Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

George says he recieved his sonic blue "Rocky" Strat at the time of Rubber Soul, while "The Beatles' Gear" and the "Help" album and sessions prove differently. Besides "You're Gonna Lose That Girl", what other songs do you think George is breaking his Strat in on? I definately hear a Strat bite in "If You Got Trouble", "That Means a Lot", "Yes It Is", "I Need You", and "You Like Me Too Much".

I know it could have probably been the only 6-string he used on "Rubber Soul", definately on "Nowhere Man", "Run for Your Life", "The Word" and "Wait". Does "Day Tripper" and "What Goes On" sound like he's using a Strat or his favored Tennesean? My ears are having a hard time telling the difference!

I think the general consensus leans toward the Tennessean on both of those songs. Day Tripper, IMO, has more of a thick hollowbody sound to it.

Something I wasn't aware of came from George Martin's Limited Edition book, Playback. Martin kept detailed notes of the Help session. Rare, since he didn't seem to do this at any other time. I digress. At any rate, according to Martin, George used his Fender on Ticket to Ride, as well as the Rick 360/12. Harrison also used the 360, with a pedal for the swells, on I Need You.

Added note: No mention of George using the Fender on I Need You. Just the 360 and a Spanish acoustic.

"Day Tripper" has got to be a guitar with a bridge humbucker - I believe it has been said that this could be George's ES-345.

sloop_john_b wrote:"Day Tripper" has got to be a guitar with a bridge humbucker - I believe it has been said that this could be George's ES-345.

I'd agree with this completely. The sound is too thick and isn't "woody" enough to be the Gretsch. It's also not twangy enough to be the Strat. Gotta be the 345.

I owned a 345 for many years. I now have a Gretsch 6118 which may be infuencing my brain, but I would guess Day Tripper was a Gretsch.

It was the ES-345 in the video, for what thats worth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1W_gKhidxU I always thought that that guitar was a great look for George.

...
"the best known celebrity guitar of all time" ??? I think not.

http://www.justguitars.com.au/vintage-g ... ?guitar=80
"Fender Stratocaster, George Harrison’s "Rocky" – probably the best known celebrity guitar of all time. One early April day in 1967, shortly after the final recording sessions for Sgt. Pepper were completed, and with the Summer of Love, (and LSD), spreading around the world, George Harrison armed himself with some pots of dayglo and enamel paint, (plus some of Patti Boyd’s nail polish), and set to work turning his 1962 Sonic Blue Stratocaster into a work of art. The finished guitar was first glimpsed in the black-and-white television footage of 'All You Need Is Love', but could be seen in all its technicolor glory in the film clip made for 'I Am The Walrus'. The unpainted “Rocky” had played a major part in the recording of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt Pepper albums."

Got a good reason, for taking the ES-345 out...

And I always thought the most famous guitar would be Jewel's...

Wow. Didn't know it was the 360/12 on I Need You, woulda never thought that.

Anyway, it seems that George's memory was a little hazy. Can't believe the Strats were ready in time for the "Help!" sessions! What about "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" and "It's Only Love"? Strat work on those?

There are strats going in Daytripper, particularly in the solo section. I tend to believe the intro riff is a strat and another guitar

Anyone for Strat during the verses of "The Word"?

sloop_john_b wrote:Anyone for Strat during the verses of "The Word"?

for sho'