60's guitar sound

[denmanjum]

I'm trying to get that 60's guitar sound, the Beatles ,Byrds thing through plugins, mostly compressors and my Boss GT-8.
I know that this was done through compressors, I also know there's some hardware out there, like Jangle box that is supposed to do the trick, I really don't want to buy anymore pedals.
My question to all of my illustrious guitar playing brethren.
Has anyone had any luck using VST compressors to achieve this sound?
Has anyone tried?

[brandondrury]

Your approach to this 60s gutiar sound is far from ideal, but if cash is short, it's short.

If it were me, I probaby wouldn't reach for a Boss simulator first. I'd reach for the real amp. This is where 99% of the sound is coming from and where most of the time should be spent. Off hand, I'm not sure how a VST compressor plugin is going to get the sound you are looking for.

Brandon

[denmanjum]

Roger McGuinn on that sound,

At first the Rickenbacker didn't have the sound the Byrds were looking for. One of the engineers at Columbia came up with the idea of recording the guitar directly through the board and not through an amplifier, using tube type electronic compressors, in series, to sustain the guitar sound and give it an even quality.

That's what gave me the idea to use the VST compressors

[Superstition]

It has nothing to do with effects, if you want it, you've got to do it like they did.

1. Get out your old stratocaster or rickenbacker
2. Find a nice clean tone on your amp
3. Get out an older mike, not one that will start crackling spontaniously but that will give the sound a tint of fuzz.
4. Plop the mike down in front of your amp and prepare to pick a side. are you a mod or a rocker?

[brandondrury]

One of the engineers at Columbia came up with the idea of recording the guitar directly through the board and not through an amplifier, using tube type electronic compressors, in series, to sustain the guitar sound and give it an even quality.

This isn't the first time I've heard this. I'm very curious as to what compressors they used for this. Without a doubt, the most colored of all tube compressors of all is actually a tube guitar amp. I'd expect that a good old tube guitar amp is going to get you closer to this sound than any VST compressor I'm aware of. I certainly haven't heard them all (actually only a few) but I can't think of any particular VST compressor that I would automatically reach for while going for this sound. With that said, you can really get a compressor to distort if you use a super fast release time. Only you can decide if any given compressor is giving you the sound you are looking for.

Let me know how this goes. I'm curious how you end up achieving this tone.

Brandon

[Strangedogs]

McGuinn always used a Roland JC-120 SS amp so it needed a tube "fix"... I've actually spoke with him in another forum he used to frequent.

[denmanjum]

You know, I'm pretty close now. I've gone with my instincts, some old recordings and my memory. I'm coming from my Roland GT-8, created a new patch from JC clean,advanced the compression, gone in to my sound card to Cubase through 3 different VST compressors and EQ. Actually it's a fun process because on your way you learn tons of new stuff and create some pretty wild sounds.

[brandondrury]

Actually it's a fun process because on your way you learn tons of new stuff and create some pretty wild sounds.

Agreed. Even if you don't nail the sound you are looking for, you may come up with new ones along the way.

HOWEVER (in caps for a reason!) do not be one of those old guys looking for an old style sound that accepts some kind of plastic, fake, and not-even-close-to-the-vibe-of-the-original. I see way too many dudes on here going for retro and settling for MUCH less. Keep pushing until you find something interesting.

More power to you. I'd like to hear how this turns out.

Brandon

[Matt]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

This isn't the first time I've heard this. I'm very curious as to what compressors they used for this.
Brandon

McGuinn got the early Byrds 'jangle' out of his Rickenbacker by going through 2 Pultec limiters, then into the board.

Harrison went into an AC30 then compression was added with an Altec limiter.

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-Matt