Boston - Tom Scholtz & Barry Goudreau

Squonk

Got quite retro the other day and bought Boston - More than a Feeling, more out of a sense of nostalgia than anything else.

I did buy the Album when it came out in 1976 and wasn't a huge fan but loved the the big fat Guitar tone.

Still not really a fan, but listening at the age of 48 is quite different to the 13 year old I was the first time round.

Foreplay/Long Time is still a great song, really has the old fashioned prog rock feel, the guitar tone is just so huge and fat.

Tom Scholtz was obviously way ahead of his time, but the question is, how does he get the big fat tone? Or was it Barry Goudreau who played the solos, quite a bit of debate who actually played which solo, but in the end it was Tom Scholtz who got the big sound.

Feel like working out "Peace of Mind" for acoustic, will have to manufacture my own huge acoustic tone ?

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote: Tom Scholtz was obviously way ahead of his time, but the question is, how does he get the big fat tone? Or was it Barry Goudreau who played the solos, quite a bit of debate who actually played which solo, but in the end it was Tom Scholtz who got the big sound.

Scholtz is an electronics engineer and used a pre-amp of his own design. He eventually marketed them. They were great for practice - you could get that big, fast Boston sound in your headphones.

Bob-Dubery

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockman_%28amplifier%29

Squonk

thanks Bob

DonovanB

I reckon the album "Boston" is way better.

I'm a huge Boston fan and am greatly inspired by Tom Scholz. His recording methods are insanely legendary.

plus, he plays a gold top... man with good taste.

AlanRatcliffe

It's all the DI'ing with the solid-state Rockmans (distortion, chorus and short delay). It's a very tight, contained sound (the very tight playing helps too - mostly Scholtz himself) and he did quite a bit of layering to thicken things up.

+1 on the eponymous first LP though - aside from Amanda, Don't Look Back was just a rehash of Boston. Foreplay/Long Time is a classic, but the whole first album is good.

costafonix

Squonk wrote: Got quite retro the other day and bought Boston - More than a Feeling, more out of a sense of nostalgia than anything else.

I did buy the Album when it came out in 1976 and wasn't a huge fan but loved the the big fat Guitar tone.

Still not really a fan, but listening at the age of 48 is quite different to the 13 year old I was the first time round.

Foreplay/Long Time is still a great song, really has the old fashioned prog rock feel, the guitar tone is just so huge and fat.

Tom Scholtz was obviously way ahead of his time, but the question is, how does he get the big fat tone? Or was it Barry Goudreau who played the solos, quite a bit of debate who actually played which solo, but in the end it was Tom Scholtz who got the big sound.

Feel like working out "Peace of Mind" for acoustic, will have to manufacture my own huge acoustic tone ?

I agree Squonk,they were ahead of their time,, great music. Pity they had issues with their recording contracts then as they would've probably produced more hits from the heart than just to fulfill their contractual obligations.
I love those harmonics that come out of Scholtz' sound. :yup:

Manfred-Klose

Scholz had a keen interest in music and began recording demos in his home studio while working at Polaroid. These demos attracted the interest of Epic Records who signed Scholz to a recording contract. Scholz believed his demos were good enough to be the released album but Epic told him to rerecord them. Most of the guitar, bass, and keyboards were performed by Scholz, although other players were involved sporadically throughout the recording of the album. Epic did not want the album recorded entirely in Scholz's home as Scholz intended (they suggested using a recording studio) but most of what ended up on the album was ultimately recorded by Scholz in his basement. The album was released in 1976 and became the biggest selling debut album by any artist up to that time.[citation needed] Scholz's reputed perfectionism delayed the followup for two years. He was unhappy with Don't Look Back and claimed it was released under pressure from the record company. Scholz declared he would not be forced to release any more music unless he was completely satisfied with the final product. Boston's third album Third Stage consequently did not appear until 1986. The album itself was not a large success, though the song "Amanda" did reach the top of the singles chart.[6] Only Scholz and original Boston vocalist Brad Delp remained from the original group on the third album.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Scholz

very impressive.

Chris-Mason

Funny you raised that Squonk I was listening to Boston in my car on the way to last nights show and was wondering what he was using. Thanks Bob for the input.
good show last night, enjoyed it.
Saddle and Nut