 1968:
Gibson
J-200 acoustic (vintage unknown): Harrison got this jumbo in America
in time for the "White Album" sessions and afterwards used it for Let
It Be. He can be seen playing it in the film of the same
name during "For You Blue" and later used it for "Here Comes the
Sun." It remains part of the Harrison estate. |
 1968:
1957
Gibson Les Paul Standard; Serial #7-8789: Once upon a time John Sebastian
of the Lovin' Spoonful had a gold-top Les Paul Standard guitar. It
found its way to Rick Derringer of the McCoys, who took the well used guitar
back to Gibson and had them refinish it in cherry red. But after
that Derringer didn't fancy it any more, so he traded it in at Dan Armstrong's
Manhattan shop. Soon Eric Clapton walked in and bought it, and in
1968 Slowhand gave it to Harrison, a few weeks before he showed up at Abbey
Road to add his singular lead track to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."  Harrison
used it in the "Revolution" promo film and the sessions for Let It
Be and Abbey Road (notably on "Something").
In the early '70s, Harrison's Beverly Hills home was burglarized,
and the Les Paul stolen from under his bed; it wound up at a Guitar Center
store in Hollywood, where a Mexican chap bought it for $650. After
the shop owner discovered it was Harrison's guitar, he tried to get it
back, but the lucky purchaser wouldn't budge without a personal appeal
from Harrison, not to mention a '58 sunburst Les Paul and a bass guitar.
Harrison still had this well traveled guitar when he passed on.
 1968:1968
Fender Jazz Bass: Perhaps miffed that other guitar manufacturers were
enjoying the glow -- and profit -- of Beatles association, Fender sent
the band several amps and guitars, among them a Jazz Bass for Harrison.
He used it infrequently, and there are almost no photos of him playing
it, but Fender's plan paid off handsomely with another instrument they
gave him (below).
|
 1968:
1968
Fender Telecaster solidbody; Serial #235594: This guitar, rosewood
with a maple middle, was a gift from Fender and one of only two made, and
arrived at EMI Studios one day in December, having made the trip from the
U.S.  in
its own BBC coach seat. Used extensively on the Let It Be
sessions and prominently seen and heard at the Beatles' last public performance
-- the rooftop concert. After the breakup, Harrison performed a bit
with Bonnie & Delaney and gave this guitar to Delaney Bramlett.
In 1998 Bramlett, in what I consider an act of monumental ingratitude,
offered it for auction through Bonham's but withdrew it after his asking
price of $200,000 was not met. In 2003 he offered it again
at a Hollywood auction, insisting that Harrison had recommended he sell
it before somebody killed him for it. Ed Begley Jr., bidding for
Olivia Harrison, bought it for more than $470,000, including taxes and
premiums. So the fabled Rosewood Tele has come home. |
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(c)2000, 2006 John F. Crowley