GuitarCleanRiff
The Thrill Is Gone Riff Guitar Tone Settings — B.B. King
B.B. King · 1970s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
mid-1960s Gibson ES-355TD-SV
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers with Varitone circuit (position 2), both pickups engaged
Amp
Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid-state combo
Pickup Position
Both pickups engaged (stereo Y-cord), Varitone position 2
Studio recording, 1969. B.B. King used both pickups with the Varitone on position 2, plugged into a Gibson Lab Series L-5 solid-state amp via a stereo Y-cord, sending each pickup to a separate channel. No pedals or stompboxes were used; all tone shaping was via guitar and amp. Settings are for the original studio recording, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- very clean and glassy
- warm and smooth
- quick, percussive attack
- midrange honk
- treble cut
- touch-sensitive
- round and vocal-like
- no overdrive or distortion
- articulate and dynamic
- forceful attack with heavy pick