Steppenwolf's sound on Born to Be Wild
Tom Young
anyone responded. This server deletes files within 7 days, it appears.
Does anybody know how Steppenwolf got that incredible guitar sound for Born
to Be Wild? I have subscribed to Guitar Player Mag for about 5 years (and
still highly recommend it to all guitar players), but when they review
"ground-breaking sounds" or "history of the Tele/Strat/Les Paul" or
whatever, Steppenwolf is never mentioned. I think it's ironic that this
song is overlooked, since I believe John Kay actually coin the term "heavy
metal" in it ("heavy-metal thunder".) I always assumed it was just the
classic combination of a Les Paul through a Marshall amp, but I was only 12
when it came out (1967, right?), and I wasn't very savvy about guitar tone
then.
Any response or speculation would be appreciated.
Dano
JERfalcon
the bikes.....Would like to know how to get that tone though...Anyone?
Jerry Pasquarella
"Music is the Best".......FZ
Richard E. Johnson
pedal to an amp. I'm not sure which amp, but in those days it could have
been anything. Most studios only used Deluxe Reverbs or Princetons for most
sessions, but if the band supplid its own amps, it could have been a
Marshall, Sun, Orange or Fender.
John Kay was known to use a Rickenbacker, but he didn't play the lead on
that track. It was the other guitarist.
--
Richard Johnson
{Just playing an instrument doesn't make you a musician,
listening does...}
Tom Young wrote in message <77jqcq$d6p$1...@birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net>...
steve...@my-dejanews.com
"Tom Young" <you...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> I made this request a few weeks ago and didn't have a chance to see if
> anyone responded. This server deletes files within 7 days, it appears.
>
> Does anybody know how Steppenwolf got that incredible guitar sound for Born
> to Be Wild? I have subscribed to Guitar Player Mag for about 5 years (and
> still highly recommend it to all guitar players), but when they review
> "ground-breaking sounds" or "history of the Tele/Strat/Les Paul" or
> whatever, Steppenwolf is never mentioned. I think it's ironic that this
> song is overlooked, since I believe John Kay actually coin the term "heavy
> metal" in it ("heavy-metal thunder".) I always assumed it was just the
> classic combination of a Les Paul through a Marshall amp, but I was only 12
> when it came out (1967, right?), and I wasn't very savvy about guitar tone
> then.
Man you're going back. In those days the music scene was covered mainly by
teen fan magazines. Rolling Stone had come out and sometimes documented the
types of amps, other equipment and the guitars the big names (Clapton,
Hedrix, Page, Bloomfield etc) might be using, but it was only in passing.
Gear was not their main focus, music was.
Guitar Player was born in 67, as a local newsletter from Guitar Showcase here
in San Jose. It emphasised players but also covered the new generation of
gear that was helping shape modern rock's beginning tones. But it had a
modest start, again as a local fold over mailer, for local players. It proved
so successful that the store owner quickly found himself creating a
publishing company to put it together as a legitimate magazine, circa approx
1967. It then took some development time to get it up to the initial
standards it strove for when it went into wide circulation.
There were literally no gear oriented magazines or gear sections in music
magazines, back then like there are today. Just maybe a mention in an
interview with a guitarist about what gear he was using. There weren't as
many active musicians interested in that stuff them, mainly fans (many of
whom would turn into musicians later.)
I difinitely wouldn't think the great guitar tone in Born to Be Wild was a
Les Paul or Marshall. For one thing, Les Pauls were discontinued-due to poor
sales- in the mid 60's and were not easily acquired. Niether were Marshall
amps. Very difficult to get one in 1968 and most American guitarists hadn't
caught on to what they were all about at that point. Most major American
players in 1968 used Fender.
I remember reading an aricle about the Doors in R.S., which included a
section on them in the studio. The Doors got major,in depth coverage at their
peak. The article mentioned Robbie Krieger borrowing a fuzz (distortion) box
from Steppenwolf who were recording down the hall. I believe SW's bass
player also cut some of the Doors' bass parts in studio. (These were played
live by Manzerek on a Fender Key Bass).
In any case, the Born to be Wild tone, to me, sounds like a well recorded
distortion box, dialed in for a medium setting with a lot of edge. I'll go out
on a limb and say I think it was a Fender amp and probably Fender guitar
because of the bite and high end percusiveness (on the chicka chicka parts).
Maybe a 60's fuzz like the Vox Tone Bender or Jordan Bosstone. Not a fuzzface
as they are thicker and bassier. There's an edge to that guitar tone that's
classic and fits that part/song perfectly.
Also, if you listen to the rest of that firast SW album that the single was
pulled from, there are several extended guitar solos that are very obviously
done with a fuzz box, with more cranked distortion. Unlike BTBW, which
really featured the guitar as a rhtythm instrument even though it plays a
key part in that song, those other extended album cut solos sound very
'sixties' and dated now. The fuzz is crude when turned up and the player's
technique shows through as an average example of the psychehedlic,
'quasi(imitation) blues' playing many bands used then-very 'white' sounding,
simple meandering licks, nervous unnatural finger vibrato (if any), lots of
fairly obnoxious fuzz.
Born to Be Wild, on the other hand, is a truly classic recording. Still can
hold it's own when played next to more modern music because of the great
part, guitar tone, overall production and John Kay's excellent delivery of a
timeless lyric.
Interesting that they never went back to that sound for any more hits. Their
second biggest hit, 'Magic Carpet Ride' uses a more traditional sounding
guitar and has the organ much higher in the mix. This could be because Born
to Be Wild was written by the guitarist in the pre-Steppenwolf, Kay led band,
'The Sparrow' who recorded a relatively unsuccessful album (which I think
contains the first version of the Pusher-later a Steppenwolf singature tune.)
The Sparrow broke up and the guitarist who had written the classic 'Born to
Be Wild riff and song, did not follow Kay into the next evolution of the
band. This version of the band would change it's name to Steppenwolf, and the
original Sparrow guitarist, who went under the name Mars Bonfire, was gone,
but not before writing an obvious attempt at a hit single, 'Born to Be Wild.'
John Kay, Steppenwolf's mangement and producers recognized a hit when they
heard it and included a new (and better) recording of the song on the first
Steppenwolf album. This song was a 'career maker' and "broke" Steppenwolf to
an internalional audience maiking quickly making them one of the most popular
groups of the time. It was a great sounding song and it's 'message' fit the
climate in the U.S., in the summer 1968, perfectly.
As a final note, John Kay also got a lot of press as a rock star when he was
on top. He humbly gave a lot of credit to the engineers at American Recording
studios in LA, where SW recorded most of their big albums. American had a
young staff of engineers who were building a reputation as being a able to
give rock music a more aggressive sound back in those early days. They did
this with innovative recording techniques and without having access to some
of the recording tools-like Marshalls-that some of the British groups were
using to achieve a heavier, more Rock sound. Kay said something to the
effect that, the band brought in good material, but the engineers/producers
really gave them their distinct sound on record. IMOHO Steve
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flying is fun
any effects that were on the floor, but I do remember he put his guitar up
to the amp to get that neat sound at the end. I use a Digitech GSP21 to get
the rhythm, but the spacey sound I'm not sure. Definately sounds like some
echo.
BTW, have you ever tried to sing AND play Magic Carpet Ride? Whoo!
Kevin
Mikey B
<you...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>I made this request a few weeks ago and didn't have a chance to see if
>anyone responded. This server deletes files within 7 days, it appears.
>
>Does anybody know how Steppenwolf got that incredible guitar sound for Born
>to Be Wild? I have subscribed to Guitar Player Mag for about 5 years (and
>still highly recommend it to all guitar players), but when they review
>"ground-breaking sounds" or "history of the Tele/Strat/Les Paul" or
>whatever, Steppenwolf is never mentioned. I think it's ironic that this
>song is overlooked, since I believe John Kay actually coin the term "heavy
>metal" in it ("heavy-metal thunder".) I always assumed it was just the
>classic combination of a Les Paul through a Marshall amp, but I was only 12
>when it came out (1967, right?), and I wasn't very savvy about guitar tone
>then.
>
>Any response or speculation would be appreciated.
>
>
Damn, you missed the definitive answer to your own question - somebody
found a recent interview with Michael Monarch, the lead guitarist who
played on the song. Try DejaNews for the full story, but if I
remember rightly, it was an old Fender Esquire plugged straight into a
Fender amp (Concert?).
Mikey B
"Even a blind pig finds an acorn sometimes."
Simon Beck
usually a manufacturer associated with the phrase "heavy metal". And an
Esquire through a Fender amp, too! Hope that this thread shatters a few
preconceptions and prejudices, anyway.
Simon Beck
London, UK
chuck singer
wrote:
>>Does anybody know how Steppenwolf got that incredible guitar sound for Born
>>to Be Wild?
According to John Kay: He used a Rick. Check out a book called guitar
People by Willie Mosley...Good interview about it in there
Jim Brown
I can recall, John Kay played Rickenbacker quite often... as did the bass
player... rats.. I cant recall his name... I do not recall the amp
however...
Tom Young
I didn't mean to insult Guitar Player Magazine- I have subscribed for 6
years now and continue to strongly recommend it to every guitar player I
meet, regardless of their playing ability. I look forward to getting it
every month (a side note- I always flip to the last page first to see what
collectible guitar they are featuring that month!)
I was just suprised that over the last year or so that they have done very
thorough analyses of several different "historic" guitar sounds, yet this
sound has not been covered. Obviously, since it was done on a Ric, they
just haven't gotten to this tone yet!
tkmou...@gmail.com
> I made this request a few weeks ago and didn't have a chance to see if
> anyone responded. This server deletes files within 7 days, it appears.
>
> still highly recommend it to all guitar players), but when they review
> "ground-breaking sounds" or "history of the Tele/Strat/Les Paul" or
> whatever, Steppenwolf is never mentioned. I think it's ironic that this
> song is overlooked, since I believe John Kay actually coin the term "heavy
> metal" in it ("heavy-metal thunder".) I always assumed it was just the
> classic combination of a Les Paul through a Marshall amp, but I was only 12
> when it came out (1967, right?), and I wasn't very savvy about guitar tone
> then.
>
> Any response or speculation would be appreciated.
RichL
news:28fd3da8-fa59-4ec6...@googlegroups.com...
(Maestro?) was used.
jtees4
wrote:
ago. Most of the stuff I own today wasn't even invented yet ;-)
The answer is not clear, but this has some interesting info about that
time. Since it was on their first album, it would have been an Esquire
probably straight into an amp, though it's not clear when he started
using the fuzz box.
"Did you have a main guitar / amp / fuzztone rig you used during the
Steppenwolf years?
Originally I used a Fender Esquire (one pick-up Tele) and a Fender
Concert or Band Master amp. During the second album I switched to a
Fender Stratocaster. For a while we used Rickenbacker amps and then
Marshalls. My first fuzztone was a grey box with one red button called
a Distorte. I don’t know who made that or where I got it but I wish I
still had it, not that it sounded that great but it looked so
primitive."
FROM: http://thepsychedelicguitar.com/michaelmonarch.htm
onewe...@gmail.com
Flasherly
>Richard Podolor both produced and played the iconic guitar in BTBW
the famed classical guitarist Vincent A. Gomez, before touring Europe
as a classicist.
Fonda, true to his roots - pretty much stayed an outcast, according to
shezine, Playboy, who had him pegged well before Easy Rider for a
castoff;- interesting how he largely doesn't show up again to figure
socially until roundabout the 90s. An afterthought.
Listening to The Black Key's cover of The Beatles' "She Said, She
Said," not but a few weeks ago, and that particular rendition hit me;-
Lennon's guitar work, of course, largely true to the BK's rendition.
Like, man... Lennon, while the band was staying with Fonda at Fonda's
house and tripping on LSD, Lennon listening to Fonda recount how he'd
shot himself in the stomach as a kid and nearly died.
Apparently, he did. As might any trouble-free child.
Lennon told Fonda to shut his mouth when he found himself reacting to
the subject in an objectionable way;- some sort of uneasy affect for
lingering dynamics, though, that worked itself through from Lennon
penning the song.
All according, of course, to her, from Fonda's recounting her
rendition. I haven't yet read Lennon's account, also listed on Wiki.
Was Jane in that infamous hottub, as well, during that particular
conversation ... I wonder.
-
Easy Rider. Slang;...Of 1920's blues' derivatives.
"Puts a rocket in his pocket
At the dawn of day
Needs a goodbye kiss in the mornin', mist
You know the man can't stay."
-Robert Woods Edmonson (aka, "Born to be Free")
walshj...@gmail.com
> I made this request a few weeks ago and didn't have a chance to see if
> anyone responded. This server deletes files within 7 days, it appears.
>
> Does anybody know how Steppenwolf got that incredible guitar sound for Born
> to Be Wild? I have subscribed to Guitar Player Mag for about 5 years (and
> still highly recommend it to all guitar players), but when they review
> "ground-breaking sounds" or "history of the Tele/Strat/Les Paul" or
> whatever, Steppenwolf is never mentioned. I think it's ironic that this
> song is overlooked, since I believe John Kay actually coin the term "heavy
> metal" in it ("heavy-metal thunder".) I always assumed it was just the
> classic combination of a Les Paul through a Marshall amp, but I was only 12
> when it came out (1967, right?), and I wasn't very savvy about guitar tone
> then.
>
> Any response or speculation would be appreciated.
In the youtube video of them playing the song Born To Be Wild Michael Monarch is definitely playing his Rickenbacker Electric guitar. It looks like a Rickenbacker Corvette to me but don't quote me on it.I'm not sure of the model yet. Go Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLhpXUtxS1c