*Hey ALL George Harrison fans out there...*

usastrat · April 8th, 2004, 03:05 AM

Lately,

I've been listening a great deal to the Beatles and have been wondering the rig George Harrison was using in his infamous "Something".

*Is it a Rickenbacker--> Vox or Fender or Dumble???

*I really like the sound of that nice, fat, clean sound he gets, can anyone help me out????:(

thanks guys!!!

Monster Mike Welch · April 8th, 2004, 03:26 AM

I would guess that it was "Lucy" (his red '50s Les Paul) through one of the big silverface Fenders they got for the recording/filming of Let It Be.

usastrat · April 8th, 2004, 04:34 AM

Do you think it's SF Twin or Bandmaster?

Any effects??

Sorry for all the questions I'm just really fascinated w/ George's tone!!

thanks!!

cg73cmc · April 8th, 2004, 05:41 AM

... The Beatles "Favorites" by Wolf Marshall says that during the time "Something" was recorded, the Gibson LP was George's main working axe in the studio. He and John were also using Fender Twin Reverbs (Paul was using a Bassman 100). They had phased out the old Vox amps by this time.

Now, as far as affects on the solo for "Something" -- I think I can hear a Leslie lending an almost ethereal tone to the piece.

I don't have a Leslie and I don't have a Les Paul -- but I do have a Tele, a Route 66 pedal, and a Fender Blues Jr -- and you can come "close" to reproducing that solo on a Tele. Think if I had a Leslie in the loop -- I could nail it -- well, I could nail the TONE anyway -- I'd never come close with my fingers to the finese that George actually played it with.

Wally · April 8th, 2004, 11:58 AM

Now you guys have gone and done it. That is one of my favorite Harrison tunes. I'll have to hook up the TR with my Maestro rover and see what happens. The Rover, which is a rotating speaker used by David Gilmour for one, is a marvelous thing when teamed with a Fender amp with the Vibrato(tremolo in my world) is engaged.
If he was playing through the TR, there has to be some sort of overdrive device lightly pushing the signal to the amp, don't you think?

cg73cmc · April 8th, 2004, 02:54 PM

Wally wrote:

Quote:

If he was playing through the TR, there has to be some sort of overdrive device lightly pushing the signal to the amp, don't you think?

Wally, I wish I knew the answer to that. Unfortunately for me, I grew up a little late for the Leslies and by the time I found out about them -- people were already starting to use pedals that "sythesized" the Leslie effect -- but I've heard none of them really capture the true effect of a good Leslie.

You can still buy one -- but they are huge and expensive as all getout! Would love to have one though. Maybe one day I'll find a mint one at a yard sale for $3.00 -- ya think?

Well I can dream huh?

Let me know how your experiments work out though.[/quote]

fezz parka · April 8th, 2004, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Now, as far as affects on the solo for "Something" -- I think I can hear a Leslie lending an almost ethereal tone to the piece.

Sounds like ADT to me...And a SF Princeton and the blonde Bassman were all over "Abbey Road"...

Wally · April 8th, 2004, 03:10 PM

Mark, I think that you can duplicate the Leslie effect somewhat by utilizing some of the local talent. Get 4 hula girls and place them 90 degrees apart from each other in a circle and facing you and the guitar/amp in the center. They must move in a synchronized pattern so that the hips of each will be moving out-of-phase 90 degrees to their neighboring dancer. The density and lenghth of the grass that constitutes the skirts will determine the depth of the effect.Obviously, the speed of the hip movement will be a factor to consider. Also, the proximity of the dancers to the center of the circle will have a definite effect on the intensity of the effect.
All in all, I think this would make an interesting experiment. Maybe you could videotape the trial and let us know how it goes.

Seriously, Mark, Maestro Rovers are rare, but if you ever run across one, latch on to it. They are definitely magical in a studio environment.

Lyle Caldwell · April 8th, 2004, 05:17 PM

George used the Twin for the rooftop performance, but didn't use it very much on record. At the time of Abbey Road, he was primarily using an old "transitional" blonde '64 Bassman through a Fender 2x12 cab and a BF Deluxe Reverb.

Something was the LP, and there is the Fender-version Leslie on the clean verse parts, but no Leslie on the solo. Perhaps a bit of ADT, but it's essentially a "dry" solo part.

cg73cmc · April 8th, 2004, 05:41 PM

Wally, you have a great suggestion but my wife knows I like 3 things -- Girls, Motorcycles, and Guitars. She tolerates the latter two -- but NOT the first!

OUTSTANDING IDEA THOUGH! I think the "large" coconut girls would produce a more pronounced rotating affect as there is more surface area on them to reflect sound waves.

My gosh, I need to stop this post NOW before it gets out of hand! :D

Wally · April 8th, 2004, 06:04 PM

Mark, I got married on Kapalua Bay on Maui 4 years ago, and I sure missed my Harley while I was there. Those islands look tailor-made for a bike.

Ray G · April 8th, 2004, 07:08 PM

George used Lucy (LP). For effects he used a Leslie and ADT (automated/automatic double tracking).

April 8th, 2004, 03:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
usastrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 32	*Hey ALL George Harrison fans out there...* Lately, I've been listening a great deal to the Beatles and have been wondering the rig George Harrison was using in his infamous "Something". Is it a Rickenbacker--> Vox or Fender or Dumble??? I really like the sound of that nice, fat, clean sound he gets, can anyone help me out????:( thanks guys!!!

April 8th, 2004, 03:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Monster Mike Welch Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 121	I would guess that it was "Lucy" (his red '50s Les Paul) through one of the big silverface Fenders they got for the recording/filming of Let It Be. __________________ www.monstermikewelch.com

April 8th, 2004, 05:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
cg73cmc Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 46 Posts: 713	The book I have ... ... The Beatles "Favorites" by Wolf Marshall says that during the time "Something" was recorded, the Gibson LP was George's main working axe in the studio. He and John were also using Fender Twin Reverbs (Paul was using a Bassman 100). They had phased out the old Vox amps by this time. Now, as far as affects on the solo for "Something" -- I think I can hear a Leslie lending an almost ethereal tone to the piece. I don't have a Leslie and I don't have a Les Paul -- but I do have a Tele, a Route 66 pedal, and a Fender Blues Jr -- and you can come "close" to reproducing that solo on a Tele. Think if I had a Leslie in the loop -- I could nail it -- well, I could nail the TONE anyway -- I'd never come close with my fingers to the finese that George actually played it with. __________________ Take Care! Mark "If I'd known I was going to be a big guitar hero -- I would have practiced more" -- Ace Frehley

April 8th, 2004, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Natural rotating player/listener/viewer effect Mark, I think that you can duplicate the Leslie effect somewhat by utilizing some of the local talent. Get 4 hula girls and place them 90 degrees apart from each other in a circle and facing you and the guitar/amp in the center. They must move in a synchronized pattern so that the hips of each will be moving out-of-phase 90 degrees to their neighboring dancer. The density and lenghth of the grass that constitutes the skirts will determine the depth of the effect.Obviously, the speed of the hip movement will be a factor to consider. Also, the proximity of the dancers to the center of the circle will have a definite effect on the intensity of the effect. All in all, I think this would make an interesting experiment. Maybe you could videotape the trial and let us know how it goes. Seriously, Mark, Maestro Rovers are rare, but if you ever run across one, latch on to it. They are definitely magical in a studio environment.

April 8th, 2004, 05:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lyle Caldwell Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 535	George used the Twin for the rooftop performance, but didn't use it very much on record. At the time of Abbey Road, he was primarily using an old "transitional" blonde '64 Bassman through a Fender 2x12 cab and a BF Deluxe Reverb. Something was the LP, and there is the Fender-version Leslie on the clean verse parts, but no Leslie on the solo. Perhaps a bit of ADT, but it's essentially a "dry" solo part. __________________ "Everybody sings about Memphis, but nobody ever does anything about it."

April 8th, 2004, 04:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
usastrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 32	Do you think it's SF Twin or Bandmaster? Any effects?? Sorry for all the questions I'm just really fascinated w/ George's tone!! thanks!!

April 8th, 2004, 11:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Now you guys have gone and done it. That is one of my favorite Harrison tunes. I'll have to hook up the TR with my Maestro rover and see what happens. The Rover, which is a rotating speaker used by David Gilmour for one, is a marvelous thing when teamed with a Fender amp with the Vibrato(tremolo in my world) is engaged. If he was playing through the TR, there has to be some sort of overdrive device lightly pushing the signal to the amp, don't you think?

April 8th, 2004, 05:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
cg73cmc Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 46 Posts: 713	Natural rotating player/listener/viewer effect Wally, you have a great suggestion but my wife knows I like 3 things -- Girls, Motorcycles, and Guitars. She tolerates the latter two -- but NOT the first! OUTSTANDING IDEA THOUGH! I think the "large" coconut girls would produce a more pronounced rotating affect as there is more surface area on them to reflect sound waves. My gosh, I need to stop this post NOW before it gets out of hand! :D __________________ Take Care! Mark "If I'd known I was going to be a big guitar hero -- I would have practiced more" -- Ace Frehley

April 8th, 2004, 06:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Mark, I got married on Kapalua Bay on Maui 4 years ago, and I sure missed my Harley while I was there. Those islands look tailor-made for a bike.

April 8th, 2004, 07:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ray G Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 633	George on "Something" George used Lucy (LP). For effects he used a Leslie and ADT (automated/automatic double tracking). __________________ Regards, Ray