The Byrds

[TeeBird]

Been digging them lately. Like the production a lot (even though it's ancient-style...I'm retro). I read that McGuinn recorded direct with a lot of compression. My reference track is Tamborine Man.

Any clues on how to move toward their overall sound? Lots of compression on everything? If so, should I compress tracks individually or at the master level? Pan rhythm stuff hard left and right, obviously (yes I actually like that). How about a low pass filter on everything too, cutoff at 5K?

Thanks.

 

[zazz]

you have a 12 string ricky right?

 

[Slowrider]

You beat me to it.

 

[TeeBird]

No, not that. I don't mean their sound, I mean the production style. Sorry, I guess I did say "sound" in my lead in post. Think of removing the Rick and vocals and putting clean Tele or Strat in as the lead.

 

[zazz]

hmmmm....i think to talk about the byrds "overall" sound minus ricky 12 string is a tall order.....but its ok .....i dig it.

as far as i gather they were trying to emulate the beatles .....so taking some examples from the ebeatles stuff of that era would also be an insight.

did u ever read the abbey road beatles book......amazing.

 

[TeeBird]

Yeah, I realize the other instruments are in the background...but I like that background. Stuff doesn't sound like that anymore and I wonder how it's done. I suppose it would require a critical listen. Hope I'm not asking too much.

Probably similar to other productions of the time, including the Beatles.

 

[TeeBird]

No, I read "The Love You Make". There's a book on the recording of Abbey Road? That might help.

 

[zazz]

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Beat..._bbs_sr_1/105-4449892-9402867?ie=UTF8&s=books

it wont give you the answers your looking for on a plate ...but as an insight into the era that you are intrested in i would say its a great book to have ....you will be dipping into it for a long time.

 

[TeeBird]

Very cool.

 

[zazz]

"i see you"... i would love to be a fly on the wall of that session.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Jim/Roger McGuinn originally used a small transistor radio, modified to overdrive the signal from his Ric. The "radio" then overdrove the board preamp. All the other musicians on Tambourine Man were studio musicians - only Roger played on their first record.

Later, David Crosby (one of the finest rhythm guitar players around) played rhythm guitar, a Gretch Country Gentleman, as I recall. Chris Hillman played a Fender Jazz bass.

They started out live with Gene Clark playing rhythm guitar while David played a Fender VI 6 string bass. That didn't work, so they recruited Chris Hillman for bass and David switched to rhythm guitar.

The keys to the Byrds sound (only in my opinion, of course) were Roger's 12 string, David's vocal harmonies, and Roger's unique voice.

Does that about cover it?

 

[TeeBird]

My lead in post wasn't very clear, sorry. I'm interested in how the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar (and percussion I suppose) were tracked, mixed, and mastered, oddly enough. I mean I love McGuinn's guitar and the vocals, but I am interested in appropriating the backup sound (to some degree) for my own recordings if possible.

I suppose that sound could be a result of the gear they were using back in the day?

 

[TeeBird]

Well (answering my own question) I think the rhythm section is compressed but I think the instruments are panned hard and then eq'd so they don't step on each other. What I like is the way you can hear everything, even if it's low. I realize that the bass doesn't really sound like a bass, etc., and it would be considered crap today, but I still like it.

I'll try that approach. Thanks.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Maybe this will help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/mtm.html

 

[Dani Pace]

Try to find a copy (video) of Tom Dowd and The Language Of Music. This documentary has some amazing footage of vintage recording techniques (and some of music's great artists in the studio) which may give you some ideas on what was nessassary to get some of those classic sounds. Things were a lot different back in the 3&4 track tape days but one thing is still the same, good musicians in good rooms make the best recordings.

 

[YeshuasFan]

I'm not sure you can isolate the instrumentation from the production when talking about the Byrds' signature sound. For that matter, I think that is true for any recording artist. They seek a certain producer, record in a certain facility, use specific instruments all for one thing--in the hopes that the unique alchemy from those elements combined will bring the vision each has for his/her/their music into reality.

Sorry for being so metaphysical here but I really believe that is the case.

Bottom line is, the 12-string Ric was a key element in their overall sound and if you take that out of the mix, you might have a vague shadow of their sound, but it won't even be close.
And if you decide to go with the 12-string Ric, learn to play some banjo. It was McGuinn's use of banjo playing techniques with jazz phrasing that really helped the sound coalesce.