Wes Montgomery gear
Quadreverb
I just got another cool Wes Montgomery CD last night. What stuff did he
use? I think he played a Gibson Super 400 CES or an L-5 CES. What amps,
though?
Andy
Brian Rost
He was a Fender endorser, although that doesn't prove he used them 8^)
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Brian Rost
3Com Corp.
508-264-1550
br...@synnet.com
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Monkey Island: a dance band for the new millenium
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Fulltone
Wes used Super Reverbs and Vibroverbs( even showing up in mid '60's Fender
ads)...but when touring would resort to solid state amps, I can't think of
the names of these ones.
Tom Jaffe
Quadreverb wrote:
>
> I just got another cool Wes Montgomery CD last night. What stuff did he
> use? I think he played a Gibson Super 400 CES or an L-5 CES. What amps,
> though?
>
> Andy
Guitar-wise, Wes (my ultimate guitar hero!) used an L-5CES strung with
heavy flatwound strings (.14-.58). Also, his guitars had metal tunamatic bridge
saddles which is an important factor in his sound. The metal cuts through better
than wood for extra "bite". Check out the Gibson Wes L-5 model
with one Humbucker (this is like the custom L-5 that Wes used at the end of
his career). I own one and it is great. His greatest piece of equipment
was his thumb, which he used insted of a pick.
Mike41077
His solid-state amp was a Standel "Classic". I think he also used a
Deluxe Reverb on some recordings.
Bill Hatcher
Tom Jaffe wrote:
> Guitar-wise, Wes (my ultimate guitar hero!) used an L-5CES strung with
> heavy flatwound strings (.14-.58). Also, his guitars had metal tunamatic bridge
> saddles which is an important factor in his sound. The metal cuts through better
> than wood for extra "bite". Check out the Gibson Wes L-5 model
> with one Humbucker (this is like the custom L-5 that Wes used at the end of
> his career). I own one and it is great. His greatest piece of equipment
> was his thumb, which he used insted of a pick.
My favorite too! I had the pleasure of refretting the L-5 that Wes
used on the Movin' Wes record. Sharp pointed cutaway, 2 humbuckers,
early 60s vintage. Wes gave the guitar to Jerry Byrd who lives here
in Atlanta and Jerry just traded this guitar to George Bensen for what
I consider to be a inferior 70s L5.
Funny story, Jerry was playing a 175 and Wes was always kidding him
and asking when he was going to get a REAL jazz guitar. Anyway Wes
told him that when Gibson gave him some instruments that he would give
Jerry his old L5. So one night Wes comes in with a new L5 and Jerry
ask him if he is going to give him the old L5 and Wes says yes and
gives him the guitar but does not want to give him the case!!!!!
Having that guitar was kind of cool. You could see all the places
where his nails on his right hand wore the finish off below the pick
guard. I recently saw a video of him playing and saw the way he
picked with the right hand. His fingers actually would anchor below
the guard and when he would play with the thumb the fingers would drag
on the top. This guitar had a Johnny Smith Ebony bridge installed at
some point. Bill
Bill Hatcher
The early Wes records were recorded in New York. Wes arranged to
borrow a guitar and amp from Kenny Burrell so he would not have to
take his on the plane. It was an L7 with a Charlie Christian PU.
Wes was a Fender endorser, but was never really satisfied with the
sound of ANY of the amps that he used. Always was trying to get a more
"acoustic" sound.
The last amps he used were some kind of Standell Artist solid state
amps. So much for having to have a tube amp to get a good tone!!!
Quadreverb
Tom Jaffe wrote:
Wow! That's a great story. I recently got the Verve sides CD with 2 CD's,
and it's great. I'm not much into the big band thing, though. Did Wes do a
lot of stuff with 3 or 4 man bands? That's the stuff I really like. Kenny
Burrell did a lot of that. So did John Coltrane. I'm a fledgling Jazz fan,
so any reccomendations would be appreciated.
I also read somewhere that Wes used Super Reverbs and solid state amps. A
lot of Jazz guys really make some amazing sounds with solid state gear.
But I heard a gig Kenny Burrell did on Jazz Central with his Gibson
whatever and two Twin Reverbs, that was the best Jazz sound I have yet
heard. Kenny's technique and phrasing is so fine...
Andy
M. P. Gilbert
Andy
Have you heard Smokin' at the Half Note on Verve - the best Wes small
group, with Wynton Kelly on piano? Check the track No blues...
Mark Gilbert
stuff In article <19970418135...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
quadr...@aol.com (Quadreverb) wrote:
--
Mark Gilbert