History's most influential rock group continues to impact and inspire countless musicians today, and there is keen interest in the tools that John, Paul, George, and Ringo used in their quest for musical perfection. This updated edition analyses all the gear and how the trend-setting Beatles played it to sculpt and unforgettable range of sounds. Year by year, it examines in fine detail specific instruments, amplifiers, and other equipment used by each artist - from the pre-Beatle days in 1956-57 Liverpool, throughout the global Beatlemania of the '60s, to the group's disbanding in 1970. Much of this chronicle is told through the reminiscences of The Beatles' colleagues, including musicians they toured with in the very early days, road manager Neil Aspinall, roadie and confidant Mal Evans, manager Brian Epstein, instrument manufacturers and sellers, and many others. Author Andy Babiuk performed years of painstaking research, interviewing more than 400 sources - including Fred Gretsch of Gretsch Guitar Co., William Ludwig of Ludwig Drum Co., John Hall, owner of Rickenbacker Guitar Co., Christian Benker, owner of Hofner Bass, and Dick Denney of Vox Amplifiers. Other research included discussions with George Martin at Abbey Road Studios, plus Ginger Baker, The Beach Boys, Ravi Shankar, Tony Sheridan, and others.

Backbeat Books. 2002