Harrison's FIRST Country Gentleman fell off their van on the way to a gig and got crunched by a truck behind them. It was the SECOND CG that he gave away to O'Hara. And then O'Hara gave it away or traded it, for what and to whom, he doesn't remember. And yes, I had read in a couple of sources that the Tennessean was stolen.
I'd also love to know the stories behind guitars we have seen them with, but no clue where the came from or where they went -- Harrison's Maton, the Gretsch 6120 that Lennon had during "Paperback Writer" and "Rain"....
Stolen Beatles guitars
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geschwader
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And then there's the issue of whether the Country Gentleman that Ringo owns — and was used on his last album — is George's second one, as is claimed. I've heard that Andy Babiuk is trying to get a look (and photograph) that guitar to clear up the questions. It could end up being the 6122 that Paul gave to George, if it's not actually the second one.
Glenn,
There is at least one picture of John that I've seen that show's him playing George's strat. George's, which did become Rocky, has a sticker on the back of the peghead. John's didn't. Also, if they were both '61's IIRC, there's no way it would have been a maple board.
Alex, I'd like to see that picture of John in '67.
There is at least one picture of John that I've seen that show's him playing George's strat. George's, which did become Rocky, has a sticker on the back of the peghead. John's didn't. Also, if they were both '61's IIRC, there's no way it would have been a maple board.
Alex, I'd like to see that picture of John in '67.
There Is What You Can See. There Aren’t What You Don’t See. And That’s All There Is That You Get!
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studiotwosession
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Thanks for the info on the Tennessean. Come to think of it, I have heard theories that it went missing at the same time as George's 2nd 12 and Paul's 1st bass.
Randy, I agree about not believing all one reads. And Kevin, I've never heard the story about a music store sticker not being on the second strat. So I can't say either way about that fact.
I've seen a pic of Lennon in '67 with a blue strat and the strap on it looks like the strap Harrison had on his blue strat in MMT, indicating it was Harrison's guitar.
I'd like to see the shot of Lennon at home with a similar guitar. Otherwise, until I see a picture of Lennon and Harrison, both with blue strats, it will be hard to prove they both gained them at the same time. Lennon merely playing a blue strat is not proof enough of ownership. Lennon playing one at home is more convincing.
The most compelling evidence thus far is Harrison saying more than 20 years later that they both had them. But I'm sure many of us could furnish examples where Beatle recollections of instruments are not accurate, such as Macca stating the band had Gibson Everly Brothers models.
Also, if Lennon had such a guitar, it seems to have vanished without a trace, lending further creedence to a phantom guitar theory. It does not sound to me like there are two strats on Nowhere Man. I hear an acoustic in there.
Now, who ended up with the white Concert for Bangla Desh strat George gave to Peter Sellers? Talk about a guitar that has providence.
Randy, I agree about not believing all one reads. And Kevin, I've never heard the story about a music store sticker not being on the second strat. So I can't say either way about that fact.
I've seen a pic of Lennon in '67 with a blue strat and the strap on it looks like the strap Harrison had on his blue strat in MMT, indicating it was Harrison's guitar.
I'd like to see the shot of Lennon at home with a similar guitar. Otherwise, until I see a picture of Lennon and Harrison, both with blue strats, it will be hard to prove they both gained them at the same time. Lennon merely playing a blue strat is not proof enough of ownership. Lennon playing one at home is more convincing.
The most compelling evidence thus far is Harrison saying more than 20 years later that they both had them. But I'm sure many of us could furnish examples where Beatle recollections of instruments are not accurate, such as Macca stating the band had Gibson Everly Brothers models.
Also, if Lennon had such a guitar, it seems to have vanished without a trace, lending further creedence to a phantom guitar theory. It does not sound to me like there are two strats on Nowhere Man. I hear an acoustic in there.
Now, who ended up with the white Concert for Bangla Desh strat George gave to Peter Sellers? Talk about a guitar that has providence.
This is off the record
Glenn
I have a larger image of the picture of John above, that David posted, and the strap is completely different than the one on George's. Not foolproof evidence, but you did bring up the strap fact.
I also have a picture of George with the sticker on the back of the peghead. I'll have to dig up where I read about the "sticker" difference.
I have a larger image of the picture of John above, that David posted, and the strap is completely different than the one on George's. Not foolproof evidence, but you did bring up the strap fact.
I also have a picture of George with the sticker on the back of the peghead. I'll have to dig up where I read about the "sticker" difference.
There Is What You Can See. There Aren’t What You Don’t See. And That’s All There Is That You Get!
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studiotwosession
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Hey Kevin, the strap that I I.D.'d with George is circa '67. The shot posted of John of course is a couple of years earlier. Therefore, it could be George's guitar with a type of strap George was using mid 60s. So it's not foolproof indeed.
I'd like to see the pic of John with such a guitar at home. Otherwise, well, we've established that at least some of what's been said and written and published is incorrect. Like I said, it seems to me there's at least as much chance as not at this point of John's guitar not existing at all. After all, it seems most of the other cool guitars he ran into he used. There are even more photos of him with the Gretsch Nashville than a strat and that was supposedly only used for one or two sessions.
I'd like to see the pic of John with such a guitar at home. Otherwise, well, we've established that at least some of what's been said and written and published is incorrect. Like I said, it seems to me there's at least as much chance as not at this point of John's guitar not existing at all. After all, it seems most of the other cool guitars he ran into he used. There are even more photos of him with the Gretsch Nashville than a strat and that was supposedly only used for one or two sessions.
This is off the record
The pic at http://www.thecanteen.com/lennon7.html
looks to '67'ish when George's Rocky would have been painted already.
However it does seem a bit suspect that Mal would have stumbled on 2 used sonic blue Strats in the same store.
looks to '67'ish when George's Rocky would have been painted already.
However it does seem a bit suspect that Mal would have stumbled on 2 used sonic blue Strats in the same store.
Brian Epstein bought the two sonic blue Strats with the provso that they had to be matching colors. The Gent is with Ringo. The other Gent was smashed when it fell off the boot of a car while traveling to a show.
The two stolen were the Tennessean and the Hofner Cavern at abby road. However neither were offically reported as stolen. Probably because they did'nt want to attract the attention of the bobbies to the odd things at abby road.
The two stolen were the Tennessean and the Hofner Cavern at abby road. However neither were offically reported as stolen. Probably because they did'nt want to attract the attention of the bobbies to the odd things at abby road.
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studiotwosession
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>>looks to '67'ish when George's Rocky would have been painted already. <<
That pic looks Pepper era, pre-June 67, at which time George's guitar was likely still blue only (seems like he painted the strat during the summer of 67, perhaps it was first seen with psyche paint during the Our World broadcast in July or so. And of course the strap in that pic looks like the one George was using that summer and fall, MMT, etc.)
>>However it does seem a bit suspect that Mal would have stumbled on 2 used sonic blue Strats in the same store.<<
Right. And remember, where did this story about Brian requesting two same color guitars come from? So much of what is reported in these guitar books has scant or no attribution whatsoever, if it's not a story told 35 years after the fact in the first place. One story says they told one of the roadies to "get some strats," and there's no word about Brian involved in the purchase at all.
As per the stolen guitars, George's second 12 string is said to have been taken at the same time, in 69. If the fabs were keeping their old guitars in storage at the studio, at a time where they had 20 or more, two or three could go missing for a while without being noticed it seems.
With them off of the road and Mal and Neil working a lot in the Apple offices (perhaps trying to stem the theft of cash, not guitars) who knows how long. One wonders how long it took them to retrieve their stuff from the studio after the split and what happened to all those amps?
That pic looks Pepper era, pre-June 67, at which time George's guitar was likely still blue only (seems like he painted the strat during the summer of 67, perhaps it was first seen with psyche paint during the Our World broadcast in July or so. And of course the strap in that pic looks like the one George was using that summer and fall, MMT, etc.)
>>However it does seem a bit suspect that Mal would have stumbled on 2 used sonic blue Strats in the same store.<<
Right. And remember, where did this story about Brian requesting two same color guitars come from? So much of what is reported in these guitar books has scant or no attribution whatsoever, if it's not a story told 35 years after the fact in the first place. One story says they told one of the roadies to "get some strats," and there's no word about Brian involved in the purchase at all.
As per the stolen guitars, George's second 12 string is said to have been taken at the same time, in 69. If the fabs were keeping their old guitars in storage at the studio, at a time where they had 20 or more, two or three could go missing for a while without being noticed it seems.
With them off of the road and Mal and Neil working a lot in the Apple offices (perhaps trying to stem the theft of cash, not guitars) who knows how long. One wonders how long it took them to retrieve their stuff from the studio after the split and what happened to all those amps?
This is off the record
Mike, not to offend, but I think you have the missing Beatle guitars. C'mon, convince me I'm wrong. 
One more post for "one after 909".
One more post for "one after 909".
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