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Post by Ripper on May 10, 2006 15:06:36 GMT -5
I was driving to work this morning and some [glow=red,2,300]Boston[/glow] came on the radio... How did they get that guitar sound?...It sounds very solid state if you ask me. I did like it though, but youll have to admit all their songs started to sound the same.  |
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dhd
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by dhd on May 10, 2006 16:31:35 GMT -5
Tom Scholz did all of that.
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Post by 4real on May 10, 2006 16:38:18 GMT -5
"...More than a feeling....." Hey, yeah it is catchy and has that amazing epic quality. The sound cuts right through on radio too, be wary of trying to sing along though... Tom Scholz really "crafted" that sound. A lot of it has to do with the arrangements. There are a ton of very carefully multilayered guitars on there and everything is nice and crisp and precise. There's a bit of space too though so you can hear everything and the arrangement is such that the vocals and drums all fall into their own frequency areas to avoid crowding. I remember when the "boston sound" came out...everyone wanted to sound like that, so they put it into a box (Rockman) but I think the original was with high powered amps and a power soak....lots of compression and distortion as a result. But there were cheats also...I forget the guitar stuff, but the vocals did use some tape loops and slowing down to get those high notes... "...I see my Marianne walking away, waaaayyyy, aaaaaaayyyy, agggggggggghhhhhhhhhh........" (don't try that at home or while driving!!!) ;D Anyway.....you are not the only admirer, check out this... www.rateitall.com/i-218940-tom-scholz-guitar-for-boston.aspxpete |
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Post by Ripper on May 10, 2006 16:49:03 GMT -5
Thanks 4real... Man, that song sure brings back memories for me!  I remember my girlfriend at the time was from the Philipines. She pronounced her " F's " as " P's "....shed sing... " More then a peeling!" id laugh! Its hard to believe its been 30 years since that tune camoe out. |
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Post by UnklMickey on May 10, 2006 18:28:07 GMT -5
i was only slightly impressed with Boston's songs.
but the guitar sound was huge!
i could have even learned to like the songs,
if the local radio stations didn't play them ad-nauseum.
too much airplay is almost as bad as none.
unk
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Post by Runewalker on May 10, 2006 22:17:07 GMT -5
"... Tom Scholz really "crafted" that sound. ..... There are a ton of very carefully multilayered guitars on there and everything is nice and crisp and precise. .... but I think the original was with high powered amps and a power soak....lots of compression and distortion as a result.
peteFriend of mine had a Power Soak that he used with a Carvin that had a tube power section, but SS front end. I helped take that jagged SS edge off, but it did not sound like Boston. Later he used it with a Boogie Mark I, just to control the volume output level. Still has it arround and I want to resurect it for my Twin. Isn't the Power Soak the same thing as Marshall's Power Brake, or is that different? |
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Post by UnklMickey on May 11, 2006 9:44:14 GMT -5
...Isn't the Power Soak the same thing as Marshall's Power Brake, or is that different? it's the same thing....... only different. |
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jester700
Meter Reader 1st Class
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Post by jester700 on May 11, 2006 14:53:39 GMT -5
Well, you're not gonna sound like Boston with only ONE guitar... ;-) He was (along with Brian May) the king of guitar multitracking.
First 2 albums were Marshalls and Scholz Power Soaks (like a Power Brake, but an earlier design - purely resistive & didn't react as much like a real cabinet as newer designs)
Third stage & later were Rockman products, usually customized. The sound didn't change as much as you might expect, since there were so many layered tracks.
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Post by pollyshero on May 11, 2006 17:53:02 GMT -5
...Isn't the Power Soak the same thing as Marshall's Power Brake, or is that different? it's the same thing....... only different. The Power Soak is completely passive & is basically a circuit board with boatloads of resistors and a big honkin' rotary selector switch to choose from a bunch of different levels of db reduction. I once had an old GP magazine with an interview by Sholz where he spoke on the theory behind the design. I've been looking for it (the interview) on the 'net but haven't been able find it. As for the Boston sound, I've been able to come close with an old Boss EQ and lots of distortion - but when I say "close", I mean "reminiscent". Whether you like Boston or not, you gotta admit Tom created probably the single most instantly recognizable and most difficult to reproduce sounds. Guy must've had a lot of time on his hands. Being an electronics engineering prodigy - MIT grad, Polaroid designer (Anyone remember the SX-70!?) probably helped. I used to idolize him until I read that he's so "smart" (in quotes to signify "educated" - the two don't necessarily go hand-in-hand), that it's been reported he's kind of out in left field and somewhat of a butt-head. Wouldn't mind learning a thing or two from him though... |
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Post by sumgai on May 12, 2006 1:09:06 GMT -5
Probably doesn't hurt that he stands 6'5" and looms over you, either.   The only way I know of to get the Boston Sound, as versus the Tom Sholtz sound (or the Barry Goudreau sound) is to use a VG-8 or VG-88. Multiple guitars out of that box all at once does the trick. Tom, Barry and Brad, all at once..... not bad, not bad. Needs more cowbell, though. ;D sumgai p.s. OK, OK, I admit it - I cheat. I also use a GR-33 for one of the guitar parts. There, I've fessed up, I need to use two units to do the job. Now are you happy?   |
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Post by Ripper on May 12, 2006 16:12:06 GMT -5
I swear it sounds like a solid state amp to me.
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