New SA2200 setup help from tone experts please

[NYC]

I just bought a 2021 Yamaha SA2200. Arrives this Friday. Going to bring it to be setup and checked out by a luther here in NYC. I want to setup for a nice Bireli Lagrene style tone. Love a smooth wes montgomery tone. Even Pat Martino tone is nice but would like a little brighter than his.

Looking for reccomendations on strings and details regarding pickup positioning and anything else you reccomend to achieve the above.

Flatwound strings or Round? What size? What to check regarding pickup positions?

[Karlos]

I'm very interested in it too.

[Gitterbug]

I'd start with flatwound .012s. This guitar has pretty hot PU's. For the sounds you're after, you'll use the neck PU only. See what happens when you increase the PU distance to the strings. If there's one gtr I regret selling, this is it.

[sgosnell]

Your best bet is to experiment. The cheapest experiments are with pickup height, that costs nothing and is easily reversible. A small Phillips screwdriver is all the tools you need for that. The pick makes a dramatic difference in tone, so try several of different thicknesses and materials. This isn't free, but pretty cheap. An often overlooked way to change tone, IME, is by twisting knobs. Amp knobs, guitar knobs, knobs on pedals if you use any. Try different strings, of different alloys and thicknesses. This is a little more expensive, but terribly so. No one other than you can say for sure whether flats or rounds will sound better to you, and you're the only one who matters. I don't like flats much, but I'm not you. Start with what comes on the guitar, play with the pickup height and different picks, twist the knobs, and get the best tone you can. Then decide whether different strings are needed. You'll have the change them eventually anyway, but you may be able to get an idea of what you want to try before you buy. It can take years to find the perfect combination of everything, to get the perfect sound for you. Unfortunately, for me, it's a moving target, and changes from time to time, sometimes from day to day. Chasing tone can be a very, very deep rabbit hole.

[Greco]

Your best bet is to experiment. The cheapest experiments are with pickup height, that costs nothing and is easily reversible. A small Phillips screwdriver is all the tools you need for that. The pick makes a dramatic difference in tone, so try several of different thicknesses and materials. This isn't free, but pretty cheap. An often overlooked way to change tone, IME, is by twisting knobs. Amp knobs, guitar knobs, knobs on pedals if you use any. Try different strings, of different alloys and thicknesses. This is a little more expensive, but terribly so. No one other than you can say for sure whether flats or rounds will sound better to you, and you're the only one who matters. I don't like flats much, but I'm not you. Start with what comes on the guitar, play with the pickup height and different picks, twist the knobs, and get the best tone you can. Then decide whether different strings are needed. You'll have the change them eventually anyway, but you may be able to get an idea of what you want to try before you buy. It can take years to find the perfect combination of everything, to get the perfect sound for you. Unfortunately, for me, it's a moving target, and changes from time to time, sometimes from day to day. Chasing tone can be a very, very deep rabbit hole.

Start by following this wisdom. Well written!

[Archie]

HA! I just responded to you post telling you to buy the Yamy.

[Karlos]

All suggestions are right. I also have a sa 2200. The amplifier has an important role in the result! With a poor amp you will never have a good sound. I just bought a DV MARK Jazz 12 and I'm very happy.