Kenny Burrell’s guitar tone is
characterized by its warmth, clarity, and mellow character, which is
often associated with the classic jazz guitar style. By adjusting the
settings and effects in GarageBand, we can closely replicate his
sound.
1. Amp Settings
- Amp Model: Choose the “Jazz Combo” (“Clean Combo”
amp) in GarageBand.
- Gain: Low (around 1–2) to keep the tone clean.
- Bass: High (7–8) for warmth.
- Mid: Medium-high (6–7) for body.
- Treble: Moderate (4–5) to avoid harshness.
- Presence: Low to moderate (2–4) for a rounded
tone.
- Reverb: Add a small amount of reverb for space (try
Plate or Hall reverb types).
2. EQ Settings
- Boost the low-mid frequencies around 200–400 Hz for
warmth.
- Slightly boost around 3 kHz to give clarity and
articulation.
- Roll off the high frequencies above 8 kHz to keep
the sound smooth.
- Cut muddy frequencies around 100–150 Hz if
necessary.
3. Compression
- Add light compression to even out dynamics and add sustain.
- Threshold: Moderate (-20 dB to -30 dB).
- Ratio: 3:1 or 4:1.
- Attack: Slow to medium for a natural sound.
- Release: Medium.
4. Effects
- Reverb: Use a subtle Plate or Hall reverb
with:
- Mix: 10–20%.
- Decay: Short to medium.
- Chorus (Optional): Add a light chorus effect for
extra thickness, but keep it subtle.
5. Pickup Selection
- Select the neck pickup for a warmer, rounder
sound.
- Roll the tone knob back slightly to mellow out the treble.
Saving the Preset
- Once you’ve adjusted the amp, EQ, compression, and effects, click on
the settings icon in the Smart Controls panel.
- Select Save as Preset and name it something like
“Kenny Burrell Tone.”