Matchbox

RutleDirk · Post by **RutleDirk** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:27 am

I hear a 12-string rhythm guitar on Matchbox. It's quite apparent to me, and I'm sure it's not the piano. Anyone else hear it? Lennon's 325/12, maybe?

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:00 am

Dennis,
I think, George was playing his twelve string Rickenbacker (rhythm guitar)and John was playing his 325/Miami ( rhythm guitar take , best heard at the intro and solo part, played in one take) But he spoilt the solo so it was dubbed later. For some reason it is not mixed down in the mono mix.
John played the solo in the early days, there is a BBC version out with Ringo introducing the guitar solo as "alright John".

RutleDirk · Post by **RutleDirk** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:20 am

Possibly. I'm basing my theory on the fact that Lennon received his 325/12 just a day or two before they recorded Matchbox. Given that it was something new and different, I'm sure he wanted to try recording with it immediately. Seems just a bit too coincidental that a song suddenly cropped up at precisely this time, with a 12-string rhythm guitar. Doesn't quite sound the same as George's 360/12, either.

I believe they recorded Every Little Thing during the same sessions. Isn't the general consensus that Lennon recorded this one with his 325/12?

bosifis · Post by **bosifis** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:50 pm

Through my ears, it sounds like a double-tracked lead...Just like the solos in I Feel Fine and She's A Woman.......

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:06 pm

yes, the dubbed solo is double tracked to my ears, too. And, in the mono mix, you can hear the scratch solo bleeding through, too. To me it's John on his 325/Miami.
BTW: can somebody help me how to play the intro? Intro-52889.unkyes, the dubbed solo is double tracked to my ears, too. And, in the mono mix, you can hear the scratch solo bleeding through, too. To me it's John on his 325/Miami.
BTW: can somebody help me how to play the intro?

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:01 am

Wolfgang: There are a number of different ideas on how the intro to Matchbox was recorded. I am convinced that, in the beginning, this was conceived based around the A chord and played on one guitar not two. Lennon was innovative or lazy depending on your point of view. I consider that he was both innovative and lazy when it comes to his guitar playing.

Here is my take on it, in any event.

1. Bar the second third and fourth strings on the second fret with your index finger. In the timing from the recording play one downstroke and followed by one upstroke of this chord (no high E) as eight notes.

2. Next on the third downstroke still holding the A chord formation move your ring finger to the G note (third fret of low E) also an eighth note.

3. Finally an upstroke on the A chord as you started, again an eighth note.

There are two of these completed riffs 1 to 3 in each bar.

No matter what George is going, my view is that based on the style this signature guitar intro is played by John.

It is also interesting that he falls into the "I Call Your Name" pattern in this song. There are several examples of this throughout the Beatles' music.

Please give this a whirl and let me know what you think.

Finally, a variation of this intro is that the ring finger bars off both A and E strings at the third fret not just the E string. An interesting sound to be sure.

We could also discuss that this introduction may argue for round wound instead of flat strings.

kog · Post by **kog** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:39 pm

Peter: I'm sitting here playing it, and I think you've got it exactly right. It's a lot harder to play than I thought....getting the ring finger to hit the "G" on the low E string is tricky. My ring finger keeps moving towards the 4th fret!

Also interesting is Wolfgang's observation about John's overdubbed solo over a "spoilt" solo. The same sort of thing happens towards the end of the song on Ringo's vocals. Makes me wonder if they were just trying to knock this song out, and go home for the day.

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:28 pm

yes, it's a bit tricky to play, but it sounds good to me, especially with the third fret on the A-string. And he walks even up to D and down to E to play somethig similar to the intro. Peter, it was a fresh set of Pyramid flats on my 325v63 leading my attention to Matchbox: "this is THE sound!"

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:27 am

Good observations Wolfgang and Jerry. This song is more interesting than it first appears.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:31 am

Carl Perkins plays it just like The Beatles did on the original and it is easier to hear. A lot of the old rock a billy and C&W guitar players used to take liberties with the guitars like that.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:43 am

I love the version that McCartney plays on one of the soundcheck tracks on "Tripping the Live Fantastic". It really rocks!

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:23 pm

Carl Perkins himself was present in the studio when they recorded that track! I'm sure its release (along with "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" and "Honey Don't") earned him a bunch of $$ at a time when his own career was not too successful.