Watchtower

angelodp · Post by **angelodp** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:46 am

Just wondering if anyone knows the setup on the recorded version of Watchtower by Jimi.

Guitar
Amp
Effects
Mics
Studio

Ange

KT66 · Post by **KT66** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:41 am

Here's a bit about the studio and mics and stuff, not much about the amps/ guitar : http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov05/a ... tracks.htm

I would guess that the effects would be some combo of the ones he is known for - fuzz face, octavia, wah-wah etc : http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov05/a ... tracks.htm

If he played anything other than the strat, I'm unaware, but you never know I guess. I know he is known for using Marshall's and was a great ambassador for them, but I read somewhere that he used blackface Fenders in the studio.

boldaslove6789 · Post by **boldaslove6789** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:11 am

Ryan,

Thanks for posting that, what an intriguing article. Eddie Kramer was an amazing engineer.

Bob Simpson · Post by **Bob Simpson** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:08 pm

boldaslove6789 wrote:Ryan,

Thanks for posting that, what an intriguing article. Eddie Kramer was an amazing engineer.

That's what Eddie Kramer thinks, anyway.

Bob

Kregg · Post by **Kregg** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:08 pm

For the leads it sounds more like Jimi is using a distortion/overdrive pedal than a fuzz (early muff?).
Before Jimi engages the wah-wah, I think he was using a 12-string with slide and reverb/echo.
Also, I once read that Dave Mason played acoustic guitar on the rhythm backing tracks.

angelodp · Post by **angelodp** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:09 pm

Ryan, thanks for that info, great read. Seems like Jimi and Kramer had their heads on straight... the rest... yikes.

LeeMo · Post by **LeeMo** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:23 pm

I think that I remember reading that Dave Mason played 12 string acoustic on Watchtower. Also, Eddie Kramer once said that Jimi used two Marshalls with a panning pedal between them. I'm not sure if it was on that track though.
Take this as a "maybe" because the Seventies may have clouded my memory.

LeeMo

selloutrr · Post by **selloutrr** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:46 pm

Bass - Fender Jazz Bass
Sunn 200 or 2000s
Sunn 2x15 cab

billyz · Post by **billyz** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:53 pm

In many pics of Electric Ladyland studio I see quite a few Sony C37a mics all over the place. It sure sounds like a Fender reverb amp to me. A Super Reverb, Twin Reverb ?. I know I can nail that tone with a Super Reverb.

vibratoking · Post by **vibratoking** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:17 pm

I know I can nail that tone with a Super Reverb.

Which tone are you speaking about? I hear different tones ALL over that recording. The guitar parts are layered and dubbed, so it is hard for me to hear any particular tone and identify what gear was used. I have an original blackface Super and Twin and neither would be the amp that I would go to for Watchtower sounds.

I'd love to hear it from the master tape on a track by track basis. Then I might have a chance.

NickC · Post by **NickC** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:26 pm

This may shed some light on the question at hand:

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Albums-Ex ... 017&sr=1-1

angelodp · Post by **angelodp** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:29 pm

The lead tones in the intro solo and the later solo breaks.

Gibsonman63 · Post by **Gibsonman63** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:38 pm

There is a lot more going on than just the guitar, amp and effects. An amp recorded through a microphone gets colored. The tube mixers added warmth and harmonics. The tape that they recorded on added compression. Stereo recordings were a new thing, so a lot of stuff was done to show that it was a stereo recording that would not normally be done today.

billyz · Post by **billyz** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:00 pm

vibratoking wrote:
I know I can nail that tone with a Super Reverb.
Which tone are you speaking about? I hear different tones ALL over that recording. The guitar parts are layered and dubbed, so it is hard for me to hear any particular tone and identify what gear was used. I have an original blackface Super and Twin and neither would be the amp that I would go to for Watchtower sounds.

I'd love to hear it from the master tape on a track by track basis. Then I might have a chance.

I was playing my friends Blackface SuperReverb loaded with Jensen c10n speakers and a 1957 stratocaster, It happened, we both knew it was the sound. I am sure the room , the mics, the strings , technique , Everything affects the tone. We were not
trying to get any tone in particular. We are both Hendrix devotees though, we used to play over two hrs of only Hendrix material in our little band. So we listened to him a lot. we were both rather astonished to get his sound with a super reverb. We have the marshalls to use as well. But the Super just had the sound of that LP. Of course All Along the watch tower is so layered with acoustic guitars , it is a very complex recording. I am not talking about the Acoustic guitar tracks, Only the Lead track.

I am not saying I know that is what he used in the studio, only that we heard the same sound with that rig. I am sure he could get his tone with many different rigs.

vibratoking · Post by **vibratoking** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:06 pm

I have that Electric Ladyland DVD that the link above points to. If memory serves me correctly, there is nothing of note about what equipment was used on any of the songs. There is a brief moment where Kramer isolates some tracks for Ezy Rider, I believe. I would have enjoyed a full DVD of track isolation, but the majority of the DVD is guys talking about almost everything, but the gear... I wouldn't recommend it unless you are interested in generalities and information you have probably heard before.

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Watchtower

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great article

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ok

Don't discount the studio effect

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