtop strat.

I was really into Phish in high school and have always thought about getting one of his guitars. I have never heard traditional jazz on it though and my only experience hearing one is hearing Trey Anastasio.


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[paul.trapanese]

Jazz is a musical style. Jazz is about freedom within a form. That includes whatever guitar you want to use. Keep your Strat!


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[Thumpalumpacus]

I put a Seymour Duncan Lil 59 Humbucker in the neck position of my Strat copy. I left the middle pickup as it was, the original single coil. Mostly I used the neck pu, but for some funk things, I go single coil. Fact is the middle pickup didn't sound much different than the original neck pickup did. Very slight difference.

If I was trying to record a tribute to Wes, I probably would be better off with an L5, but I'm not trying to do that. I've never had a complaint about my tone with the Strat copy. BTW it's a Yamaha Pacifica 012, which sells just about every day on CL for about $70. Mine has replacement tuners (there when I bought it used -- I don't know if they were really needed) and the Lil59.

Those Pacificas are bang-for-buck steals, and with so little invested, give you angst-free modding. Every one I've played has had a good straight neck.

[LtKojak]

+ 1 on the Pacificas.

Even the cheapest ones have a great tone-footprint.

I've modded quite a few of those and got an outstanding- sounding instrument every single time, specially considering the price point!

I even used one modded 112J on a couple of projects in the studio and all tracks made it to the finished products.

HTH,

[Stringswinger]

I put a Seymour Duncan Lil 59 Humbucker in the neck position of my Strat copy. I left the middle pickup as it was, the original single coil. Mostly I used the neck pu, but for some funk things, I go single coil. Fact is the middle pickup didn't sound much different

If I was trying to record a tribute to Wes, I probably would be better off with an L5, but I'm not trying to do that. I've never had a complaint about my tone with the Strat copy. BTW it's a Yamaha Pacifica 012, which sells just about every day on CL for about $70. Mine has replacement tuners (there when I bought it used -- I don't know if they were really needed) and the Lil59.

Rick, back in the late 70's when you and I played together regularly, you were playing an L-5S, the most expensive solid body guitar in the world. Today you play one of the cheapest. I was playing a 175 then, and for the most part, still do. Considering the poor pay of jazz gigs these days, I would say that you may have figured things out better than I have.

[rpjazzguitar]

+ 1 on the Pacificas.

Even the cheapest ones have a great tone-footprint.

I've modded quite a few of those and got an outstanding- sounding instrument every single time, specially considering the price point!

I even used one modded 112J on a couple of projects in the studio and all tracks made it to the finished products.

HTH,

I had mine in the studio and the engineer made fun of it, but, I think the result sounds fine.

What mods were helpful?

Mine has a Lil59 in the neck position, replacement tuners and new output jack and switch.

[rpjazzguitar]

Maybe should be a new thread, but which mods?

[rpjazzguitar]

Marc,

I took a circuitous route to this Yamaha. I played the L5S for decades, but always a little unhappy with the upper register on the high E string sounding thin - a problem I tend to have.

I then bought a D'Angelico Excel MIKorea, which sang out beautifully in that register and played it for years until that upper register lost its singing quality. I'm convince it's a fret shape issue, but I haven't been able to recapture the magic even after meticulous fretwork.

Back to the L5S. Then, with arthritis bothering my left hand, I happened upon the Yamaha at Starving Musician. The neck was so thin, I figured I could play it if the arthritis was acting up.

But, with the guitar available I just started gravitating toward it. Eventually, I had to admit the truth. I really like playing it. I figured mandolinists play a small neck without complaint, why not a guitarist?

[mr. beaumont]

Maybe should be a new thread, but which mods?

I always think the first mods for any strat should be:

1. Block trem, or fill cavity completely, redrill for string through body.

2. Shave off excessive upper body horn

3. Remove middle pickup

4. Replace bridge and neck pickups with telecaster pickups

5. Change saddles to brass

6. Trim headstock down so it's not constantly banging into things

7. Consider going to three way switch, remove extra tone knob.

8. Mount controls/pickups on plates to facilitate easier future mods.

There you have it, perfect Stratocaster.

[vernon]

So... your perfect Stratocaster is... a telecaster. Great post Jeff!! "Shave off excessive upper body horn". Hilarious

[mr. beaumont]

So... your perfect Stratocaster is... a telecaster. Great post Jeff!! "Shave off excessive upper body horn". Hilarious

All in jest, of course

[Doublea A]

Wow!

I've been aware of Lorne L, from the Boss Brass, but I hadn't heard small group work.

Great player. Great sound.

And, notice the unorthodox technique. Thumbpick and long fingernails on a Stratocaster? Is anybody teaching it that way in college-based jazz programs?

Lorne teaches at York University in Toronto. I studied with him back in the 80's.


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[Doublea A]

For the past year or so, I have been taking one archtop (I have 5) and one Tele (I have 6) to each of my gigs. I find that each guitar has its own strengths and weaknesses. Each guitar makes me play a different style. Thus, I let the song dictate which guitar I am about to use and what style I will employ.

I am currently building a Strat to add this arsenal.

I am not sure if that answered your question but I thought I would add my 2 cents.


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[rio]

I always think the first mods for any strat should be:

1. Block trem, or fill cavity completely, redrill for string through body.

2. Shave off excessive upper body horn

3. Remove middle pickup

4. Replace bridge and neck pickups with telecaster pickups

5. Change saddles to brass

6. Trim headstock down so it's not constantly banging into things

7. Consider going to three way switch, remove extra tone knob.

8. Mount controls/pickups on plates to facilitate easier future mods.

There you have it, perfect Stratocaster.

Sounds great! If only someone made this kind of custom Strat


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[rpjazzguitar]

Lorne teaches at York University in Toronto. I studied with him back in the 80's.


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Thanks for this. I love his playing.

Just curious - did he teach thumbpick and fingers?
Did he recommend it?

[Doublea A]

Thanks for this. I love his playing.

Just curious - did he teach thumbpick and fingers?
Did he recommend it?

He did emphasize separating the bass and the harmony. I have employed the hybrid technique


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[rpjazzguitar]

One great player I have met (Ricardo Vogt) used his right index fingernail, quite long, as a pick.

Some use pick and fingers.

Or, thumbpick and fingers.

Just fingers,

Just pick.

Pick in mouth, part time.

Pick tucked away in palm.

Pick attached to stiff but still bendable wire, tied around index finger.

Pick in little dispenser like device on thumb or index.

Of these, the fingernail and thumbpick techniques seem like they might have the greatest potential when developed

[Robertkoa]

Keep your strat you seems to have a bond with it. You can play Jazz on any guitar you don't need an archtop you just need to find your musical voice.

Chris Crocco play great Jazz on a strat.

Some of the Phattest clean tones I have ever ( probably THE fattest ) from a Strat.
And obviously an excellent Player.

I like that there is real beef there...not merely turning down the Tone knob.

Guy must be using 12 or 13 Gauge Strings...not a bad idea.

Cool Tones either way.

[lammie200]

Some of the Phattest clean tones I have ever ( probably THE fattest ) from a Strat.
And obviously an excellent Player.

I like that there is real beef there...not merely turning down the Tone knob.

Guy must be using 12 or 13 Gauge Strings...not a bad idea.

Cool Tones either way.

Maybe my ears aren't so good but I bet that he is tuned down.

[wzpgsr]

Best strat sound I’ve heard for jazz was a Jimmy Smith clip with Warren Quentin (Quentin Warren?) playing The Sermon. Can’t link to it right now but it’s on YouTube.