I need some Beatles guitar experts...

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:41 am

Nick,

Here is another bit of info.
About Paul's J-160 you note about the "P-90 humbucker". That's not a P-90 pick-up there unless it was severely modified. Also a P-90 isn't a humbucker. It's a single coil pick-up.

I'm very interested in the picture of all their guitars together. The one at the bottom of "The Beatles share each others guitars". The strat in the center looks like it's black or a dark custom color with a matching peghead. I've never seem or heard anything about this guitar! Maybe it was from an opening band or borrowed as a back up?
Very cool!

I wonder what ever happened to John's blue strat? In the Imagine movie George is playing a blue strat, but it's a maple neck?

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:36 am

I've seen some sites use "Source: Internet" if it is a picture they can't track down a source for.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:06 am

Double post, sorry.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:11 am

Nick, I enjoyed the site, save for a few things in the "Getting Your Own Beatle Guitars" page:

- As a main point, you only steer people towards guitars that are currently being produced in the US. However, for example, Fender Japan has made (And still makes) many models and finishes that are not available here. Perhaps you could point out some of these models, and post links to eBay and Ishibashi Web Shop?

- You mention the Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster for those who want a Sonic Blue Strat, but you don't mention that the fretboard is scalloped! I'm pretty sure this would ruin it for most Beatle fans. The current MIM 50's Stratocaster comes in Daphne Blue, which is close, and costs around $550. It's much closer, aesthetically, to the model George and John used.

- About the Maton Mastersound, you say "I'm not sure why anyone would want one of these, but Maton still produces them." Why? Maton makes fine instruments, as most will tell you.

- About the Rickenbacker 425, you say "You probably won't find one, but here it is anyway. It's called the 425V63, and it comes in burgundyglo and jetglo. I don't know if you can still get it, but here's what it looks like". There was a limited run of these reissues a few years back, and they do pop up on eBay often.

- About George's Tele, you said "You'll just have to search the 'net for a vintage one". I'm pretty sure that Fender Japan is still making them, and in fact, these were available in the US within the last three or four years.

- Gibson currently makes their Les Paul Standard in Wine Red. This is probably the closest one could come to George's LP in a standard facroty instrument, and costs less then Gibson's vintage reissues.

grinch · Post by **grinch** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:20 am

Thanks everybody. John, I did not know that Fender Japan was making that stuff. In fact, I did try to check, but on Fender's website, there was no "Fender Japan" link under their Global Websites page. If you could link me somewhere, that'd be great. I've also included quotes from you on some of the guitars you mentioned.

Oh, and I know Maton makes fine instruments - everybody that has played them tells me they have great action and sound. I just put that bit in there because it seems like a Beatle fan wouldn't really want a guitar that George Harrison played for a couple weeks!

Another thing - it appears I've had a mix-up. On Lennon's 1958 325 page, I mixed up the Hofner dish knobs and the Beaver Radio knobs. I had a feeling this was the case, but since nobody said anything I figured maybe I was mistaken. However, a reader contacted me via email and pointed this out. So, now, everything is straight with Lennon's knobs.

One more thing...I updated some pictures on Paul's Esquire page. Oh, also, I received my Epiphone EJ-160E today (after months of waiting), so pics will be up soon! :-p

Thanks,

Nick

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:14 pm

Nick, under the Rickenbacker 4001S page, great pic of the psychadelic paint job, good to see a good close-up of it.
However, the other one is not really his bass, right? It's a new Rick reproduction of it. (It has the Made in USA sticker on it.)

grinch · Post by **grinch** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:23 pm

Yes, it is a reissue.

Also, updates:

-New special feature: Crosley Field photo set (thanks Jeff!)
-New Paul Casino picture
-New George Casino picture
-Several new J-200 pictures (John and George playing it)
-Upgraded George Stratocaster picture
-New Paul 4001S pic
-An amazing shot of the Nu-Sonic bass (upgraded)

dudley07726 · Post by **dudley07726** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:48 am

YOUR WEBSITE NO LONGER COMES UP. IS THERE A PROBLEM?

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:15 pm

Nick.... I cant see it either

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:49 pm

The webpage that came up contained this message:

This website www.nickmartellaro.info is currently unavailable due to exceeded monthly traffic quota. Please visit again later

This happens with my Geocities webpages at times. Of course, I could get my quota increased ... for a price!

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:45 pm

Early 1961 was a period of major change for the Beatles, and is reflected in their guitars. By July of '61 Paul had his Hofner and George had his Gretsch Duo-Jet.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:50 pm

Spring '61.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:50 pm

Summer '61.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:39 pm

Kent, Did you get permission to post those pictures?

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:55 pm

Nick- Great work! BTW, don't listen to those old farts about posting pics, unless you're trying to sell them, which it appears you're not.
If anyone should contact you about any possible trouble, make them prove they're the copyright holders in writing. If the offical copyright holder DID contact you, they would most likely ask you to stop first, before they initiated any legal action.