That 70's Acoustic Sound

[lukegard22]

Maybe this has previously been discussed, but I just wanted to see if anyone else thinks like me (or maybe I'm crazy.)

Does anyone else love the sound of acoustic guitar recordings in the 70's? Super thunky, but with shimmering high end.
I don't think it would fit in "today's music" but man, it is full of good vibes.

Examples:
Marshall Tucker Band
James Taylor
Jim Croce
Eagles
Joni Mitchell
Jackson Browne

Was there a secret sauce to this sound?

[Martie]

Originally Posted by lukegard22

Was there a secret sauce to this sound?

Yes - there were no forums for people to obsess so they just got on with it!

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by lukegard22

Super thunky

I think I've just found a new name for my band.

[Nyghthawk]

With the caveat that it is just my .02 worth. Most of the acoustic music I remember from that era was played on one (or more) of four basic instruments: Martin's D-18 or D-28 and Gibson's J-45 or Hummingbird. Very basic guitars with basic recording techniques.

[L20A]

A lot of great songs came from the seventies.
IMHO, it started to go downhill from there.

[lukegard22]

Originally Posted by Nyghthawk

With the caveat that it is just my .02 worth. Most of the acoustic music I remember from that era was played on one (or more) of four basic instruments: Martin's D-18 or D-28 and Gibson's J-45 or Hummingbird. Very basic guitars with basic recording techniques.

Yep, I think you're on to something. While people give bad reviews to 70's built guitars, they did have "a sound."

Originally Posted by bufflehead

I think I've just found a new name for my band.

Thunky Town, Thunk You Up - all viable options. Might be close to some copyright infringement.

[fitness1]

There were quite a few Ovations in there too.....

[Monsoon1]

Agreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9ioyEvdggk

[AndrewG]

Listen to Pure Prairie League and Poco (especially 'Cantamos'), for your typical 70s acoustic sound. I don't know about 'thunky', but they definitely liked compression!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xp2lgiAjY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9TLJp5ZCVY

[lukegard22]

Originally Posted by Monsoon1

Agreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9ioyEvdggk

Good call. How could I forget them?

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

[FOG01]

https://youtu.be/A9lK_RInD6M

This fits nicely.

[mercy]

Poco, yes. A most underrated group. As far as Cantamos the acoustic is played verrrrrrrrrry close to the bridge on a dreadnaught. I prefer Rose of Cimarron to the above but that country flavored rock just does it for me.
And yes popular music went downhill from there, 1979ish

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by Martie

Yes - there were no forums for people to obsess so they just got on with it!

I think there is a lot of truth to that.

Also, remember that even back then, guitar sound could be mixed to taste. Much of what we like/liked from that era or even now, is not an accurate representation of guitar sound.

[Tube Sound]

I liked America and Dan Fogelberg's 70's acoustic music.

[Rockysdad]

Recordings, at that time period were generally *mixed for optimum* sound of what were usually listened to by the general public, such as transistor radios and car stereo systems, which, were somewhat limited in reproduction capabilities.