How It Was Recorded

The Kinks · Kinks, 1964

You Really Got Me

Lead guitarBassDrumsStudio (IBC) console and tapeVerified6Reported5

What the sources do and do not say

Single Sound On Sound Classic Tracks piece with Shel Talmy. It names the guitar, amps and drum mic positions, but not microphone models, the vocal chain or Jon Lord's keyboard rig. Who played rhythm guitar is disputed in the article. The IBC desk and tape rows come from Talmy's description of the studio for the 12 July 1964 session.

Lead guitar

Dave Davies

Instrument

Harmony Meteor

Reported

Dave Davies played lead on this guitar, according to Talmy and others.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Amplifier

Elpico Amplifier (model not stated)

Reported

Small amplifier the guitar was plugged into; its speaker cone had been slashed with a razor blade and punctured with knitting needles to create the distortion.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear).

Vox AC30

Reported

The Elpico amplifier was slaved to this Vox AC30.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro

amp and cabinet simulator

Its AC Box amp is modelled on the Vox AC30.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 (Includes an AC30-style amp model).

Microphone

Unidentified Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Talmy used a couple of microphones on the small guitar amp, bringing them up on two faders.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Bass

Pete Quaife

Instrument

Fender Bass guitar (model not stated)

Reported

Quaife played a Fender bass.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A bass guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Microphone

Unidentified Microphone (model not stated)

Reported

The bass had its own microphone, not a shared one.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Drums

Bobby Graham

Microphone

Unidentified Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Microphone on the top of the snare.

Position
about three inches from the top of the snare

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Unidentified Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Microphone under the snare.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Unidentified Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Microphone inside the kick drum, cushioned for a soft thump.

Position
inside the kick drum

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Studio (IBC) console and tape

Input chain

IBC Console (model not stated)

Verified

The studio's own 24-input desk in the control room where the faster version was recorded.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Ampex Three-track tape machine (model not stated)

Verified

Three-track Ampex machine listed in the IBC control room, where Talmy says they worked in three-track.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

tape

Models two Studer machines, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: The Kinks ‘You Really Got Me’, Sound On Sound, 2009-09. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Verified

Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.

Reported

Stated by a reputable secondary source.

Inferred

An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.

Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.