Someone said that Paul's first guitar was an Epiphone
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Mr Martinez is spot on, you would have been lucky to get hold of an Epiphone guitar in Britain in the 1950's, plus the price would have been to much for teenage boy. Think Paul plays his Zenith in the early days video, definitely his first guitar! The Epiphone guitar was obtained after the Beatles hit the big time possibly 65/66?
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mrmarx:
Mr Martinez is spot on, you would have been lucky to get hold of an Epiphone guitar in Britain in the 1950's, plus the price would have been to much for teenage boy. Think Paul plays his Zenith in the early days video, definitely his first guitar! The Epiphone guitar was obtained after the Beatles hit the big time possibly 65/66?
Paul plays the (right-handed, upside-down) Epiphone acoustic on TV in 1965 doing Yesterday. Is that the one you are talking about? (The one he still plays today)
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Audley's Piano:
Oh no. Somebody was saying his first guitar was an Epiphone.
I meant that the one you described above (electric Les Paul) sounds like the 1960 Les Paul that Linda got him. I know you meant that someone told you his first guitar was an Epiphone, but they were wrong.
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Is that the gold top Nancy? A Christmas present if I remember rightly?
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mrmarx:
Is that the gold top Nancy? A Christmas present if I remember rightly?
I thought it was called sunburst (I think I'm wrong), but yes, the gold one he plays now. It was either a birthday or Xmas present. One year she also got him Elvis' bass player's (Bill Black's) upright bass.
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Ah yes, Bill Blacks bass, seen in The World Tonight documentary.
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Nancy R:
One year she also got him Elvis' bass player's (Bill Black's) upright bass.
I think that was in June 1974 when they were staying in Nashville. Back at Abbey Road that November, Paul played it on 'Love In Song'.
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Nancy R:
mrmarx:
Is that the gold top Nancy? A Christmas present if I remember rightly?
I thought it was called sunburst (I think I'm wrong), but yes, the gold one he plays now.
You are correct Nancy, it was a sunburst guitar. To cut a long story short, Paul purchased two Epiphone guitars in the autumn of 1964. One was a acoustic flat-top Texan FT-79 and the other was a electric Casino ES-230TD, with a sunburst finish. As he mainly played his Hofner bass, Paul said at the time that he purchased these guitars mainly for 'composing'. However, during 1965, he started to use these guitars in the recording studio, television studio and on stage. (info from Andy Babiuk's excellent book, 'Beatles Gear'. .
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Little bit earlier than I thought, thanks for the info
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Kestrel:
Nancy R:
mrmarx:
Is that the gold top Nancy? A Christmas present if I remember rightly?
I thought it was called sunburst (I think I'm wrong), but yes, the gold one he plays now.
You are correct Nancy, it was a sunburst guitar. To cut a long story short, Paul purchased two Epiphone guitars in the autumn of 1964. One was a acoustic flat-top Texan FT-79 and the other was a electric Casino ES-230TD, with a sunburst finish. As he mainly played his Hofner bass, Paul said at the time that he purchased these guitars mainly for 'composing'. However, during 1965, he started to use these guitars in the recording studio, television studio and on stage. (info from Andy Babiuk's excellent book, 'Beatles Gear'. .
We were talking about the gold Les Paul electric that he plays now. It is a 1960 that Linda bought him. (or so I read) What is this Casino electric and does he still play it? I have the Beatles Gear book. Will look it up. Do you have a page # handy?
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Okay, I found it. We were not talking about the Epiphone Casino which is starburst and Paul played it on Taxman and Paperback Writer. (and still does today) It was also a right handed guitar which he plays upside down. Andy Babiuk says it was shipped Nov. 1, 1962, but how could that be? I think he meant 1964 since it is talked about in the 1964 chapter. The Texan was purchased towards the end of 1964 he says. Also, John and George had Epiphone Casinos too. John sanded his down later and that is what he is playing on the rooftop in Let It Be. He also played it in promo clips for Rain & Paperback Writer. John & George both played theirs in the Japan concerts, didn't they? Here's the Texan today: (I took this in Atlanta from the 3rd row)
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Keep in mind, an Epiphone guitar in the mid 1960s was about the same as a Gibson. Today, Epiphone guitars are budget versions made in Asia of the more expensive Gibson models made in the USA.
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Great pictures Nancy, it is great to think that Paul has stayed loyal to his guitars, even though he could have the pick of anything
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