Lennon's Guitar

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:23 am

This is a rare picture of Lennons 1st Rickenbacker.This photo was taken at The Lennon Museum near Tokyo.They don't allow photos in the museum but this was taken with special permission for a news paper story.As most Beatle Fans know this is the guitar Lennon used from 1960-1964 and he had had it painted black and the Bigsby installed.I don't know when or why the guitar was refinished.Anyway I just thought I would post this pick of an important rarely seen guitar.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/fuzztone65/lennonsist.jpg[/img]

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:55 am

Thanks, Chris. It's a cool shot. I think they could have chosen a better stand to display it on, though.

By the way, ever wonder whether it's the real one, or Yoko's just having fun with us?

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:09 am

Looks like a nice picture of the guitar behind it too.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:31 pm

Glen Lambert has an excellent article on Lennon's 325 Capri which talks about how Lennon had it returned to its "original" finish here:

http://www.rickresource.com/rrp/lennon325.html

Peter's article "Baby's In Black" about how the Capri went from mapleglo to black in the first place is also a great read:

http://www.beatles.rickresource.com/

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:51 am

I'm sorry, someone needs to restore that PG.

britye · Post by **britye** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:23 am

It ain't right, should be gold instead of white..

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:27 am

That ain't gonna happen! "Miami" needs fixing too but that won't happen either.

The guy that "fixed" the Capri for Lennon, took the gold guard and made this white one (which is cracked). He also put a coat of stain on the clear maple in a very sloppy way (didn't even remove the bridge or pickups.

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:58 am

Right, I know the story and I know the repair on "Miami" is supposed to be pretty shoddy..but that doesn't even look like his Ric anymore.

Maybe we should intro the Lennon Museum to some of the craftsman on this forum?

britye · Post by **britye** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:25 pm

Get the original back from the guy that restored it. Wonder what it would be worth today?

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:20 am

The Lennon article mentions John's Gibson acoustic as the only known stolen Beatles guitar. But I read an interview by GH back in the 80's that the wine red Les Paul that Eric Clapton played on "While my guitar gently weeps" was stolen from George after Clapton had given it to him as a gift. GH tracked the guitar down to a guy in Mexico who was the current owner (but not the thief) and paid $25,000.00 for the return of the instrument, according to Harrison in the article.

Because Harrison didn't actually own it when Clapton used it on the record, perhaps it doesn't qualify as an actual "Beatles" guitar, but it is an interesting story. I may still have the magazine stored away somewhere.

cowboy_joe · Post by **cowboy_joe** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:56 am

I thought EC played a different Paul on WMGGW, and the stolen one from George was recovered. Isn't the wine red LP we see on Revolution the same guitar George plays on Imagine?

I seem to recall the storying being the guitar was stolen, sold, and then George bought it back from the new owner.

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:48 am

"I seem to recall the storying being the guitar was stolen, sold, and then George bought it back from the new owner."

That statement is correct, according to the article I'm referring to, but George stated that it was, in fact, the same LP that Clapton gave him as a gift after recording WMGGW, which is why GH was so adamant about recovering it. I'll see if I can locate the magazine so I can reference it properly, but it might have been a Guitar or Musician magazine from around 1988 or '89.

dudley07726 · Post by **dudley07726** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:00 am

You are correct Jim. It was a magazine around 1988 (Guitar player I believe - I have it in my archives) that George describes how the cherry Les Paul was stolen from his home in LA and he had to get the guy who eventually ended up with it some guitars, etc. to get it back

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:19 am

That was a great interview but unfortunately, I can't locate my copy. Maybe it got tossed, but I did find my copy of "Musician, the hidden Lennon" from 1988 so I'll have fun rereading that one!

geschwader · Post by **geschwader** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:38 am

Also, George's second Rickenbacker 12 was stolen, as was Paul's first Hofner bass.