 1966: Gibson SG Standard
solidbody, cherry red (vintage 1964?):
This guitar, equipped with a Gibson Maestro Vibrola w/
lyre-style cover, was first used during the Revolver
sessions, and was featured on the promo film for "Lady
Madonna" and the recently reconstructed "Hey Bulldog"
video. It makes its only public appearances on 1
May 1966 at the NME Poll Winners concert in Wembley
(photo below), and a few weeks later in Munich at the
first show on the '66 tour. Sometime in 1969
Harrison gave this guitar to the band Badfinger, and
after a dispute, Pete Ham aced
out fellow guitarist Tom Evans and kept the SG.  He used it extensively on tour and in the
studio, notably on "No Matter
What" and "Baby Blue." Just before his suicide in
April 1974, Ham left this guitar at his brother John's
home. After keeping it stored away, John Ham took it out
in 2001 and loaned it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
for display. In 2004 Indianapolis Colts owner Jim
Isray picked it up for only $567,000 at Christie's. Nice to have money, eh?
Note: This SG is
not to be confused with another SG given to Harrison
by Eric Clapton but apparently not used in any
Beatles project. Also not to be confused with
a red SG used by Badfinger bandmate Joey Molland.
|
1965:Gibson ES-345-TD (tobacco sunburst,
stop tailpiece; vintage '63-'65). It's been
reported that one of the Moody Blues loaned this guitar
to Harrison after his Country Gent was smashed on a
roadway on 2 December '65, but photos from the
"Daytripper" and "We Can Work It Out" video session of
23 November show Harrison playing this guitar, so
another myth bites the dust. Other photos show him
using it on the December British tour, but after that --
nothing. 
It doesn't show up in current photos of
his collection, so it may just be one of those guitars
that passed through his hands. I wish I had more
to report, but that's show biz.
Harrison, as Lennon had done,
stripped the finish off his Casino (right). "They
became much better guitars," he said in a Guitar
Player interview. "I think that works
on a lot of guitars: If you take the paint and varnish
off, and get the bare wood, it seems to sort of
breathe." This guitar hangs on Harrison's wall.
