How did the Byrds get their sound?
The Byrds sound came about naturally. First there was the blend of folk and rock styles. Then there were the harmonies. Crosby was largely responsible for the innovative combination of fourth and fifth high harmony parts. Clark and McGuinn sang in unison. The guitar sound was a blend of Gretsch 6-string and Rickenbacker 12-string parts with an occasional acoustic guitar in the background. At first the Rickenbacker didn’t have the sound the Byrds were looking for. One of the engineers at Columbia came up with the idea of recording the guitar directly through the board and not through an amplifier, using tube type electronic compressors, in series, to sustain the guitar sound and give it an even quality. That direct, compressed 12-string guitar sound combined with Crosby’s unusual harmonies made the Byrds recordings sound distinctive and different.
