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rhythm guitar from “behind blue eyes” by the who | ToneDB

behind blue eyes

the who

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A clean, slightly overdriven guitar sound with a warm and full low-end response. The tone is raw and powerful, but remains articulate with defined high-end.

Gear

Gibson SG Specialinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Hiwatt DR103amp
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Neumann U67microphone
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The Story

Pete Townshend recorded the rhythm guitar parts for "Behind Blue Eyes" using a Gibson SG Special through a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier at Olympic Studios. The track was produced by Kit Lambert and engineered by Damon Lyon-Shaw, capturing Townshend's characteristic slightly overdriven Hiwatt tone. The guitar sound balances clean passages with pushed tube saturation, maintaining the articulation that defined The Who's sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Kit Lambert

Engineer: Damon Lyon-Shaw

Recorded at: Olympic Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson SG Special

Amp: Hiwatt DR103

Microphone: Neumann U67

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson SG and a Hiwatt-style amp model. Use the bridge pickup for a brighter tone.
  • Set the amp gain to achieve a slightly overdriven sound. Adjust the EQ for a warm, full low-end and clear high-end.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired amp tone. A dynamic microphone like an SM57 can also work well.
  • Use light compression to even out the dynamics and add sustain.

Original Gear

  • Gibson SG Special(guitar)
  • Hiwatt DR103(amp)
  • Neumann U67(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone SG Standard$400-$500

Alternative to: Gibson SG Special

Provides the same humbucker pickup configuration and mahogany body tone as Townshend's SG at a budget-friendly price point

ReverbSweetwater
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret$150-$200

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Specifically designed to recreate the Hiwatt DR103's clean-to-crunch transition and EQ characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Reeves Custom 100$2800-$3200

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Hand-built recreation of the classic Hiwatt circuit using the same transformers and components as vintage units

ReverbSweetwater
Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_rockrack V3$200-$300

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103 + Neumann U67

Features accurate Hiwatt amp modeling with vintage microphone emulations for home recording

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Industry standard dynamic mic that captures guitar amps with similar clarity and presence to vintage condensers

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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