Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yeah it is possible there was only one sonic blue strat, but Harrison said that they played the solo on Nowhere Man "in unison" with their strats, but he definitely could be wrong. Too bad their isnt a receipt or something...or a picture with both strats present.

It's been a while, but I believe Harrison's unison statement regarded And Your Bird Can Sing. The NM leads just sounds like one guitar with oodles of compression.

Glen,

I know where you're coming from, but it's fun to debate! I also agree the Lennon 1967 (?) photo doesn't prove it. It could easily be before Rocky was created.

I'd like to see more pictures of the back of the strat(s). This picture shows lots of figure in the neck (though fuzzy here) and the sticker. Both items very distinguishable.

Yes. There are, comparatively, lots of shots of Harrison's guitar. There are none, that I know of, of the back of what is alleged to be the Lennon guitar.

Here are the 2 Strats in Rubber Soul Sessions. 2 AC-30´s also.

It took me a moment to spot the Strat in the background. It must have been cold in the studio, because they are are all wearing jackets. Cool photo (forgive me)!

Ah, but the photo isn't in color, so are they truely matching blue strats? Just kidding!

Looks like the closest one has the same strap that is on the photo of John in the red shirt.

What? No comments about Paul tell John where or how to play?

Good effort Nicolas. That's pretty convincing. Even if it was color, the guitars would look more like white. Sonic blues almost always look that way around a flash camera. Would love to see that guitar at Lennon's house. I wonder what happened to it, and, for that matter, the one in Imagine, which if I remember correctly looked seriously dinged up, as one might expect a 50s guitar 15 years down the line.

And if it is the same guitar, why a maple neck now (then)? It's been awhile since I've seen the Imagine movie, and I don't remember noticing it being beat-up. Maybe it fell off a car too!
It should have only been about 10 years old then though.

Thanks for the picture Nicolas!

Glenn, yes As Your Bird Can Sing does seem and sound a lot more likely that they played the lead riff in unison than Nowhere Man, but I just looked at a direct quote from George in the book Beatles Gear where he said that he and John used the strats in unison to play the solo in Nowhere Man. I'm thinking he could be a little confused. But who knows.

I'm thinking the guitar in Imagine is a different guitar, but I haven't seen it in a while.

I may have the Imagine tape around. I'll have to take a look. I remember it as being a pretty beat up strat. George could have been confused Mike, seems to me I remember him telling a fairly long story about the recording of N.M. in Guitar Player or something and he mentioned a lot of detail but no synched playing of leads.

Here's a shot of the sonic blue Strat w/maple neck at John's house w/George playing it. Frame was taken from the gimme some truth DVD.

The pickguard screw placement above between the middle and neck pickups makes that Strat a pre CBS.

It could very well be Lennon's original with one of Claptons spare necks from when he put Blackie together.

The maple neck does makes it look more Buddy Holly. Mmmhhhh???