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Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments, from Stage to Studio
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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
06/01/2006
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!
19/07/2004
My favorite book on The Beatles has always been "The Recording Sessions" however remaining a close 2nd - 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!
08/07/2003
inspired, and I now look for more than just a great color when buying a guitar.
Of course, if you are just buying it for the photos, you won't be dissappointed. An absolute plethora of pictures adorn the huge pages of this book, making it a real sight for guitar-starved eyes.
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