I had this discussion with someone else; I think he is. But anyone else wanna chime in?

For what it's worth:


Mick Jagger – lead vocals
Keith Richards – lead guitar
Brian Jones – low tuned rhythm guitar
Bill Wyman – bass, backing vocals
Charlie Watts – drums
Jack Nitzsche – tambourine, piano


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Stone_(The_Rolling_Stones_song)

Now, who plays the Tyrolean-style acoustic guitar on Sittin' on a Fence?

andrews27 wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2018 at 9:13am:

Now, who plays the Tyrolean-style acoustic guitar on Sittin' on a Fence?

That would seem to be Brian. The Stones Monthly Book says Brian and Keith are on the acoustics, and if you listen the lead lines on Sittin' on a Fence are quite similar to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud: They repeat, almost like in a loop, and the solo is literally just the lead line. Whereas the rhythm acoustic is busier.

When looking at a string (guitar or other string instrument) part when determining whether it is Brian's or not I go along with a few qualifiers:
-Is the part simple, and does it repeat throughout the song (IE Lady Jane, slide on No Expectations)
-Does it sound harder than it actually is to play?
-Does it go along with the melody of the vocal (ala No Expectations)
-Does the solo section get inventive or simply follow the lead line?

Listen to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud, and then compare it to Sittin' on the Fence. It's the same playing style. Circular, repetitive.

Also one thing to note about the style and tone of the playing is that around the time Sitting on a Fence was recorded, Brian was listening to a lot of Richard Farina and was very inspired by him. Farina's music is what inspired him to pick up the dulcimer for one. The gentle style of his lead reminds me of the folky acoustics in Farina's work as well.

The early versions have Jimmy Page/John McLaughing on guitar

The LP versión is Brian and Keith

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2018 at 7:23pm:

The early versions have Jimmy Page/John McLaughing on guitar The LP versión is Brian and Keith

Does Brian play the rhythm alone or does he also play the low tuned part that sounds like a bass? I heard a stereo remix and there are either two basses playing or one bass and one very low tuned guitar over the bass.

BrianRollingJones wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2018 at 10:49am:

andrews27 wrote on Mar 3rd, 2018 at 9:13am: Now, who plays the Tyrolean-style acoustic guitar on Sittin' on a Fence? That would seem to be Brian. The Stones Monthly Book says Brian and Keith are on the acoustics, and if you listen the lead lines on Sittin' on a Fence are quite similar to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud: They repeat, almost like in a loop, and the solo is literally just the lead line. Whereas the rhythm acoustic is busier. When looking at a string (guitar or other string instrument) part when determining whether it is Brian's or not I go along with a few qualifiers: -Is the part simple, and does it repeat throughout the song (IE Lady Jane, slide on No Expectations) -Does it sound harder than it actually is to play? -Does it go along with the melody of the vocal (ala No Expectations) -Does the solo section get inventive or simply follow the lead line? Listen to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud, and then compare it to Sittin' on the Fence. It's the same playing style. Circular, repetitive. Also one thing to note about the style and tone of the playing is that around the time Sitting on a Fence was recorded, Brian was listening to a lot of Richard Farina and was very inspired by him. Farina's music is what inspired him to pick up the dulcimer for one. The gentle style of his lead reminds me of the folky acoustics in Farina's work as well.

It has to be Brian.  There's so much sonic texture that he added in the period between blues band and rock band that his bandmates never appreciated during their quest for godhead (or, in Charlie's and Bill's cases, the quest for some well-deserved nights of sleep).  The period where Brian was on texture rather than on guitar made the Stones, and also made them able to access that texture when they needed it once they'd killed him off.  Shame, shame, yet the ghost remains.

I think it was Keith or maybe an uncredited studio guitarist.  If Brian could play lead that well, why didn't he do it more?  It's not the same as Get Off My Cloud.  Much more complicated.