Taxman - guitar solo question?

[rsm]

I used whatever was there. (As it was a very informal setting, I didn't do any prep whatsoever. I didn't even bring my own guitar!) I think I was playing Paul A's new red 360WB through a Tube Screamer into an AC30cc2.

My suggestion is to not get hung up on distortion if trying to dial in that sound, it doesn't work like that. That tone comes from a loud guitar with no center block played LOUD, just on the brink of feedback.

You know what's weird? I've had great luck getting the Revolver guitar sound with a Fender Pro Junior amp. No effects, just turn the amp about 2/3 up. Snarl!

Interesting, points; thanks Kenny. I just heard a clip of the new Vox Nigh Train from NAMM. It gets that early Ric jangle, I suspect driven appropriately to would get close to the Taxman solos without a fuzz. Still one of my favorite "distorted guitar" sounds.

Here's the demo clip:

Rich F., thanks for the GP article post, can't wait to read it!

Stan, hmmm, 7120 amp models will be tough to duplicate I suppose.

Thanks for all the responses!

Peace.

[8mileshigher]

Like this quote from Paul in the article.

“Maybe you could play it like this.” I can’t remember how it happened that I played it, but it was probably one of those times when somebody says, “Well, why don’t you do it then?”

It was George who said,"Why don't you just play it." This was after McCartney told him to really 'attack' the lead.

Another "theory" about Taxman, I must have read somewhere, (in one of the umpteen Beatle books or magazine articles) is that for the "quiet Beatle" to get three songs on Revolver, (including the lead off song on Side 1) when the prominent songwriters would barely give him one song per LP before that, involved a trade off in letting McCartney do his Hendrix thing on George's song. I don't know if this is true, but sort of makes sense in recognizing George's continual frustrations and struggles that came to light in 1968 and '69 to get any of his material considered by the dominant Beatles.
Rich F.

[JakeK]

I'm listening to "Paperback Writer" right now, and I noticed that the guitar sound on that is similar to the "Taxman" sound...could it be the Casino and Tone Bender again?

[soundmasterg]

I think Paperback Writer was the Futurama (George) and Gretsch (John) though I'd have to read RTB again.

Greg

[tennis_nick]

I think Paperback Writer was the Futurama (George) and Gretsch (John) though I'd have to read RTB again.

Greg

PRetty sure that's Paul on a Casino and John on a Gretsch.

George plays the Burns Bass.

[JakeK]

Paperback Writer:

Paul: Casino (with 4001S overdubbed later)
John: Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins
George: Burns Nu Sonic bass

The Nu-Sonic bass would later return on "She Said, She Said" where George played bass (apparently)

[Scastles]

Paperback Writer:

Paul: Casino (with 4001S overdubbed later)
John: Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins
George: Burns Nu Sonic bass

The Nu-Sonic bass would later return on "She Said, She Said" where George played bass (apparently)

George played tambourine, and fills on the final track. Paul and John were both on guitar and Paul added the bass later. George the Gibson SG, Paul the Epi and John on the Gretsch. The Nu Sonic wasn't used in the final mix, it was an experiment which didn't pan out and it wasn't seen/heard again. Instead McCartney played the 4001, where for the first time a speaker (re-wired) was used as a mic off Paul's amp to enhance the bass on the song. Not including the main riff, the verse was a simple G5 blues riff ending the verse on a C5 power chord. A second guitar plays a G#5, in a staccato rhythm.
Sources: Recording the Beatles, The Beatles Recording Sessions ,blah, blah, blah.

[soundmasterg]

Yah you guys are probably right about Paperback Writer.....but I do remember an interview with George where he was talking about using the Futurama guitar on one song, though I can't recall which one right now. He said it sounded great but played lousy.

Greg

[wolfgang]

hi Greg,
this was "Cry for a shadow"

[JakeK]

It was "Cry for a Shadow"...according to "Beatles' Gear", George gave away the Futurama in 1963.

[paologregorio]

Kenny, what did you use on the Mini Con Jam mentioned to approximate or nail this tone?

I used whatever was there. (As it was a very informal setting, I didn't do any prep whatsoever. I didn't even bring my own guitar!) I think I was playing Paul A's new red 360WB through a Tube Screamer into an AC30cc2.

My suggestion is to not get hung up on distortion if trying to dial in that sound, it doesn't work like that. That tone comes from a loud guitar with no center block played LOUD, just on the brink of feedback.

You know what's weird? I've had great luck getting the Revolver guitar sound with a Fender Pro Junior amp. No effects, just turn the amp about 2/3 up. Snarl!

(Kenny, I'm new to this forum...you work for Ric? You worked on the Bose T1 presets, correct? If so, I gotta say, these presets sound great! )

Thanks! John and I helped out with that.

I set the AC30CC2X up for the jam session; I turned the reverb all the way off, and used the recommended guide settings for the "classic" AC30 sound, then tweaked the knobs a bit to get it even closer to the tone I wantd, at least to my ear, then dialed in the master volume to fit the room. I thought we had the tone nailed through the amp on a number of songs. The studio's Hughes and Kettner half stack sounded great with the various Rick guitars as well, doing an equally good job of nailing the tone, at least to those of us there. There were a number of positive compliments on the tone of that amp as well.

I thought Kenny had the tone nailed pretty well; the OD pedal wasn't anything fancy, in fact it was an Ibanez TS10 tube screamer, which was the cheapest version of the tube screamer ever made, but it works. In any case, all that stuff's approximate; if one start's out with decent gear, "it's the painter, not the brush", and Kenny's quite a painter!

[kennyhowes]

Oh hush.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I've always thought that solo inspired a whole style of psychedelic British lead solos. It's hard for me to hear The Moody Blues' "Ride My Seesaw" without being reminded of Paul's "Taxman" solo...as well as the "Good Morning Good Morning" solo...or even the "Sgt. Pepper's" riff.

Paul was something else...they should've let him play more.

[kiramdear]

Paul was something else...they should've let him play more.

+1 His unique style is innovative, imaginative and inspirational. He's very underrated as a guitarist.

[antipodean]

I've always thought that solo inspired a whole style of psychedelic British lead solos. It's hard for me to hear The Moody Blues' "Ride My Seesaw" without being reminded of Paul's "Taxman" solo...as well as the "Good Morning Good Morning" solo...or even the "Sgt. Pepper's" riff.

Paul was something else...they should've let him play more.

+1

The Taxman solo is IMHO the very best solo on any Beatles track. I was quite astonished when I learnt it was Paul. Coupled with the great bassline (especially the bridge), Taxman is one of Paul's greatest performances as a "backing musician".