
Song Rig
Turn Your Love Around
George Benson · Give Me the Night · 1981
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Funky and studio-polished — Benson's tone on this Quincy Jones production is cleaner and more processed than his jazz work, with a chorus shimmer and tight studio compression giving every note a pop brightness.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson ES-175 or studio guitar
- 2Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (stereo chorus engaged)
- 3Studio compressor (LA-2A or dbx 160)
Amp Settings
Brighter EQ than his jazz work — the pop production context demands more high-end presence. The JC-120's stereo chorus is always on for this era of Benson.
Technique
How to Play It
Short, staccato funk-influenced picking on chord stabs with fluid single-note fills — Benson adapted his jazz vocabulary for pop radio without losing technical depth.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Semi-hollow → Roland JC-40 with chorus on → light compression. MXR Dyna Comp before the amp captures the studio compression feel.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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