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Your Favorite Beatle Tones? (Musical, not Political or Religious...LOL!)

charlie brown

By charlie brown
in Epiphone Electrics

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charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted

The Beatles are always an interesting, and sometimes

controversial subject. But, if we can "play nice," and

keep it to the music, and even more to the point, guitars,

amps, (combinations, or individual), and tones that we

all love, and/or would love to figure out, this might be

a "Fun" topic/discussion.

 

How about it?

 

I have really enjoyed all their various "phases," but

the Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Vox combo, was what

got me "hooked," tonally...in the first place. I guess,

in reality, I progressed, tonally...at about the same rate

(purposely or not), as they did. But, I still love the first

sounds, I heard, a lot! And, Lennon's Casino tone, was

great, too.

 

CB

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Nelson

Nelson

Posted
Posted
The Beatles are always an interesting' date=' and sometimes

controversial subject. But, if we can "play nice," and

keep it to the music, and even more to the point, guitars,

amps, (combinations, or individual), and tones that we

all love, and/or would love to figure out, this might be

a "Fun" topic/discussion.

 

How about it?

 

I have really enjoyed all their various "phases," but

the Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Vox combo, was what

got me "hooked," tonally...in the first place. I guess,

in reality, I progressed, tonally...at about the same rate

(purposely or not), as they did. But, I still love the first

sounds, I heard, a lot! And, Lennon's Casino tone, was

great, too.

 

CB[/quote']

The Beatles are over-rated. Jesus told me so. He also said he was more popular than both Cliff Richard and Oasis. Jesus also said that both he and God play Fenders. I know because I've seen God and yep, he was playing a Fender.

 

Nelson

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midiman56

midiman56

Posted
Posted

God and Jesus Christ playing Fenders, hmmm? That would explain why everyone is so SHRILL lately and the complete lack of DEPTH in the world these days!

 

As for your question, CB (great idea for a thread, by the way), I have no idea what they were playing or what amps were used, by the guitar work in "I Want You/ She's So Heavy" from Abby Road always kills me. Incredible sound and way "rocky" for my four boys.

 

MIDI

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Beans

Beans

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Dont think I can choose a favourite... I can pick a couple I really don't like.... I hate Georges Gretsch/ Vox tone, I know his thing is to sound really trebley but his early solos really hurt my ears. Post '65.... its all amazing.

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carverman

carverman

Posted
Posted

The Beatles are over-rated. Jesus told me so. He also said he was more popular than both Cliff Richard and Oasis. Jesus also said that both he and God play Fenders. I know because I've seen God and yep' date=' he was playing a Fender.

 

Nelson[/quote']

 

Howz the fish-on today?.... Nelson? :- :)

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carverman

carverman

Posted
Posted
The Beatles are always an interesting' date=' and sometimes

controversial subject. But, if we can "play nice," and

keep it to the music, and even more to the point, guitars,

amps, (combinations, or individual), and tones that we

all love, and/or would love to figure out, this might be

a "Fun" topic/discussion.

 

How about it?

[/quote']

 

Sure, we'd like to play nice..but that "Nelson" fella is trying to play "devils advocate"!

 

I like practically anything the Beatles did..except for "Yellow Submarine"..and

that was Ringo's idea..what can I say.

Some of my favorites that I like to play the melody (I can't sing and play at the same

time because I play the melody and chords finger style), are..

 

Yesterday

Long and winding road

Michelle

She's leaving home

A day in the Life ... (Wes Montgomery played that tune on his L5 many years ago)

Eleanor Rigby

 

and

My Sweet Lord

While my guitar gently weeps by George H..

 

.but the late Jeff Healey did a remarkable version of it...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJh3KaIKDAw

 

 

 

 

I have really enjoyed all their various "phases," but

the Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Vox combo, was what

got me "hooked," tonally...in the first place. I guess,

in reality, I progressed, tonally...at about the same rate

(purposely or not), as they did. But, I still love the first

sounds, I heard, a lot! And, Lennon's Casino tone, was

great, too.

 

CB

 

Gretsch Country Gentle..yes!

"Rickety-backers"...... ahhhh....ptew!!! (sorry I had to sneeze!):- :-& :)

Vox...yes

Lennon's Casino...yes, yes and yes!

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taxman

taxman

Posted
Posted

Five Best Beatle tones:

 

1. George's 12 string sound - "If I Needed Someone" and "What You're Doing"

2. George's Leslie'd sound - "You Never Give Me Your Money"

3. John's distorted sound - solo in "The End"

4. Paul's lead sound - "Taxman" "Good Morning, Good Morning"

5. Paul's acoustic sound - "Mother Nature's Son"

 

Have to say I find John's brittle distortion sound really impossible to match. I can get George's and Paul's tones down, but John's insane ditortion is tough. His part in the solo to "The End" and his wicked sound on his first solo album ("I Found Out" and "Well, Well, Well") I think are the greatest sounds ever created and I just can't get near them.

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taxman

taxman

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Posted
I don't even know who's playing what guitar on these but.....the lead tones on Get Back' date='Something and Tax Man are 3 that come to mind.[/quote']

That's interesting - you picked three favorite leads and there are three different guitar players performing them. That's a testament to the strength of The Beatles.

 

"Get Back" - John on his Epiphone Casino

"Something" - George on his Les Paul

"Taxman" - Paul on his Casino

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duane v

duane v

Posted
Posted

What pulled me in was the lead break in Nowhere man. The guitar tone is so razor sharp and full of chime, it's hard not to be mesmerized.

 

I Feel Fine is a very tasty lick. (I've yet to see anyone execute it with the same feel as George)

 

And Your Bird Can Sing has great guitar work too.

 

And yes, the lead work in Octopuses Garden is outstanding. Though basic in terms of the scales being used, however the feel in how George syncopates within the area of the song is just genius IMO

 

 

I really can go on and on and on, because the above is only the tip of the iceberg. John and George incorporated so many different styles and tonal shapes to their approach to the guitar, it still boggles my brain how both continue to be underrated as guitar players...... But I guess that'll happen when your song writing ability is so off the charts, that some will overlook your other musicianship attributes you bring to the table.

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JefferySmith

JefferySmith

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Posted

I liked the sound of the riff in "I Feel Fine" and was astonished that it was done on a Gibson flattop (okay, the one with the pickup). What is surprising is not only the sound, but the fact that, after George's brief riff, the sound is different, as in John flipping a switch. With one pickup, I doubt that the Gibby has a switch. How did that sound change?

 

I also liked George's twang in the early Gretsch days.

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leicester35

leicester35

Posted
Posted

[i guess this might open another Pandora's Box but what the heck...at least any evils released will be guitar related.]

 

Much as I like certain Beatles tones, I never think of Lennon or McCartney as real tone 'experts'...Harrison came closer, but if there's ever a top ten list of the greatest 'tone' guitarists, I reckon people like David Gilmour, BB King, Peter Green and even the Edge are going to be leagues ahead of any of the Beatles...

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IntelligentAl

IntelligentAl

Posted
Posted

For me, George's solo in Let it Be is one of the best sounds I have ever heard coming out of a guitar. I believe he was playing his Telecaster in that one, but I'm not sure what kind of amp he used. I agree that both George and John are seriously underrated as guitar players. Listening to the likes of Sgt Pepper's and Abbey Road shows just how good they really were.

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claydots

claydots

Posted
Posted

John got the Revolution sound by overdriving one amp with another. Ya have to remember, back then there was not a plethora of sound toys... they had to search and come up with those sounds themselves.

 

I like the later George slide sound. Didn't matter if he was listed as a player or not, his tone stands out like a sore thumb (in a good way) I've never heard anyone else really nail it, they have come close but George was a one and only. I like the early 12 string work, that takes big ones to pull off some of the leads he did on that skinny neck Ric. Paul always had thump on bass, George had tone and Lennon preffered a biting rock sound. I don't care for the tea towel dead drum sound...

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charlie brown

charlie brown

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The "I feel fine" rif, was John and his J-160E...at least in the films. But, it's always sounded to me like

he and George doubled that riff, after the first initial go around. George's short "lead," had a very round

and "Gretsch" like tone, then got "thin"...so, I'm wondering if HE did that signature riff, out of the Solo,

then John doubled him, the second time? Or, if one of them used a top or mid range boost, for that riff (right

after the solo)?

 

As to the "Revolution" distortion of John's guitar....THAT was done through the mixing board, by all accounts.

I was listening to "Hey Bulldog," last evening and was reminded how "heavy" it sounds, for that period...

those guys could really "Rock" when they wanted to...no doubt about it. Wasn't all "silly love songs," by

a long ways. I always liked "And Your Bird Can Sing," too. But...you're all right...there ARE "so many!"

 

CB

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Just Strum

Just Strum

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Posted
... and even the Edge are going to be leagues ahead of any of the Beatles...

 

In one of the VH1 shows, I think it was Bono (possibly someone else) noted that the Edge is not a gifted guitar player in the sense of other well known guitarists, but what he does is create a tapestry of tone and rhythm. Those aren't the exact words and Bono may not have been the person that said it, in that case, I will take credit for saying it. Boy, next thing you know I will be saying I'm more popular than you know who (Tiny Tim's cousin).

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