Great music recorded on cheap instruments

[_Tay_]

Queens of the stone age. Josh Homme loves a cheap guitar

 

[scuzzy]

Presidents of the united states of america's first album.

 

[Aloe]

one of my favourite guitarists is Jim Hall, and on records I dig he's using his old P90 equipped ES-175, an 'affordable jazz guitar' of that time. I believe, it was cheaper than a Tele back then, so yeah, it could be considered somewhat a budget guitar.

Herb Ellis and Joe Pass also owned and played a ES-175, albeit a 53 revision. some Joe Pass lovers state, they like his tone on the ES-175 best, better than on his more expensive guitars.

 

[Bass-ball]

I specialize in the inverse.

We're twins. I have crazy nice stuff but I royally stink lol

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Well, supposedly, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age used a tiny little solid state Peavey Decade to get that massive guitar sound on "No One Knows". Though who knows, that could be a fun myth/rumor they started. Josh Homme reveals the “secret weapon” behind his Queens of the Stone Age tone: Peavey's tiny Decade practice amp

 

[soundsupport1]

St Vincent springs to mind.

Technically, so does Brian May...

 

[MDBass]

Is anyone aware of any great recordings done with cheap instruments?

I'm talking about clearly heard instruments on songs that have endured, and are held in regard as great moments in history of rock, pop, etc.

Music that sounds great when played through the finest sound system.

Vulfpeck.

A every album before Joe Dart got his signature MM was recorded with either a Squier or a Carlo Robelli bass.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Beatles. Just saying.

I've heard some isolated tracks. So I don't really agree unless you have a specific example.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Google "Sun Records."

Can you be more specific?

 

[ElectroVibe]

Vulfpeck.

A every album before Joe Dart got his signature MM was recorded with either a Squier or a Carlo Robelli bass.

Thank you

 

[ElectroVibe]

Thanks. I didn't know about David Lindley equipment.

 

[antfarm]

Modified (added bridge pickup) Squier Classic Vibe Precision Bass:



Even when they were already famous, Joe Dart kept playing his first bass live, an Olympic White MiM Fender Jazz Bass.

The Squiers and Cort in the Vulfpeck videos belong to Jack Stratton I believe…

 

[Killing Floor]

David Bowie, Kraftwerk, White Stripes, Raconteurs and countless others have used a toy Stylophone on hits.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Update. I'm not asking about obvious ones like punk, early rock music, etc.

 

[chrisan2]

The Police, especially the records before Ghost in the Machine.

I saw Sting on his "back to the bass" tour 10 or 12 years ago. He noodled more than usual on that 50s P bass of his between songs. It was fascinating to hear, but to my ears that bass sounds like garbage when you hear it alone. Sure sounds good in the tunes though.

I agree my sting bass single coil sounds pretty bland but a 57 p would not be cheap.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Back in 1981 (I think.)............David Lindley and El Rayo-X did an album purposely recorded with cheap equipment.

It's a pretty good album but as for great?.........I don't know.

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Interesting. Thanks

 

[ElectroVibe]

How can a listener determine the selling price of any instrument used to record a song? How do you define cheap?

Someone has mentioned a Squier already. That's what I had in mind.

 

[KohanMike]

I collect Hofner copies; the ****tier the better (chuckles). I was in Japan, and Warren and I had been guitar shopping. In the magazines over there, a store will print pictures of its entire inventory. I saw an Audition violin-shaped bass for sale for $125. Audition was the Woolworth/Woolco house brand. I contacted the store, and an employee brought it to the show. It had a brown vinyl gig bag, and it looked great and sounded great, so I bought it.

I'm with Allen Woody, I recently decided to use only 21" scale piezo bass ukes and found that the RondoMusic Hadean Hofner knockoffs are perfect for me. They run about $200, and then I have them modified by Eric's Guitar in Sound City, Van Nuys, CA and painted by Pat Wilkins, also in Van Nuys. These are my current ones (including a custom gypsy jazz by Bruce Wei Arts in Vietnam).

 

[dalkowski]

Can you be more specific?

Not anymore:

Update. I'm not asking about obvious ones like punk, early rock music, etc.

 

[Hammerfield]

Mac DeMarco