Tone Profile

A bright, punchy, and iconic guitar riff with a slightly gritty edge and clear articulation, characteristic of mid-60s Beatles. The doubled guitar lines create a powerful, driving sound.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded on October 16, 1965, at EMI Studios (Abbey Road), Studio Two.
• Produced by George Martin and engineered by Norman Smith.
• The distinctive guitar riff was intentionally crafted by John Lennon to be the song's main hook.
• The main riff is famously played in unison by John Lennon (Rickenbacker 325) and George Harrison (Gretsch Tennessean), creating a thick, powerful sound.
• Recorded to a Studer J37 four-track tape machine.

Recreation Tips

• Use a bright-sounding guitar, ideally with single-coil or 'toaster' pickups (e.g., Rickenbacker, Gretsch with Filter'Trons, or a Telecaster/Stratocaster on bridge pickup).
• Employ a British-voiced amplifier (e.g., Vox AC-style) set to a clean-ish tone with some breakup when dug into, emphasizing treble and upper-mid frequencies.
• A treble booster pedal can significantly help in achieving the characteristic bite and clarity, especially with darker sounding pickups or amps.
• Play with a pick, focusing on a strong, articulate attack, possibly picking closer to the bridge.
• To fully capture the original sound, double-track the guitar riff. Pan one track slightly left and the other slightly right for width, or keep them centered but distinct.
• Add a subtle amount of plate-style reverb for ambience, avoiding excessive decay.

Recommended Gear

• Rickenbacker 325C64(guitar)
• Gretsch G6119T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Tennessee Rose(guitar)
• Vox AC30 Custom (or AC15 Custom for lower volumes)(amp)
• AnalogMan Beano Boost (Dallas Rangemaster clone)(pedal)
• Neumann U47 (or modern equivalent like Neumann TLM 103 or Warm Audio WA-47)(mic)
• Source Audio True Spring Reverb (Plate setting)(pedal)