Jazz guitars were conceived in the early 1930s due to the need to use amplification in order to increase the volume of conventional acoustic guitars in a live setting so it can be heard more clearly. Very few instruments have had a greater influence on the evolution of music since the start of the 20th century. The earliest forms of jazz guitars were acoustic but by the 1940s, musicians were playing with either a hollow body acoustic or electric guitars along with a jazz guitar amp.
Probably the most recognisable type of guitars used for this type of music is the archtop. It has a large hollow sound box, magnetic pickups, floating bridge and violin style f shaped sound holes. These guitars are also known as hollow body guitars and have been available to purchase since the 1950s from famous manufacturers.
There are several styles used in this kind of music, such as blowing and comping. Blowing involves improvising over a jazzy chord progression with ornaments and jazzy phrases. Comping involves the use of extended chords underneath a tune's melody or another musicians soloing. Comping often uses walking bass lines. When a guitarist improvises they will make good use of scales, modes and arpeggios within the song's chord progression.
Jazz can be performed on of the world'd most popular guitars but the hollowbody or archtop is the one most associated with jazz. It has the classic "warm", jazzy tone that people recognise instantly. Leading manufacturers, such as Epiphone, Gibson, Stromberg and D'Angelico manufacture hollowbody guitars to very high quality standards and they are also very popular for rock and pop music. The hollow body has a spruce top and maple back. The sides are made of one piece of wood form into an arch giving the instrument its name "archtop."
The beautifully jazzy tone is best produced with a hollowbody archtop, due to its magnetic pickups and hollow body. Although, the desired "warm tone" from these guitars is best combined with a good amplifier that has been designed specifically for this kind of music.
Tube amps are the most popular type of amps but have some limitations. They are very heavy and require more maintenance than solid state amps. They also suffer from noise and cost more. One great alternative are digital modelling modules that can produce any classic tone and can be used on any amplifier. However, purists still prefer the tone of a tube amp.
One of the most popular amps that produce jazzy tones is the superb Roland JC120 Chorus. It was introduced in 1975 and has been used by legendary musicians, such as George Benson, Larry Coryell, Pat Matino and many others. This beautiful amp is the first to have special effects built into it, including delay, reverb and overdrive.
There are several excellent amps produced by Fender. These include: The Fender King, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Fender Blues JR and the very popular Fender Jazzmaster stack with amplifier head. Each one of these amps does a fantastic job of creating a beautiful and jazzy tone, especially when combined with a classic archtop or hollowbody.
Probably the most recognisable type of guitars used for this type of music is the archtop. It has a large hollow sound box, magnetic pickups, floating bridge and violin style f shaped sound holes. These guitars are also known as hollow body guitars and have been available to purchase since the 1950s from famous manufacturers.
There are several styles used in this kind of music, such as blowing and comping. Blowing involves improvising over a jazzy chord progression with ornaments and jazzy phrases. Comping involves the use of extended chords underneath a tune's melody or another musicians soloing. Comping often uses walking bass lines. When a guitarist improvises they will make good use of scales, modes and arpeggios within the song's chord progression.
Jazz can be performed on of the world'd most popular guitars but the hollowbody or archtop is the one most associated with jazz. It has the classic "warm", jazzy tone that people recognise instantly. Leading manufacturers, such as Epiphone, Gibson, Stromberg and D'Angelico manufacture hollowbody guitars to very high quality standards and they are also very popular for rock and pop music. The hollow body has a spruce top and maple back. The sides are made of one piece of wood form into an arch giving the instrument its name "archtop."
The beautifully jazzy tone is best produced with a hollowbody archtop, due to its magnetic pickups and hollow body. Although, the desired "warm tone" from these guitars is best combined with a good amplifier that has been designed specifically for this kind of music.
Tube amps are the most popular type of amps but have some limitations. They are very heavy and require more maintenance than solid state amps. They also suffer from noise and cost more. One great alternative are digital modelling modules that can produce any classic tone and can be used on any amplifier. However, purists still prefer the tone of a tube amp.
One of the most popular amps that produce jazzy tones is the superb Roland JC120 Chorus. It was introduced in 1975 and has been used by legendary musicians, such as George Benson, Larry Coryell, Pat Matino and many others. This beautiful amp is the first to have special effects built into it, including delay, reverb and overdrive.
There are several excellent amps produced by Fender. These include: The Fender King, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Fender Blues JR and the very popular Fender Jazzmaster stack with amplifier head. Each one of these amps does a fantastic job of creating a beautiful and jazzy tone, especially when combined with a classic archtop or hollowbody.
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