Song Rig
On Broadway
George Benson · Weekend in L.A. · 1977
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Soulful and processed — the live version adds a smooth, slightly chorused quality to Benson's ES-175 or L-5 tone. His vocal-unison technique (humming while playing) is what defines this performance more than any gear.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson ES-175 or L-5CES (neck pickup)
- 2Polytone Mini-Brute or Roland Jazz Chorus
- 3Shure SM58 mic for simultaneous vocal hum
Amp Settings
Clean with moderate reverb — the slightly scooped midrange lets his vocal hum sit alongside the guitar tone in the same frequency band without fighting it.
Technique
How to Play It
Simultaneous humming in unison with picked single-note lines — Benson pitches his voice to match every note, creating a natural doubling effect.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any hollowbody or archtop → Roland JC-40 or clean Fender → add a touch of reverb. The humming technique is the real magic and cannot be replicated with gear.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
More from George Benson
Other Song Rigs
Breezin'
Breezin' · 1976
The best-selling jazz album of 1976 and a defining document of smooth jazz — Ben…
View rig →This Masquerade
Breezin' · 1976
The Grammy-winning single from Breezin' — Benson's guitar tone on This Masquerad…
View rig →Give Me the Night
Give Me the Night · 1980
Quincy Jones's production of Benson's biggest pop hit — the guitar here is a rhy…
View rig →Turn Your Love Around
Give Me the Night · 1981
Funky and studio-polished — Benson's tone on this Quincy Jones production is cle…
View rig →Beyond the Sea
20/20 · 1985
Silky and romantic — Benson's smooth jazz tone at its most accessible. The archt…
View rig →