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I always thought it was George playing his Strat (with compression) on "Fixing a Hole". But according to some people, it could be Paul on his right-handed Telecaster/Esquire set-up for lefty playing.

Who do you think was the guitarist?

JakeK wrote:I always thought it was George playing his Strat (with compression) on "Fixing a Hole". But according to some people, it could be Paul on his right-handed Telecaster/Esquire set-up for lefty playing.

Who do you think was the guitarist?

Paul, IMO.

BTW Jake, I noticed you keep pointing out the fact that there was compression on this part. Many if not most of the Beatles recorded parts - including guitars, bass, drums, vocals, whatever - are going through some sort of tube compression (an Altec unit perhaps?).

It was Paul. Paul also played lead on Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, and on the reprise with the Esquire and a Selmer amp.

Greg

It's also Paul on "Good Morning Good Morning". Probably that odd little solo in "Mr. Kite" too. In fact, I don't believe George has any leads or notable guitar parts on Pepper.

Edit: Actually, just re-listened to "Mr. Kite". I have no idea if that's a guitar or not. If it is, it sounds like it was played at half speed or something, then sped-up, and maybe has an odd tremolo effect on it?

Paul played much more guitar on Beatle records than most people realize.

brammy wrote:Paul played much more guitar on Beatle records than most people realize.

Yep, not to mention that Pepper was basically the Paul album

Paul really played some great lead parts on Beatles records.

I've heard Paul talk about how the instruments were compressed when they mixed down the 4-track recorders...

George himself has acknowledged he wasn't too in to the Pepper album, being more focused on his Indian interests than being a Beatle....and John was pretty well into his marathon LSD tripping during the same period (I think).

Link: George on Pepper

Link: Beatles, Martin on Pepper
(not sure why my Youtube link feature doesn't seem to be working.....)

Given other evidence of Paul's lack of patience with others when he wanted something done (ala bringing in another producer for She's Leaving Home), it might be reasonable to assume Paul would have played the lead licks himself rather than deal with the indifference of the others?

Bill

wj350 wrote:(ala bringing in another producer for She's Leaving Home)Bill

Credit where credit's due: George Martin produced the session and conducted the orchestra for "She's Leaving Home". The "outsider" was Mike Leander, who did the arrangement.

bee_atles wrote:Paul really played some great lead parts on Beatles records.

Indeed. I understand completely that if you have the ability, it's sometimes easier to play the part yourself than to explain how to do it to someone else. Take, for example, Paul's trying to explain the falling guitar lick in "I've Got A Feeling" to George in the LIB film. I'm sure he just wanted to grab the guitar and play it, but was aware that the camera was rolling and perhaps wanted to be diplomatic and try to work with George. Being a bass player, I sometimes come up with a line that I can hear but can't play very well. I've been lucky enough to work with guitarists who will play what I want after I give them a recording of my rather terrible demo.

revolver323 wrote:

bee_atles wrote:Paul really played some great lead parts on Beatles records.

Indeed. I understand completely that if you have the ability, it's sometimes easier to play the part yourself than to explain how to do it to someone else. Take, for example, Paul's trying to explain the falling guitar lick in "I've Got A Feeling" to George in the LIB film. I'm sure he just wanted to grab the guitar and play it, but was aware that the camera was rolling and perhaps wanted to be diplomatic and try to work with George. Being a bass player, I sometimes come up with a line that I can hear but can't play very well. I've been lucky enough to work with guitarists who will play what I want after I give them a recording of my rather terrible demo.

I believe in the film he's seen explaining the lick to John.

Jake, the compression came from a Zener Diode Compressor/Limiter during Sgt. Pepper. It was a prototype. Prior to the Zener, Abbey Road used a Fairchild 666 compressor.
I got this info from the book, Recording the Beatles.

And like everyone else has said, it was McCartney.

buzfluhart wrote: And like everyone else has said, it was McCartney.

Just to be different, I'm gonna say it was Ringo. with the 1996 John gave him. In the conservatory.

It's been a long time since I've seen 'Let It Be', but I think the incident we're discussing was between Paul and George. George plays the descending lead over and over, trying to follow Paul's direction, but gets frustrated and says something like, "I'll play whatever you want me to play, or I won't play if you don't want me to play. I want to please you." I believe that was when George got up and walked out of the sessions.