Musical instrument used in early recordings (4)
I believe the answer is:
lyre
'musical instrument' is the definition.
(lyre is a kind of musical instrument)
'in early recordings' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'LYRE' is hidden within 'early recordings'.
'used' is the link.
(Other definitions for lyre that I've seen before include "Instrument played by Orpheus" , "Ancient Greek stringed instrument" , "Music-maker" , "Ancient musical instrument - sounds mendacious" , "Plucked instrument" .)