Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments, from Stage to Studio (Hardcover)

~ Andy Babiuk (Author) "I STARTED WITH BANJO WHEN I WAS 15," SAID JOHN LENNON, "WHEN MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME SOME BANJO CHORDS..." (more)
Key Phrases: bass ante, starr playing, bass rig, George Martin, Les Paul, George Harrison (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Babiuk takes a unique approach to the Beatles' story by documenting the history of their music equipment. The Beatles are forever associated with particular instruments, and thoughts of them immediately conjure images of John's Rickenbacker, George's large, hollow-bodied Gretch, Paul's signature custom Hofner violin bass (the first left-handed bass the company ever produced), and Ringo on a Ludwig drum kit. Babiuk begins with Lennon's first guitar in 1956 and follows through to the band's final 1969 sessions at the Abbey Road studios. As he shows, their choice of instruments were outlets for their personalities and creativity, and they selected a particular make and model for its individual sound, used that sound to its fullest, and then progressed to the next. Though dubbed "the quiet one," Harrison proved the maverick, continually experimenting with guitars and instruments from other nationalities, leading to the important Eastern influence on the Beatles' music. Babiuk provides marvelous technical detail on all of the Fab Four's gear, with numerous photos of either their own instruments or identical models. A fresh perspective on the group's well-documented history will appeal to hardcore fans and interested lay readers alike. Michael Rogers, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A big, slick, exhaustively researched exploration of what made The Beatles sound like The Beatles." -- Rochester Democrat and Chonicle

"A fresh, highly readable perspective on the group's well-documented history...will appeal to hardcore fans and interested laymen. Recommended." -- Library Journal

"A lavish celebration of every known piece of musical equipment [The Beatles] used...large and colorful...well-researched..." -- Tower Records' Pulse! magazine

"A sure bet to be a 'must-have' under the Christmas tree for any rabid Beatles fan." -- Mondo Gordo

"An authoritative guide to The Beatles' equipment...Babiuk shows himself to be a persistent researcher and a writer of clarity." -- Mark Lewisohn, renowned Beatles expert, author of The Beatles Recording Sessions and of the Beatles Gear foreword

"May be the ultimate specialized study of The Beatles...the sheer mass of information is impressive...the pictures...are fab." -- Chicago Tribune

"The 'gift book'...a luxury item...to be held and admired.... Beatles Gear provides a history of their sound." -- Boston Globe

"The folks at Backbeat Books have a well-earned reputation...this year, they've got more 'must-have' additions, [including] Beatles Gear." -- The Ithaca Journal

"The ultimate Beatles fanatic book." -- San Jose Mercury News

"To make sure [your gift books] end up on coffeetables...here's our guide to the best, [including] Beatles Gear..." -- Playboy

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books; Revised edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306629
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306625
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #417,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!!!, July 19, 2004

By	James C. Darling (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My favorite book on The Beatles has always been "The Recording Sessions" by Mark Lewisohn. It has been relaced, now - however remaining a close 2nd - by "Beatles Gear"!

This book is for those like me who are not only Beatles enthusiasts, but also musicians who want to know every little bit of info (or, as much info as they can get) on all the instruments, and amps, and drums, etc. that the Beatles used during their career. Being a huge Beatle fan (and musician, as stated already), I thought I had a pretty decent knowledge of their guitars they used. Well..... how little I actually DID know! I learned a few things, already, after only skimming through the book for the first time...... like that George had TWO Gretsch Country Gents that look similar but are different in their switch configurations. Look at the photos provided of George onstage at different shows, and lo and behold! Two different Country Gents! Cool!

Other invaluable bits of info for the Beatle fan who must know "everything".... Ringo had three different Ludwig drum sets - with which five different "The Beatles" logo drum heads were used on the kick drum over the few years they toured. Amazing!

We all know Paul has had two Hofner violin basses - a '61 and a '63 - of which the '63 model became his main axe..... and we know John had two Rick 325's, the first of which he had painted black, and the second that was black from the start. But, I didn't know he had a 12-string version of his famous black 325!

The book is full of great photos of the actual guitars bought and used by John, Paul, and George... and, where an actual guitar could not be located for photographing, an exact model is provided.

Equally important, and covered as extensively as the guitars and drums, are the amplifiers.... and the keyboards, as well.

I could go on and on, but it would be more fun for you to learn for yourselves! Buy this book!!! I don't know why it took me so long to buy it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technical Beatles, January 6, 2006

By	BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Beatles Gear, Revised Edition (Paperback)

Get this book with Mark Lewisohn's "The Recording Sessions" for a glimpse behind the Beatle curtain at their recording instruments.

For people who are interested in the amps, musical instruments, recording devices and technology of that era, then you want to read this book. You also develop a heightened awareness of the Beatles' musical instruments such as the differences in both of George Harrison's Country Gents guitar. ("Before He Was Fab," a book co-authored by George's only sister describes a Rickenbacker the youngest Beatle bought in September of 1963 during his visit to Benton, Illinois). You also get some interesting detailed information on the different drum kits Ringo used; Paul McCartney's famous 1961 and 1963 Hofner bass guitars; John's famous acoustics and you even get the scoop on the Beatles' logo and how it changed on the drum kits! That was new to me and I've been an inveterate Beatle fan and Beatle expert for most of my life!

Readers are treated to photographs of the Beatles' instruments and other technical devices, e.g. recording equipment. I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Babiuk speak at a Beatles' convention and the man is truly a scholar. This is a book well worth having!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book fills a rare void in Beatles library, March 29, 2002

By	Mark Janovec "mjanovec" (Hudson, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There have been Beatles books written by nearly everyone who ever came within a mile of the group. And many have been written by people who never even came that close!

However, Beatles Gear fills a void that previous books rarely touched on: the instruments the Beatles used. While this subject may only appeal to instrument enthusiasts and the most fervent Beatles fan, it does add something valuable to the history of the group. One feels Andy Babiuk really did his research and made an attempt to fully cover every instrument the band owned or played.

This book makes a nice suppliment to the "bible" that is Lewisohn's "Recording Sessions." The pictures are (mostly) beautifully rendered and many have not been seen before.

While this book is not for everyone, it makes the distinction of being a rare Beatles book that adds to wealth of knowledge already out there.