Gibson L-5 CES
Full-bodied archtop for a warm, round jazz tone.
Sources
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Gear & Tone AtlasVerified
Wes Montgomery
Indianapolis, United Statesjazz
Octave melodies and thumb-only picking that became a jazz standard.
Photo: Photo first published by Gibson. According to NPR, the photo was ta... / Public domain
Guitarist Profile
Artistry & Style
Signature Techniques
thumb pickingoctave soloingblock chords
Key Takeaway for Players
“A self-imposed restriction can produce a signature sound.”
Origin & Era
Indianapolis, United States
39.77° N, -86.16° W
Gear & Tone Atlas
VerifiedEquipment & Sound
The instruments, pedals, amplifiers, and signal chain that shape the sound of Wes Montgomery.
What defines the sound
Signature Tone
Montgomery picked with the side of his thumb, producing a soft, warm attack with no pick click. He played a full-bodied Gibson L-5 archtop through a clean amplifier with the tone rolled back for a dark, round voice. His octave technique, doubling the melody an octave apart, became one of the most recognisable sounds in jazz guitar.
From guitar to amp
Signal Chain
- guitarConfirmed
Gibson L-5 CES
Full-bodied archtop for a warm, round jazz tone.
- ampConfirmed
Clean valve amplifier
Clean amp with the tone rolled back for warmth.
Instruments
Wes Montgomery Guitars
Confirmed
Amplification
Wes Montgomery Amps
Clean valve amplifier
Clean amp with the tone rolled back for warmth.
Sources
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More gear
Pickups, strings and accessories
Thumb picking technique
Bare thumb gives a soft attack with no pick click.
Sources
SourcesWikipedia
For players
How to Sound Like Wes Montgomery
Key tone ingredients
- a hollow-body archtop
- a clean amp
- thumb picking
- the neck pickup with tone rolled back
Affordable alternatives
- an affordable hollow or semi-hollow
- any clean combo amp
Suggested effect settings
- no effects, fully clean
- a touch of room reverb
Amp settings
- clean headroom
- warm, dark voicing
- no overdrive
Playing technique tips
- practise octave melodies
- use the thumb for a round attack
What to avoid
- bright, edgy tones
- a hard pick attack
Verification
Sources
Every gear claim links to a source. Items marked probable or inspired-by are not fully confirmed.
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