John Scofield is an American jazz guitarist who has played numerous instruments in his career. His most iconic instrument is the Fender Telecaster electric guitar, which he has used since the late 1970s. He also plays a few other guitars, including semi-acoustics like the Gibson ES-335 and a range of hollow body archtops from manufacturers such as Gibson and Gretsch.
Contents:
John Scofield’s Love for the Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
John Scofield’s passion for the semi-hollow electric guitar has been evident in his playing career ever since the late 1970s. Over the years, he has become associated with some of the most iconic jazz guitars available on today’s market. Not only does John Scofield possess an impressive range of acoustic and electric guitars, but he is also well-known for favoring semi-hollow body electric instruments.
The artist first found success with a unique style of tone that emerged from combining clean single coil pick ups from Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with effects such as phaser pedals and envelope filters. His trademark sound was further refined when he shifted to Gibson’s ES-175D model which offered a slightly warmer tonal palette than its Fender counterparts. He eventually began experimenting with various pickup configurations, before settling on a blend of vintage P90’s in combination with humbucker pickups. This mix gave him access to a wide range of tones which allowed him to explore different genres while still maintaining his distinctively bluesy character.
More recently, John Scofield has developed an affinity towards Godin Guitars’ offerings. The company produces several affordable yet high quality models that provide great playability and versatility across multiple musical styles including rock, blues, funk, country and pop music. With its semi-hollow construction and dual humbuckers coupled with bridge humbucking pickups, the instrument creates rich sounds reminiscent of classic 60s era Jazz fusion records; making it an ideal choice for musicians who want to add their own personal touch to their live performances or studio recordings alike.
The Ibanez AS200 and Its Impact on Scofield’s Sound
John Scofield is one of the most influential jazz guitarists in modern music. His innovative sound has inspired countless musicians and his unique style is easily recognizable to any listener. He achieved this sound, in part, by using the Ibanez AS200 – a semi-hollow body electric guitar which he began using in the mid 1980s and continues to use today.
The Ibanez AS200 was perfect for Scofield’s playing because it offered the tonal warmth of an acoustic instrument with greater sustain than a solid-body electric guitar could provide. Its natural voice was also capable of delivering subtle distortion when combined with an overdriven amplifier, allowing for a range of tones from clean arpeggios to heavily distorted riffs that could fill up entire venues. The bridge humbucker pickup provided ample power to further shape Scofield’s signature sound while its shorter 24 ¾” scale length made it easier for him to navigate complex chord progressions quickly and accurately on stage or studio settings.
Scofield took full advantage of all these features and more during his career, cementing the Ibanez AS200 as an essential tool for jazz guitarists looking for a powerful yet versatile instrument. His recordings have since become cornerstones of contemporary jazz music and his live performances continue to be enjoyed by new generations around the world – all thanks in large part due to his iconic axe, the legendary Ibanez AS200.
From Vintage to Custom: Scofield’s Collection of Guitars
John Scofield is a renowned jazz and blues guitarist, with an expansive career spanning over four decades. With such an impressive discography and numerous live shows performed all around the world, Scofield’s signature sound has to be attributed to his versatile collection of guitars. From vintage models to custom-made instruments created specifically for him, it seems there’s no style of guitar that Scofield isn’t familiar with.
The jazz artist’s primary axe of choice is the iconic Gibson ES-175 hollow body electric guitar. He first obtained one in 1977 as a present from fellow musician Peter Erskine and ever since then they have been inseparable partners on stage. Throughout his long career he had several versions of this legendary instrument made specially for him, which feature custom pickups, hardware and electronics. The most recognisable one among them is a left-handed black version that he uses exclusively in studio recordings nowadays.
Apart from the Gibson ES-175s that made history in the jazz scene through Scofield’s hands, he also owns two Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars: one semi-hollow model crafted especially for him by PRS’ founder Paul Reed Smith himself back in 1995; plus a solid body axe customized with special controls placed on its top horn -uniquely designed to improve ergonomics when playing seated down-. It seems like John Scofield always likes to keep up with modern trends without compromising his jazzy sound.
Collaborations with Manufacturers: Scofield Signature Models
John Scofield has been playing the guitar since his early teens, and over the years he has developed a sound that is unmistakably his own. His unique tone, masterful improvisation, and sophisticated compositions have brought him global acclaim. As his reputation as one of jazz’s leading musicians grows, John Scofield has become more than just an artist; he is also a sought-after collaborator.
Since 2008 John Scofield has joined forces with several instrument manufacturers to create signature models of guitars tailored to reflect the specific needs of his style. Through these collaborations he has made it possible for other players to achieve similar tonal textures and characteristics in their playing. With Ibanez and Fender both offering signature models designed with input from Scofield himself, aspiring jazz aficionados now have access to top-of-the-line instruments crafted with exacting detail by some of the world’s leading luthiers.
Ibanez was among the first companies to collaborate with John Scofield on a signature model guitar when they released the JSM100 in 2008. The hollow body features Seymour Duncan pickups specially wound for extra bite and warmth and works especially well when recording or performing live through a PA system or acoustic amplifier setup due its semi-acoustic design. For those looking for increased portability without sacrificing quality there is also a scaled down version available: the JS Mini Signature model – often referred to as ‘The Little Monster’ – provides all of John’s favourite features in a much smaller package that can be easily transported around town or across countries alike.
Other Essential Gear in John Scofield’s Rig
John Scofield is a highly respected jazz guitarist known for his work with Miles Davis, Medeski Martin and Wood, and countless others. Despite being primarily associated with the Fender Jazzmaster guitar, Scofield uses several other pieces of gear in order to achieve his unique tone. From pedals to amplifiers and pickups, he has been refining his rig over decades.
When it comes to amplification, John Scofield prefers the warm sounds of vintage tube amps. He used a Fender Twin Reverb on many classic recordings in addition to using combos from boutique makers like Victoria and Bad Cat. On more recent albums such as “Uberjam”, he has incorporated a wide range of digital amp models into his sound by way of modelling processors such as the Line 6 Pod XT Pro. In terms of effects, Scofield favours an eclectic selection including delay units from Electro Harmonix and Boss, wah-wahs from Dunlop Cry Baby and fuzz boxes from ZVEX. All these components combine together to create a truly distinct soundscape that can be heard on albums such as “This Meets That” or live performances around the world.
Scofield also puts great emphasis on his choice of pickup configurations when creating different tones for each song. For instance he will often switch between single coils or humbuckers depending on what sound he wants to create at any given moment during performance. He likes combining different brands too; such as pairing Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck pickups with DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Blues in order to get just the right combination of crunchiness and clarity in every note played. Through careful experimentation over time with both passive and active pickups, John Scofield has crafted an impressive arsenal of tones available at his fingertips anytime he plays live or enters the studio to record new music.
Leave a Reply