Jean-Luc Ponty

Then in 2016, I heard an album by Martha Mooke and was impressed by the quality of the effects used. This is how I discovered the H9, which is now my main effect unit both on touring and in the studio. I use the H9 not only for its superior quality of basic effects like reverb, chorus etc. but also for numerous other types of effects. I particularly love ModEchoVerb and Blackhole from SPACE. It's also so easy to create your custom effect with the H9 Control app. ModEchoVerb has inspired me to improvise a violin solo in my live performances, with the same excitement as when I discovered the first effects in the 70s!

Then soon after came the MXR phase shifters, first the small footswitch which I used on tour and on my next albums Aurora, Imaginary Voyage and Enigmatic Ocean.

During Jean-Luc Ponty’s takeover of the Eventide Effects blog, he discusses his early effects use, including the Maestro PS-1A.

The first effect I got was a Maestro phase shifter, with 3 different speeds, switching speeds gave a similar effect to what the Hammond organ did with the Leslie, either speeding up or slowing down the vibrato effect while playing.

In his takeover of the Eventide Effects blog, Jean-Luc briefly discusses his use of the Mu-tron Bi-Phase:

Then in 1978 I got the Mutron Bi-Phase which was quite sophisticated with various controls over different effects such as phasing, flanging, and swept harmonics.

PREAMPS

JLP is using "PZ-Pre" preamp/D.I. by Radial Engineering Ltd. and also "Venue" by L.R.BAGGS.

When I was in Los Angeles in the late 60s, Barcus-Berry gave me their first electro-acoustic violin, which gave the volume needed to play with a loud electric band and with a very low risk of feedback, but I was not so happy with the straight electric sound. So when the first small size sound effect devices came out in the early 70s I got excited because I could then transform my violin sound into something else, making it sort of a new instrument, a total departure from the traditional sound, more adapted to modern styles of music, jazz, rock etc.

VIOLINS

ZETA is active again, the "Jean Luc Ponty Signature" model is now available as well as Jazz Fusion models and more. Jean-Luc has played his new model on his recent tour with the Anderson Ponty Band and finds it better than the old one. The new website is www.zetaviolins.com

PREAMPS

JLP is using "PZ-Pre" preamp/D.I. by Radial Engineering Ltd. and also "Venue" by L.R.BAGGS.

STRINGS

JLP's violins are equipped with Helicore medium tension strings by D'Addario.