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Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio
(Book). Now in paperback and updated with new material and photos, this acclaimed book is the first to examine the guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, amplifiers everything The Beatles used to become history's greatest rock 'n' roll band. It analyzes all the gear and how the trend-setting Beatles played it to sculpt an unforgettable range of sounds. Year by year, Beatles Gear 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.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 7, 2012
Buy this one book if you don’t own a single Beatles book and buy this one book if you have them all.
Beatles Gear by Andy Babiuk, the revised edition. Here’s the level of scholarship. John’s first Rickenbacker guitar is photographed as it looks today. Also, the 1958 invoice from Rickenbacker to German distributor Framous with John’s future purchase (serial # V81) itemized on the invoice. In addition, a photo of Rickenbacker salesman Jean “Toots” Thielemans at an instrument trade show. “Toots” played a Rickenbacker guitar in an appearance with George Shearing that inspired John to buy a Rickenbacker guitar in the first place. Lined up behind “Toots” at the trade show is the actual guitar John eventually bought.
There are a couple other “must have or at least should have” Beatle books: The Beatles Anthology and Mark Lewisohn’s The Complete Beatles Chronicle but Andy Babiuk’s Beatles Gear is the one literally breathtaking volume.
Beatles Gear by Andy Babiuk, the revised edition. Here’s the level of scholarship. John’s first Rickenbacker guitar is photographed as it looks today. Also, the 1958 invoice from Rickenbacker to German distributor Framous with John’s future purchase (serial # V81) itemized on the invoice. In addition, a photo of Rickenbacker salesman Jean “Toots” Thielemans at an instrument trade show. “Toots” played a Rickenbacker guitar in an appearance with George Shearing that inspired John to buy a Rickenbacker guitar in the first place. Lined up behind “Toots” at the trade show is the actual guitar John eventually bought.
There are a couple other “must have or at least should have” Beatle books: The Beatles Anthology and Mark Lewisohn’s The Complete Beatles Chronicle but Andy Babiuk’s Beatles Gear is the one literally breathtaking volume.
September 15, 2020
This read was an absolute treat. Andy Babuik has brought together an invaluable compendium of practically all the instruments the Beatles used on their records. Such a work could easily be very dry and soporific, however Babuik wonderfully presents all this information in narrative form, making it a compelling read. You can feel the hunger the Beatles have in their early days for upgrading and acquiring their gear, and every new instrument (presented in large detailed colour pictures) brings with it new memories.
As someone who plays instruments and has a familiarity with them, I regarded each guitar (and amp, piano etc.) with great interest. and fortunately I don't see it holding any lay person back from enjoying the book.
If I had to critique the book in one place, it would be from the end of Revolver onwards. Perhaps as is only natural, once the Beatles turned downstream from their creative peak, so too did the book. It felt a little lighter on detail and time was covered more quickly, but perhaps it might be fair to say that the Beatles themselves had less of a hunger for their instruments - they had everything they could possibly want. Still, it must be said, that given much of the information that has come out in the last few years, there has to be more of the story yet to uncover.
I would solidly recommend this book to all Beatle fans; it strikes a happy medium between highly researched history, and just a load of fun!
As someone who plays instruments and has a familiarity with them, I regarded each guitar (and amp, piano etc.) with great interest. and fortunately I don't see it holding any lay person back from enjoying the book.
If I had to critique the book in one place, it would be from the end of Revolver onwards. Perhaps as is only natural, once the Beatles turned downstream from their creative peak, so too did the book. It felt a little lighter on detail and time was covered more quickly, but perhaps it might be fair to say that the Beatles themselves had less of a hunger for their instruments - they had everything they could possibly want. Still, it must be said, that given much of the information that has come out in the last few years, there has to be more of the story yet to uncover.
I would solidly recommend this book to all Beatle fans; it strikes a happy medium between highly researched history, and just a load of fun!
February 28, 2016
If you're not interested in the drama and interpersonal relationships of the band, read this to instead see their career develop based on the instruments and gear they could afford (or were given based on their popularity). It's also accompanied by an impressive number of photographs. Fab!
July 12, 2025
Det här är den, i särklass, största bok jag läst. Alltså i ren area (m2). Det är som att veckla ut och spela ett parti Risk varje gång man ska läsa. Går knappt ens att ta med in på toa.
Otroligt nörderi, älskar skiten. Och layouten, så många fantastiska bilder. Det här en bok som är precis vad den ska vara, och kanske lite till. Kan sitta och glo i minuter på bilderna på John med hans sandpapprade Epiphone Casino. Den snyggaste gitarren som har funnits.
Snopet att inte få en ordentlig förteckning med instrumenten och respektive album/låt, eller vice versa, i slutet.
Otroligt nörderi, älskar skiten. Och layouten, så många fantastiska bilder. Det här en bok som är precis vad den ska vara, och kanske lite till. Kan sitta och glo i minuter på bilderna på John med hans sandpapprade Epiphone Casino. Den snyggaste gitarren som har funnits.
Snopet att inte få en ordentlig förteckning med instrumenten och respektive album/låt, eller vice versa, i slutet.
March 21, 2024
I rated this a four but for the Beatles nerd or guitar nerd, this would probably be a five. Great photos of all of the gear discussed with full back stories on how the gear got to the Beatles and how they used it. Not for the general reader...totally for the rabbit hole divers!!
March 25, 2023
Excellent documentation of every instrument the Beatles played on a recording session and concert. Great photos too.
January 31, 2013
I say four stars....but only if you are a gear freak with an interest in the luckiest, most adaptable and enduring pop band the world has ever seen (dont go in much for hyperbole usually, but you have to feel it to need it).
Most of the info you could need, if lacking a little in the kind of literary class and personableness of voice found in books like A Revolution in the Head.
light on insight, save for the observations like the hypothesis that George, of all the Beatles, actually looked upon guitars as fetish objects as well as tools of the trade (making him the only member of the band who would read a book like this if it had existed back in the day).
Most of the info you could need, if lacking a little in the kind of literary class and personableness of voice found in books like A Revolution in the Head.
light on insight, save for the observations like the hypothesis that George, of all the Beatles, actually looked upon guitars as fetish objects as well as tools of the trade (making him the only member of the band who would read a book like this if it had existed back in the day).
January 5, 2017
A very comprehensive and interesting history of all the instruments The Beatles used in their career and the parts each instrument played. This along with a history of the Beatles is a very important book for all Beatleologists. Added to that the fact that it is a very readable book makes it even more pleasurable.
June 19, 2010
For hardcore gearheads only! Read the stories about behind piece of equipment used by the Beatles: the guitars, basses, amplifiers, drums, etc. Includes close-up pictures of the actual instruments as well as their specs (and sometimes, fates).
February 4, 2013
This is not a book for gearheads; it's really the story of the Beatles told through their instruments. And every *new* way I can read the story of the Beatles is one more time I can be inspired, sad, stunned, etc. Also it's a *little* bit a book for gearheads.
August 13, 2014
One has to have a nerdy streak to read this book, I will admit as much. It is rather fascinating that someone possessed the madness to take on such a project but I am glad someone was and is. It is a great reference tool. Next stop, The Rolling Stones.
November 25, 2014
An outstanding and extremely detailed book that details each and every musical instrument ever used by the Beatles. Lots of photographs and trivia - including copies of receipts for the instruments themselves, explanation of modification and repairs, etc.
November 30, 2018
I enjoyed this book so much that I watched “The Beatles - Anthology” again so that I could pick out what each band member was playing. A great learning experience for those who aren’t totally familiar with their instruments - like me - or even someone who is.
October 17, 2009
Incredible detailed book about all the instruments the Beatles used (and, in Paul's case, still use today). Great pictures, too!
July 4, 2012
For Beatles and musician purists only.
March 16, 2014
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Beatles' guitars and amps. In GREAT detail. Only for the seriously hardcore.
June 19, 2024
Must read for any Beatles fan. So much more information provided here above and beyond Anthology and The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions.
March 23, 2015
Quite good but not exactly riveting, I must say.
December 10, 2015
Phenomenal research job and well done. Fascinating stories for the true Beatles' fan...
January 21, 2018
Amazing book.
June 15, 2016
Very cool stuff.
December 18, 2019
Andy's work here is incredible. This is a must-have for a Beatles geek.
April 30, 2021
Love it, it's a deep dive into muso/fan heaven.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews