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Hopefully you didn't think this thread title was an oxymoron.
For a long time I thought that for jazz the only thing that should be between your guitar and amp is a cable, but lately I've been doing some experimentation. I play mainly an Eastman 910; it's a carved top, so already it excels with that natural archtop sound, and I'm not super psyched on any excessive chorus or delay effects a la Scofield or Metheny.
However, I got a fairly subtle boost pedal-- the echoplex boost by MXR-- for my rock band. On a whim, I tried it with my archtop for a solo jazz gig, and it really added a lot to the sound, just a slight edge that kind of takes the carved top into a more Kenny Burrell realm, especially if I do more of a mid-range boost than I used to on the amp (a Music Man 210).
Anyway, I was just wondering if any other more traditional jazz players had cool stompboxes that really add to their sound.
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03-06-2018 10:54 AM
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Absolutely!!!
I really like to use a Tech 21 blonde pedal with a solid state amp. Makes it sound/feel/react like a tube amp, which is great--I get the tiny light loud solid state amp, and the sound of a big heavy tube amp.
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A decent EQ pedal with 6+ bands can help tremendously in consistently getting "your" sound in different venues. Wouldn't play without one - except at home
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If I take an amp out, I usually take my Henriksen Bud. I've used the following pedals with success in achieving a warmer, tube-like character:
- Joyo American Sound (can go from blackface to tweed sounds with the turn of a knob)
- Bearfoot FX Honey Bee ("swampy" is the only word I can use to describe it. sounds awesome)
- Nocturne Brain Junior Barnyard (turns any amp into a Gibson EH 150)
I think there are a few things about overdrive pedals that people who are after a cleaner sounds overlook. They really can help your sound even if you don't use them for distortion. They provide a bit of compression and they equalize in a more dynamic way than a standard EQ pedal.
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+1 on using a simple EQ pedal to enhance tone and balance frequencies for the room or recording. I also use my Boss 9 band Bass EQ pedal (Yes, its a Bass pedal that works fantastic with all electric instruments) as a clean boost. It has a Volume slider that makes everything from a Champ Amp to Mesa Boogie sound bigger when needed.
Also, I like to add a touch or Reverb or Delay to further enhance the amp tone for jazz or any kind of music. There are so many reverb and delay pedals available, the selection and options are mind boggling.
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Almost the same discovery as the OP:
Got an Xotic EP booster for clean boost when playing pop with my Godin Montreal Premiere and a Henriksen JazzAmp 110.
Found out that using the booster with the gain set at 0 nicely enhances the sound of my Eastman AR403ce through that amp as well.
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Yeah, an EQ pedal has been on my list for a while to try out, after playing in some very tone-killing venues. Good to know about the Boss Bass pedal.
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Xotic RC Booster is the only one I've got, but only use it with super clean amps for a bit of hair.
Originally Posted by Tom Karol
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MXR Carbon Copy delay. You can use it in a much more subtle way than a Metheney tone or whatever. Set the delay time very low (like right at the point where it's hard to tell if the echo is even a distinct sound), and it really thickens the tone. It's a very transparent pedal so it won't color your sound much, if at all.
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You know, I was toying with the idea at one time but I got around the issue by raising the HB on my main jam/gig guitar so that it is quite high, and also switching to roundwounds to provide a bit more bite to the tone. But years ago I experimented with a Boss Blues Driver pedal and a light drive setting and it sounded pretty good the few times I tried it.
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With my strat, I sometimes use an overdrive pedal (usually a Fulltone OCD), with the volume down pretty far on the guitar. Fattens up the tone a bit; clean enough for chords.
John
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TC Electronic Mojomojo is a warmer low gain overdrive pedal that might improve the sound from a solid state amp. Inexpensive too.
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I recall this was also discussed at length here: Some Experiments with Jazz and Dirt Pedals
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I love a touch of overdrive. My set up is pre-historic: ES 175 -> TS-808 -> Princeton Reverb 65 (all re-issues).
I don't always engage the TS but it's a nice addition especially when I want a hard bop sound and the amp is not loud. TS-808 also acts as a Mid boost when used with a Fender blackface type amp.
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Joyo American, Empress EQ
Not a pedal really but the Grace Designs Felix/Alix can mostly replace the Empress EQ along with other features and will drive a powered speaker or an unpowered speaker using a small power amp on a pedal board.
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The only pedal I have ~99% on is the Xotic RC booster, I'm not really using it as a booster, more like a preamp/buffer. I really miss that one when it's not it the chain.
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I've been using a TIM clean boost with the Polytone MBII when practicing jazz. Same way I use it with any guitar, and any amp. Tried the MojoMojo from TC the other night, a mad professor sweet honey overdrive also. Both set for subtle, somewhat dark boosting. The MojoMojo is really something special for short money, but TIM wins, again. As always. Some boosts do well, but I've yet to find one that is as good or better.
MD
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One about local fx pedal maker sent me a simple self developed booster some years ago. He called it Bone Toaster, ’cause it is a tone booster. It has Tone and Volume knobs. Very simple.
I really like it, it fattens every guitar on those jazzy sounding areas. But before I took it to a gig I started to think that if I have a unique amp, was it 5E3 or Polytone or a Princeton or anything, why would I spoil – or enhance, if You like – it’s sound with some pedal to something that ain’t that amp’s sound anymore? Why do I have that amp in that case?
I could build a new amp on the basis of that booster pedal, just add a power amp and a speaker after it. Or I could use it as a basis of my sound if I ever toured without my own amp. But nowadays I just try cope with an amp and get my solo boosts from my playing technique. Sometimes it even works!
I tried that EP Booster in my rock rig but never succeeded to get it on the same level with a straight signal so I sold it. Even on the zero it boosted audibly. No wonder that every guitarist likes it: it turns Your amp louder and a bit more treble. But I thought then that if I want my amp sound similar, why don’t I turn it louder and more treble in the beginning!
I guess I didn’t need a booster then!
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I almost forgot about one of the best pedals for this stuff. The Voodoo Labs Giggity. It's basically a preamp with gain, body, presence, and volume controls, plus a weird discrete "color" knob that seems to attenuate bass and treble.
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I use a Barb EQ pedal with my Clarus/RE rig and it's really great. I also have a Tech 21, which is a much wider tonal palette, but I prefer the sound of the Barb EQ. I think it also depends on the amp, a Clarus/RE has very little "color" in the sound, if I played a fender twin I can't imagine using the Barb EQ the way I do.
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When I've finished practicing in "Puritan Mode" (low volume, pristine clean and dry) I sometimes plug in my Joyo American or my Danelectro Daddy-O. The JA lets my Vibro Champ morph into something sounding not unlike my TV Panel Tweed Deluxe with its octal pre-amp and field-coil speaker at a mic- (and domestic bliss) friendly level. The DD-O, with its 3-band EQ ups the altitude of the attitude. A reverb pedal would round things out, I think.
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Funny that this thread came up , I just finished rewiring my little travel board today,. Ideally I'd have everything mounted up together, but with the tube buffer and volume pedal separate, I can fit everything in a little under-the-seat carryon bag. All these pedals are basically an overly complicated 'amp simulator'. I get some tube amp 'interaction', a lead channel and good reverb happening on whatever amps I end up with at the venue. The little grey 'effects loop' also lets me add another pedal or two if the gig needs some special effects . PK
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Empress Para EQ for subtle tone shaping and CatalinBread Talisman for sublime plate reverb
Will
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
yeah man! friend tavo's, nocturne junior barnyard gives your fender 12ax7 amp (or any ss amp) that original vintage octal gibby tube amp charlie christian tone...that slightly weird harmonic distortion...rougher than sweet, but not overly gainy like many modern pedals
a good one for those that like the vintage tones
jim hall used his gibson ga 50 amp until the 70's...it's has an octal 6SC7 tubed pre amp
cheers
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single coil pickup into an octal amp is one of my favorite sounds. I used to have a Valco Supreme/Oahu, but I sold it when I got my vintage 47. Now I don't even take the V47 out because Tavo's pedal just kicks so much ass. Originally Posted by neatomic
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