Ibanez George Benson GB200 vs. LGB300. Any comparison?

[gianluca]

they looks very similar, just some cosmetic difference: same woods, same pickup, same dimension, etc.
but in mr. benson hands, they sound very different: the GB200 sounds fatter to me (what i prefer).

It could be caused for different setup used by George Benson along the years.

If some of you has ever made an A/B comparison, are they actually different tonewise or not?


this should be the GB200

this is supposed to be the LGB300

[skiboyny]

I don't have any first hand experience with the 2 models but a observation.

Absolute Benson was recorded at least 20 years ago and was meant to reprise his breakout album Breezin. George was playing was super hot during that time period. Again his sound was no doubt a throwback to the Breezin days. Walking to New Orleans was recorded in 2019 fairly recent and George is always looking for new avenues in terms of sound and popularity. Its a tribute to Chuck Berry. He was looking for a different vibe.

My point is that probably isn't the best metric to compare these two models. I would bet that George could get either vibe out of either guitar.

[2bornot2bop]

You can’t listen to 2 different songs from YouTube and expect to hear differences in guitars.

[jazzshrink]

Previous discussion: IBANEZ GB200 VS LGB-300

There are differences in the body width, depth, and cutaway, as well as the width of the nut.

[gianluca]

You can’t listen to 2 different songs from YouTube and expect to hear differences in guitars.

that’s why I asked.
no way to compare these two guitar by myself.
I would buy a gb200 but it is no longer available.
you can only have a lgb300 (or cheaper model, or the floating gb10 which I don’t like), but it sounds pretty different from the gb200 (yes, in the youtube videos).

[gianluca]

Previous discussion: IBANEZ GB200 VS LGB-300

There are differences in the body width, depth, and cutaway, as well as the width of the nut.

I know, but nothing about tone in that thread.

and, yes very little difference but the 300 sounds thin to me

[Stbatz]

Don't forget that the neck of the LGB 300 is maple and the GB 200 is mahogany/maple/mahogany

[jzucker]

i've had both. I like the 200 a lot better. I was kind of shocked at how prone to feedback the 300 was. I had an LGB-30 and actually liked the sound as much as the 300.

[gianluca]

i've had both. I like the 200 a lot better. I was kind of shocked at how prone to feedback the 300 was. I had an LGB-30 and actually liked the sound as much as the 300.

thank you very much, very helpful.
and about an gb200/lgb30 camparison, what would you say?
I saw a george benson demo of the lgb30 but it didn’t impress me…

[Stbatz]

[jzucker]

thank you very much, very helpful.
and about an gb200/lgb30 camparison, what would you say?
I saw a george benson demo of the lgb30 but it didn’t impress me…

Well, they are both laminate tops. So similar sounding. The hardware on the LGB30 is incredibly cheap and soft. You can bend the pickguard bracket with 2 fingers. Switches are cheap, offshore junk. Pickup is ok. Surprisingly good. It's a good sounding axe. The 30 is also fairly heavy. 8.5-9lbs. The 200 has sort of an L5 sound. Less thunk than the LGB30. A little closer to a solid top sound. Woods and hardware on the 200 are super high quality and seasoned. I'm guessing the woods on the 30 are relatively new, kiln dried perhaps , not as stable. I see a lot of them with significant tail rise and buzzin.

[2bornot2bop]

I owned both the LGB30 and the 200. I preferred the 200, but not by a lot. I thought the 30 was over built.