What guitar did Pete Townshend use on Baba O'Riley?

Pete Townshend used a Fender Stratocaster for the rhythm guitar parts on "Baba O'Riley." The Strat's single-coil pickups provided the clear attack and bright tone that cuts through the song's dense arrangement.

How to get The Who Baba O'Riley guitar tone?

The key is blending a clean Fender Stratocaster through a Hiwatt amplifier with synthesized organ sounds. You need both the guitar's attack and the organ's sustain working together, then use EQ to make them complement rather than compete with each other.

What amp did The Who use on Baba O'Riley?

The Who used Hiwatt DR103 amplifiers for "Baba O'Riley." These British tube amps were known for their exceptional clean headroom and clarity, which was essential for blending the guitar signal with the modified organ sounds.

Is Baba O'Riley played on guitar or keyboard?

The famous rhythm part is actually a blend of both guitar and keyboard. Pete Townshend combined his Fender Stratocaster with a modified Lowrey organ that had sine wave oscillators, creating the unique percussive sound that drives the song.

Where was Baba O'Riley recorded?

"Baba O'Riley" was recorded at Olympic Studios in London with engineer Glyn Johns. The studio's acoustics and high-end equipment contributed to the song's distinctive sound quality and the successful blending of guitar and synthesized elements.

rhythm guitar from "baba o'riley" by the who

baba o'riley

the who

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

The rhythm guitar has a percussive, almost keyboard-like quality with a clear and present high-end. It has a distinct attack and sits powerfully in the mix providing the foundation for the song.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Stratocaster(instrument)
Hiwatt DR103(amp)
Neumann U67(microphone)
Lowrey Organ(processing)

The Story

The distinctive rhythm guitar sound on "Baba O'Riley" was created by blending Pete Townshend's Fender Stratocaster through a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier with a modified Lowrey organ equipped with sine wave oscillators. The track was recorded at Olympic Studios with engineer Glyn Johns. This unique approach of combining traditional guitar with synthesized elements gave the rhythm part its characteristic percussive, keyboard-like quality while maintaining the attack and presence of the Stratocaster.

Production Credits

Producer: Kit Lambert

Engineer: Glyn Johns

Recorded at: Olympic Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb

Amp: Hiwatt DR103Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Processing: Lowrey OrganShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Stratocaster and a clean amp like a Hiwatt DR103.
Introduce a sine wave oscillator sound (either via a modified organ or a synth plugin) and blend it with the guitar signal.
Use EQ to carve out the frequencies so the guitar and synth elements complement each other without sounding muddy.
Slight compression can help to glue the sound together and provide a consistent level.

Original Gear

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Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb(guitar)
Hiwatt DR103Shop on Reverb(amp)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)
Lowrey OrganShop on Reverb(keyboard)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player StratocasterShop on Reverb$650-$750

Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster

Provides the same single-coil pickup clarity and attack as Townshend's original Strat, essential for cutting through the organ blend

Hiwatt Little RigShop on Reverb$1400-$1600

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Modern Hiwatt with the same clean headroom and characteristic sound as the original DR103, crucial for this tone's clarity

Arturia Analog Lab VPlugin Boutique$99-$199

Alternative to: Modified Lowrey Organ

Contains vintage organ models and sine wave generators that can recreate the synthesized elements blended with the guitar

Orange Rocker 32Shop on Reverb$700-$800

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Budget alternative offering similar clean British tube tone with enough headroom for blending with synthesized elements

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

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Faithful recreation of the U67's warmth and presence, important for capturing both guitar amp and any acoustic elements

Sources

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rhythm guitar from “baba o'riley” by the who | ToneDB