What guitar did Paul Simon use on The Sound of Silence?

Paul Simon used a Martin D-18 acoustic guitar on 'The Sound of Silence.' This dreadnought guitar provided the bright, clear tone that's characteristic of the recording.

How was The Sound of Silence guitar recorded?

The acoustic guitar was recorded at Columbia Studios using a Neumann U67 microphone. Engineer Roy Halee carefully positioned the microphone to capture the guitar's natural resonance while maintaining clarity and avoiding excessive low-end buildup.

Who produced The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel?

Bob Johnston produced 'The Sound of Silence' with Roy Halee as the engineer. The recording took place at Columbia Studios in New York.

How to get Paul Simon's acoustic guitar tone?

Use a bright acoustic guitar like a Martin dreadnought, record with a quality large-diaphragm condenser microphone, and apply gentle compression. Focus on clean playing technique and fresh strings for maximum clarity and articulation.

What microphone was used to record The Sound of Silence?

A Neumann U67 tube condenser microphone was used to record the acoustic guitar on 'The Sound of Silence.' This microphone was chosen for its ability to capture detailed, warm acoustic guitar tones.

rhythm guitar from "the sound of silence" by simon & garfunkel

the sound of silence

simon & garfunkel

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

Acoustic guitar with a bright, slightly compressed sound, providing a harmonic and rhythmic foundation. The tone is clean and articulate, emphasizing the clarity of the guitar's natural sound.

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Martin D-18(instrument)
Neumann U67(microphone)

The Story

The acoustic guitar on Simon & Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence' was recorded using a Martin D-18 guitar and a Neumann U67 microphone at Columbia Studios in New York. Producer Bob Johnston and engineer Roy Halee captured a clean, natural acoustic tone with careful microphone placement to emphasize the guitar's clarity and resonance while avoiding excessive low-end buildup.

Production Credits

Producer: Bob Johnston

Engineer: Roy Halee

Recorded at: Columbia Studios, New York

Signal Chain

Instrument: Martin D-18Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a high-quality acoustic guitar with new strings.
Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot that captures the guitar's tone accurately.
Apply gentle compression to control the dynamics and enhance sustain.
Consider a touch of EQ to refine the guitar's tone and ensure it blends well with other instruments.

Original Gear

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Martin D-18Shop on Reverb(guitar)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Martin D-18 Modern DeluxeShop on Reverb$3000-$3500

Alternative to: Martin D-18

Current production version of the same model, maintaining the balanced tone and clarity of the original D-18

Yamaha FG830Shop on Reverb$250-$300

Alternative to: Martin D-18

Solid spruce top dreadnought that provides similar brightness and projection at a fraction of the cost

Audio-Technica AT4040Shop on Reverb$300-$350

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Large-diaphragm condenser with smooth frequency response that captures acoustic guitar detail without harshness

Warm Audio WA-67Shop on Reverb$900-$1000

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Faithful recreation of the U67 circuit and capsule design, providing the same warm, detailed character

Universal Audio 1176 pluginPlugin Boutique$300-$400

Alternative to: Studio compression

Period-accurate FET compression for controlling dynamics while maintaining the natural acoustic character

Sources

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rhythm guitar from “the sound of silence” by simon & garfunkel | ToneDB