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The Thrill Is Gone Guitar Tone Settings
B.B. King & Eric Clapton · 1960s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
mid-1960s Gibson ES-355TD-SV (stereo, Varitone circuit, both pickups engaged)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stereo, both pickups active, Varitone position 2)
Amp
Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid-state combo
Pickup Position
Both pickups (stereo, Varitone position 2)
Studio recording, 1969 (album: Completely Well). B.B. King used both pickups with Varitone set to position 2, plugged into both channels of the amp via a stereo Y-cord. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the riff section. Clapton's rhythm guitar is not prominent in the riff section and is not the focus here.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb4
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- clean and glassy
- quick, percussive attack
- midrange honk
- treble cut
- ample headroom
- warm but articulate
- touch-sensitive
- lyrical phrasing
- forceful attack with heavy pick
- singing sustain from vibrato
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No specific amp knob settings for the Lab Series L-5 on this recording were found; settings estimated based on genre, amp type, and era.
- No pedals or stompboxes are documented or audible for the riff section; B.B. King was known for a pure amp tone.
- All effects are from the amp; no evidence of outboard or pedal-based effects.
- Clapton's rhythm guitar is not the focus of the riff section and is not included here.
- Varitone setting and pickup configuration are confirmed by source 1.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. B.B. King and Clapton both favor a clean, warm, mid-forward blues tone with subtle breakup and rich lows. The recording uses moderate reverb for space, rounded treble to avoid harshness, and classic Fender/Marshall-style amp voicing typical for their styles and era.