John Abercrombie

On three tunes, “Clint,” “Hippityville,” and “Killing Time,” he utilizes Roland’s GR-700 synth module and Ibanez’ IMG2010 controller, creating vivid, high-tech sonic landscapes, while with “Alice in Wonderland” and “Still,” he acknowledges tradition by featuring conventional electric and acoustic instruments.

"At home and on record, I use an old Polytone Mini-Brute and a Roland JC-77. Live, I usually request a Roland and a Mesa/Boogie." (Originally published July 2007)

"I use a Boss SE-50 for delay, reverb, and chorus, and I split the signal into two amps…" (Originally published July 2007)

John Abercrombie speaks about this gear in the article.

"…a key to my sound is a Boss GE-7 Graphic EQ that I use as a pre-amp. I set the volume on my amps low, and the volume on the EQ high, so I still get a lot of level out of the amps, but with less noise…" (Originally published July 2007)

For Ray’s session, I brought my old Polytone and split it with a Roland JC-77. I also use a JC-120 sometimes as well. Those are my two amps of choice when I record. In the past I’ve had different setups, but this is the rig I’ve been using for a long time.

When I play with a group, I always go stereo, but in a duo or at home I just use a Roland Cube 60. I also have a Walter Woods power amp, which is really nice. When I want to go stereo at home, I use the Walter Woods with an Electro-Voice speaker cabinet and my Cube 60. I also have a T.C. Electronic chorus.

Sometimes I take my Ovation Legend acoustic, and if I don't use it on the gig, at least I can use it to practice in the hotel room. Then there's my rack, which holds a Rane six channel mixer, a Lexicon PCM-60 reverb, and a little Ibanez delay. So for someone who's supposed to be a jazz player, I'm traveling around with quite a bit of stuff.

This article mentions and shows this Sadowsky guitar.

In this video John plays this gear.

From Abercrombie: "I've been using this distortion pedal for the last few years that's made in California by a company called Fulltone. They make a pedal called the Full-Drive, which is basically an overdrive pedal that's got a couple of stages of distortion you can use. I find it's one of the more natural-sounding ones; I just like the sound."

From Abercrombie: "I try to get the same kind of amps. I usually go for these Roland JC-120s, mostly because I've gotten used to them so I know what they do. They basically have volume, bass, treble, middle, and that's it. It's very easy; I don't have to think about them or need a diagram to figure out how to program them. It's a basic guitar amp.

I also like a MESA/Boogie amp called the Mark III. Again, it's a very simple, straightforward amp. I play in stereo, so I usually like to use one of each kind if I can, because I find that using different amps sometimes creates this interesting sound, and I prefer that to using two amps at the same time that are the same. If one is different, you really get a sense that you're playing in stereo. You can really feel it more."

From Abercrombie Guitar Player 1986 interview: "However, his most recent album, Current Events, disproves that perception once and for all. Joining forces with two of the most solid musicians in modern jazz - drummer Peter Erskin (Formerly with Weather Report and Steps Ahead) and bassist Marc Johnson (formerly with pianist Bill Evans) - he has forged a new sound that brings together strong composition, a high level of group cohesiveness, and adventurous improvisation. On three tunes, “Clint,” “Hippityville,” and “Killing Time,” he utilizes Roland’s GR-700 synth module and Ibanez’ IMG2010 controller, creating vivid, high-tech sonic landscapes, while with “Alice in Wonderland” and “Still,” he acknowledges tradition by featuring conventional electric and acoustic instruments."

John Abercrombie is associated with the McCurdy The Albion semi-hollowbody electric guitar, as detailed on the McCurdy Guitars website.

John Abercrombie is noted for using the JAM Pedals Tube Dreamer 72 Vintage Overdrive, as confirmed by JAM Pedals on their website.

In this article the artist mentions this guitar.

John Abercrombie is seen playing his Vox Virage II SC 2009 - Red in a Reverb ad.

John Abercrombie used a VOX Virage II Butterfly SC Ash Blonde, as evidenced by a Reverb ad showing the prototype VOX Virage II Butterfly SC Sunburst, which also appears at an auction on Bonham Skinner Inc. Auction: Musical Instruments - 3490T Location: Marlborough Date / Time: November 09, 2020 12:00PM