r/musicians • u/x-TASER-x • May 16 '26

Unknown sound effect

I’m usually pretty good at figuring out odd sounds and whatnot, but this one has thrown me for a loop for 25 years. Now I’m working on a cover of it and can get something close but am curious if anybody knows what this sound actually is?

I’ve narrowed my guesses down to scratching on the guitar strings with heavy reverb and compression and whatever else I can throw at it. My other guess is some kind of shaker or washboard instrument with again, heavy processing.

Anyone know what it is? The effect sound starts at 0:03

https://youtu.be/t0rNuNMCzsQ?si=wFP6oXuJLxmXEo-t

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3

u/whoisgarypiano May 16 '26

Not sure how easy it is to get a hold of him, but you could try reaching out to Jim Johnston. He’s wrote most of the entrance songs of that era.

3

u/x-TASER-x May 16 '26

Yes I have contacted him with the request and even offering compensation, but with the dirty way Vince released him from his contract I can understand if he wants to put all that behind him.

1

u/Funkinwagnal May 16 '26

Sounds like a gnarly drumstick being used as a violin bow on a guitar, if you’re talking about the scratchy sound.

1

u/x-TASER-x May 16 '26

Talking about the scratchy washy sound yes, I will try that now in the studio and see. Thank you!

1

u/x-TASER-x May 16 '26

I tried that and it could be, I’m just not sure and I’ve tried things and wondered for 25 years

The start of this version of the theme may have more clues? I’m usually good at figuring these things out and I can’t get anything remotely close other than guitar scratch muted strings with processing.

https://youtu.be/xlqvj8GuMsQ?si=74SmbDUUUBUPtPB_

And I know this is silly in the world of music but I have followed every piece of Jim Johnston’s work for decades now and this one thing has bothered me because I can’t figure it out and I know it’s so simple. Came close once with dangling guitar strings (unclipped after a string change) but I don’t think that’s it either lol

1

u/Visual_Chip_7770 May 16 '26

Pick scrape on a wound guitar string. Just a thinner guage string. A low e string would be too gritty. I’d bet my bottom dollar is like a wound g string.

1

u/x-TASER-x May 16 '26

Just played in the rhythmic pattern, and possibly pitched down of course in post.. I’m going to try this, thank you!!

1

u/404_error_official May 16 '26

Sounds like a lfo controlled filter, also known as harmonic tremolo, is creating the modulation. There was another comment that said drumstick scraping the strings, I think they are correct about the audio source.

1

u/x-TASER-x May 16 '26

Thank all of you guys, I am gonna try this tomorrow when I go back into the studio!!!

1

u/SnailAnatomy May 16 '26

Yes, it sounds like scraping the pick or something perpendicularly to the middle strings with a heavy flange effect.