Beatles Gear: The Ultimate Edition
All The Fab Four’s Instruments From Stage To Studio
Get your personally autographed hardcover edition of Beatles Gear by Andy Babiuk from Fab Gear with two day Priority Mail shipping anywhere in the US for only $70!
About The Book
This critically acclaimed book is now expanded with over 650 new and previously unpublished photos as well as plenty of new and never before told stories. This book is the first to tell the full story of how the Beatles made their music. It details exactly which guitars, drums, amplifiers and keyboards the Beatles used at the key points of their relatively brief but entirely revolutionary career…from the formation of the Quarry Men skiffle group in the 1950s to the dissolution of the Beatles in 1970.
It provides a fascinating fresh insight into Beatle history from an entirely new viewpoint, and along the way many myths are exploded and dozens of stories told for the first time, and many more since its first release.
John, Paul, George and Ringo’s moves from cheap early instruments to the pick of 1960s technology is carefully and entertainingly documented in an easy to read narrative, fully illustrated with many unseen photographs, a cache of rare memorabilia, and a unique collection of specially photographed actual Beatle instruments.
This landmark book is perfect for the fan absorbed by music rather than hairstyles, for the tribute band member with an eye for detail, and for any reader with an abiding interest in the 1960s.
At last, Beatles Gear The Ultimate Edition gets right inside the music. More than this, the book paints a vivid picture of the times, presenting new interviews with the people who made, sold and looked after the band’s gear. With Beatles albums still selling at the rate of thousands a day throughout the world, and renewed industry interest in the value of the band’s published portfolio, Beatles Gear arrives on the market with perfect timing.
Hundreds of photographs, many never before seen, will be a revelation to even the most informed Beatles enthusiast. Also shown in luscious quality throughout the book are 26 of the group’s original instruments, still owned by ex-members of The Beatles or their heirs …from George’s psychedelic Strat to John’s Bed In Gibson, and Ringo’s roof top Ludwig kit to Paul’s Hofner violin bass.
And while many other items used by the group have been lost, broken or damaged, exhaustive research has allowed the presentation here of 43 virtually exact duplicates of otherwise defunct Beatle instruments and gear. Prime advertising and publicity material provide an extra flavor of the period and complete this unique examination of the sound of the fab four.
The Beatles have had an unparalleled influence on the music of the past 40 years. And still today much rock music lends a retro ear to the group’s distinctive sounds and unique orchestrations not to mention the many tribute bands around the world who keep the flame burning. This fascinating documentary will become required reading for anyone keen to gain an expert’s inside knowledge of The Beatles sound.
About The Author
Andy Babiuk is a musician, writer, producer, founding member of the Chesterfield Kings, has been a professional in the music industry for more than 30 years and is the owner of a boutique music shop Andy Babiuk’s Fab Gear. He is currently in the band The Empty Hearts featuring Elliot Easton from The Cars on lead guitar, Clem Burke from Blondie on drums, and Wally Palmar from The Romantics on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. The Empty Hearts LP release, August 5th, 2014. He is a staff consultant to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and consultant to major auction houses in London and New York.
Andy is a respected expert on vintage guitars and the foremost authority on the equipment used by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Andy perceived the need for a book about The Beatles’ gear when he tried to emulate some of their recorded sounds for his own band, The Chesterfield Kings. Andy then embarked on six years of research for Beatles Gear, during which time he interviewed over 400 people who worked with or were closely associated with The Beatles, listened to hundreds of recordings, watched miles of film, and amassed a vast library of documents and photographic evidence of The Beatles using their instruments and equipment. The result is this most detailed account of The Beatles and the tools that they used, on-stage and in the studio. As a follow up to his first book Beatles Gear, Babiuk worked nine years researching and writing Rolling Stones Gear – a history of the equipment used by The Rolling Stones.
Andy worked directly with members of the Stones and photographed The Rolling Stones actual guitars and equipment. His critically acclaimed books Beatles Gear (2001) and Rolling Stones Gear (2014) are books that manage to be both historical documents and an entertaining read. Andy is also the author of the book The Story of Paul Bigsby: Father Of The Modern Electric Solidbody Guitar, published in February 2009. He has worked as the technical consultant and associate music supervisor of Davis Chase’s feature film Not Fade Away released by Paramount Pictures in the fall of 2012. He lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife, six children and a very large collection of guitars and music memorabilia.