George Benson showed and played his new Ibanez LGB300-VYS at the Namm 2012. He was so kind to let some guitarplayers in the audience play the guitar! We filmed the full 19 minute presentation. Enjoy!
This man is a treasure. Please, everyone, take a good look at one of the greatest and most profound artistic inspirations in the last hundred years. There are so many enlightened people who "get" his impact all over the world. And they're much, much better for it.
George Benson is one of those guys you would like to spend an afternoon just chatting about everything... so down-to-earth and such a good story teller.
I had the honor to play an hang with GB for one week in the early 70's, he taught me all about his life, his childhood, development, enduring my endless barrage of questions, he said he could always hear and sing articulately since he was a kid and sang note for note charlie parker's solo of just friends as it played on a jukebox. he played my old 175 for a set and you know what? it sounded exactly like him!
I've been listening to this guy for 40+ years. He's such a unique and immensely talented player. Truly one of the most musical guitarists I've ever heard. I would love to hang out with him, even for a few minutes. The stories this guy must have.
I once saw George play at Chicago Blues fest yrs ago . He played with some old time greats. Jimmy Smith on Hammond B-3 and David "Fathead" Newman on sax . It was one of the best things I ever heard . He didn't play any of his hits they just played an amazing variety of blues with a little jazz blended in. For me it was historic.
I used to see him walking around where we lived In pgh, pa when I was a child with an acoustic guitar in his hands and we would ask him to sing a song for us, and he would. Now this was before he made it to the big time....humble then, humble now.
compared to the others, I think there's a great deal of patience and discipline in his playing, almost restricted. It's like he's trying to put the music first and his ability second. beautiful.
Nice to see how humble George is .. He can easily put on a clinic for the likes of Eddie Van Halen, and yet he says, he respects everyone that plays guitar .. George Benson FTW!
I absolutely adore and love George Benson , I heard him in Kolon, Germany , bought his album , constantly played his album for my ,military friends , his music is magical ! !
George, you have done a great service in your guitar designs for Ibanez, I have the LGB30, it's best sounding and playing guitar that I've ever played, I've owned a lot of guitars, this LGB30s Alinco magnet pickups have that vintage sound I love, you have done guitar players like me a great service too, in that you have designed a great affordable guitar that plays and sounds professionally, thank you for your service.
George Benson, how gracious you are for letting some people from the audience play. A sign of a great artist, happy to hear other peeple show their talent.
George would be the first to tell you that Wes was a king with the thumb!!!!! That was Wes's style. George learned to do the same thing in his own way. I remember when he taught me that when it came to playing with a pick it's all in the right hand. I had to tell him though that I was lefty playing righty. I did not have the same coordination in my right hand. George said just relax and let it happen! Don't force it! It will come. It did finally come. Performing live with George was a gas!
I just love how humble and approachable a person he is he adjusted the amp and guitar for his guest and complimented them on their talent which was great. I don't think I could touch a guitar in mr bensons presence
My favorite non-family photo of all time was taken with George backstage at a concert of his. What a gentleman and a genius guitar player. I hope to see George again if we can get past Covid and bring back concerts in full force.
I would shit my pants if I was playing jazz in front of George Benson. Such an astounding man, and he will always be a legend guitar player. Reinhardt, Christian, Montgomery, Benson.
Weekend in L.A., a masterpiece from a master of the jazz guitar. So many have made everlasting statements on those 6 strings stretched along a rosewood fretboard. Wes, Charlie B, Charlie C, Kenny, Grant, and a few others immediately come to mind. Some, only their music remains. Others, their music and their legacy have slipped deep into anonymity; their music only recollected when their names are called. Then there is that handful, of aficionados living and dead, whose music and artistic contributions have transcended the pantheons of jazz's greatest collaborations, improvisational expressions, and lifetime accomplishments. Mr. Benson is of that latter ilk. His music legendary, his style smoothly immutable, his craftsmanship insurmountable. Like he said in Broadway, during that weekend in L.A., "...I can play this here guitar..." Generations of listeners' appreciation of that fact will be made the much better for it.👑🎸🎵
Would love your guitar George your the man love you so much. The guys that played your guitar sounded great and the comment he said the neck is fast sold me! Love small necks yeeeeessssss
So this is NAMM. They're surrounded by top notch equipment and experts, and this is the best sound they could get? I bet most people trying to hear GB speak couldn't. Very interesting talk, GB is great!
Thanks for sharing George Benson's presentation with us. All I could say was "Wow!" I've always admired his playing. George Benson is one of the greatest ever!!!
Exactly one year later. Just catching this. Awesome! Reminds me of the day I tried a Ibanez Benson at Guitar Center. I fell completely in love with it! I would have got into trouble if I had that money and it was for a bill. Was a definite buy!
Bought my GB-5 way back when because George Benson endorsed it, not to mention the great woody tone, looks and feel. Such an outstanding musician and representative of greatness in music!
...so I'm watching the video and I think that's my homie Jerome Ali who was the first check it out. George Benson is a great guitarist and an even greater person. Blessings...
Long live Mr. Benson. You have inspired my life even when I wasn't a guitarist at the time. And now that I am, your spirit lives on in me and for that I am grateful.
I never would've thought Ibanez could make a decent hollow body, but after playing their bottom dollar AF55 I was sold. Found a great deal on a used AF75 and it quickly became one of my favorite guitars in the collection. Even the stock pickups are awesome. I'll admit I changed out the nut and pots though, but it plays and sounds like a true jazz/blues box.
What a great, great player he was. Remember "I have nev.. Ver.. Been so much... In love.... What a difference.. True love made in my life" just awesome...
To add,in the 70's we used an Ibanez front trio in the band "Arc" which mainly played Ted Nugent,Bad Company etc..i noticed the action was excellent for a guitar in the 100-200 dollar range,and sometimes less.wacksmans pawn on Vine has one here right now for 100 Dollars,its well worth the play,i'll give it a try also..thanks George..
Thanks for this upload. I have this guitar - it’s just beautiful to look at, so well built and the neck is amazing. George is an inspirational player and a real icon for jazz and blues guitarists. I’ve never seen him live but this June he will be playing in Leeds so I bought tickets and can’t wait. I bought mine 2nd hand on eBay for a decent discount but still v pricey for me, however, I’m so pleased I bought it. I’ll never sell it. I’d like a GB10 now in natural then I can die happy!
I'm sure if he was a rapper he would be even MORE into himself. But as it stands, being the master guitarist that he is, and the talented vocalist that he is, he is actually quite humbled.
Quando George Benson era criança, seu pai, cortou a tampa de um baú em formato de guitarra, colocou as cordas, e deu de presente pro menino Benson>>>>, Sergio From Brasil.
Only George Benson is cool enough to wear a purple jacket with sunglasses indoors and get away with it. I love how he invites everyone up to give his guitar a try & is peering over their shoulder raising his eyebrows when they play tasty licks lol George is the man !
