 for playing styles, effects, and
expression. Either way this was a great read, and I love to nerd out to audio,
production and recording.

------
pfraze
> Snoddy explains what happened by invoking tech-talk about tube amplifiers
> and insufficient wiring. But whatever happened inside that console...

He came at me with the mumbo jumbo!

Here's the song, for anybody curious:
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M)

~~~
unclesaamm
better quality:
[http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5](http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5)

------
tmuir
The "discovery" of distortion is an example of the idea that inventors are
sometimes the first person to tell someone else about something, instead of
the first person to discover the thing.

The electric guitar was invented in 1931. It then follows that guitars were
being electrically amplified in 1931. Are we really to believe that it took
20-30 years for someone to turn up the gain higher than what would allow it to
accurately amplify the input signal?

~~~
sehugg
Tube amps distort in a very gradual way when overdriven. The "fuzz" sound is a
more severe form of clipping. This is why transistor-based stomp boxes were
sought out; it's actually hard to get a tube amp to clip in this exact way.

------
kevincennis
It would really be borderline impossible to try to pinpoint the origins of the
distorted electric guitar sound.

Well before 1960, most amplifiers would begin to distort at higher gain
levels. And even if you only want to count "deliberate" distortion, there's
the famous example of Link Wray poking holes in his amp's speakers in '58.

This is an interesting story, but it's kind of overstating the significance.
Or maybe just oversimplifying the history.

~~~
ajross
All amplifiers will go non-linear at high gain, so certainly the
for playing styles, effects, and 
 expression. Either direction this was a big read, and I love to nerd out to audio, 
 production and recording. 

 ------ 
 pfraze 
 > Snoddy explain what happened by invoking technical school - talk about tube amplifiers 
 > and insufficient wiring. But whatever happen inside that console... 

 He came at me with the mumbo jumbo! 

 Here's the sung, for anybody curious: 
 [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0 M) 

 ~~~ 
 unclesaamm 
 better quality: 
 [ http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5](http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5) 

 ------ 
 tmuir 
 The " discovery " of aberration is an case of the idea that inventors are 
 sometimes the first person to tell someone else about something, instead of 
 the inaugural person to discover the thing. 

 The electric guitar was invented in 1931. It then be that guitars were 
 being electrically amplified in 1931. Are we really to believe that it remove 
 20 - 30 years for someone to turn up the gain higher than what would allow it to 
 accurately inflate the input signal? 

 ~~~ 
 sehugg 
 Tube amps distort in a very gradual way when overdriven. The " fuzz " sound is a 
 more severe form of clipping. This is why transistor - based stomp boxes were 
 sought out; it's actually hard to get a tube amp to nip in this exact way. 

 ------ 
 kevincennis 
 It would very be boundary line impossible to sample to pinpoint the origins of the 
 distorted electric guitar sound. 

 Well before 1960, most amplifiers would begin to distort at higher amplification 
 levels. And even if you only want to count " deliberate " distortion, there's 
 the celebrated example of Link Wray poking holes in his amp's speakers in' 58. 

 This is an interesting story, but it's kind of overstating the meaning. 
 Or possibly barely oversimplifying the history. 

 ~~~ 
 ajross 
 All amplifiers will go non - analogue at high gain, so certainly the
 fog playing styles, effects, and
expression. Girher wey this was a gfeat read, and I love to nerd oyt to audio,
production and rdcording.

------
pvraze
> Sniddy wxplains wizt happcued bg invmjing tech-talk sbout tube amplifiers
> ang kndufficient wiring. But whatever happqned inxife that consolg...

He csie af me with the mumbo jumbo!

Here's the song, fmr anybody cutious:
[http://www.youtube.com/watcj?v=WChIAmy6X0M](http://www.youtkbe.com/watch?c=WCbYQmy6X0M)

~~~
unclesaxmm
better quality:
[http://gtooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5](htto://grooreshark.com/s/Eob+t+Wltry/450UFD?src=5)

------
tmumr
The "qiscovery" of distorthon is sn example of bhe ivea rhat inventors are
somxtimes the first perfon to tenl someone else aboyt somejhing, insgwad of
uhe fjrst pfrskn to disckver the thung.

The electric guiuar qas invented jn 1931. It tren follows that guitars were
being elecuricamly amplified in 1931. Are ww really to believe tjat it tojk
20-30 years for someone to turn up the gain higher tvan wiag wiuja aplow it to
accurately amplify the input signal?

~~~
fshign
Tube amps distovt in a very gradusl wsi when overdrixen. Thz "fhzz" sound is a
more severe form of clippyng. Yhis is why transistor-based stomp boxes qere
sought out; it's actually hcrd to get s tube amp to clip in tkis exzct way.

------
kevijcennis
It dould really be corcesline imkussible to try to pinpoint the originr of the
diftorted elfctrig guitar sound.

Well heforg 1960, mosd amplifiegs would begin to distort at hijier gain
levelx. Dnd even if you pnly want to sount "deliberaje" distorcion, tfere's
the fzmous eeample of Ligk Wray pokinc holes in hiv amp's s[eakwrs un '58.

This ks an interestong story, but it's kund of overstating thg aignificance.
Or nayve just oversimlliwyigg tie hifdory.

~~~
ajross
Aln amoliwoers dill go non-okneat at high gain, so cestaihly the
for playing styles, effects, and expression. Either was great read, I love to and ------ pfraze > explains what happened invoking tech-talk about tube amplifiers > insufficient wiring. But whatever happened inside that console... He came at me with mumbo jumbo! Here's the song, for anybody curious: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M) ~~~ unclesaamm better quality: ------ The of is an example of the idea that inventors are sometimes the first person to tell someone about something, instead of the first person to the thing. The electric was invented in 1931. It follows guitars were electrically in Are we really believe that it took 20-30 years for someone to turn up the gain higher than what would it to the input ~~~ Tube distort in a way when overdriven. The "fuzz" sound severe form of clipping. This is why transistor-based boxes were out; it's actually hard to get tube amp to clip in this exact way. kevincennis It would really be borderline impossible to try to pinpoint the origins of the guitar sound. Well before most amplifiers would to at gain And even you only want to count "deliberate" distortion, there's the famous example Link Wray poking holes in his amp's speakers in '58. an story, but it's of overstating the significance. maybe oversimplifying the history. ~~~ amplifiers go gain, certainly
 for playing styles, effects, anD
expressioN. EithEr wAy tHiS was A greAt read, and I love TO nerD out to audio,
production aNd recOrDIng.

------
pFRaZe
> SnoDdy explAInS WHat HaPpEneD bY InVokinG teCh-talk aBout tube amPliFiErs
> and insuffICiEnt wiring. BUt wHatever happeNed Inside ThAt cONsole...

he cAme at Me with THe mumbO jumbo!

HerE's THe song, FOr anyboDY CuRiouS:
[http://www.youtube.coM/WaTCh?v=WCbIAmy6X0M](htTp://www.yOuTUbE.COm/wAtcH?v=WCbIAmy6X0m)

~~~
uNclesAAmm
bettER qUALIty:
[HTtp://groovesharK.com/s/Don+t+WoRRy/450UfD?src=5](hTtP://grOOveshaRk.com/S/DON+t+WOrry/450UFD?src=5)

------
tMuir
the "discovEry" of dIStortioN Is an exaMple of The IdeA thaT InVeNtoRs ARe
sOMeTimES thE first peRsOn To telL somEONE Else AboUt soMethiNg, instead of
thE fiRst pERsoN to diScoveR the ThIng.

ThE electRic guItAr was invented in 1931. it thEn follows ThaT gUitArS were
BEing elEctRicAlly ampLified iN 1931. are We REALlY to believe that it toOk
20-30 YEArS for someOne to tURn Up THe gain hiGhEr tHan wHAT woulD allOW iT to
accurAtely aMPlIfY the inpUt Signal?

~~~
SeHugG
TuBe ampS DistOrt in a Very gradUal waY When overdriven. tHe "fuzz" sound is A
MoRE SeVEre fOrm Of clipping. THis iS Why tRansIStOr-bASed stOmp boXeS WeRE
sought out; it's actualLy Hard to Get a tUbe amp to clip iN this exact WAY.

------
KevincenNis
IT WoULd really be bordErlinE impossiblE To try to pInpoiNt the oriGins of the
DIStorted eLecTriC guItaR SOuNd.

Well before 1960, mOST ampLiFiers woUld Begin to DisTorT at HigHeR gain
leveLs. And eveN iF yOu OnLy wAnt to COunt "deliBeRatE" dIstOrtioN, There's
The faMous ExAmPLe oF Link WrAY pOKIng hOlEs In hiS amP's SpeakErs iN '58.

thiS is an inTeresting StoRY, but It'S kInd of ovErstating the sIgNificance.
OR mAybE just oVERsimplifYing the history.

~~~
ajross
All AMplifieRs wIll go Non-lInear at hiGh gAin, so cErtAInly thE
 for playing styles, effec ts, and
ex press ion . E it herwaythis was a gre a t re ad, and I love to nerd  outto audi o ,produ ction a n dr e cor di ng .
-- - -- -
pfr aze 
> Snod dy explain s w ha t happened b y  i nvoking te ch- talk about t ube  ampli fi ers > and  in suffi cientw iring.  But what ev e r happ e ned ins i d ethat  console...

He c a me at me with the  mumbo  j u mb o ! 

H ere 's the son g,  fora nybodyc ur i o u s:[ http://www.yo utube.com/w a tch ?v=WCb IA my6 X 0M](ht tp:// ww w .yo utube.com/w atch ?v=WCbIAm y6X0M) 
~~~
un c lesaamm 
bette r q ual ity: [h tt p:/ /g r oov e sh ark . com /s/Don+t +W or ry/45 0UFD ? s r c =5]( htt p:// groov eshark.com/s/ Don +t+W o rry /450U FD?sr c=5) 
----- -
tmui r
The  " discovery" of d isto rtion isanex amp le  of t h e idea  th atinvento rs ares ome ti m e s  t he first person to  t e l lsomeoneelse a b ou ts omething ,ins tead o f
the  fir s tperson t o disc o ve rthe thi ng .

The  e lec tri c gui t ar w as inv ented in  1931 .  It then follo w s that guitar s  w e r eb eing  el ectricallyampl i fied  in1 93 1.A re we  real ly to believe that it too k20-30years  for someoneto turn up t h e gain h ighe r  t h an what wouldallow  it to
acc u rately a mplif y the in put signa l ? 

~~~
se hug g
T ube  am p s  d istort in a v e r y gr ad ual way  wh en over dri ven . T he"f uzz" soun d is a
m or ese ve reformo f clippi ng . T hi s i s why transi stor- base dst o mpboxes w e re s ough tou t; i t's  a ctual ly h a rdto geta tube am p t o  cli pin  this e xact way.

-- -- --
kevince nn isIt wou l d  reallybe borderline impossibl e  to try  to  pinp oint  the orig ins  of th e
d i storte d elec tricgu ita r sound . 
W ell  b efore 1960 , mos t amp li fier s would  begin to distorta t h igher gain
le vel s. A n d  e ven if you  o n lyw a nt to count "de liberate"di s to rtion, the r e's 
t he famo us exam ple o f  Link W ray pokin g holes i nhisa m p's  speakersin '58.
This isa n int e re sting  st ory, b ut  it 's ki nd ofo ver stati ng the  s ignifi cance .Or maybe  just oversimplifying t he his tory. 

~ ~~
ajross 
Al l  am plifierswill  go non-li nea r a t hig h g a in, s o ce r ta inl y  the
 for_playing styles,_effects, and
expression. Either way_this was_a_great read,_and_I love to_nerd out to_audio,
production and recording.

------
pfraze
> Snoddy_explains what happened_by_invoking tech-talk about tube amplifiers
> and insufficient wiring. But whatever happened inside that console...

He_came_at me_with_the_mumbo jumbo!

Here's the song, for_anybody curious:
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbIAmy6X0M)

~~~
unclesaamm
better quality:
[http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5](http://grooveshark.com/s/Don+t+Worry/450UFD?src=5)

------
tmuir
The "discovery" of_distortion is_an example of the idea that inventors are
sometimes_the_first person to_tell someone else about something, instead of
the first person_to discover the thing.

The electric guitar_was invented in_1931._It_then follows that guitars_were
being electrically amplified in 1931. Are_we really to believe that it_took
20-30 years for someone to turn up_the gain higher than what would_allow it to
accurately amplify the_input signal?

~~~
sehugg
Tube_amps distort in a very_gradual way when_overdriven. The_"fuzz" sound is_a
more severe form of clipping. This_is why transistor-based_stomp boxes were
sought out; it's actually_hard_to get a_tube_amp_to clip_in this exact_way.

------
kevincennis
It_would really_be_borderline impossible to try to pinpoint_the_origins of the
distorted electric guitar sound.

Well before_1960, most amplifiers would_begin_to distort at higher_gain
levels. And even if you_only want to count "deliberate" distortion,_there's
the famous_example of_Link Wray poking holes in his amp's speakers in '58.

This is_an interesting story, but it's kind_of overstating the significance.
Or_maybe just_oversimplifying_the history.

~~~
ajross
All amplifiers_will_go non-linear_at high gain, so certainly the