How to Get a Good Jazz Guitar Tone

Last Updated: January 4, 2022 Approved

There are some jazz purists who say the only good jazz sound is a hollow-bodied arch top, either unamplified or through a time-tested amp brand like Polytone or a Fender Twin. You can coax a good jazz sound out of any amp, if you're ready to fiddle with it.

Steps

1
Turn off your effects, set all your EQ knobs to the middle, and set your amp to a clean channel (if you have one). Jazz guitar tone is usually very simple and clean, and though some guys like John Scofield might play with distorted tones, most jazz groups will want a sound that blends into the mix better. You aren't playing a lead role like you might in a rock band, so get ready to back down your master volume too.
2
Set your guitar's controls. The volume and tone controls on your guitar are there for a reason, and it's not to be rolled all the way up all the time. Set your guitar volume around seven or eight (if you don't have marked knobs, just estimate) and set the tone around halfway. You'll be adjusting as you go but this is a good way to hear the basic sound of your guitar and amp.

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3
Play your guitar a bit and listen. Play some lead lines and strum some chords. Is your tone too bright? Too distorted? Figure out what you want in a guitar tone and what you don't like about your current sound.
4
If you're too dirty, turn down the gain and low/bass frequencies. If your amp has a lot of headroom, then you can get away with a higher gain setting, but if your amp distorts quickly, then you'll need to turn that down. Depending on your speaker size, lower notes can make your speaker distort too.
5
If you sound too bright, roll down your guitar's tone and your amps high/treble frequencies. Don't go too low, or you will be inaudible during solos, but try out different settings and see what works. Consider playing with your fingers if you're a fan of Wes Montgomery's tone.
6
If it sounds dull or weak, try adding a hint of reverb at the amp or with a pedal. You don't want to sound like a rockabilly player, but a bit of reverb can give you a fuller tone and make you sound better in an acoustically dead room.

Community Q&A

Question

Would a telecaster or stratocaster guitar be better for jazz music?

Community Answer

Teles can play jazz, of course, but their "twang" sound probably fits better with blues and rock. You can get a great jazzy tone by using the neck pickup only (the highest one) on a strat. This will give you a more bassy, meaty, warm tone.

Warnings

Don't take this guide as a perfect instruction book. There are many, many guitars and amps, each with a different sound. When all else fails, use your ears as the final authority.

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Stay away from Monster Cables. They're overpriced and no better than a no-name lead for tone quality.

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Though you can get a jazz sound out of any guitar, some will work better than others. There are some guitars and amps that are designed to get a searing distorted lead sound and you'll probably be better off switching gear than trying to make it sound like something it isn't.

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