Song Rig
Breezin'
George Benson · Breezin' · 1976
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The best-selling jazz album of 1976 and a defining document of smooth jazz — Benson's warm, creamy Ibanez GB10 through a clean studio amp produces a tone that splits the difference between bebop jazz guitar and commercial soul music. The pickup placement and guitar body combine for a round, fat midrange with controlled high end.
Signal Chain
- 1Ibanez George Benson GB10 (his signature model, floating L5-style pickup)
- 2Clean studio amp (minimal coloration)
- 3Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger (subtle)
Amp Settings
Warm and mid-heavy — the GB10's tone is inherently smooth, and the amp EQ emphasises the midrange warmth that makes every note sound immediately pleasing. No treble harshness, no bass boom.
Technique
How to Play It
Benson's guitar-and-voice unison scatting — on the live version, Benson sings the melody an octave above (or below) while playing it on guitar, creating a sonic unison between human voice and string. This doubles the emotional impact of each phrase.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Ibanez GB10 or ES-175 → clean amp → the guitar-vocal unison technique requires learning to sing and play the same melody simultaneously — start at slow tempos, learn the guitar part, learn the vocal part, then combine them gradually.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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