The Lemon Song Method

[Rich_S]

I got to thinking about this while listening to my new CD of Led Zeppelin II a couple weeks ago. Why doesn't anybody use distortion boxes to make their guitar quieter, then reduce the amount of gain/distortion but boost volume when it's time for the solo?

Listen to The Lemon Song - the main riff is buzzy and distorted (probably one of those little amps Pagey liked so much in the studio). The solo is loud and in-your-face and has way more headroom. Though it's louder, it is much less distorted than the riff.

If I were going to play it live, I'd use a distorion or overdrive to dial in the main riff tone with the pedal's dirt turned up and its volume turned down. Then for the solo, I'd turn OFF the stompbox, and let the Marshall rage.

Everybody I know (me included) always uses stomp box overdrive/distortions to make solos louder, but they end up squashing the headroom.

Perhaps we've had it backwards all these years... we should be turning our ODs OFF for the solo.

Jimmy Page is a genius.

 

[Sanford]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

I wonder if it sounded that way in the room as he was playing or if it was done later during the mixing process? Interesting concept, nonetheless. I could see it working rather well in a club setting, especially one of those open jams where volume wars abound and the only thing separating the audience from the "stage" is a strip of old duct tape.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

Zep II is my favorite Zep album!

I used to think the muted pre-echo "Way down inside...Woman!...You need me!" line from "Whole Lotta Love", was just print-through (where one layer of recording tape, magnetically influences another layer). Nope, it was just sheer brilliance!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

Zep II is my favorite Zep album!

I used to think the muted pre-echo "Way down inside...Woman!...You need me!" line from "Whole Lotta Love", was just print-through (where one layer of recording tape, magnetically influences another layer). Nope, it was just sheer brilliance!

Actually, it was probably print-through. I read an interview with Eddie Kramer within the last year or so, and he said he and Page never figured out what that was... print-through, bad fader, who knows? In the end they gave up and left it on. I guess sheer brilliance perceived is still sheer brilliance.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

Actually, it was probably print-through. I read an interview with Eddie Kramer within the last year or so, and he said he and Page never figured out what that was... print-through, bad fader, who knows? In the end they gave up and left it on. I guess sheer brilliance perceived is still sheer brilliance.

That's funny! I read JP took credit for it in an article 25 years ago! :lmao:

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

Jimmy Page is a genius.

i think as a producer he's really really underrated. the LZ albums are full of stuff like that. especially the vocals, they are often different (echo, harmonies etc) from chorus to chorus, but it so subtle it just sounds like robert plant.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

i still say the best way to get a loud solo boost with pedals is to use a clean amp... use a Boss Line Selector pedal to A/B between two different pedals with louder settings for the solo loop.... i've been doing that for years now....

the down side is you have to use distortion boxes for all your dirt but still it is cool

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

Yeah, but by today's standards, Page's hopped-up, raging 100-watt Marshalls ARE clean amps. It's the little studio Supro beasties that were all dirty.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The Lemon Song Method

There is a lot of things I'd call Jimmy Page but genius is not one of them...that was likely just a by product of using 2 different amps to record a track....