Song Rig

Bumpin'

Wes Montgomery · Bumpin' · 1965

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Wes's commercial crossover period — the Verve Records productions added orchestral arrangements around his guitar, making his tone more accessible but reducing the raw jazz trio context of the earlier Riverside recordings. The guitar itself is unchanged but the studio treatment adds strings and smooth production.

Signal Chain

1Gibson L-5CES
2Fender amp (polished Verve studio recording)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume2

Bass6

Mid7

Treble6

Reverb4

Studio polished — the Verve productions add studio reverb and more controlled dynamics than the Riverside recordings. The tone is warmer and smoother, suited to the orchestral context.

Technique

How to Play It

Block chord soloing over orchestral arrangement — the Bumpin' sessions feature Wes's most sophisticated chord solo playing, using four-note chord voicings to improvise melodic statements that also function as complete harmonic accompaniments.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

L-5 or ES-335 → clean amp with room reverb → the block chord soloing technique requires knowing jazz voicings in all positions: practice moving the same chord quality (major 7, dominant 7, minor 7) up the neck in root position and inversions.

Your Gear