Wes technique on a les paul?

[beetlejockey]

Is it worth trying to learn Wes' picking style on a les paul guitar? I'm really into his sound especially on up tempo tunes, but is his technique worth trying to imitate if you are on a solid body guitar? Will the technique be harder than it is to learn on a fully fledged 'jazz guitar'?
As a side note, if anyone has any recommendations for guides/videos on Wes' thumb picking techniques please share them here! I would love to know more about how i can incorporate his sound into my own playing. Cheers

[SOLR]

Is it worth trying to learn Wes' picking style on a les paul guitar? I'm really into his sound especially on up tempo tunes, but is his technique worth trying to imitate if you are on a solid body guitar? Will the technique be harder than it is to learn on a fully fledged 'jazz guitar'?
As a side note, if anyone has any recommendations for guides/videos on Wes' thumb picking techniques please share them here! I would love to know more about how i can incorporate his sound into my own playing. Cheers

Just learn it (in fact learn everything you can) we never have too much knowledge.......the guitar is just a tool.

S

[AllanAllen]

The type of guitar doesn’t matter.

[Peter C]

LPs are uncomfortable for sitting-down playing IME. Apart from that, they sound great on the neck pup for classic jazz tones; some nice, fattish flatwounds wouldn't hurt for Wes style, either. That's without going into his inimitable thumb picking technique. Rich knows a bit:

[JazzPadd]

I sit mostly while playing these days, switched to mostly thumb technique earlier this year on a nylon string guitar that happens to be shaped like a Les Paul. A strap is necessary for sure. And after getting a little more adept I use it on a Tele and an archtop.

Not seeking to fully emulate Wes because I also use my fingers on occasion, and I don’t anchor like Wes did. It’s more comfortable and my playing has improved noticeably, maybe cause I feel more in touch with the strings.

Give it a whirl and have fun!

[paulkogut]

John Abercrombie's thumb technique is somewhat different from Wes, but perhaps worth checking out.

He saw Wes a number of times, and maintained that the thumb technique was essential all downstrokes, beyond the occasional triplet flourish. To adapt it to playing solidbodies, he advocated a light touch and a boost pedal to make up for the volume of the pick.

Here he is on a Les Paul style guitar

Best wishes for everyone's music!

PK

[SOLR]

she did it quite well

and not on a particularly specified "jazz guitar".


And Robert Lowe was probably the best I'v heard, (Pat Martino speed using a thumb) he uses a different stroking technique ,and notice the guitar is not resting on his lap, more on the hip:

George Benson also uses the technique on a GB 10 slightly larger than a LP.



S

[geese_com]

[supersoul]

John Abercrombie's thumb technique is somewhat different from Wes, but perhaps worth checking out.

at 1:24 he does a downward sweep with his thumb!
I honestly never knew he used his thumb, even though I've listened to him for years.

[paulkogut]

John switched to the thumb in the early-mid 90's, it's interesting to compare how he played before and after


PK

[jazzyfan]

And Robert Lowe was probably the best I'v heard, (Pat Martino speed using a thumb) he uses a different stroking technique ,and notice the guitar is not resting on his lap, more on the hip:

Yikes, that's incredible. I've never seen a guy do that so well before.

[Bosko]

Wes sounds good on a classical acoustic.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Great example, SOLR! Robert Lowe was an adventurous player who did it his own way. Here's a short recording of his playing a solo ballad (Who Can I Turn To?) on his Super 400. Even though it's not in use on this clip, that Roland synth pickup on the king of archtops says it all. He wasn't concerned about appearances, opinions, or conventions as he took jazz guitar for a joy ride:

Here's a clip with more of his fabulous straight ahead jazz playing recorded at the 2006 NAMM show:

Here he's exploring what was new territory back then with the same 400. The Roland pickup isn't mounted in the picture, but it sounds like he used it in these -

And there's no reason not to use any technique on any guitar. Tuck Andress pops, snaps, taps and rocks an old L5 and Ed Bickert made a ratty Tele sound like a high end archtop. It ain't what you play, it's how you play it