Comments (0) BEST SUBTERRANEAN MUSICAL HISTORY - 2009
Echo Chambers at Capitol Studios
The Les Paul guitar and the Fender Stratocaster are the most recognizable guitars in the world, (rock-band enthusiasts may have a Les Paul in their homes right now), but Paul's contributions to studios revolutionized the process of making and recording music. Paul developed multitrack recording and built the legendary echo chambers at Capitol Studios in Hollywood. When Brian Wilson's harmonies or Frank Sinatra's voice were piped into these rooms below Capitol's parking lot, echo produced by the 10-inch-thick concrete walls and 12-inch-thick ceilings was rich and warm. The Beatles reportedly would feed parts of their albums via a telephone hookup into these chambers to get that Capitol sound. 1750 N. Vine St., Hlywd. (323) 871-5001, capitolstudios.com.
—Drew Tewksbury
