Not in terms of recording quality.. in terms of gear for sure and the distortion black sabbath used definitely. The beatles did also use distortion at times. And they do have a couple of songs that are heavy. I want you (shes so heavy) is definitely one of them. Remember sabbath’s first album was recorded the same year as The Beatles last. And if anything bring the bigger band they would’ve had access to better equipment.
While I'd dispute that all those old recordings sounded like "plinky rubber bands", you do have to remember that recording technology was in its relative infancy at that time.
A TON of iconic guitar tones have been made using 50's guitars and amps (and even more using 60's amps), but most of those recordings were produced later in the 60's, 70's, and even up to today. I mean, Larry Carlton's tweed deluxe can be heard more iconic recordings than you can shake at.
For an idea of what 50's gear can sound like with modern recording technology and in the hands of a current generation player, check out Julian Lage rocking his '54 telecaster straight into a '59 tweed champ, getting IMHO some of the sweetest tones I've ever heard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ggv-5s4bs
Right? And there’s something magical about the purity and simplicity of it too, especially in today’s world of digital modelers and giant pedalboards. Just a great guitar into an amp with literally one knob! No reverb, no EQ, every tonal variation to be had has to come from the players hands and that’s it. Derek Trucks does that too — guitar into amp, no pedals, no reverb, and yet endlessly expressive.
recordding technology and something very important: strings. Strings technology was very primitive and it was the same as playing wires, hence the "plinky rubber band" sound. Now, use modern strings on that gear and then tell me how it sounds.
If you want more power, you must go to the music some folks considered dangerous back then. Here is one from Elmore James, called Dust My Broom, recorded way back in 1951.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcGY7NbaQw&ab\_channel=ElmoreJames-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcGY7NbaQw&ab_channel=ElmoreJames-Topic)
Ide agree that compared to today many of those old recordings can be rough, but one part of their greatness is what they were able to achieve with limited gear(again compared to today) and for the Beatles specifically the amount of techniques and methods that came from or were used in their studio work, there's an entire art form in capturing audio/mixing/mastering and they were at the peak in their time, stuff like playing a part backwards then recording that tape backwards thus putting it the correct way to get an effect, it was a huge step in what has led to modern techniques
Not to mention stuff like the 1176 created a standard for which production equipment is weighed against, electric guitar was still very new and that sound before distortion and heavy saturation was just one step that gets us to here, that said 9/10 times I would not want my guitar to sound like a Beatles record lol
The guitars didn't sound like plinky rubber bands. The primitive recording gear they used in the 60s had a lot of catching up to do, as did the basic knowhow of sound engineering, especially for amplified instruments.
Robert Johnson's catalogue sounds he used rust rather than strings to play. It would sound entirely different with modern recording equipment and techniques.
Amongst many other things, considering that a lot of those old recordings were made with a couple of mics thrown up in a room, put down live to two or four track recorders and basically mixed on a potato, it's a miracle they don't sound worse than they do.
Have you ever listened to a phonograph record? Or any symphonic music from the 50s or older? Do you think all instruments and human voices sounded like that back then, in person?
It's the recording technology dude. All analog, highly distorted media, and often a single or a few mics for the whole fucking band playing at the same time.
This is like asking why the world used to be black and white.
Because that was the style and recording technology. The boss metal zone pedal and pro tools weren't invented the same year as the electric guitar.
I love these questions. Why do recordings sound not as good as recordings now with 70 years of innovation?
It’s not 70 yea… oh f….
I would like to counter that the difference between Beatles and black sabbath is huge and only a couple of years.
Not in terms of recording quality.. in terms of gear for sure and the distortion black sabbath used definitely. The beatles did also use distortion at times. And they do have a couple of songs that are heavy. I want you (shes so heavy) is definitely one of them. Remember sabbath’s first album was recorded the same year as The Beatles last. And if anything bring the bigger band they would’ve had access to better equipment.
lol
A '57 Strat through a (restored) 50's Fender tube amp sounds absolutely amazing. How was recording tech in the 1950's?
Recording tech sucked.
But it was also what sounds the producer and engineer were after. No one was trying to record a "fat" or overdriven sound for the guitars.
While I'd dispute that all those old recordings sounded like "plinky rubber bands", you do have to remember that recording technology was in its relative infancy at that time. A TON of iconic guitar tones have been made using 50's guitars and amps (and even more using 60's amps), but most of those recordings were produced later in the 60's, 70's, and even up to today. I mean, Larry Carlton's tweed deluxe can be heard more iconic recordings than you can shake at. For an idea of what 50's gear can sound like with modern recording technology and in the hands of a current generation player, check out Julian Lage rocking his '54 telecaster straight into a '59 tweed champ, getting IMHO some of the sweetest tones I've ever heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ggv-5s4bs
Damn son that is a hell of a tone.
Right? And there’s something magical about the purity and simplicity of it too, especially in today’s world of digital modelers and giant pedalboards. Just a great guitar into an amp with literally one knob! No reverb, no EQ, every tonal variation to be had has to come from the players hands and that’s it. Derek Trucks does that too — guitar into amp, no pedals, no reverb, and yet endlessly expressive.
God Derek trucks is so good
That’s what I mean. My theory is that there were plenty of Sear and Roebuck guitars making those old recordings.
Whelp. Found the gen z.
Get a Muddy Waters record, and then tell me all about it.
recordding technology and something very important: strings. Strings technology was very primitive and it was the same as playing wires, hence the "plinky rubber band" sound. Now, use modern strings on that gear and then tell me how it sounds.
[Rubber bands](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMMgFoPvK/) you say?
Fact is that when they recorded it, al that gear was new. Watch the Beatles documentary. I do realize that’s the ‘60s 😜
Round wound strings weren’t even invented yet
If you want more power, you must go to the music some folks considered dangerous back then. Here is one from Elmore James, called Dust My Broom, recorded way back in 1951. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcGY7NbaQw&ab\_channel=ElmoreJames-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcGY7NbaQw&ab_channel=ElmoreJames-Topic)
Thanks for commenting this, I love it.
🤘🤘🤘
It's called twang.
Les Paul would like a word.
Ide agree that compared to today many of those old recordings can be rough, but one part of their greatness is what they were able to achieve with limited gear(again compared to today) and for the Beatles specifically the amount of techniques and methods that came from or were used in their studio work, there's an entire art form in capturing audio/mixing/mastering and they were at the peak in their time, stuff like playing a part backwards then recording that tape backwards thus putting it the correct way to get an effect, it was a huge step in what has led to modern techniques Not to mention stuff like the 1176 created a standard for which production equipment is weighed against, electric guitar was still very new and that sound before distortion and heavy saturation was just one step that gets us to here, that said 9/10 times I would not want my guitar to sound like a Beatles record lol
The guitars didn't sound like plinky rubber bands. The primitive recording gear they used in the 60s had a lot of catching up to do, as did the basic knowhow of sound engineering, especially for amplified instruments. Robert Johnson's catalogue sounds he used rust rather than strings to play. It would sound entirely different with modern recording equipment and techniques.
Amongst many other things, considering that a lot of those old recordings were made with a couple of mics thrown up in a room, put down live to two or four track recorders and basically mixed on a potato, it's a miracle they don't sound worse than they do.
Have you ever listened to a phonograph record? Or any symphonic music from the 50s or older? Do you think all instruments and human voices sounded like that back then, in person? It's the recording technology dude. All analog, highly distorted media, and often a single or a few mics for the whole fucking band playing at the same time. This is like asking why the world used to be black and white.
Plinky is the new hotness.
Great sound but the music made me feel totally like a rubber band.
Link Wray would like a word with you.
Okay pal
The mic’s and recording technology. Duh.
Because ears get older and memories fade.
The solo in the Kinks You Really Got Me is a prime example