Joe Pass tone yet again- with his D'Aquisto

**Cunamara** · 11-18-2023, 02:01 PM

So, I have stated several times that I thought Joe sounded fantastic/best on his last Gibson guitar, particularly the Jazz Baltica 1992 video and his Musicians Institute video "An Evening with Joe Pass." I have not infrequently blamed his Ibanez for years of subpar tone; I think I have an exception to that too. Anyway, here is Joe and NHOP with Joe playing his Jimmy D'Aquisto guitar and sounding absolutely fantastic:

And with NHOP on the Ibanez and sounding pretty good, too, through a Polytone amp. Not as good as the D'Aquisto or the Gibson (or his ES-175) but better than many of his videos featuring the Ibanez. I wonder if the sounds I don't care for with the Ibanez were the results of going direct to FOH rather than through an amp to provide some warmth, fatness and EQ.

And with NHOP and the Gibson in 1992:

**Jazz4Four** · 12-17-2023, 08:04 PM

Though I would listen to Joe regardless of his tone, I'm inclined to agree with you here—it took about 3 notes! My guess is that Joe thought his Ibanez tone was "good enough"...

**thelostboss** · 12-18-2023, 04:20 AM

[QUOTE=Cunamara;1298889]<<SNIP>>
And with NHOP on the Ibanez and sounding pretty good, too, through a Polytone amp. Not as good as the D'Aquisto or the Gibson (or his ES-175) but better than many of his videos featuring the Ibanez. I wonder if the sounds I don't care for with the Ibanez were the results of going direct to FOH rather than through an amp to provide some warmth, fatness and EQ.

<<SNIP>>/QUOTE]

Well we are often criticized for "listening with our eyes" and the loafers with white socks might contribute to that!

**lawson-stone** · 12-18-2023, 11:25 AM

In the first clip it's the shirt. Seriously, the shirt.

**John A.** · 12-18-2023, 11:31 AM

I think the middle setting on my Strat sounds great. Just like JP's Ibanez.

**mr. beaumont** · 12-18-2023, 12:14 PM

As someone who has definitely commented in the past that there are several recorded album tones Joe used that I didn't care for, I don't think I've ever seen a live clip where I didn't like his sound. All three of these sound great to me.

**GuyBoden** · 06-08-2026, 07:25 AM

Joe Pass on this recording sounds very acoustic.

**grahambop** · 06-08-2026, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by GuyBoden

Joe Pass on this recording sounds very acoustic.

Interesting, never heard that track before. I looked it up and it comes from a 1962 Gerald Wilson album:

Moment of Truth (Gerald Wilson album) - Wikipedia

**spencer096** · 06-08-2026, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

As someone who has definitely commented in the past that there are several recorded album tones Joe used that I didn't care for, I don't think I've ever seen a live clip where I didn't like his sound. All three of these sound great to me.

agreed, with a few random Ibanez era exceptions…my favorite all time tone of his is from a live album.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-08-2026, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by GuyBoden

Joe Pass on this recording sounds very acoustic.

That is just lovely.

I really liked when Joe picked up the nylon string.

**rpjazzguitar** · 06-08-2026, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

As someone who has definitely commented in the past that there are several recorded album tones Joe used that I didn't care for, I don't think I've ever seen a live clip where I didn't like his sound. All three of these sound great to me.

Joe Pass did an album with a Brazilian rhythm section called Tudo Bem!. It's my favorite of his albums. But, that's despite the tone, not because of it. The Oleo clip in this thread, in contrast, sounds fantastic.

**StormyMonday** · 06-08-2026, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

In the first clip it's the shirt. Seriously, the shirt.

I want that shirt.

**Cunamara** · 06-09-2026, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

Joe Pass did an album with a Brazilian rhythm section called Tudo Bem!. It's my favorite of his albums. But, that's despite the tone, not because of it. The Oleo clip in this thread, in contrast, sounds fantastic.

I think that was the first Joe Pass album I ever purchased. If I remember correctly, he is pictured on the cover with the D'Aquisto*. I remember being somewhat baffled by the album at the time, having a little trouble latching my ears onto what was going on. As my ability to listen developed, later on I appreciated that album more. I had the same experience with my first Tal Farlow album; I could not make heads or tails out of what he was playing for probably a couple of years. Listening to jazz requires some education.

* That, of course, doesn't mean that it was the instrument used on the recording; there are many examples of guitarists on album covers with different instruments than what was used during the recording (the Jim Hall Live! album being one of them- photos from the gigs show him playing his ES-175, although that was right in the era where he was switching from one instrument to the other).

**daveg** · 06-10-2026, 06:16 AM

DG

**lawson-stone** · 06-10-2026, 09:23 AM

I think it's ironic that most players' studio recordings sound great, but live they are poor; but I agree with others here that most of Joe's live recordings seem to have great tone and some of the studio work is less stellar.

I still consider his all-time best tone for solo guitar playing to be the "Blues for Fred" album. It just sings and sparkles.