lead guitar from “paint it, black” by the rolling stones | ToneDB
paint it, black
the rolling stones
lead guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A bright, jangly guitar sound with a slightly harsh edge, reminiscent of a sitar. It has a distinct mid-range focus and a slightly compressed character.
Gear
- Gretsch Committeeinstrument
- Reverb$1100Sweetwater
- Vox AC30amp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Neumann U67microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Keith Richards recorded the lead guitar part for "Paint It, Black" using a Gretsch Committee guitar through a Vox AC30 amplifier at RCA Studios in Hollywood. The bright, jangly tone with its distinctive sitar-like qualities comes from the Gretsch's unique pickup characteristics and the AC30's naturally compressed, midrange-focused sound. Producer Andrew Loog Oldham and engineer Dave Hassinger captured the performance with a Neumann U67 microphone.
Production Credits
Producer: Andrew Loog Oldham
Engineer: Dave Hassinger
Recorded at: RCA Studios (Hollywood)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gretsch Committee
Amp: Vox AC30
Microphone: Neumann U67
Recreation Tips
- Use a guitar with single-coil pickups and a bright tone, such as a Gretsch or Fender.
- Dial in a clean amp sound with a slight mid-range boost.
- Experiment with compression to add sustain and even out the dynamics.
- Consider using a touch of tremolo or vibrato to add movement to the sound.
- If you want to further emulate the sitar-like quality, try using a fuzz pedal with a pronounced upper-midrange.
Original Gear
- Gretsch Committee(guitar)
- Vox AC30(amp)
- Neumann U67(mic)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Gretsch Committee
Hollow body Gretsch with Filter'Tron pickups that deliver the same bright, jangly tone with pronounced midrange character as the original Committee
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Gretsch Committee
Budget hollow body option with P90-style pickups that can approximate the bright, cutting tone of the original Gretsch
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Vox AC30
Modern reissue of the classic AC30 with the same EL84 power tubes and characteristic chime and compression that defined the original tone
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Vox AC30
Digital emulation of the AC30's distinctive midrange focus and natural tube compression for home recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U67
Faithful recreation of the U67's smooth midrange response and tube warmth that captured the original amp tone
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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