Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Recorded at a Los Angeles studio in early January 1976 (sessions dated 1976-01-06 to 1976-01-08) with Al Schmitt engineering, Don Henderson assisting, and Tommy LiPuma producing. Benson’s lead guitar was double‑tracked and sits prominently in the mix, while Phil Upchurch provides rhythm guitar comping.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1961 Fender Telecaster
Guitar
Benson’s lead lines on 'On Broadway' were captured with his vintage 1961 Fender Telecaster, delivering a bright, articulate single‑coil tone that cuts through the mix.
1975 Fender Twin Reverb
Amplifier
The Telecaster was recorded through a Fender Twin Reverb, whose clean headroom and natural reverb helped preserve the note‑by‑note clarity of Benson’s phrasing on the track.
Alternatives
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Modern equivalent · for the 1961 Fender Telecaster
Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue
Reissue · for the 1975 Fender Twin Reverb
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Set your pickup selector to the bridge position for maximum clarity.
- 2.Use smooth alternate picking and clean articulation to emulate Benson’s fluid lines.
- 3.Apply a modest amount of reverb to recreate the studio ambience.
- 4.Double‑track your lead parts and pan one slightly left for a richer stereo image.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the On Broadway guitar tone?
The available research points to 1961 Fender Telecaster into 1975 Fender Twin Reverb. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original On Broadway amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is On Broadway in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the On Broadway tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
