Can I have your opinion on this guitar's tone?

[LtKojak]

Forget who the guitar player is, and the quality of the execution.

What do you think, purely tone-wise?

[ESCC]

I think the tone is OK, but my preference is for a less bright and fatter tone . . . (for whatever its worth, I am listening through marginal quality speakers on my computer at work).

[Tal_175]

It's a bit thin and airy, but works well within the atmosphere of the tune, so to speak.

[joe2758]

if we're just talking opinions, I like a more dry tone

[rpjazzguitar]

A little thinner than I tend to prefer, but I still liked it.

[blille]

If I heard that through my amp I would add mids and a very short delay. But I think it’s fine.

[fep]

I really like it, especially so for the comping.

[Gitfiddler]

The guitar's tone is bright, but would sound much better if heard live, via headphones or a quality speakers. Also, that is GEORGE'S tone. He plays to be heard in the mix of a full orchestra, to large audiences and huge venues. A more muffled jazz tone wouldn't cut it. Finally, he's playing smooth jazz and RnB, so of course the tone is a bit brighter than some would like.

[Hep To The Jive]

I almost like it! It's brighter than what I guess is considered to be a 'classic' jazz Gibson tone, which is a plus in my book. I'd add a bit more break up, it's too clean, and the break up would fatten it up somewhat.

[rpguitar]

Warm and smooth but with note definition and nice "pop." Pretty much perfect for the style and band setting.

[Jim Soloway]

I like it but then my taste runs a bit brighter than a lot of you guys. One thing I know for sure, you better have compete confidence in your pick attack with a tone like that because every bit of that attack is on display. I really liked the way he was playing at the end and the way tone worked with the rapid fire phrasing.

[mr. beaumont]

interesting that people think this is "bright." I don't really hear it as bright at all (listening through decent computer speakers) Not dark either, mind you, but certainly not bright.

It's just about perfect in my opinion. I'd like to think the volume knob is about 7-8 here, and if he turned it up a little and hit a doublestop hard, we'd hear some grit.

[street]

I think it's a great tone. Wouldn't call that bright either, even by typical jazz standards. I'm listening through some decent quality headphones.

[D.G.]

Perfectly serviceable tone, especially in context. A little bland for my tastes, but then I prefer Tele's

[medblues]

I like that tone, not bright in my opinion either, better than the one below, which is slightly brighter:

[Jabberwocky]

Sounds very much like GB's preferred Gibson Johny Smith in the studio. I guess that is the tone he wanted to cop on his Ibanez on stage, a Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucker tone.

Great tone. Worked for George.

[citizenk74]

It sits perfectly in the mix, as it is supposed to.

[tpandela]

I hear a compressor in his tone, adds the pop to his pick attack. I haven't noticed GB using one before. Anybody else hear it or am I hearing things?

Tp

[Gitfiddler]

Sounds very much like GB's preferred Gibson Johny Smith in the studio. I guess that is the tone he wanted to cop on his Ibanez on stage, a Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucker tone.

Great tone. Worked for George.

Love that!!

[sgosnell]

I don't love it, but I can listen to it. It's not really what I would call bright, but a little thin. It sounds to me like pretty typical smooth jazz guitar.

[pauln]

I hear a compressor in his tone, adds the pop to his pick attack. I haven't noticed GB using one before. Anybody else hear it or am I hearing things?

Tp

Yeah, my immediate impression was it sounds like he is using a compressor (I don't like them).
Could be why it sounds a little too bright for my tastes.

[Jonathan0996]

Sounds gorgeous to me.

[Longways to Go]

Sounds very much like GB's preferred Gibson Johny Smith in the studio. I guess that is the tone he wanted to cop on his Ibanez on stage, a Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucker tone.

Great tone. Worked for George.

I notice this video is all about the thumb. BTW Mr. Benson sounds great in both clips

[omphalopsychos]

Sounds like the amp was close mic’d with the mic close to the center of the speaker. It sits well in the mix. I’d bet it sounds much thicker in person.

[Stringswinger]

George could make a Squire Strat with 8's played through a Pignose sound great. That tone is perfect.....for him.