Getting a Sound Like Dave Stryker

**jazzfreak** · 07-25-2018, 01:37 PM

Short of obtaining an ES-347 and a tube amp, any suggestions? My current rig: 14 inch archtop with a single floating pickup and playing through a Henriksen 110 and an extension cab with a similar 10 inch speaker.

I typically have been using Thomastik Jazz Swing .13's, but have recently put on Bebop .13's in an attempt to get a little more bite. I realize there is only so much you can ask of your equipment, but thought I'd see what suggestions members may have.

**jzucker** · 07-25-2018, 04:27 PM

he uses lighter roundwound strings with a plain 3rd, fender tube amp

**John A.** · 07-25-2018, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by jazzfreak

Short of obtaining an ES-347 and a tube amp, any suggestions? My current rig: 14 inch archtop with a single floating pickup and playing through a Henriksen 110 and an extension cab with a similar 10 inch speaker.

I typically have been using Thomastik Jazz Swing .13's, but have recently put on Bebop .13's in an attempt to get a little more bite. I realize there is only so much you can ask of your equipment, but thought I'd see what suggestions members may have.

I think his typical guitar and amp set-up is so different from yours that I don't think you can get all that close. There's not much detailed info out there about how he sets his gear (this is all I could find ), but it sounds to me (assuming a Fender tube amp, and using "Blue to the Bone" as a reference point) like he's got the tone rolled off a little on the guitar, and at the amp the mids are cranked, the bass is turned pretty far down, and the gain and/or volume are turned up enough to get a hint of overdrive (e.g., on the Blue to the Bone album, and a bunch of live clips). But if you really want that kind of tone and sustain, I think a semi of solid body is pretty much the only way.

John

**jzucker** · 07-25-2018, 06:06 PM

Dave's going to be featured as artist of the week on my guitar forum within the next few weeks in which i'll be publishing his equipment and tone reveal...

**Jazzstdnt** · 07-25-2018, 10:42 PM

I agree with the others. I play Gibson and Fender and have noticed similar tone (I'm exploring his course at the moment).

Time for more GAS, hehe.

**gggomez** · 07-25-2018, 11:40 PM

Maybe an xotic rc will help get you away from the acousticy solid state sound or ep booster

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**yebdox** · 07-26-2018, 01:53 AM

Dave's tone is pretty similar, no matter what gear he's using. When he was just a young pup, he sounded pretty much the same on a Super 400. Definitely more mids on a tube amp with tone rolled off on the guitar. I assume heavier gauges, but don't know much more than that, other than he sounds like he hits the strings pretty hard, which I think is the slight breakup sound you hear.

Great guy and player, definitely deserves to be wider known, I think he's coming into his own. His last 2 albums where he arranges pop tunes have a great groove! He had a nice duo appearance with Bernstein some months back at Small's, probably somewhere in the archives.

Didn't know Jack was doing a show (Podcast?) will look forward to hearing it. Where is it, Jack, on iTunes?

**jazzfreak** · 07-26-2018, 12:53 PM

Thanks guys!

**feet** · 07-26-2018, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by gggomez

Maybe an xotic rc will help get you away from the acousticy solid state sound or ep booster

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i tried this with my jc77 and a few archtops. the ep booster worked well but i preferred the em drive, which has that low mid hump in a slightly higher range, so it isn't as tubby/muddy. though you have to be careful because you don't want to try to overdrive a solid state amp, because that's kinda gross. failing that, i got pretty close with an eq pedal, too. i was able to replicate most of what the boosts are doing by having them side by side and twiddling knobs.

one other thing to note is while i wouldn't call the attempt failed and sort of recommend it, i got some warmth and tube-yness out of it, but not the feel. which isn't a small thing. at some point, you feel it reacting in a solid state way, like you're about to hit a ceiling and it just sort of clips.

**jzucker** · 07-27-2018, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

Dave's tone is pretty similar, no matter what gear he's using. When he was just a young pup, he sounded pretty much the same on a Super 400. Definitely more mids on a tube amp with tone rolled off on the guitar. I assume heavier gauges, but don't know much more than that, other than he sounds like he hits the strings pretty hard, which I think is the slight breakup sound you hear.

Great guy and player, definitely deserves to be wider known, I think he's coming into his own. His last 2 albums where he arranges pop tunes have a great groove! He had a nice duo appearance with Bernstein some months back at Small's, probably somewhere in the archives.

Didn't know Jack was doing a show (Podcast?) will look forward to hearing it. Where is it, Jack, on iTunes?

it's the modern jazz guitar forum on facebook, link in my signature.

**marcwhy** · 07-27-2018, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

Dave's tone is pretty similar, no matter what gear he's using. When he was just a young pup, he sounded pretty much the same on a Super 400. Definitely more mids on a tube amp with tone rolled off on the guitar. I assume heavier gauges, but don't know much more than that, other than he sounds like he hits the strings pretty hard, which I think is the slight breakup sound you hear.

Right, so the real answer to the OP's question is not "more gear," but -- like the rest of us trying to "sound like" so-and-so: Practice!!

I've read a couple interviews with Dave, but I've never met nor spoken with him. My guess, though, is he would say, "Don't sound like me; work on sounding like you!"

**feet** · 07-27-2018, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

I've read a couple interviews with Dave, but I've never met nor spoken with him. My guess, though, is he would say, "Don't sound like me; work on sounding like you!"

this is terrible advice if you sound like ass

that's my sound, though

**jzucker** · 07-27-2018, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Right, so the real answer to the OP's question is not "more gear," but -- like the rest of us trying to "sound like" so-and-so: Practice!!

I've read a couple interviews with Dave, but I've never met nor spoken with him. My guess, though, is he would say, "Don't sound like me; work on sounding like you!"

don't know what he might say but dave went through a period where he tried to sound like bb king and another where he tried to sound like benson ... Just sayin'...

**marcwhy** · 07-27-2018, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

don't know what he might say but dave went through a period where he tried to sound like bb king and another where he tried to sound like benson ... Just sayin'...

Well of course! And is that where he still is?

**jzucker** · 07-27-2018, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Well of course! And is that where he still is?

the force (of benson/bb) is strong with him. So yes! He'll be the first to tell you that they were big influences.

Just like Dan Wilson and Grant/George.

Or Benson and Martino with Wes.

**John A.** · 08-03-2018, 02:18 PM

I saw Dave Stryker last night, accompanying a singer in a small space. He was using his 347 and a Jazzkat amp. Sounded like Dave Stryker. His sound was very fat, and a bit bassier than I expected based on his recorded sound. It was just him, and he was doing a lot of walking bassline stuff, so maybe he had the bass cranked a bit. Gotta say, the 347 is a very pretty up close.

John

**DonEsteban** · 08-03-2018, 06:44 PM

Check out this video... all three obviously playing over the same Fender model (rented amps as it seems) and sounding so differently..

So a little bit goes to the guitars itself, some goes to the settings at the amps and guitar pots and the rest is "finger magic".