George Jones · I Am What I Am, 1980
He Stopped Loving Her Today
9 sourced items across 6 sectionsVerified8Reported1
What the sources do and do not say
Mix Classic Tracks, with engineer Lou Bradley recalling the microphone choices for the tracking date at CBS Studio B, Nashville. Strings and some vocals were overdubbed in Studio A by Ron Reynolds; no gear is named for those. The custom console (Langevin EQ and faders) and EMT echo returns are described as the studio's general setup, so they were left out.
Lead vocal
1 item
George Jones
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 87
Verified
Lead vocal microphone on the tracking session, chosen over the U67 used on some earlier dates.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Backing vocals
1 item
The Jordanaires with Millie Kirkham
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 47
Verified
Microphone for the Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham singing backing vocals.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Electric guitar and steel guitar
2 items
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 67
Verified
Microphone on the electric guitar.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Unidentified 249
Verified
Microphone on the steel guitar; the maker is not given beside the model.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Drum kit
3 items
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann KM 84
Verified
Microphones on the snare, hi-hat and toms.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Neumann U 67
Verified
A pair used as drum overhead microphones.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Electro-Voice RE20
Verified
Microphone on the bass drum.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Piano
1 item
Microphone
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Recording medium
1 item
Input chain
The real chain
Ampex Tape machine (model not stated)
Reported
Tape machine the song was recorded to, running at 15 ips with Dolby.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines
tape
Models two Studer machines, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape.
Also worth a look 1
- Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape)
Sources
- Classic Tracks: George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today", Mix, 2024-08-09. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
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