Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Remembering Andy Johns

Andy Johns

Johns, speaking with PG at the L.A. Amp Show in 2010

Johns, who died Sunday at age 61, is perhaps most famously identified for engineering landmark LPs from Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones in the early ’70s,

If there were a gold standard for recording studio resourcefulness and professionalism, Andy Johns may well have set it. Johns, who died Sunday at age 61, is perhaps most famously identified for engineering landmark LPs from Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones in the early '70s, and was also a producer of considerable prowess—taking the helm for albums from Jethro Tull, Free, and Humble Pie in the late '60s and early '70s, and Van Halen (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge) and Joe Satriani (The Extremist) in the '90s.

Johns may have been equally capable of manning the desk as producer as engineer, but his sonic legacy will likely be his absolute mastery of the latter role. On the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, he deftly captured the band at both their tightest, fieriest, and most gloriously ragged extremes—subtly but profoundly enhancing and highlighting the band's muscle and killer rhythmic instincts without sacrificing an ounce of their feral potency.

On Led Zeppelin II, III, IV, and Houses of the Holy, Johns helped enable Jimmy Page's ambitious and then explosively blossoming light-and- shade production vision. Johns was every bit as adept at recording the wrecking-ball monstrosity of Page's riffs and John Bonham's thunder, as he was the deceptively complex psychedelic and pastoral atmospherics that were critical and a beautiful juxtaposition to Zeppelin's heavier side.

As rock evolved, Johns proved no less resourceful. In 1976, inspired by the streamlined and punchy sounds Johns conjured on the Stones' Goats Head Soup LP, a then relatively unknown Tom Verlaine requested Johns engineering services for what would become Television's groundbreaking debut Marquee Moon. Johns, keen to capture the skeletal power of Television's sprawling art- punk jams, initially recorded Billy Ficca's drums with almost Bonham-like enormity. Verlaine, however, had other, very opposite ideas of how the band should sound on record.

In the end, Johns' open-mindedness and adaptive engineering skills helped make Marquee Moon a study in recorded intimacy and minimalism that's not only closer to Rudy Van Gelder's recordings of the classic John Coltrane Quartet than Led Zeppelin III, but which informs and inspires art-punk and indie rock to this day. Taken together, these two very different snapshots of John's work attest to a musical instinct, command at a mixing desk, sense of craft, and selfless professionalism that above all else, served the song and artist's vision.

Vox’s Valvenergy Tone Sculptor

Two new pedals from the Valvenergy series use a Nutube valve to generate unique dynamics and tone ranges that can be used to radical ends.

When tracking in a studio or DAW, you’re likely to use compression and EQ on most things. Many enduringly amazing and powerful records were made using little else. And though many musicians regard both effects as a bit unglamorous and utilitarian, EQs and comps are as capable of radical sounds as more overtly “weird” effects—particularly when they are used in tandem.

Read MoreShow less

Significantly smaller and lighter than original TAE. Easy to configure and operate. Great value. Streamlined control set.

Air Feel Level control takes the place of more surgical and realistic resonance controls. Seventy watts less power in onboard power amp. No Bluetooth connectivity with desktop app.

$699

Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander Core

boss.info

5
4.5
4.5
4.5

Boss streamlines the size, features, and price of the already excellent Waza Tube Expander with little sacrifice in functionality.

Many of our younger selves would struggle to understand the urge—indeed, the need—to play quieter. My first real confrontation with this ever-more-present reality arrived when Covid came to town. For many months, I could only sneak into my studio space late at night to jam or review anything loud. Ultimately, the thing that made it possible to create and do my job in my little apartment was a reactive load box (in this case, a Universal Audio OX). I set up a Bassman head next to my desk and, with the help of the OX, did the work of a gear editor as well as recorded several very cathartic heavy jams, with the Bassman up to 10, that left my neighbors none the wiser.

Read MoreShow less
- YouTube

Alongside Nicolas Jaar’s electronics, Harrington creates epic sagas of sound with a team of fine-tuned pedalboards.

Read MoreShow less

Well-designed pickups. Extremely comfortable contours. Smooth, playable neck.

Middle position could use a bit more mids. Price could scare off some.

$2,999

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II

music-man.com

4.5
5
5
4

A surprise 6-string collaboration with Cory Wong moves effortlessly between ’70s George Benson and Blink-182 tones.


Read MoreShow less