I have just met McCartney, held the Hofner, 59 LP, Epi

[kiramdear]

How do you know it was THE Epi Texan?

Notice they all have identical pick-wear on the faces, and Red Rose Speedway stickers?

[jps]

I don't have a problem playing "famous" instruments. I have played both Gary Willis' and Percy Jones' basses.

[rickaddict]

I played Maurice Gibb's RM 1999!

[berth]

I played Maurice Gibb's RM 1999!

Tsssk..... I have Chris Dekker's 4005 at home.

[cheyenne]

Whoa! thats cool. Very cool.

[ilan]

How do you know it was THE Epi Texan?

Notice they all have identical pick-wear on the faces, and Red Rose Speedway stickers?

Wow, Kira! what's THAT? I didn't know they made replicas. But my colleague Danny asked him if this was the actual guitar he used on the Yesterday recording, and instead of just saying yes, Paul strapped on the guitar and started strumming the G (F) chord that the song starts with, and after a few bars stopped and said to Danny, Sounds like it, doesn't it?

And the Hofner, he said it was the real one, so I think I can assume now that the Epi was the original one too. It did sound exactly like the recording...

I should have asked about the '66 Jazz bass. Maybe I'll get a chance to talk with his guitar tech when the equipment arrives in Israel, and ask him about it and the Ric.

[kiramdear]

So he didn't say yes or no, actually hmmmm... I don't know the facts on the picture, stumbled across in in Google image search. They are identically relic'd if I'm not wrong. Maybe they're just backups aboard the tour bus, or maybe they're going to be autographed for charity. He's got a great big heart.

Did he play anything else for you?

[ilan]

Did he play anything else for you?

He sang and played a few bars from Something on the ukulele that George gave him. Very different from the recorded version...

We were standing near the guitar stands and away from the amps, so nothing was plugged in.

Maybe they're just backups aboard the tour bus

23 backups??? On the other hand, when you look at the ones on the right they seem to be strung lefty.

[kiramdear]

I believe they're all lefties, Himself being set up that way. I know that before he owned a guitar he used to play his friends' guitars strung righty, but I think he stopped the practice when he bought his own.

Look what I found:
http://www.gibson.com/absolutenm/templa ... 1&zoneid=6

So I'm guessing that you held the real Texan indeed. Wow

I can hardly imagine a bigger thrill. Oh to have been a fly on the wall...

[ilan]

I can hardly imagine a bigger thrill. Oh to have been a fly on the wall...

I wish you had a video camera with you there on the wall! No, seriously, I wish you could have been there with me, to share the thrill with someone who knows what these guitars are.

[Darkhollow]

Great story ilan, and certainly one you will remember for the rest of your life. It is always nice to hear accounts of these immortal musicians just being people.

[Darkhollow]

How do you know it was THE Epi Texan?

Notice they all have identical pick-wear on the faces, and Red Rose Speedway stickers?

No really, what is this? I can understand maybe a few backups for breaking a string...maybe one getting stolen...but I mean, unless you are smashing a guitar a night on tour why on earth would you need that many replicas?

[bassduke49]

Justin, see Kira's link in the post above. That 'splains it.

[shamustwin]

I've read in more than one book/article that Macca still has his original Texan. He hangs onto things. Still has the Cavendish house among his many houses.

[ilan]

I think he really loves the Hofner. He spoke about it very affectionately.