When Did George go 12 String?

[iiipopes]

The Beatles were looking for a good opener for "Can't Buy Me Love".

Of course, you mean "Hard Day's Night."

[gregga41]

It may be that the last time George used his 360/12 string was on "If I Needed Some One" on "Revolver." JimK

"If I needed someone", was a "Rubber Soul" track wasn't it?
Unless U.S versions of Beatles albums had different compilations.
But i thought that was only for the early release albums, ie: Meet the Beatles(U.S.)/Please Please Me(U.K.) etc.

[cjj]

Revolver... Rubber Soul... Hey, they both start with 'R'...

[JakeK]

To clarify:
George was using a Gretsch Country Gentleman and Tennessean in February 1964. On the 8th, right before the Sullivan show, FC Hall and some people from Ric stopped by the Plaza hotel with the famous 360/12OS for an ill George after John suggested they have him try it. George spent all day playing it, and even used it for a couple of camera rehearsals in Miami while John used George's Gent, waiting on his new '64 325, which wasn't ready in time for the New York meeting and arrived during the afternoon of the 15th of February.

On February 25, 1964, George's 21st birthday, the band recorded "You Can't Do That", which was the first song George used his 12-string on. He did use it on "Can't Buy Me Love", but only during the choruses, his Gent provided the cutting lead solo, which was recorded before George even saw his 12-string. George used his 12-string on 8 out of 13 songs on Hard Day's Night, as well as "I Call Your Name" and possibly the rhythm of "Matchbox". It is clearly seen thoughout the Hard Day's Night film, and was used on the US tour of August-September 1964 alternating it with his Gent.

On Beatles for Sale, George used it on only the beginning and ending of "Eight Days a Week", not throughout, that was his Tennessean. "What You're Doing" was another song that George used his 12 on. If you thought he used it on "Words of Love", he did not, again, it was his Tenny, double-tracked, as was "She's a Woman". He did not use it on "Every Little Thing", either, the 12-string is John on his custom 325 12-string, George only played acoustic guitar.

He used the 360/12OS for the last time on record for Help!'s "Ticket to Ride" and "I Need You". His Tennessean saw a lot of the action, but so did his new '61 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster. He used the OS on the European and US tours of June-August 1965, but during the US tour, he was given a second 360/12, made in 1965, possibly late-late 1964, which had a rounded top, crushed pearl inlays and checked body binding on the back. He did not use it for the remainder of the US tour, but instead waited until the Rubber Soul sessions, and on October 16, 1965, he recorded his Byrds tribute, "If I Needed Someone", with it capo'd at the 7th fret.

When it was time to record Revolver, a load of new guitars were available at the studio. John had an Epiphone Casino, and in addition to his Strat and new 360/12, George bought a '64 Gibson SG and an Epiphone Casino. George used a variety of guitars, and the band were using fuzz boxes, tube compressors and treble boosters to enhance their guitar and bass sounds.

A version of "And Your Bird Can Sing" for Revolver was recorded on the 360/12, but the band wanted a different feel to it, so George and Paul played the song's riff in unison on their Epiphone Casinos. I have often believed that George may have used his 12-string for "Here There and Everywhere", but Beatles To-a-Tee suggests that George, John and/or Paul used Casinos for that song. George used the 360/12 capo'd for "If I Needed Someone" for the '66 European, Far East and American tours. After that tour, the guitar was not seen again, although Fab Guitars of the Beatles suggests it was around Abbey Road studios in spring 1969, after which it was stolen, along with John's '61 Strat, George's Gretsch Tennessean and Paul's original Hofner bass.

And everyone is correct, John was given a Guild Starfire 12-string during the '66 tour. George thought it was for him, which stress from touring made him start to get sour about it, but was surprised when it wasn't and given to John. And yes, rumor has it that it was used on "Getting Better", but like "Nowhere Man" before it, I believe that song is two Stratocasters played in unison.

So, Craig, I hope this helps, and if it doesn't, I'm sorry, I did the best I could.

[jimk]

Impressive bit of reporting there, Jake. Thanks.
JimK

[idealassets]

Jake,
Wow thanks! That's some great info. Its cool how the Beatles worked a variety of guitars in, to get the exact sound they wanted. Whereas Roger McGuinn evolved the majority of their songs around the 12 string Ric sound. I could see where that would make David Crosby less than enthusiastic sometimes.

The boys from Liverpool certainly knew how to craft a song, eh?

Craig

[collin]

To clarify:
George was using a Gretsch Country Gentleman and Tennessean in February 1964. On the 8th, right before the Sullivan show, FC Hall and some people from Ric stopped by the Plaza hotel with the famous 360/12OS for an ill George after John suggested they have him try it. George spent all day playing it, and even used it for a couple of camera rehearsals in Miami while John used George's Gent, waiting on his new '64 325, which wasn't ready in time for the New York meeting and arrived during the afternoon of the 15th of February.

On February 25, 1964, George's 21st birthday, the band recorded "You Can't Do That", which was the first song George used his 12-string on. He did use it on "Can't Buy Me Love", but only during the choruses, his Gent provided the cutting lead solo, which was recorded before George even saw his 12-string. George used his 12-string on 8 out of 13 songs on Hard Day's Night, as well as "I Call Your Name" and possibly the rhythm of "Matchbox". It is clearly seen thoughout the Hard Day's Night film, and was used on the US tour of August-September 1964 alternating it with his Gent.

On Beatles for Sale, George used it on only the beginning and ending of "Eight Days a Week", not throughout, that was his Tennessean. "What You're Doing" was another song that George used his 12 on. If you thought he used it on "Words of Love", he did not, again, it was his Tenny, double-tracked, as was "She's a Woman". He did not use it on "Every Little Thing", either, the 12-string is John on his custom 325 12-string, George only played acoustic guitar.

He used the 360/12OS for the last time on record for Help!'s "Ticket to Ride" and "I Need You". His Tennessean saw a lot of the action, but so did his new '61 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster. He used the OS on the European and US tours of June-August 1965, but during the US tour, he was given a second 360/12, made in 1965, possibly late-late 1964, which had a rounded top, crushed pearl inlays and checked body binding on the back. He did not use it for the remainder of the US tour, but instead waited until the Rubber Soul sessions, and on October 16, 1965, he recorded his Byrds tribute, "If I Needed Someone", with it capo'd at the 7th fret.

When it was time to record Revolver, a load of new guitars were available at the studio. John had an Epiphone Casino, and in addition to his Strat and new 360/12, George bought a '64 Gibson SG and an Epiphone Casino. George used a variety of guitars, and the band were using fuzz boxes, tube compressors and treble boosters to enhance their guitar and bass sounds.

A version of "And Your Bird Can Sing" for Revolver was recorded on the 360/12, but the band wanted a different feel to it, so George and Paul played the song's riff in unison on their Epiphone Casinos. I have often believed that George may have used his 12-string for "Here There and Everywhere", but Beatles To-a-Tee suggests that George, John and/or Paul used Casinos for that song. George used the 360/12 capo'd for "If I Needed Someone" for the '66 European, Far East and American tours. After that tour, the guitar was not seen again, although Fab Guitars of the Beatles suggests it was around Abbey Road studios in spring 1969, after which it was stolen, along with John's '61 Strat, George's Gretsch Tennessean and Paul's original Hofner bass.

And everyone is correct, John was given a Guild Starfire 12-string during the '66 tour. George thought it was for him, which stress from touring made him start to get sour about it, but was surprised when it wasn't and given to John. And yes, rumor has it that it was used on "Getting Better", but like "Nowhere Man" before it, I believe that song is two Stratocasters played in unison.

So, Craig, I hope this helps, and if it doesn't, I'm sorry, I did the best I could.

It wasn't a 360/12OS yet.....just a 360/12, Mr. Details.

[JakeK]

It wasn't a 360/12OS yet.....just a 360/12, Mr. Details.

Just listen to those Who and Animals CDs I burned for you and don't criticize!

[Hotzenplotz]

The Beatles were looking for a good opener for "Can't Buy Me Love".

Of course, you mean "Hard Day's Night."

Rrrrright! - Of course!

[nukebass]

I heard that McGuinn got his Rickenbacker 260/12 after seeing A Hard Day's Night, so it was a certainly a good marketing move by Rickenbacker.

[Hotzenplotz]

It was not good, it was perfect! - So much advertising for the price of a simple guitar.

George Harrison had a radio interview short after receiving the 360/12: He mentioned on air that this guitar is amazing. - So, if one of the fab four said that!...

[collin]

It wasn't a 360/12OS yet.....just a 360/12, Mr. Details.

Just listen to those Who and Animals CDs I burned for you and don't criticize!

Hah.

Not criticizing....just making sure you're on your toes.

[jps]

It wasn't a 360/12OS yet.....just a 360/12, Mr. Details.

Just listen to those Who and Animals CDs I burned for you and don't criticize!

Hah.

Not criticizing....just making sure you're on your toes.

What's up with Jake's toes?

[teeder]

after which it was stolen, along with John's '61 Strat, George's Gretsch Tennessean and Paul's original Hofner bass

I didn't know John's Strat was stolen, or that these were all at the same time.

[ken_j]

I read an iterview with George a number of yeras ago where he stated that he used his original 360 12 when recording Cloud Nine. That was most likely that last time it was used for a record. I'm not sure which song(s) it was used on.
If you watch Concert for George his Rick is on a stand with the band but was never played. All of the 12 string parts were played on a Fender 12.