Song Rig

Blue Kind

Mike Stern · Standards (and Other Songs) · 1992

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Stern applying his Marshall-Telecaster setup to jazz standards — Blue Kind demonstrates that his rock-influenced guitar tone works on standard jazz material as well as fusion originals. The Tele and Marshall combination on a slow blues standard sounds simultaneously orthodox (blues content) and radical (rock setup).

Signal Chain

1Fender Telecaster
2Marshall JCM800 (at moderate settings for the ballad)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume6

Bass5

Mid7

Treble7

Presence7

Moderate gain for the ballad context — Blue Kind uses a slower, more melodic approach than the uptempo fusion tracks. Lower gain settings allow the Telecaster's natural voice to come through more clearly.

Technique

How to Play It

Jazz standard improvisation on a rock rig — the intellectual challenge of Blue Kind is applying conventional jazz scale vocabulary (chord tones, guide tones, bebop scales) through a setup that encourages rock playing. The tone tempts rock phrasing; Stern deliberately resists.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Telecaster → Marshall at moderate gain → choose a standard (Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are) → improvise using only jazz vocabulary (no pentatonic shortcuts) through the rock rig. The discipline is the technique.

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