Looking for a George Benson sound

[Revelation Sound]

I have a Carvin SH575 (Now called Kiesel.) http://www.kieselguitars.com/catalog/guitars/sh575 I love the guitar, but as with most Carvins the pickups are very neutral. Based on the examples on the SD web site, I am interested in changing the pickups. My 3 top choices are the following pickups.
1. The 59 which there is an example of.
2. Benedetto A6 has no example. I am thinking this might be the way to go just due to the description.
3. Seth Lover: This seems to have a little more even sound than the 59?

Which one would you pick and why? I am looking more for a warm clean tone but not dark

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

The Benedetto does seem pretty sweet if you want warm and clean but not dark. Here's a Demo of the S6. It sounds really rich with warm bass and super articulate highs - like a souped up Jazz model. It looks like he isn't using a tone pot so it's quite bright here, but I'm sure you would be able to adjust to get the right bass and treble balance for your sound.

The 59 would be my 2nd choice if you want a more organic sound. And I wouldn't choose the Seth, it has midrange grit to it, it's a PAF.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

Be like George and get an Ibanez GB model, and a GB model Fender Twin.

 

[Revelation Sound]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

Be like George and get an Ibanez GB model, and a GB model Fender Twin.

I am not a jazz player, but more like Larry Carlton with blues style mixing jazz with it. Already have a Fender Twin.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

I'd go for a roughcast A5 59n. Not a polished A5. You'll have to swap the magnets yourself.

The 59n with a roughcast A5 gets close to what I think of as being the sound of an early 60's Gibson humbucker, and that would have been in Wes Montgomery's L5 as well as George Bensen's pre-Ibanez Gibson guitars.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

How is that Carvin? I played a bunch of 575's at NAMM and always thought they sounded more like a Les Paul than a 335. Very bright and direct sound- maybe all the maple? If I were to have one, I'd go for the Seth Lover set or an Alnico II Pro set.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

i think the alnico I pro set would be lovely in that guitar

 

[Revelation Sound]

Re: Looking for a George Benson sound

How is that Carvin? I played a bunch of 575's at NAMM and always thought they sounded more like a Les Paul than a 335. Very bright and direct sound- maybe all the maple? If I were to have one, I'd go for the Seth Lover set or an Alnico II Pro set.

My Les Paul custom has a thicker tone and more distortion than the Carvin. Nothing wrong with the Carvin, but for my taste I would like a warmer sound and not as neutral sounding