Lennon/Harrison Amps
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larrywassgren
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2000 8:34 pm
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voxtalks
If I could I would, but my agreement to only place it in the Beatles Gear site (which is impossible copy or reproduced) prohibits me from posting it in an unprotected format which can be reproduced. I think you will find it to be an authentic document and that it does match the H/P docs that Andy has turned up too. Even Andy confirmed to me that he thought it was real, which puts a whole new twist on things for his theories regarding the Beatles' early Vox Amps.
Something else to note is that there are photos taken just days after this doc is dated (in July) that show both Lennon and Harrison with fawn Vox amps.
Now, back to the photo evidence. Take a look at the control panel layout in the Dezo Lennon pic and then compare it to the AC15 and AC30 panel shots. It is obviously from left to right a knob, toggle switch and voltage-selector, whereas an AC30 has a fuse/lamp between the toggle and selector, that alone proves that it is an AC15 twin and not an AC30 control panel in that cabinet.
Something else to note is that there are photos taken just days after this doc is dated (in July) that show both Lennon and Harrison with fawn Vox amps.
Now, back to the photo evidence. Take a look at the control panel layout in the Dezo Lennon pic and then compare it to the AC15 and AC30 panel shots. It is obviously from left to right a knob, toggle switch and voltage-selector, whereas an AC30 has a fuse/lamp between the toggle and selector, that alone proves that it is an AC15 twin and not an AC30 control panel in that cabinet.
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larrywassgren
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2000 8:34 pm
The photographic evidence of John and George's fawn AC-30 VOX amps is in Mike McCartney's great book Remember. These photos date to either July 21 or 27 of 1962(at the Tower Ballroom) as Pete is still on the drums and Ringo joins The Beatles on August 17. Surprisingly, George still has his Gibson GA-40(painted black) with him at this gig.
Could it be that he was not that crazy about accepting these new British amps? I think he preferred his American made amp to the new British amp. He has even stated that he liked the sound of the American amps over the British amps. Even though they were British and rising to the top, they still felt that connection to American equipment and the American rockers like Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry who used Gibson and Fender. I think George more than John resented Brian Epstein's decision to force them into endorsing VOX. They wanted to make the decisions when it came to their sound. John used to remind Brian that he was the manager only and had no say in the music they created. Note how quickly they switched to Fender amps after Brian was no longer around to uphold the verbal agreement he made with VOX. Anway, back to my original point. John Lennon bought his '58 325 and Fender Deluxe on The Beatles first trip to Hamburg. They played from August 17 to November 30th. I think it's safe to say(although no one knows for certain) that Lennon purchased the '58 and Deluxe in October of 1960(certainly no later than November). So, he would have played this combination until mid-July of '62. This would be over a year and a half(21 months to be exact). If Lennon got his AC-15 in late July he only used that amp until early '63(6 months) when they bought the new black AC-30's which were replaced with again new AC-30's(in July '63) and these were replaced in late '63 with VOX AC-50's. I think it's safe to say Lennon played his '58 325 through his late 50's Fender Tweed Deluxe a lot more than any other amp! I will be the first to admit I don't know a lot about VOX amps, I'm mainly into the earlier stuff. But a big point that Andy and I discussed a lot for his book was the importance of the early gear, and I think his book finally gives these early amps and guitars their place in Beatle history. They were very important. Lennon got nostalgic in the 70's and bought another Fender Tweed Deluxe from Ron DeMarino. That's how they became friends and Ron eventually refinished John's '58 back to blonde. John must have wanted what he loved most back, the original blonde '58 325 played through a late '50's Fender Deluxe.
Could it be that he was not that crazy about accepting these new British amps? I think he preferred his American made amp to the new British amp. He has even stated that he liked the sound of the American amps over the British amps. Even though they were British and rising to the top, they still felt that connection to American equipment and the American rockers like Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry who used Gibson and Fender. I think George more than John resented Brian Epstein's decision to force them into endorsing VOX. They wanted to make the decisions when it came to their sound. John used to remind Brian that he was the manager only and had no say in the music they created. Note how quickly they switched to Fender amps after Brian was no longer around to uphold the verbal agreement he made with VOX. Anway, back to my original point. John Lennon bought his '58 325 and Fender Deluxe on The Beatles first trip to Hamburg. They played from August 17 to November 30th. I think it's safe to say(although no one knows for certain) that Lennon purchased the '58 and Deluxe in October of 1960(certainly no later than November). So, he would have played this combination until mid-July of '62. This would be over a year and a half(21 months to be exact). If Lennon got his AC-15 in late July he only used that amp until early '63(6 months) when they bought the new black AC-30's which were replaced with again new AC-30's(in July '63) and these were replaced in late '63 with VOX AC-50's. I think it's safe to say Lennon played his '58 325 through his late 50's Fender Tweed Deluxe a lot more than any other amp! I will be the first to admit I don't know a lot about VOX amps, I'm mainly into the earlier stuff. But a big point that Andy and I discussed a lot for his book was the importance of the early gear, and I think his book finally gives these early amps and guitars their place in Beatle history. They were very important. Lennon got nostalgic in the 70's and bought another Fender Tweed Deluxe from Ron DeMarino. That's how they became friends and Ron eventually refinished John's '58 back to blonde. John must have wanted what he loved most back, the original blonde '58 325 played through a late '50's Fender Deluxe.