Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it?

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 03:54 AM

Lynyrd Skynyrd. Simple Man.

We all know the song. We all (I hope) love the song.

The following track is is the guitar parts only for Simple Man. Two guitar parts.

Your challenge is to identify the tone...out of context! How close is it to the original? Is it perfect? Close? Or not even close to the original song?
Better yet... identify what kind of guitars were used. New? Vintage? PAF? Not PAF?

Let's see how good you are

Simple Man

teemunknee · 05-07-2010, 04:12 AM

I can't say I love the song...but I do know it quite well...

The clean guitar parts are very close to the original, but when you added drive, it sounded a bit off tonally, a bit too digital...

Nice playing though!

I'm going to guess though (and I'm probably WAY WAY off lol)
Some type of Les Paul, my guess is a studio with 498/490s on the neck pickup
and One on the bridge pickup.
And for the amp, I'm going to guess a Marshall Valvestate.
For the drive, I'm guessing a Boss DS-1

Again, I'm probably WAY WAY WAY off. It could be a Variax for all I know lol

I don't mean any offense by this, you did a hell of a lot better than I ever could have at trying to capture the original tone

Rich · 05-07-2010, 05:07 AM

Sounds authentic to me. It's tough to tell out of the context of the entire mix though; what sounds good by itself doesn't always work well in a mix and vice versa.

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 05:15 AM

I will post more on this in the morning, and add another piece.

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 12:56 PM

OK, here's the next piece of the song. Now with bass, to put it into a little more context. Is it closer now?

Now with Bass

***b-squared*** · 05-07-2010, 01:12 PM

Sounds great, to my ears (over computer speakers). The drive parts sound a little over-produced, but still with the bass in sounds like the original to my ear.

If I had to guess guitars, I'd say one side was a Strat or Tele, and the other was an LP or other solid-body guitar. Wasn't the original recorded on the Explorer/Strat/LP?

As for pickups, The cleans sound great...it's a blend, so it makes it hard--but it sounds very PAF-fy. The blending of 2-3 guitars makes it tough. I thought I heard some single coil in there somewhere, though.

The blended picking parts sound pretty flawless to my ears, great job on the leads as well.

I'm probably way-off bass, but that's what I hear.

BB

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b-squared

Sounds great, to my ears (over computer speakers). The drive parts sound a little over-produced, but still with the bass in sounds like the original to my ear.....

I'm probably way-off bass, but that's what I hear.

BB

Good guess, B.

NEXT?

After a couple more replies, I will add another part to bring it more into context...

Which part should I add next?

Roman · 05-07-2010, 02:46 PM

Sounds great to me, don't let the nit pickers get you.

The ONLY way to duplicate the sound 100% is to get the exact same players in the exact same room with the exact same gear, producer, etc. Even then it would probably sound different.

***b-squared*** · 05-07-2010, 03:26 PM

Moved to the backstage area to get a bit more exposure...take the test!

BB

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Sounds great to me, don't let the nit pickers get you.

The ONLY way to duplicate the sound 100% is to get the exact same players in the exact same room with the exact same gear, producer, etc. Even then it would probably sound different.

Very right there, Roman

The next reply gets the next bit of the song...for more "in context"

Dan · 05-07-2010, 03:50 PM

Another possible guitar choice would have been a Firebird. I think one of the guitarists played a Firebird and an Explorer later on.

Roman · 05-07-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Sounds great to me, don't let the nit pickers get you.

The ONLY way to duplicate the sound 100% is to get the exact same players in the exact same room with the exact same gear, producer, etc. Even then it would probably sound different.

Not only does it sound great to me, but it sounds RIGHT

There, a free bump. I am curious as to the outcome of this.

kmk108 · 05-07-2010, 04:21 PM

It sounded exactly like the original at the beginning. When the second guitar came in, the mixing was different from the original, but equally as good. I'm amazed that you were able to get the EXACT sound for the clean.

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmk108

It sounded exactly like the original at the beginning. When the second guitar came in, the mixing was different from the original, but equally as good. I'm amazed that you were able to get the EXACT sound for the clean.

Here's the next part

With Organ and underlaying guitars added

NEXT!?!?

Roman · 05-07-2010, 05:47 PM

hmm sounds cool

Phil47uk · 05-07-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

The ONLY way to duplicate the sound 100% is to get the exact same players in the exact same room with the exact same gear, producer, etc. Even then it would probably sound different.

Thank God common sense still prevails..

WolfeMacleod · 05-07-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil47uk

Thank God common sense still prevails..

Time for Drums

With Drums

River · 05-07-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil47uk

Thank God common sense still prevails..

One old fart using it doesn't make it prevalent.

What I'm listening to sounds great and authentic. I don't, however, have anything but a twenty-year-old memory to compare it to, and have no use for the song - only the guitar playing and "tone".

Whomever is playing on that clip is welcome in my band any time.

kmk108 · 05-07-2010, 08:43 PM

The "too electronic" overdrive parts sound great when it's mixed with everything else. I'm not a tone-snob, but think this is amazing. You'd be able to fool me and make me think this is the original without vocals.

Are you testing new pickups?

I'm really curious to see what the guitar setup is.

kmk108 · 05-07-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

What I'm listening to sounds great and authentic. I don't, however, have anything but a twenty-year-old memory to compare it to, and have no use for the song - only the guitar playing and "tone".

YouTube - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man

River · 05-07-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmk108

YouTube - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man

Why does that post so fit your avatar?

Srsly, I'd only compare with a good $.99 MP3 from Amazon or something. I don't think much of the audio quality of YouTube videos. And I really don't feel like listening to that song again, anyway. Sorry, not much of a Skynyrd fan. :shrug:

kmk108 · 05-07-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

Why does that post so fit your avatar?

Srsly, I'd only compare with a good $.99 MP3 from Amazon or something. I don't think much of the audio quality of YouTube videos. And I really don't feel like listening to that song again, anyway. Sorry, not much of a Skynyrd fan. :shrug:

shame on you

I don't like many Skynyrd songs, but this one is deep for me. This one and Tuesday's Gone are a couple of the few songs that I never get tired of.

Yeah, I understand the apprehension towards youtube videos. I tried to find a better quality one. Some uploaders have been able to get great quality.

Roman · 05-07-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

One old fart using it doesn't make it prevalent.

Who you calling an old fart, me or Phil???

Roman · 05-07-2010, 09:21 PM

YouTube - 3yr. old plays guitar covers Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man

WolfeMacleod · 05-08-2010, 01:57 AM

Anyone want the next parts?

For fun, here's just the Drums and Bass

wreckingball · 05-08-2010, 07:49 AM

OK, I had to register just to post this, as it has peaked my interest.
First off, I am a bassist, and somewhat if a rhythm guitarist (the fast stuff eludes me), but I am a mixer and a sound/tone freak!

I'd have to agree with what others are saying (It's pretty close to original) cept for a minor playing glitch on the 7th time round.

So.. When is the cat being released from the bag???

Good playing BTW

Everything under the Sun is in tune...
But the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon

Phil47uk · 05-08-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Who you calling an old fart, me or Phil???

Well we are both old farts and both share the same opinion, so I guess that could mean either of us..

WolfeMacleod · 05-08-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wreckingball

OK, I had to register just to post this, as it has peaked my interest.
First off, I am a bassist, and somewhat if a rhythm guitarist (the fast stuff eludes me), but I am a mixer and a sound/tone freak!

I'd have to agree with what others are saying (It's pretty close to original) cept for a minor playing glitch on the 7th time round.

So.. When is the cat being released from the bag???

Good playing BTW

Everything under the Sun is in tune...
But the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon

Here's your kitty!

Part of the Kitty
And one more part

And the FINAL kitty is coming....

WolfeMacleod · 05-08-2010, 12:32 PM

Here's the final kitty. The last piece of the puzzle.

I have puposely skewed this mix slightly, to demonstrate that unless, as Roman said above, you are there the day it was recorded, with the same engineer, players, equipment, mood, etc... things will never sound the same.

"Oh my god, I've nailed the whatshisname's tone"
"This pickup sound JUST LIKE whosiswhats!"

Sorry...you haven't, and it doesn't....

What's they key here?

Every part is the original part, by the original performer. There were no re-recordings done with this excersize.

Guitar, taken out of context, as with the first example, will never sound quite right. Even if it's the original parts.
Bury it in the mix, and it starts to sound a little closer. As layers upon layers are added, things get closer.

I was surprised here at how many people could and could not identify the original guitar parts for something so familliar.

Bass
Guitar1
Guitar2
Organ1
Organ2
vocal1
Vocal2
Kickdrum
Drum1
Drum2

tk5028 · 05-08-2010, 12:56 PM

Ok then, I would have never guessed.

05-07-2010, 03:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
WolfeMacleod V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 91 Times in 28 Posts	Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Lynyrd Skynyrd. Simple Man. We all know the song. We all (I hope) love the song. The following track is is the guitar parts only for Simple Man. Two guitar parts. Your challenge is to identify the tone...out of context! How close is it to the original? Is it perfect? Close? Or not even close to the original song? Better yet... identify what kind of guitars were used. New? Vintage? PAF? Not PAF? Let's see how good you are Simple Man

05-07-2010, 05:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rich Non sequitur Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,197 Thanks: 484 Thanked 535 Times in 169 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Sounds authentic to me. It's tough to tell out of the context of the entire mix though; what sounds good by itself doesn't always work well in a mix and vice versa. __________________ The best stories begin with a bad decision.

05-07-2010, 05:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
WolfeMacleod V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 91 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? I will post more on this in the morning, and add another piece.

05-07-2010, 12:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
WolfeMacleod V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 91 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? OK, here's the next piece of the song. Now with bass, to put it into a little more context. Is it closer now? Now with Bass

05-07-2010, 01:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
*b-squared* 'MLP Mid-West' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: About 15 minutes from the LOU...(STL) Posts: 19,081 Thanks: 554 Thanked 517 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Sounds great, to my ears (over computer speakers). The drive parts sound a little over-produced, but still with the bass in sounds like the original to my ear. If I had to guess guitars, I'd say one side was a Strat or Tele, and the other was an LP or other solid-body guitar. Wasn't the original recorded on the Explorer/Strat/LP? As for pickups, The cleans sound great...it's a blend, so it makes it hard--but it sounds very PAF-fy. The blending of 2-3 guitars makes it tough. I thought I heard some single coil in there somewhere, though. The blended picking parts sound pretty flawless to my ears, great job on the leads as well. I'm probably way-off bass, but that's what I hear. BB __________________ Owner of BB's Tone Solutions, LLC Official Dealer for Carol Ann amps, Sheptone Pickups, and Landry amps!! Life's too short to deal with bad tone!

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05-07-2010, 02:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Roman Master Luthier V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shasta Lake Posts: 5,844 Thanks: 62 Thanked 1,008 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Sounds great to me, don't let the nit pickers get you. The ONLY way to duplicate the sound 100% is to get the exact same players in the exact same room with the exact same gear, producer, etc. Even then it would probably sound different. __________________ Factories build guitars for profit, Luthiers build them for players http://www.ristguitars.com http://www.wix.com/djwilbanks/Rist%20Guitars http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmicgroovemachine

05-07-2010, 03:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
*b-squared* 'MLP Mid-West' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: About 15 minutes from the LOU...(STL) Posts: 19,081 Thanks: 554 Thanked 517 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Moved to the backstage area to get a bit more exposure...take the test! BB __________________ Owner of BB's Tone Solutions, LLC Official Dealer for Carol Ann amps, Sheptone Pickups, and Landry amps!! Life's too short to deal with bad tone!

05-07-2010, 03:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 4,324 Thanks: 57 Thanked 77 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Another possible guitar choice would have been a Firebird. I think one of the guitarists played a Firebird and an Explorer later on.

05-07-2010, 04:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
kmk108 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The 913 Posts: 5,876 Thanks: 30 Thanked 38 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? It sounded exactly like the original at the beginning. When the second guitar came in, the mixing was different from the original, but equally as good. I'm amazed that you were able to get the EXACT sound for the clean. __________________

05-07-2010, 05:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
Roman Master Luthier V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shasta Lake Posts: 5,844 Thanks: 62 Thanked 1,008 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? hmm sounds cool __________________ Factories build guitars for profit, Luthiers build them for players http://www.ristguitars.com http://www.wix.com/djwilbanks/Rist%20Guitars http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmicgroovemachine

05-07-2010, 08:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
kmk108 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The 913 Posts: 5,876 Thanks: 30 Thanked 38 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? The "too electronic" overdrive parts sound great when it's mixed with everything else. I'm not a tone-snob, but think this is amazing. You'd be able to fool me and make me think this is the original without vocals. Are you testing new pickups? I'm really curious to see what the guitar setup is. __________________

05-08-2010, 01:57 AM	#25 (permalink)
WolfeMacleod V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 91 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Anyone want the next parts? For fun, here's just the Drums and Bass

05-08-2010, 07:49 AM	#26 (permalink)
wreckingball Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan, US Posts: 3,039 Thanks: 290 Thanked 27 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? OK, I had to register just to post this, as it has peaked my interest. First off, I am a bassist, and somewhat if a rhythm guitarist (the fast stuff eludes me), but I am a mixer and a sound/tone freak! I'd have to agree with what others are saying (It's pretty close to original) cept for a minor playing glitch on the 7th time round. So.. When is the cat being released from the bag??? Good playing BTW Everything under the Sun is in tune... But the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon

05-08-2010, 12:32 PM	#29 (permalink)
WolfeMacleod V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 0 Thanked 91 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Here's the final kitty. The last piece of the puzzle. I have puposely skewed this mix slightly, to demonstrate that unless, as Roman said above, you are there the day it was recorded, with the same engineer, players, equipment, mood, etc... things will never sound the same. "Oh my god, I've nailed the whatshisname's tone" "This pickup sound JUST LIKE whosiswhats!" Sorry...you haven't, and it doesn't.... What's they key here? Every part is the original part, by the original performer. There were no re-recordings done with this excersize. Guitar, taken out of context, as with the first example, will never sound quite right. Even if it's the original parts. Bury it in the mix, and it starts to sound a little closer. As layers upon layers are added, things get closer. I was surprised here at how many people could and could not identify the original guitar parts for something so familliar. Bass Guitar1 Guitar2 Organ1 Organ2 vocal1 Vocal2 Kickdrum Drum1 Drum2 dylanR likes this.

05-08-2010, 12:56 PM	#30 (permalink)
tk5028 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lincoln Ne Posts: 271 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Time for a TONE hearing test - How close is it? Ok then, I would have never guessed. __________________ Give a man a match he'll be warm for a day, light him on fire and he'll be warm the rest of his life.

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