How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

[Soujurn]

Specifically on And Your Bird Can Sing.
Using either a Tele or Stratocaster (both USA, mid 90's and stock pickups) into either a Marshall RI Bluesbreaker or '66 Fender Bassman head and 4x12 cab.
I've tried several pedals but still cannot get it to sound like the recording. I feel kinda stupid asking this, since I've been playing for years.

[MickGael]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

Specifically on And Your Bird Can Sing.
Using either a Tele or Stratocaster (both USA, mid 90's and stock pickups) into either a Marshall RI Bluesbreaker or '66 Fender Bassman head and 4x12 cab.
I've tried several pedals but still cannot get it to sound like the recording. I feel kinda stupid asking this, since I've been playing for years.

The stunning new book "Recording the Beatles: The Studio Equipment and Techniques Used to Create Their Classic Albums" documents a lot of this.

In addition to the most exhaustive, lavishly illustrated description ever produced of the studio gear they used, the book also list all the instruments and amps they used (year by year).

I'll get the complete list at home tonight and post tomorrow, but I do know that Lennon favored his Casino at the time, but the band also used an SG and a Strat, as well.

As you may know, some of the key ingredient in the overall sound of that record were all those lovely tubes:

Neumann's U-47/48 (though 67s were starting to come on line), the EMI REDD 37 console, Geoff Emerick's heavy use of the Fairchild 660/670 limiters as well as a whole range of gear that EMI built in-house.

Like you, I've never really been able to duplicate that sound.

[tone4days]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

gotta compress the hell outta the guitar signal for that tune

you arent trying to play both parts at once, are you? THAT would be HARD to do given that john and george played those lines together, not one guitarist playing both lines at the same time

[RushOfBlood]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

Yeah, for sure alot of compression on that one! the secret to the jangle. Great tone on that song too, good choice.

Anyway I'm reading in the dark right now but my 'recording the beatles' book says most likely a casino or strat through a vox or fender showman, mic'ed with U47's as mickgael pointed out. For sure there's alot of studio/player influence on the sound, but I'd probably start with the strat into the bassman, with a compressor pedal in between.

For those looking for beatles tones, there's a new virtual instrument plugin coming out by eastwest called ''Fab Four'' that looks like it should be lots of fun.

http://www.soundsonline.com/Fab-Four-Virtual-Instrument-pr-EW-170.html

[Soujurn]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

I realize that the song has a lot of overdubs and dual guitar lead lines. I read somewhere that Joel Walsh once figured out how to play the lead with one guitar and have it sound right.
Basically I just feel that that album has the best guitar tones ever.
Yes, I also know that the tube compressors and limiters used had a great deal to do with the sound also.
I was hoping some on here had come across a way to duplicate it close enough.
I have seen a couple of videos on You Tube of bands doing covers of And Your Bird Can Sing and that's what's inspired me to try to get it down again.

[flank]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

when my band used to play that tune for kicks, i played the dual line by myself, its not that difficult actually, took me about a day to get down.

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

I read somewhere that Joel Walsh once figured out how to play the lead with one guitar and have it sound right.

Yup, and he was pissed when he found out it was George and John playing separate parts.

Your head's in the right place for wanting to nail this tone, since Revolver is the single greatest album of all time. No arguments, people.

[gt5litre]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

John and George used their recently acquired 1965 Strats for this song. Both were LPB. Compression was used of course and re-recording the track with the high end maxed out on each successive copy.

gt5litre

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

That's cool info. Where did you read that?

[Soujurn]

Re: How to get Beatles tone from Revolver album?

John and George used their recently acquired 1965 Strats for this song. Both were LPB. Compression was used of course and re-recording the track with the high end maxed out on each successive copy.

gt5litre

I've read several places that they used Casino's and that it was George and Paul playing the lead lines, and John who played the rhythm parts. Shrug. Doesn't really matter I suppose.
But, with my Strat or Tele, and a Tubescreamer or Rat, even with my Dyna Comp, I still can't dial in that sound.
I'll keep plugging away at it though. :-)