It's been one of the high points of my career as a youtube watcher to watch this video. But seriously, I'll always associate the look and sound of that guitar with George on those early Beatles albums. I love that sound he gets - twangy but not surfy. Very bell like. A Duo Jet and a Vox NOS amp and I'm in heaven!
George had 2 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitars. His first was a 1962 and had dial mutes. You can see and hear him playing it in 1963 at The Royal Variety Command Performance for the Queen. Then he got a 1963 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar which had pop up mutes and that's the guitar you see him playing on the Beatles first Ed Sullivan appearance Feb 9, 1964..
I bought an old one from the 1980s like 8 years ago.. it's my go to guitar that I've played in my little side projects, open mic nights, playing in bars and in bands. deffinatly my favorite. I have a Les Paul but it plays so different than my Gretsch.. I love Gretsch.
In West L.A. In the 90's I played with some friends at a party. We traded Strats for the gig. They said my Strat "feels vintage". Next time I saw them same dudes we played a church gig for the homeless in east L.A. I brought my Telecaster. They let me play the Gretsch White Falcon on hand- it was just perfect. Sounds great... If I recall correctly he paid $850.00 for it new. I still want one.
Being an unrepentant guitar nerd, I reckon I'd have cried if I was one of those fellas getting the original out of the case. I don't approve of these hilariously expensive signature models - or any guitar that's over a few grand, to be honest - but yeah, the shots of the original guitar are well worth watching this video.
LoL ... yeah, just did the conversion. That seems about right. George harrison in a pretty decent band by that time. Hard to come by american guitars. You're going to throw down 2 grand for a proper american guitar. And he was short... so.... 1800 bux or so. (and god bless gretsch... I just bought a 90's duo jet a few years ago... 1900 dollars. So like gold it holds it's value. Basically what george paid 60 years ago.)
George had 2 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitars. His first was a 1962 and had dial mutes. You can see and hear him playing it in 1963 at The Royal Variety Command Performance for the Queen. Then he got a 1963 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar which had pop up mutes and that's the guitar you see him playing on the Beatles first Ed Sullivan appearance Feb 9, 1964
Gretsch also makes IMHO the best bang for buck guitars in the world. They also put their own name and on it. No Epiphoney crap and it is remarkable!!!! Try a Streamliner or an Electromatic (my favorite) and you will be pleasantly surprised.
I wish there'd be an actual fuckin' series where they take famous guitars like this (and John's, and so on and so forth) and show them off. Play them, even.
@dasenuff It's not made for average musicians, it's made for collectors. That's why they made fewer than 100 of them. You can buy virtually the same model-just not a "George Harrison Custom Shop™ one-for the regular guitar price. Same. Guitar.
amazing to see . am fender player cause all i could buy for 140 , one day some guitar company will sponsor me after i have already made the money ..any collectors got any gutiars they want played ?
@Zebonka Yeah hear hear mate, it's actually a bit sick you know? they take em apart, sew them up, mess around with them, take them out for about 20 minutes a day and pay people to see them, it's a bit like what they did to the actual beatles! (figuratively of course) I mean think what george would say, haha think what the guitar would say.
I was kinda hoping I could buy one of these and I had about $4000 ready to go then I saw it costs $20,000 on the gretsch website. It's upsetting I was going to use this in "the british invasion" @ Disney World!
@Salguine thats my point..the 'regular' model is to damned expensive. fender has raised its prices scincew the leasing of the gretsch co. an eddie cochran model for example,its outrageously priced!!12000.00 for a tribute madel or other regular model is ridiculous. you can buy and original 6120 for less. and as far as 'collectors''..well there the bozos running up the prices. the billy zoom model is another example..over 8 g's for a tribute that would run about 6500.00 for an original..it crazy!
The ugliest guitar Iv ever played is also the best sounding and feeling.Anyone can have the best guitar in the world if you listen for it because its out there cheap in disguise. Beginners waste money on image when they need to learn first what it is they want an instrument to do for them and then they will spot the gems from the lemons of whatever make.
Then why do they get big money for old corroded Gibson's with warped necks.its not the price that matters they charge whatever they think a buyer is willing to part with.Why does a Gibson bar stool cost more than a Fender bar stool when they are brand new and come from the same factory?An expensive pen won't make an artist draw better.Follow the name on the head stock as a goal and you won't get down to practicing enough to really play anything meaningful.
True. Always interested in the gorgeous birds on the fretboard of PRS guitars... always wanted a blue one.. went to try it and I felt awkward....... picked up a Gretsch, which I never paid attention to, and felt like I was home.
That guitar was not black on the back during it's Beatle days. Klaus I believe had or was going to do something with the guitar when George asked him for the guitar back. There is an interview somewhere that George states he had to have it worked on and some paint work was done to it. THEN it was black on the back in those shots for Cloud Nine. Study old pics closely and you can tell that even in a shadowed position the back seems lighter in shade than the front. Thats because they were stained. The only painted part of the Duo Jet is the front. So your basically paying a ton of money for a Cloud Nine replica.
OUTRAGEOUS! this guitar or the tribute guitar is to damn expensive..thsi is what happens when fender takes over. one could by a 6129 cht atkins model under the old gretsch co. for about 1200 now the eddie cochran model ( all thats diff is the neck pos. p-90) around 6-12 g's..ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! how in the hell can an artist buy that? what kind of future 'signature' series will there be i wonder? probably the signature harmony or silvertone..becuz avg musicians cant affor dthis crap!
expensive toys for rich creeps who'll lock them in a vault and get them out once a year, stand in front of the mirror and pretend they're George at the Cavern in '62. Sadly just someone's "investment" added to their "portfolio" in the shape of a duo-jet.
It's been one of the high points of my career as a youtube watcher to watch this video. But seriously, I'll always associate the look and sound of that guitar with George on those early Beatles albums. I love that sound he gets - twangy but not surfy. Very bell like. A Duo Jet and a Vox NOS amp and I'm in heaven!
Gretsch Guitars are Mind blowing... expecially Georges...
A great piece of pop history! I have a '57 re-issue Duo Jet which is spot-on.
George had 2 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitars. His first was a 1962 and had dial mutes. You can see and hear him playing it in 1963 at The Royal Variety Command Performance for the Queen. Then he got a 1963 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar which had pop up mutes and that's the guitar you see him playing on the Beatles first Ed Sullivan appearance Feb 9, 1964..
This guitar is richer than us. It even has its own first class
that’s my grandad!!!!! my grandad is the scouse guy who sold George Harrison the guitar - I feel pretty cool right now
Wow, great story -- now a priceless historical document!
I bought an old one from the 1980s like 8 years ago.. it's my go to guitar that I've played in my little side projects, open mic nights, playing in bars and in bands. deffinatly my favorite. I have a Les Paul but it plays so different than my Gretsch.. I love Gretsch.
George Harrison - what a legend
In West L.A. In the 90's I played with some friends at a party. We traded Strats for the gig. They said my Strat "feels vintage". Next time I saw them same dudes we played a church gig for the homeless in east L.A. I brought my Telecaster. They let me play the Gretsch White Falcon on hand- it was just perfect. Sounds great... If I recall correctly he paid $850.00 for it new. I still want one.
Being an unrepentant guitar nerd, I reckon I'd have cried if I was one of those fellas getting the original out of the case.
I don't approve of these hilariously expensive signature models - or any guitar that's over a few grand, to be honest - but yeah, the shots of the original guitar are well worth watching this video.
love it! got to have one in my life!!!
I thought that it was 'Back in the USSR' starting at 1:40...
Yeh it did sound like Back In U.S.S.R. It's cool though.
Dang 75 pounds in 1960 is like $2000 now
LoL ... yeah, just did the conversion. That seems about right. George harrison in a pretty decent band by that time. Hard to come by american guitars. You're going to throw down 2 grand for a proper american guitar. And he was short... so.... 1800 bux or so. (and god bless gretsch... I just bought a 90's duo jet a few years ago... 1900 dollars. So like gold it holds it's value. Basically what george paid 60 years ago.)
75 pounds=$103.57 back in 1960. That was a bargain.
So cool
Harrison also had a double cutaway Gretsch Hollowbody that he played c1964 on a taped performance of ""From Me To You," What model was that one?
A Country Gent
George had 2 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitars. His first was a 1962 and had dial mutes. You can see and hear him playing it in 1963 at The Royal Variety Command Performance for the Queen. Then he got a 1963 Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar which had pop up mutes and that's the guitar you see him playing on the Beatles first Ed Sullivan appearance Feb 9, 1964
Gretsch also makes IMHO the best bang for buck guitars in the world. They also put their own name and on it. No Epiphoney crap and it is remarkable!!!! Try a Streamliner or an Electromatic (my favorite) and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Awesome story
I wish there'd be an actual fuckin' series where they take famous guitars like this (and John's, and so on and so forth) and show them off. Play them, even.
the cochran custom shop reissue is the best guitar ever made by the custom shop
@dasenuff It's not made for average musicians, it's made for collectors. That's why they made fewer than 100 of them. You can buy virtually the same model-just not a "George Harrison Custom Shop™ one-for the regular guitar price. Same. Guitar.
Salguine just think with one of the 100 reliced ones you’d get that bent tuner..
Cool
AWSOME guitar,👍 wish I had one...👍👍👍👍❤️❤️
BEATLES FOR LIFE.
amazing to see . am fender player cause all i could buy for 140 , one day some guitar company will sponsor me after i have already made the money ..any collectors got any gutiars they want played ?
What
Tell me please, what about accent that Ivan Hayward speaks?
Is there a version of this guitar oriented for left handed users?
PLAY IT!
Yeah!
The case is cool too. If that case could talk.
You can have my g6120 am for $20,000 and I'll throw in a signed receipt on a bit of bog roll.
I really want someone to just buy this guitar (the original one) and write a revolutionary album with it
@Zebonka Yeah hear hear mate, it's actually a bit sick you know? they take em apart, sew them up, mess around with them, take them out for about 20 minutes a day and pay people to see them, it's a bit like what they did to the actual beatles! (figuratively of course) I mean think what george would say, haha think what the guitar would say.
Dhani !!! ^_^
I was kinda hoping I could buy one of these and I had about $4000 ready to go then I saw it costs $20,000 on the gretsch website. It's upsetting I was going to use this in "the british invasion" @ Disney World!
That Guitar is worth more than anybodies life in the world
Truly, this is indeed Beatles For Sale.
@Salguine thats my point..the 'regular' model is to damned expensive. fender has raised its prices scincew the leasing of the gretsch co. an eddie cochran model for example,its outrageously priced!!12000.00 for a tribute madel or other regular model is ridiculous. you can buy and original 6120 for less. and as far as 'collectors''..well there the bozos running up the prices. the billy zoom model is another example..over 8 g's for a tribute that would run about 6500.00 for an original..it crazy!
I can only imagine what that IOU is worth now! A bit more than 20 pounds I bet.
Poor George had to move that strap button 10 times!
Does anyone know if George ever paid Ivan the £20 IOU?
No he didn't!! Gretsch gave the old dude a new white falcon to square the deal.
@heroehat
Yes He did
Its a Gretsch guitar, don't you guys already have the specs. for a Duo Jet? I mean he bought it second hand for pete's sake.........
@hollowphaser I love that show! Too bad about the guitar, though.
The ugliest guitar Iv ever played is also the best sounding and feeling.Anyone can have the best guitar in the world if you listen for it because its out there cheap in disguise.
Beginners waste money on image when they need to learn first what it is they want an instrument to do for them and then they will spot the gems from the lemons of whatever make.
Then why do they get big money for old corroded Gibson's with warped necks.its not the price that matters they charge whatever they think a buyer is willing to part with.Why does a Gibson bar stool cost more than a Fender bar stool when they are brand new and come from the same factory?An expensive pen won't make an artist draw better.Follow the name on the head stock as a goal and you won't get down to practicing enough to really play anything meaningful.
True. Always interested in the gorgeous birds on the fretboard of PRS guitars... always wanted a blue one.. went to try it and I felt awkward....... picked up a Gretsch, which I never paid attention to, and felt like I was home.
I know Dhani owns it now, and hopefully he left with the real one.
guy looks kind of like Robin Williams
Frankly, I rather have that 20 pound I. O. U. !!
That guitar was not black on the back during it's Beatle days. Klaus I believe had or was going to do something with the guitar when George asked him for the guitar back. There is an interview somewhere that George states he had to have it worked on and some paint work was done to it. THEN it was black on the back in those shots for Cloud Nine. Study old pics closely and you can tell that even in a shadowed position the back seems lighter in shade than the front. Thats because they were stained. The only painted part of the Duo Jet is the front. So your basically paying a ton of money for a Cloud Nine replica.
Thanks for correcting that. Now I can sleep without worrying about that life threatening error. People like you make me puke.
Wish I could get one for 75 pounds
So George still owes Ivan £20?
@PressStartGaming at mine its 20'000
OUTRAGEOUS! this guitar or the tribute guitar is to damn expensive..thsi is what happens when fender takes over. one could by a 6129 cht atkins model under the old gretsch co. for about 1200 now the eddie cochran model ( all thats diff is the neck pos. p-90) around 6-12 g's..ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! how in the hell can an artist buy that? what kind of future 'signature' series will there be i wonder? probably the signature harmony or silvertone..becuz avg musicians cant affor dthis crap!
90 pounds! I thought a Les Paul was a heavy guitar! (groan)
+laj043 .... British pound sterling. The currency in the UK.
Can't tell if you're joking or not lol.
I was kidding!
Yep, I saw an opening and went for it!
I wonder if George would be mad to know people have a replica of his guitar hahaha he probably wanted it to be one of a kind you never know! LOL
Or, how to make money out of bull (a historical, but technicly old and crapy normal guitar)
a custom shop adventure.
Listen to "Please Please Me" (the album). The guitar is far from sounding "old and crappy".
Jim Rafferty I know this is an old comment, but I think he’s just a Gibson/ fender fanboy.
@hollowphaser bunch of rip offs eh?
expensive toys for rich creeps who'll lock them in a vault and get them out once a year, stand in front of the mirror and pretend they're George at the Cavern in '62. Sadly just someone's "investment" added to their "portfolio" in the shape of a duo-jet.