Wes Montgomery
Role
Role
Wes Montgomery's Gear
According to Jazzguitar.be, Wes Montgomery never really found the amp that sounded the way he wanted it to. In his later years Wes Montgomery played this Standel amp : the Super Custom XV has 2 channels, a normal one and a reverb/vibrato one. The amplifier has 70 watts RMS and a JBL speaker.
On this 1965 show, you can see the panel of his amp including the Sandel logo on the left side and the right number of pots : 3 on the left and 2 on the right. Since the video is more than a hour long, go directly at 39:40. Moreover, on the official website of Standel, a short page is dedicated to Wes : http://www.standelamps.com/about_us/story/story_p10.html
from Music Radar:
"Contrary to popular belief, he was constantly looking for ways to brighten the sound. His strings were, in the words of Russell Malone, "cables!" - 0.014 to 0.058. His choice of amp fluctuated between Fender Super Reverbs and Twins, before he switched to a Standel Super Custom in the mid 60s."
Here, Wes is seen holding a 175. It is distinctive for its fret inlays and the Florentine cut of the guitar. He can also be seen holding it on the cover of his album "Movin' Wes"
Wes Montgomery played a Gibson L-7 on the recordings of The Wes Montgomery Trio (1959).
from Music Radar:
"Contrary to popular belief, he was constantly looking for ways to brighten the sound. His strings were, in the words of Russell Malone, "cables!" - 0.014 to 0.058. His choice of amp fluctuated between Fender Super Reverbs and Twins, before he switched to a Standel Super Custom in the mid 60s."
There is a photo of Wes during a recording session in which an Ampeg Gemini mic'd up.
Throughout this video, Wes Montgomery plays a Gibson L-5 CES. This article from Jazz Guitar says "During his entire career Wes Montgomery played almost exclusively on a Gibson L-5 (cutaway electric spanish) from 1963. He wasn't really interested in equipment. In his own words: 'I got a standard box. I don’t never want nothing special. Then if I drop my box, I can borrow somebody else’s." This article from Gibson confirms Wes' use of the L-5.
Producer Steve Hoffman has stated his use of the LA-2A for Montgomery.
My Teletronix LA-2A, ganged for stereo or mono reproduction via the handy toggle switch in the center of the two units. (...) I've used it on countless projects, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Beach Boys, Doors, Eagles, Ringo, McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee, Jethro Tull, Chuck Berry, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Van Morrison, White Stripes, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ella Fitzgerald, Yes, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Steely Dan, Steppenwolf, Bad Company, Jim Croce, Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Dave Mason, Paul Simon, America, The Band, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Cars, ZZ Top, James Taylor, Art Pepper, Steve Miller Band, Queen, Rod Stewart, Duke Ellington, John Lee Hooker, Al Jolson, Roy Orbison, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Who, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bill Haley & his Comets, Miles Davis, Mamas and Papas, Blue Öyster Cult, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Bill Evans Trio, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Phil Collins, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Jeff Beck, Doobie Bros., Faces, Grand Funk, Heart, Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt, Ten Years After, Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Pat Benetar, Elton John, Leon Russell, Metallica. etc.
Used in Gibson's signature guitar for Wes Montgomery.
In the YouTube video titled "Wes Montgomery, TV show in Brussels, Belgium, April 4th, 1965 (colorized)" by ebjazz93, Wes Montgomery is clearly seen playing a Gibson Sunburst L5-CES with a Venetian cutaway.
This is a community-built gear list for Wes Montgomery.
- Find relevant music gear like Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Pedals, and other instruments and add it to Wes Montgomery.
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Added to Equipboard on by
michaelGear IQ 42252
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Updated
Discography
Montgomeryland
1960
The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery (Remastered 2025)
1960
So Much Guitar!
1961
Movin' Wes
1964
The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings (Live)
1965
Bumpin' (Expanded Edition)
1965
Smokin' At The Half Note (Expanded Edition)
1965
Goin' Out Of My Head
1965
California Dreaming
1966
The Dynamic Duo
1966
Jimmy And Wes (The Dynamic Duo)
1966
Tequila (Expanded Edition)
1966