Setting up an amp for Beatles Tone

[ecadad]

What are some basic amp settings to get that Beatles tone? Specifically, early Beatles?

 

[JimmyM]

Boost the low end a little, turn the treble down a little, and add a little overdrive.

 

[beans-on-toast]

A Hofner 500/1 with flats helps nail the tone. The instrument has a unique sound. Dig in, play aggressively.

 

[Jim Carr]

How you play—articulation, duration, slides, hammer ons, playing near finger board, staying on or ahead of the beat—all help. But in reality, there is no one Beatle's tone, and for that matter, no one Beatle's bass or bassist.

 

[Dash Lashes]

can you say exactly what about the tone it is that you like? there are many aspects to "tone".

 

[Jim Carr]

A Hofner 500/1 with flats helps nail the tone. The instrument has a unique sound. Dig in, play aggressively.

But but but! Not everything was played aggressively, like for example most of Rubber Soul. First few singles, early albums, especially uptempo stuff—those are another story.

 

[beans-on-toast]

But but but! Not everything was played aggressively, like for example most of Rubber Soul. First few singles, early albums, especially uptempo stuff—those are another story.

Very true. One thing that comes into play, his basses are set up with a high action. It takes a lot of left hand force just to play them. I recall watching him play up close, he was using a pick and his arm and shoulder would shake when he played each note. It wasn't just wrist action, he was really working.

The studio engineers knew how to lay down a good sound. They loved compressors on everything which helped shape the sound.

I was listening to a live album, Good Evening New Your City, the other day. Boy, the Hofner sounds amazing on that recording. Deep with a lot of power.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Paul always said that as the Hofner was such a small, light instrument he played it more like a guitar. I bought one in the mid Sixties and played it till it was stolen in Widnes Lancashire.

I still have one that I was given here in Canada. It's barely playable as the seams are coming apart. It does still have that sound even strung with wires.

 

[middy]

Start flat with a slight boost to high bass 80-100 hz, and a slightly bigger, low q boost to around 500hz, flatwounds with with a pick, steep roll offs at 50 hz and 5khz.

 

[High Camp]

I read a thread on TB a couple of weeks ago about his playing style.
Apparently, he not only uses a pick, but also dampens (if that's the right word for it) with his hand when playing.
A TB-member got that one from Paul's bassplayer.
With said settings, that would give your Beatles-sound a real boost.
(maybe you already knew this...)

 

[seamonkey]

A lot of what you hear is recorded tone
Abbey Roads has worked with several plugin makers to make this available to the world using modern recording gear, and can also be used live.
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