Riff Tone
Give Me the Night
George Benson
Guitarjazz1980s
Original Gear
GuitarIbanez GB10 George Benson Signature
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)
PickupsIbanez GB Special humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble6.5
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown)
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. Gear confirmed for album era and Benson's main setup. Lee Ritenour assisted with tone dialing for this session. Ritenour's pedalboard (chorus, compression, reverb) was used for subtle updates, but the core tone is Benson's clean jazz setup. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothsubtle chorus shimmerclean and articulaterounded highstight attackeven, compressed dynamicsfull-bodied hollowbody resonanceclear note separationstudio-polished claritydynamic response to touch
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, syncopated rhythm playing with clean chord stabs, muting, and dynamic control, as well as precise articulation for single-note lines typical of jazz-funk. While not technically virtuosic, it demands intermediate skill and rhythmic accuracy.
Sources
George Benson: “There’s Always More to Be Discovered” - Premier GuitarGeorge Benson: Still the Coolest of Cats - Premier Guitar“Quincy said, ‘Ritenour, this is Q. You gotta get down here right now!’”: Lee Ritenour reveals all about his top secret mission to save George Benson’s Give Me The Night solo | MusicRadarLee Ritenour fixed George Benson’s Give Me the Night solo | Guitar World
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Original Gear
GuitarIbanez GB10 George Benson Signature
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)
PickupsIbanez GB Special humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble6.5
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown)
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
Sources
George Benson: “There’s Always More to Be Discovered” - Premier GuitarGeorge Benson: Still the Coolest of Cats - Premier Guitar“Quincy said, ‘Ritenour, this is Q. You gotta get down here right now!’”: Lee Ritenour reveals all about his top secret mission to save George Benson’s Give Me The Night solo | MusicRadarLee Ritenour fixed George Benson’s Give Me the Night solo | Guitar World
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. Gear confirmed for album era and Benson's main setup. Lee Ritenour assisted with tone dialing for this session. Ritenour's pedalboard (chorus, compression, reverb) was used for subtle updates, but the core tone is Benson's clean jazz setup. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothsubtle chorus shimmerclean and articulaterounded highstight attackeven, compressed dynamicsfull-bodied hollowbody resonanceclear note separationstudio-polished claritydynamic response to touch
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, syncopated rhythm playing with clean chord stabs, muting, and dynamic control, as well as precise articulation for single-note lines typical of jazz-funk. While not technically virtuosic, it demands intermediate skill and rhythmic accuracy.
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