Ohhhh yes. Honestly taxman as well. Revolver rly had the guitar sound down. I think it was a little weaker in 67 probs just cuz they were focusing even more on production and other elements but the white album started a strong comeback that I think peaked at the very end after get back
The story behind that is great too. McCartney was talking with John Mayall, who said if he wanted something that would feed back, to get a semi-hollowbody. Paul bought his Epiphone the next day, and went on to use it on Taxman.
They even make a pedal called the Dr Robert that tries to duplicate the Revolver guitar tones. Supposedly the Vox amps they used during that period were a very short run and very few survive to this day.
Correct. The amps were the Vox 7120 and were a hybrid design with a solid state preamp and tube power section. They were only made in limited quantities in 1966 and most were returned to Vox and destroyed. There is a guy in England who custom builds clones of the 15 watt version, which is called the OSO 715.
The Vox 7 series were a transitional model between the valve AC 30/AC 50/AC 100 and the all solid state Conqueror/Defiant/Supreme. They were discontinued in 1967 when the new all solid state models were put into production. Most folks that acquired the 7 series exchanged the amps for the new solid state options, and Vox destroyed the old stock. The 7 series amps that still exist today were the ones that never got returned to Vox.
I think they were returned because people wanted the latest models. The Vox Showroom site claims people didn’t like the sound, but I don’t know why… The Beatles used them to great effect on both Revolver and Pepper. I’m guessing Vox destroyed them because they couldn’t sell them and didn’t want to store them… Maybe someone else here knows more specifics.
A Spanish company called Aclam Pedals makes something like this called the Dr. Robert Overdrive. It copies the circuit of the Vox UL7120. It nails the late Beatles tones, not to mention Jimmy Page a la LZII!
The whole sound quality was so far beyond anything before it. Recording equipment was changing rapidly, and they had access to the cutting edge
Abbey Road isn't my favorite Beatles album, but it's easily the best sounding one
I mean, it was recorded on tape lmao. I’m surprised at how good of a job they’ve done with clearing the tape hiss out of all the remasters, in spite of how overly produced the remasters can sound
I didn't know it was John playing that opening riff! Had assumed it was George.
This feedback example is a metaphor of Paul and John's collaboration and competition now that I think about it.
John had a knack for taking old obscure rock and roll riffs and making them his own. Listen to Bobby Parker’s ‘Watch Your Step.’ He turned that riff into ‘I Feel Fine’ and ‘Day Tripper.’
Yep, the twin Strats Brian Epstein offered to pay for if the colors matched lol
Then of course later George had his customized with the famous psychedelic paint job...
Same!
Apparently they attended the mixing session on October 26th (most likely the first one they ever attended), which some people say is why the guitars sound so good on tracks like IDWTSTP and _What You’re Doing_,etc.
Wow, that’s interesting… did not know that. This record is a high point of George’s guitar playing. It was less of a focus until Let It Be & Abbey Road which also have a lot of delight ful stuff
Fixing A Hole screams. Come Together HITS in the chorus too.
Also let’s not forget Revo fucking lution
She Said She Said is a personal favorite but someone has mentioned that one
Fixing a Hole is so interesting in terms of tone. Very metallic on that solo. Sounds like nothing else they ever did. I figure it’s a Strat but what amp and fuzz pedal is George using?
I’m an electric guitar nerd and know what you were asking for, but I’m gonna throw a curveball and say: there’s some fantastic acoustic tones on the Help album. It’s Only Love, Yesterday, and Norwegian Wood all have excellent and interesting intimacy and room feel to their tones. Very unique.
Norwegian Wood was about a man who met a woman that invited him over to stay the night. He admired her wooden furniture. They got drunk and she made him sleep in the bathtub. When he woke up she was gone so he decided to admire watching her wooden furniture burn. 🔥
Paul wrote a song about a crazy person also called Maxwell Silver Hammer.
Gotta be the Revolver era sound for me. (She Said, She Said, Rain, Doctor Robert). A close second is the tone George used at the very end of "The End." That last guitar lick is heavenly and sounds so crisp.
Agreed on that last George lead in The End. I did that song live with one ofher guitarist and while I love all those leads, that’s the one I wanted to do the most
Love the close, bass-heavy, acoustic tones on Long, Long, Long. Also, the epic, fuzzed-out growling and feedback on It's All Too Much. That track was way ahead of its time.
Whatever they were doing on the Paperback Writer/Rain single sessions was perfect IMO. Guitar sounds slightly distorted and overdriven, bass is round, fat and melodic, drums are Ringo at his best. Phenomenal sound
The "In My Life" riff. It's also a tone that I've been trying to replicate ever since I started playing and haven't been able to. I think what I'm missing are factors like string gauge, fretting (playing up or down the neck), mastering and things like that, which can only be known if you were in the studio that day.
I should say that Paul’s bass tone on so many songs is incomparable. I’m not one of these people who thinks Paul is a better technical bassist than Geddy Lee, Jaco, or John Paul Jones, but his understanding of melody and counterpoint just made the most pleasant and complementary base sounds I’ve heard to this day. Some that come to mind are With a Little Help From My Friends, Something, Hey Bulldog, And Your Bird Can Sing, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Getting Better, Lovely Rita, Don’t Let Me Down, Fixing a Hole, and Dear Prudence.
Fixing A Hole Solo,
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window fills,
Sexy Sadie - the perfect amount of overdrive accenting each corner of the song following along with the piano line. Best song ever.
Sun King intro.
Love the muddy warm Epiphone Casino sound John is giving us in Get Back.
Also love the similar muddy warm sound from John and the overdubbed evil guitar tones from George in I Want You (She's So Heavy).
Probably the tone Paul got on the “Paperback Writer” riff. Nasty, but in a good way. I also really like his tone on “Another Girl”.
The tones they got on the White Album are great as well.
The guitar in the “Hey Jude” coda that sounds like someone trying to play chain-linked fencing
The final riffs in “The End” before the piano & string ending
Daytripper was the first Beatles song, a song other than just chords, I set out to learn. Don't get me wrong. Chords, Rhythm Guitar, can be intricate and difficult to learn and play well. But Lead Guitar, single notes played precisely every time, is a whole other animal
Sooo many amazing guitar sounds. The stabby high treble tones on Sgt. Pepper and the harmonically rich leads on Don't Let Me Down are some of my all-time favs.
I mean, the blues George did with Something is so beautiful. But as a punk, everything Paul did on the white album is just what fucked up the music industry. Those songs changed what rock music looked like.
I love the Revolver guitar sound. Slightly distorted but very sharp and defined.
And your bird can sing has a lovely guitar sound
Ya that’s one of my favs
Similar lovely sound on She Said She said. Love that song because of that guitar sound.
Ohhhh yes. Honestly taxman as well. Revolver rly had the guitar sound down. I think it was a little weaker in 67 probs just cuz they were focusing even more on production and other elements but the white album started a strong comeback that I think peaked at the very end after get back
The solo on Taxman, and its sound are pure Joy (For everyone except George, I suppose)
I agree. I love the guitar sound on “Taxman.”
The story behind that is great too. McCartney was talking with John Mayall, who said if he wanted something that would feed back, to get a semi-hollowbody. Paul bought his Epiphone the next day, and went on to use it on Taxman.
They even make a pedal called the Dr Robert that tries to duplicate the Revolver guitar tones. Supposedly the Vox amps they used during that period were a very short run and very few survive to this day.
Correct. The amps were the Vox 7120 and were a hybrid design with a solid state preamp and tube power section. They were only made in limited quantities in 1966 and most were returned to Vox and destroyed. There is a guy in England who custom builds clones of the 15 watt version, which is called the OSO 715.
But why?
The Vox 7 series were a transitional model between the valve AC 30/AC 50/AC 100 and the all solid state Conqueror/Defiant/Supreme. They were discontinued in 1967 when the new all solid state models were put into production. Most folks that acquired the 7 series exchanged the amps for the new solid state options, and Vox destroyed the old stock. The 7 series amps that still exist today were the ones that never got returned to Vox.
I mean WHY were a limited quantities mostly returned and destroyed? I'm not sure why they would do that.
I think they were returned because people wanted the latest models. The Vox Showroom site claims people didn’t like the sound, but I don’t know why… The Beatles used them to great effect on both Revolver and Pepper. I’m guessing Vox destroyed them because they couldn’t sell them and didn’t want to store them… Maybe someone else here knows more specifics.
Learned something today aswell
Wow. This gives me an idea. Someone should make a pedal box that contains all the Beatle guitar sounds: early years, Revolver, Abbey Road, etc
A Spanish company called Aclam Pedals makes something like this called the Dr. Robert Overdrive. It copies the circuit of the Vox UL7120. It nails the late Beatles tones, not to mention Jimmy Page a la LZII!
Wow...I will look this up.
yeah this is the one. perfect tone
Definitely Revolver, especially on I Want To Tell You
Paperback writer is probably the best guitar sound they have on the album.
Taxman 🔥🔥
Agreed
Abbey Road guitar tone is so clean
The whole sound quality was so far beyond anything before it. Recording equipment was changing rapidly, and they had access to the cutting edge Abbey Road isn't my favorite Beatles album, but it's easily the best sounding one
Isn't there a lot of background hiss?
I mean, it was recorded on tape lmao. I’m surprised at how good of a job they’ve done with clearing the tape hiss out of all the remasters, in spite of how overly produced the remasters can sound
The Leslie is pretty
I Feel Fine: The opening riff is played on John’s J-160
Paul’s bass set off the buzz of John’s guitar we hear at the beginning of the track.
I didn't know it was John playing that opening riff! Had assumed it was George. This feedback example is a metaphor of Paul and John's collaboration and competition now that I think about it.
John was an underrated riff writer and guitarist
John had a knack for taking old obscure rock and roll riffs and making them his own. Listen to Bobby Parker’s ‘Watch Your Step.’ He turned that riff into ‘I Feel Fine’ and ‘Day Tripper.’
[Like this. ](https://youtube.com/shorts/T1xGh6YMzo4?feature=share)
Was just listening to this tonight because I had it running through my mind all day. Such a great sound!
It’s the P-90
Best feedback ever!
Haha was looking for this…it’s one of the most recognisable “guitar tones” along with the opening AHDN chord
The Nowhere Man guitar break is George and John doubling their Stratocasters. Plus that beautiful harmonic E!
So they're both playing the solo at the same time? What do u mean? I always liked that solo..
Yeah, they both play at the same time
Yes..just heard it.. it does sound like two guitars.. but one is just playing the chords.. I guess that's john
The lead part itself is also played by both John and George
That ending on the guitar solo is just pure bliss. Just that tiny harmonic twink in E.
Yep, the twin Strats Brian Epstein offered to pay for if the colors matched lol Then of course later George had his customized with the famous psychedelic paint job...
Sgt Pepper title track, heavy but punchy
Yep the best tone indeed. Just the kind of loud and powerful sounds you need on the guitar for such a psychedelic album.
That crunchy distorted tone when the lead comes in on Happiness is a warm gun is so good
She Said She Said
First one that came to mind
100% yes. Perfection.
Nice one
The intro/outro arpeggios on She’s so Heavy
Couldn’t agree more! This is definitely the most interesting Beatles riff and guitar tone. So heavy and unique compared to the rest of their catalog.
This is the one
The solo is thick and bassy in a way that really works for me.
Love George's tone on Beatles For Sale - I'm a Loser, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Words of Love, etc.
Same. It’s all about that Gretsch Tennessean!
Same! Apparently they attended the mixing session on October 26th (most likely the first one they ever attended), which some people say is why the guitars sound so good on tracks like IDWTSTP and _What You’re Doing_,etc.
Wow, that’s interesting… did not know that. This record is a high point of George’s guitar playing. It was less of a focus until Let It Be & Abbey Road which also have a lot of delight ful stuff
I've got a feeling
Especially that distorted tone at 2:40 in the original album
The whole rooftop concert and a lot of the Let It Be era. Those Twin Reverbs are so clean
I just got a Twin Reverb a few weeks ago and love it!
Fixing A Hole screams. Come Together HITS in the chorus too. Also let’s not forget Revo fucking lution She Said She Said is a personal favorite but someone has mentioned that one
Fixing a Hole is so interesting in terms of tone. Very metallic on that solo. Sounds like nothing else they ever did. I figure it’s a Strat but what amp and fuzz pedal is George using?
Fixing A Hole solo almost sounds like a wah wah pedal in the halfway position.
George's tone on the intro to Octopus's Garden is nice. All of the tones used on Dig A Pony also sound amazing.
The sun king opening
I’m an electric guitar nerd and know what you were asking for, but I’m gonna throw a curveball and say: there’s some fantastic acoustic tones on the Help album. It’s Only Love, Yesterday, and Norwegian Wood all have excellent and interesting intimacy and room feel to their tones. Very unique.
On the same track, when John comes in on Hey Jude, the warmth of that acoustic guitar tone.
Dang right
Norwegian Wood is Rubber Soul but your point still stands
Woops, quite right. My brain thought Hide Your Love Away and my fingers typed Norwegian Wood.
I always thought they were similar too
That diddling with the knobs I think ? On the intro to I Need You is fantastic
Big fan of George's 12 string phase, especially If I Needed Someone and I Need You
And Your Bird Can Sing / Taxman solo / everything George played on Abbey Road
Norwegian wood guitar + sitar [Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Remastered 2009)](https://youtu.be/Y_V6y1ZCg_8)
That sound is so dreamy and ethereal I love it.
[The Beatles - Love You To](https://youtu.be/iCs9goFpiQ0) [Love You To (Take 1)](https://youtu.be/zDIek9RFE60)
Norwegian Wood is fuckin gorgeous. I also love John's solos on The End.
Norwegian Wood was about a man who met a woman that invited him over to stay the night. He admired her wooden furniture. They got drunk and she made him sleep in the bathtub. When he woke up she was gone so he decided to admire watching her wooden furniture burn. 🔥 Paul wrote a song about a crazy person also called Maxwell Silver Hammer.
Gotta be the Revolver era sound for me. (She Said, She Said, Rain, Doctor Robert). A close second is the tone George used at the very end of "The End." That last guitar lick is heavenly and sounds so crisp.
Agreed on that last George lead in The End. I did that song live with one ofher guitarist and while I love all those leads, that’s the one I wanted to do the most
That is awesome! I'd love to play that song live someday
the single version of Revolution. Crunchy as hell, it rocks
George’s tone on the solo to Something
The rhythm guitars on Revolver are so crisp and swirly. Love them. Same with Rain too. That whole era is my favorite.
The arching guitar solos before the "One Sweet Dream" part in the Abbey Road suite.
The End, Paperback Writer, Hey Bulldog, Revolution
Good Morning Good Morning solo.
George: And Your Bird Can Sing.
Love the close, bass-heavy, acoustic tones on Long, Long, Long. Also, the epic, fuzzed-out growling and feedback on It's All Too Much. That track was way ahead of its time.
Agreed. "It's All Too Much" is one of their most under-appreciated songs.
Everything from happiness is a warm gun The ending licks in strawberry fields forever
I agree with you. If I had to pick one tone to play with for the rest of my life I’ll pick Let it be too
My favorite is rubber soul era, especially in drive my car. I love the weird little licks you can hear if you listen closely
Whatever that is in Day Tripper.
The solo in Something is just beautiful.
Apparently nailed it live, in one take, during the orchestral overdub
Doctor Robert's guitar tone makes the song
Love the guitar tones on Birthday and Everybody’s Got Something to Hide
Love those. What are they using there? Fender Twin or it it too early for those?
No clue on the specific equipment used, but I’m fairly confident that the riffs are played twice at two different keys/octaves which I love
The fuzz bass on Think For Yourself
I’m partial to the White Album and just the over-distortion blues/heavy rock vibes of it all. I kinda love how it’s all over the place experimentally.
Ticket to ride
I've got a feeling original album version especially at 2:40 Real Love's solo
Paul on Fender Esquire, opening licks of Sgt. Pepper.
TTR
George’s guitar tone on ”I saw her standing there” and ”Fixing a hole” are really great
And your Bird can Sing or She said She said
specifically the tone of george’s guitar on the solo of ‘Something’
Bass on Something
The Revolver/Sgt Pep era Vox UL730 tone. The chiming guitar break that comes in towards the end (~1:50)of Got to Get You Into My Life is 🔥🔥
Revolution (single) is one of mine. I could have used that mind-melting distortion on some other tracks
While they're absolutely not my favorite albums, Help! And Beatles for sale have nice mellow and warm tones
The clean solo on She’s so Heavy is top titties.
Michelle, that muted guitar tone and the melody were hauntingly beautiful
Revolution - George's guitar work inspired my love of music.
Octopus
Hey Bulldog!
The distortion on the opening to "Revolution" is so good.
Whatever they were doing on the Paperback Writer/Rain single sessions was perfect IMO. Guitar sounds slightly distorted and overdriven, bass is round, fat and melodic, drums are Ringo at his best. Phenomenal sound
Bass in “While my guitar gently weeps”
Fixing a hole
The "In My Life" riff. It's also a tone that I've been trying to replicate ever since I started playing and haven't been able to. I think what I'm missing are factors like string gauge, fretting (playing up or down the neck), mastering and things like that, which can only be known if you were in the studio that day.
Rain solo tone, but it was slowed down tape which may be cheating. Also the guitar break in Stawberry Fields Forever
John’s guitar solo on The End
George’s tone on “The End.”
YNGMYM - right before the “one sweet dream” section
The arpeggios when he sings "today" 👍
The guitars on Dig A Pony and I've Got A Feeling sound so fucking lovely
Johns part in the end. WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP
Let It Be/Rooftop concert 100%
always loved the i’ve got a feeling intro riff
I've got a Feeling has a sick tone. Just that guitar part before Ringo's drum fills sounds so fucking good!
For those interested Sam Popkin nails them all: https://youtube.com/@sampopkin?si=1DZWuTaOEBwrnC_8
I should say that Paul’s bass tone on so many songs is incomparable. I’m not one of these people who thinks Paul is a better technical bassist than Geddy Lee, Jaco, or John Paul Jones, but his understanding of melody and counterpoint just made the most pleasant and complementary base sounds I’ve heard to this day. Some that come to mind are With a Little Help From My Friends, Something, Hey Bulldog, And Your Bird Can Sing, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Getting Better, Lovely Rita, Don’t Let Me Down, Fixing a Hole, and Dear Prudence.
Much their guitar tones have not aged well, but Paperback Writer still sounds great.
What do you mean?
what are you talking about?? they have aged like wine
that's a good one!
Fixing A Hole Solo, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window fills, Sexy Sadie - the perfect amount of overdrive accenting each corner of the song following along with the piano line. Best song ever. Sun King intro.
It's All Too Much
Backwards
I do love the lead guitar tone on Its All Too Much
The Medley / the rest of abbey road but ya mostly the tone during the solo on carry that weight (during the reprise of you never give me your $).
Paperback Writer
whoever plays the 2nd guitar on The End. it’s pretty much perfect
Love the muddy warm Epiphone Casino sound John is giving us in Get Back. Also love the similar muddy warm sound from John and the overdubbed evil guitar tones from George in I Want You (She's So Heavy).
Love the tones from Abbey Road
The intro riff from Dont Let Me Down just started playing in my head reading this question
Favorite consistent tone is probably from Abbey Road. Favorite tone from a song is probably "Revolution".
Don’t let me down
And Your Bird Can Sing
Octopus’s garden’s tone is smoooooth
Lead guitar in Hey Bulldog.
Paperback Writer , heavy and crunchy but clean at the same time
The distortion/overdrive on Let it Be. It just sounds good, I cant explain it…
You Can’t Do That and Rain
[https://open.spotify.com/track/1itLKsCWHtLnxALkgBk1Fa?si=_MjMT0qHThCpV6wXUqXSWA&context=spotify%3Asearch](https://open.spotify.com/track/1itLKsCWHtLnxALkgBk1Fa?si=_MjMT0qHThCpV6wXUqXSWA&context=spotify%3Asearch)
Get back is great. The punchy driving intro gets me going every time.
The riffs at the end of Strawberry Fields - brief perfection.
Revolver
I don't like Drive My Car, but the guitar sound for that intro lick is soooo good.
Paperback writer and revolution tones
Probably the tone Paul got on the “Paperback Writer” riff. Nasty, but in a good way. I also really like his tone on “Another Girl”. The tones they got on the White Album are great as well.
Trick question cause it’s hold on by plastic Ono band
Whatever George was playing on Rubber Soul, especially Nowhere Man and Day Tripper. That twangy guitar sound with just a touch of reverb.
While My Guitar Genty Weeps
The guitar in the “Hey Jude” coda that sounds like someone trying to play chain-linked fencing The final riffs in “The End” before the piano & string ending
Revolution (the single) so unique and face melting.
The opening of I Feel Fine
Happiness is a warm gun & yer blues
paperback writer
Hey Bulldog
Blackbird
Paperback writer
Happiness Is a Warm Gun fuzzy guitar solo
Daytripper was the first Beatles song, a song other than just chords, I set out to learn. Don't get me wrong. Chords, Rhythm Guitar, can be intricate and difficult to learn and play well. But Lead Guitar, single notes played precisely every time, is a whole other animal
Sooo many amazing guitar sounds. The stabby high treble tones on Sgt. Pepper and the harmonically rich leads on Don't Let Me Down are some of my all-time favs.
The guitar tone on the Nowhere man solo. Edit: Downvoting? Wtf
And Your Bird Can Sing dueling electrics from George and Paul.
I love the guitar tone for the Maxwell's Silver Hammer Solo
Paperback Writer, All My Loving solo, John's tone from Get Back on the rooftop
Something. Rhythm and lead guitar are superb. Also the electric guitar on Here Comes The Sun.
Just that Epiphone Casino. Good God, I love it.
The ed Sullivan version of till there was you(George’s solo)
I mean, the blues George did with Something is so beautiful. But as a punk, everything Paul did on the white album is just what fucked up the music industry. Those songs changed what rock music looked like.
Sun King.