THE BEATLES USE ANOTHER BAND'S GEAR - Weird Moments in Beatles History #1

Did you know The Beatles once took the stage with another band's gear? Here's the fascinating story of how it happened!
This is a new series I've been wanting to do for a while: "Weird Moments in Beatles History." Over the years, I've had the incredible opportunity to speak to countless fans, collectors, and musicians about The Beatles' career. Many have shared their own first-hand accounts. As a result, I've got a boatload of unseen photos and rare stories that I've just been dying to talk about (for years now).
A lot of these are just trivial moments that fans are sure to find interesting, but wouldn't fit into a long-form video. Enjoy!
Coming soon:
-Lennon plays Harrison's Rickenbacker for a live performance
-Paul breaks a string in front of 34,000 people
-George rocks Germany with a Gibson SG
Daily Post article: www.dailypost....
DONATE: nickmartellaro... :)
COVERS + ISOLATED TRACKS on PATREON: / nickmartellaro
DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only. All images and video footage falls under fair use laws.

[@johnnyguitarman5724]

The date was actually 14th August 1963. The Beatles had been in Manchester during the day recording a show called Scene At 6.30 at Granada TV. They returned to Llandudno (approx 70 miles away), but their guitars and stage suits were delayed somehow. The photographs in your video are from the actual performance, not a sound check or rehearsal. A good friend of mine was at the show and clearly remembers George Harrison using the white Stratocaster 🤟😎

[@NickMartellaro]

Thanks for your reply! I had also heard it was August 14th back when I first saw these pics years ago (I believe that's what they were captioned). But when I started doing further research for this video, the date didn't make sense to me. I had assumed they were late to their *initial* arrival in Llandudno on August 12th. After all, it wouldn't make sense for them to still not have their instruments two days later on the 14th! The trek to film "Scene at 6.30" explains it. I should've gone with my gut! Thank you for clarifying, and I'm pinning your comment. 😁

[@johnnyguitarman5724]

@@NickMartellaro No problem. The Beatles stayed the whole week at the Grand Hotel in Llandudno, which is a 5 minute walk to where the Odeon Cinema was. I doubt they walked though! Llandudno is a 10 minute drive from where I am wring this message to you

[@nevillede-hoedt6520]

Just an observance, you are possibly correct in that 'The Beatles' are borrowing guitars, Amps and drums in these photos, most bands in the day, liked to use (VOX) amps, very similar set up to 'The Beatles'. Guitars are a personal choice, George liked using Gretch, as he used one in his earlier days, he also used a Gretch similar to what Carl Perkins uses, Eddie Cochoran and Bill Haley, Scotty More, used, but he also liked Fender Strat, and he used a Fender Jaguar guitar, back in his Hamburg days, because they incorporated a heavier/fuller sounding pick-ups, which made them very versatile guitars. John always liked to use a Rickenbacker, and Fender semi accoustic guitars, and ended up with several versions of the Rickenbacker guitar. John also liked Gibson and Epiphone 335, and Les Paul style guitars. Ringo Starr used from his early days of playing drums with 'Rory Storm and The Hurricans', and through into his time with 'The Beatles', his preferred kit were Ludwig. Gretch made good drum kits, people like Buddy Rich and Gene Kruper would use, they had a good tight presice sound to them. Bill Haley's drummer used one. Both Fred Astaire and Jerry Lewis used Gretch kits. Pearl were not a preferred kit back in the 40s and 50s, but during the 70s started to come into their own, and today produce some of the best drum kits on the market. Pearl Export being a very popular kit. Ringo is always known for using a Ludwig. A lot of bands used Ludwig back in the day. The Beatles preferred studio amp's are Fender twins and Fender bassman. VOX tried their best to convince the Beatles to use Vox, so the Beatles became the (Guinea Pigs) Vox fell over backwards to create a good stage amp for live shows, and if The Beatles used them, then it was a pretty good bet, all the other bands the world over, would, start doing the same, which most did! Vox gave their amps to The Beatles, for free, everywhere they played, VOX were there. A similar thing happened with Gretch and Rickenbacker guitars and basses. Fender got in on the act, because in the 'Get Back' film, Fender amps are being used, along with Fender Strats and Fender 6 string bass guitar. George is seen using Fender Strat and Tele. John is clearly using Epiphone 335 guitars and Fender. We have to realise that these 4 Beatles were using nothing but the best there was, at the time. I use nothing but Fender and Musicman bass guitars, these instruments are almost perfectly in tune, and stay this way, in comparison to Gibson and Epiphone, Ibanez, Sheckter, Washburn, there are so many various brands on the market, all competing for a piece of the market, but for a guitarist's and bassist's, we want guitars to stay in tune, and harmonic's along the length of the neck, also need to have good action, and easy to play, good wood, good hardware, pickups etc, for sustain. It is very essential if one is going to be playing for a length of time. Heavy duty amplification is also very important, speakers that can handle all signals,with great consistency and evenness to the sound. I know a lot of younger guys think that they can get away with not using an amp on stage, but that is just not on, we as players need to be in control of what we are playing and producing, not some dude with his headphones on, through his tablet or ipad, giving me some crap uncontrolled sound into the PA, where myself as a player, have next to no advantage or control of my sound. I like using an amp, and I like to hear it back through my foldback, in ear monitors, and hear what is going out front, it is very important. New strings on a bass sound great. I notice Paul McCartney uses Heavy duty VOX and MESA BOOGIE for his bass, and guitar's. Paul's first bass was the Hofner Violin shaped bass as he used throughout his years as a bassist. They are very light weight, so it is easy to hold the neck facing up towards the player, I used to use one, (I should have kept it ) without being too heavy or difficult to play. Paul also used a Hofner 335 shape large body bass as did Stu Suttcliffe. Most bands used this style bass back in the 50s, perhaps they were of a good price, making them affordable, and easy to use. Back to these photo's, the Beatles were pretty good players by this time, they could just about make most instruments sound resonable.

[@idiotgrins3238]

George did not have a jaguar in Hamburg. @@nevillede-hoedt6520

[@michaelharrington75]

​@@nevillede-hoedt6520The Dakotas were part of Brian Epstein's stable of bands, and Brian had a deal with Vox for the Beatles. He probably got his other bands the same amps on some sort of deal? His deal with Vox was a handshake deal that if Vox would supply the Beatles with amps, and service them.., the Beatles would only use Vox amps on their tours. Vox would be allowed to use the Beatles name and images to sell their amps. Vox kept the Beatles supplied with amps, and the Beatles never used anything else while playing live. All on a handshake deal. The Dakotas, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Brian's other bands more than likely were supplied by Vox too.

[@gdholmfirth]

That tour schedule gives an idea of just how hard they were working, touring and playing, in 1963.

[@jsullivan2112]

This is quickly turning into one of the best Beatles channels on KZbin. So many quirky bits of info that the others really don't care about. It's fascinating!

[@davidjohnson6553]

Ive never seen that photo. Great story. It changed their whole look didn't it? There was a certain symmetry to their usual stage appearance with Paul's bass pointing to the left. John and Paul looked like ying and yang.

[@jakollee]

As Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan would say, it’s actually Yin and Yang.

[@ArkyMalarkey]

@davidjohnson6553: As you can see at 1:38, Paul is holding the borrowed Epiphone Rivoli bass upside-down, so it is actually pointing in the same direction as his own Höfner violin bass, thus maintaining that trusty ‘yin and yang’ image with John. What intrigues me however, is how Paul - if indeed they actually performed live with these instruments - managed to play a right handed bass upside-down without restringing it. That being said, if anyone could pull it off, it would be Paul, used as he was to being handed right-handed guitars in his early years.

[@AndreyHein]

@@ArkyMalarkey AFAIK when they gathered with friends back in the day just right-handed guitars were mostly available. So Paul had to learn to play simple things on the rightie a little bit.

[@Luke_D9]

Dang, really cool seeing the Beatles using other bands gear! Wonder if there have been other times the Beatles used gear that wasn’t their own for gigs

[@sallykohorst8803]

Very fun events with the Beatles.

[@nealenewton4193]

How cool is this...?👍 It's great to see snippets of long lost,and almost forgotten history. Thanks for the download, and, happy days 😁🎶

[@liamgillespie3407]

Very cool! George loved the Fender Stratocaster.

[@tinkeytoneorchestra5386]

Ringo is playing a Trixon Speedfire drum kit.

[@AnthonyMinsky]

That was great! I know so much about the Beatles so it’s refreshing to hear a story that I’ve never heard before. Thanks man.

[@f.a.toledo8102]

Hey Nick. Very cool piece of history. They kind of don’t look right without their own “Beatly” gear. Regards.

[@Fred.pSonic]

Another weird Beatles moment is Lennon & McCartney on The Tonight Show. Johnny decides that's the best time for a vacation (are you kidding me?) so instead we get Joe Garagiola and Tallulah Bankhead! And of course the network wiped the tape because...why??? Would love to see a reconstruction from the precious little footage, photos and audio out there Nick.

[@jackeppington6488]

A very poor quality copy of the Tonight Show appearance exists, but nobody has seen better. However, the same was said about all of Johnny Carson's shows in the 1960s, and somehow it turns out some of those do exist - and are now here at KZbin. If an enterprising KZbinr interested in unusual Beatle moments did some research...well, you never know!

[@RastaSaiyaman]

It's a shame Paul didn't use an Epiphone Rivoli on the band's 1966 tour, since it would have looked fantastic with John and George's Casinos.

[@ajmillendez478]

Imagine if Paul purchased a Rivoli Bass, but he didn't, practically speaking he could use his Rickenbacker 4001S Bass, which he acquired in 1965, well as we know he still use his iconic Höfner bass in 1966.

[@johnwilliams2479]

Beatles Christmas show at the Finsbury park Astoria aka the Rainbow 63, The Beatles had Duke Barron and the Baron backing them behind a see through curtain to get more volume, they all played note for note, I was there I'm 72 now

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

Just when you think there can't possibly be any more unseen pix of the Beatles!😮 That's a really cool find Nick.👍👍 Btw- do you have Mark Lewisohn's book 'The Beatles Live'?

[@renemies78]

Great video and story!

[@jaziferret1138]

Should make a vid about that gibson es335 george used in those old music videos, HELP and several others and never saw him use it again.

[@tonyfederici1961]

Awesome video, wow

[@chrisst8922]

I tell you boy, you have got some clips here. I've never seen this lot and I'll bet that Babiuk hasn't either.

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

The Dakotas used the same amps so that's probably why they appear to be The Beatles amps. Also kinda interesting that John Lennon would later live in a building called The Dakota after having toured with a band with that name. As for the guitar George is using, it most likely did belong to The Remo Four as he was friends with them and they would later play on his Wonderwall Music album. He also produced and possibly co-wrote a song with them during those sessions called "In The First Place" which was only discovered in the late 90s when the film was being remastered.

[@JuanLopez-ef5pr]

Just when I thought I knew everything...🎼

[@Tom-hk6ub]

Imagine the sound ! Almost like a different band ....

[@jsullivan2112]

Nah, they were still using Vox.

[@ianwilliams1789]

The Epiphone guitar belonged to Robin McDonald. I was at school with him!

[@robertwilloughby8050]

There was the time The Paramounts (A very early version of Procul Harum) had their gear stolen and had to borrow The Hollies kit. And that is why Procul and The Hollies were best mates!

[@elementrypenguin3116]

That is cool!

[@bigbear450]

thanks

[@hisoverlorduponhigh90]

Interesting

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

That's not the only time they were photographed playing another band's instruments.

[@ruggerobelloni4743]

I find John playing a red guitar from the Dakotas just a little disturbing, considering how that name is linked to him now and the night that broke many hearts around the world.

[@Scrimjer]

The Beatles used the fender piggy back amps at the star club in Hamburg

[@BaccarWozat]

George was definitely "crazy jealous" of anyone else with a Fender Stratocaster, starting from when he first saw a picture of Buddy Holly with one. There was one in a Hamburg shop, but George was crushed when he found out it had been sold. (John Lennon and Rory Storm nearly came to blows over which one would buy it, but Rory got it and loaned it to Ty Brian (Hurricanes member).)

[@jsullivan2112]

Mmmm nope. It was in Liverpool, George woke up early one morning to go get it, it was used and advertised in the paper the previous evening, but Johnny Guitar (Rory's guitarist) had gotten up an hour earlier and beat him to it. George said he was scarred for life lol.

[@user-pp1ln8lr5l]

To bad they didn`t play with the other bands gear, would have loved to hear the difference in sound.

[@bobbystereo936]

Paul having to use a right handed bass?

[@kevinnsevinn799]

Yep…he could do it with guitar too

[@jsullivan2112]

You just restring it. Really not a big deal.

[@bobbystereo936]

@@jsullivan2112 Unless they had a pack of new strings on hand to re-string it. Have you ever tried to restring a right hand to make it left hand? Especially on that kinda bass, gibson Eb2. The strings don't always reach.

[@jsullivan2112]

@@bobbystereo936 Use the same strings. The EB2 has a symmetrical headstock, so the lengths would be the same both ways. The only problem would be the nut slots, I’m surprised you didn’t mention that. But you could get away with it for one show with some minor buzzing. You think they didn’t find themselves in situations like this all those hours they played in Hamburg? Come on. They were pros.

[@bobbystereo936]

@@jsullivan2112 unless Mal Evans but he was with their broken down van. The pacemakers must've had their roadies on hand to change the strings around? It is possible depending on time, I've done it before at a Gig. Not a big deal but not fun either.

[@johnnynbk]

There's nothing weird about a band borrowing gear. Very common occurrence.

[@johnnyrosenberg9522]

So the stratocasters had the same head as the telecasters back in the day? I didn't know, but on the other hand I'm not an expert by any means.

[@PontiacS.]

Cool.

[@PeterThompson-qh3rm]

Nick M is the best !

[@theyrekrnations8990]

Their own gear was much cooler

[@heggy_69]

nevermind lol

[@buckfaststradler4629]

8/6d to see the Beatles - that's 42.5 pence in decimal currency. A 1963 £1 is equivalent to £18 today so the 8/6d is about 8 quid in todays money. Pretty cheap!

[@johnbasos]

You must be kidding .....but you aren't very interesting video... thanks Nick

[@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998]

You should make a video about George’s Rocky

[@Luke_D9]

Omg dude that’s all you can say after watching a video about the Beatles using non Beatles gear? Enough already with the “shoulds” already.

[@joestarr05]

You're just saying that so that you can tell him to get one. Stop, get some help.

[@Luke_D9]

@@joestarr05 right it’s like he’s looking to for a reason at this point to say “you should get a (insert guitar/bass that the Beatles used)”