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rhythm guitar from “you really got me” by the kinks | ToneDB

you really got me

the kinks

rhythm guitar

95% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A groundbreaking, raw, and heavily distorted guitar tone achieved by Dave Davies slashing his amplifier's speaker cone, creating a fuzzy, aggressive sound that was revolutionary for 1964. It's punchy, gritty, and defined the power chord riff that influenced countless rock bands.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Harmony Meteor H70 guitar (with DeArmond pickups)

Amp: Elpico AC55 'Little Green Amp' (speaker cone slashed with a razor blade)

Microphone: Neumann U67 (or similar high-quality studio condenser microphone of the era)

Processing: Slashed speaker cone (primary source of distortion/fuzz)

Other: The Elpico amplifier's output was reportedly fed into a Vox AC30 for additional amplification and to achieve sufficient volume in the studio. The Elpico with its damaged speaker acted as the core distortion unit.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded in the summer of 1964 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London, engineered by Bob Auger and produced by Shel Talmy.
  • The signature distorted sound was famously created by Dave Davies slashing the speaker cone of his Elpico amplifier with a razor blade out of frustration after it was damaged.
  • This modification produced a unique, fuzzy, and sustained distortion, which was a radical departure from typical guitar sounds of the time.
  • The song is renowned for its simple yet powerful two-chord (F-G or G-A depending on capo/tuning interpretation) riff.
  • This was one of the earliest hit songs to prominently feature such heavy guitar distortion, paving the way for hard rock and heavy metal.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar with vintage-voiced humbuckers or P90-style pickups; a semi-hollow or hollow-body guitar can add to the character (e.g., Harmony Meteor, Guild Starfire, Epiphone Casino).
  • Employ a low-wattage tube amplifier (e.g., Fender Champ, Vox AC4, Supro) and push it into natural overdrive. The original Elpico was a small, inexpensive amp.
  • To simulate the slashed speaker cone without damaging your gear, use a vintage-style fuzz pedal. A Germanium fuzz like a Tone Bender MkI or MkII, or a pedal specifically designed to emulate the Elpico sound (like the Catalinbread SB-2) is ideal.
  • Set the fuzz for a gritty, somewhat gated, and aggressive tone. Don't over-saturate it to the point of losing note definition.
  • Experiment with microphone placement if miking an amp; a close mic like an SM57 or a ribbon mic can capture the raw energy. For a more vintage studio vibe, a condenser mic slightly further back might be used.
  • Play the iconic riff with aggressive, driving downstrokes.
  • Consider a slight treble boost and a focused midrange in your EQ settings to cut through the mix.

Sources