Stratocaster for Jazz playing?

[RudyH]

I'm playing my Strat lately and am starting to play some Wes Montgomery. Along with changing my manual technique, I think a string change might help get a better jazz sound from the Strat.

 

Will nickel or very light flat wound strings change the tone of the Strat appreciably to make it sound jazzier?

[the_HEWC]

I recently tried light (d'addario .010) roundwound strings on my les paul, it gave it a smooth, jazzy sound. Although a les paul and a strat are two diffrent kinds of monsters the p90's on my les paul do have some strat-like qualities. I really like the clean midrange- to bassy-sound the strings gave me, but since I play mostly lead guitar in our band I had to change the set since these strings didn't cut through the mix of our sound.

 

So I'm guessing changing strings on your strat would give it a more jazzy sound.

 

hope I could be of somewhat help

[Space Pup]

I've always liked D'addario 1/2 wounds, .12 gauge for Jazz. Those are on an SG too, not a strat.

[djroge1]

Simi-flat strings will help, but IMHO how you set up your amp will bring the biggest change towards a jazz sound. Most traditional jazz guitarist have little or no treble in their amp settings.

[RichCI]

It's tough to get a convincing jazz tone out of a Strat. I would start by turning down the tone control for the neck pickup.

[RudyH]

Thanks. I did notice that the sound is jazzier when I turn the treble down.

 

I appreciate it.