What guitar did Pete Townshend use on Behind Blue Eyes?

Pete Townshend used a Gibson SG Special for the rhythm guitar parts on "Behind Blue Eyes." The SG's humbucker pickups and mahogany body contributed to the warm, full tone heard on the recording.

What amp did The Who use on Behind Blue Eyes?

The rhythm guitar on "Behind Blue Eyes" was recorded through a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier. Hiwatt amps were Pete Townshend's signature choice throughout the 1970s, known for their clean headroom and musical overdrive when pushed.

How to get Pete Townshend's tone on Behind Blue Eyes?

Start with a Gibson SG or similar humbucker-equipped guitar into a high-headroom amp like a Hiwatt. Set the amp to edge-of-breakup for the slightly overdriven sections while maintaining clarity for the clean parts. Focus on preserving both the warm low-end and articulate high frequencies.

What studio was Behind Blue Eyes recorded at?

"Behind Blue Eyes" was recorded at Olympic Studios in London with producer Kit Lambert and engineer Damon Lyon-Shaw. Olympic was a premier facility used by many major rock acts in the early 1970s.

Can you get Behind Blue Eyes tone with modern amps?

Yes, modern high-headroom amps like Fender Twin Reverbs or Marshall JTM45 reissues can approximate the Hiwatt sound. The key is finding an amp that stays clean until pushed hard, then transitions into smooth overdrive while maintaining EQ balance.

rhythm guitar from "behind blue eyes" by the who

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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.

Shop This Rig

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Gibson SG Special(instrument)
Hiwatt DR103(amp)
Neumann U67(microphone)

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 SpecialShop on Reverb

Amp: Hiwatt DR103Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

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

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone SG StandardShop on Reverb$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

Catalinbread Dirty Little SecretShop on Reverb$150-$200

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

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

Reeves Custom 100Shop on Reverb$2800-$3200

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

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

Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_rockrack V3Plugin Boutique$200-$300

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103 + Neumann U67

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

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Neumann U67

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

Sources

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