Feels So Good

The recording

Grant Geissman's solo on Chuck Mangione's 1977 title track 'Feels So Good' was tracked at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California, with engineer Mick Guzauski. Geissman used a 1965 Gibson ES-335, feeding the neck pickup into a Maestro CS-2 compressor before a 1965 Fender Twin Reverb amp on its clean channel. The compressor added sustain and evened the dynamics, while the Twin's natural plate reverb and the studio's ambient capture gave the solo its spacious, singing quality that sits prominently in the mix. [Sources: 1,2,3]

Tuning EADGBE

Reported gear

1965 Gibson ES-335

Guitar

Geissman's 1965 Gibson ES-335 was the instrument that produced the warm, singing tone on the solo.

Maestro CS-2 Compressor

Compressor

A Maestro CS-2 compressor was placed before the amp to add sustain and even out the dynamics of Geissman's solo.

1965 Fender Twin Reverb

Amplifier

The solo was recorded through a 1965 Fender Twin Reverb on its clean channel, delivering a rich, full-bodied clean tone with natural plate reverb.

Alternatives

Epiphone ES-335 Pro

Modern equivalent · for the 1965 Gibson ES-335

$500 to $600

Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb Reissue

Modern equivalent · for the 1965 Fender Twin Reverb

$1,600 to $1,800

Maestro CS-2 Reissue

Reissue · for the Maestro CS-2 Compressor

$100 to $150

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Select the neck pickup on the ES-335 and roll the tone knob back to about 5 for a warm sound.
2. 2.Engage a fast-attack, high-sustain setting on the Maestro CS-2 compressor to sustain the notes.
3. 3.Play with a light pick attack and use hybrid picking to articulate the fast arpeggios smoothly.
4. 4.Maintain a relaxed left‑hand grip and use subtle vibrato to keep the solo’s lyrical phrasing.