Guitar Sound Detectives

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SpencerMartin
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Post by SpencerMartin » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:45 am

Alright, I need some sonic sleuthing. A little PI beyond the DI, ya dig? I'm definitely not going to go out and buy a new amp or guitar to achieve this sound - I'd just like to hear some different ideas for how to effectively mimic it.

On Nico's 1967 album, Chelsea Girl, the first two tracks start with the most amazing fingerpicking specific guitar tone. It's Jackson Browne playing - he also plays on a third track on the album, I'm just not sure which. This sound/style is pretty closely referenced on the opening of Wilco's "Either Way". In each example, the guitar starts the song by itself so you only have to listen to the first few seconds.

Nico - Fairest of the Seasons

Nico - These Days

Wilco - Either Way

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joninc
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Post by joninc » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:43 am

To my ears the wilco one sounds like a jazz guitar with hum buckers or maybe p90s. I know he sometimes plays that Barney kessel model with the double cutaway.

Sounds like the neck pickup with some treble boost on the amp or eq.
the new rules : there are no rules

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joninc
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Post by joninc » Wed Nov 25, 2015 11:34 am

the new rules : there are no rules

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A.David.MacKinnon
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Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:41 pm

Fuck, i used to have the same little National amp. Never, ever, ever should have sold it.

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Drone
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Post by Drone » Wed Nov 25, 2015 6:52 pm

Damn, I was hoping this was a thread for some kind of guitar replacer could do with that :mrgreen:
The previous statement is from a guy who records his own, and other projects for fun. No money is made.

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Nick Sevilla
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Post by Nick Sevilla » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:11 pm

As to the Nico stuff, Chelsea girl is the album, and Gary Kellgren was the engineer.

Why don't you ask his son what they did, As Gary passed in 1977.

http://www.garykellgren.com/


To guess as to the acoustic guitar recording, I would venture this:

A mono recording of the guitar, using a tube microphone such as a U67, or similar,
and EQ used, depending on the studio... would be the console's EQ, and some compression either on the way in, or during the mix session. The tape most certainly would be the older formulation which is typically AMPEX or Scotch 201, and was much better than the later, black looking, sticky stuff 456.
Since this album was done in 1967 in New York City, and Gary was the engineer, it was most likely done at The Record Plant, Gary studio.

Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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SpencerMartin
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Post by SpencerMartin » Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:39 pm

Nice! Thanks guys. I'm thinking about copping that style for the next tune of my own I record. I'll post the result here once it's done.

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Waltz Mastering
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Post by Waltz Mastering » Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:56 pm

The Nico tracks sound like a thicker hollow body electric like a Gibson 175 or something. Wilco sounds a bit different

Trick Fall
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Post by Trick Fall » Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:19 am

If I was trying to cop that vibe on the cheap I would try using a magnetic pickup on an acoustic. something like a Seymour Duncan Woody. I think those are under forty bucks. There's something about the tone that reminds me of the boxiness you get from using a pickup with an acoustic. I actually dig that kind of tone and got the pickup for my Taylor mini GS for such things.

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Post by Professor T » Wed Dec 16, 2015 4:18 pm

I'd try some flat wounds if I was really going for it.

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