The Guitars of John Lennon in the Beatles: A Short History

[@AcumbaWumba]

Can’t wait for ‘The Guitars of Ringo Starr’

[@gedztrez8814]

“This one was given to Ringo by John Lennon in 1975, refer to my history of John Lennon guitars to hear about this one”

[@tylermarcum1307]

Much shorter video

[@wadesummers4102]

Darn! You beat to me to the punch! Was gonna make this same joke.

[@beatlesrcool13]

We commented the exact same thing exactly 19h ago

[@Kuztomshop]

I'm sure someone made the same joke about Dave Grohl. Now I can't afford a Trini Lopez.

[@meanermann5028]

The lap steel is on the “For you Blue” video; John played slide

[@roughcutguitars]

Right you are! Was going to jump in and say the same. It's further evidenced by George calling out, "Go, Johnny. GO! Elmore James has got nothing on this boy." in the middle of John's solo.

[@meanermann5028]

@@roughcutguitars Yep, that Elmore james shout out to John is the coolest thing ever!!

[@rperuwarstv4126]

Another legendary addition to the Five Watt World channel. Continues to provide top quality videos. Lets goooo!!!!

[@thomasmorris2245]

Thank You for Posting - as a 12 year old - I saw a J-160 for $500 at C.A. House Music 🎶- I started crying so they gave me a Guitar Book 📚 that I went home to learn-

[@jeremyvanengen3341]

My cousin told me the story of John's J45 acoustic. He knew the guy who casually owned it for 45 years without knowing it was John's. It's a fascinating story. Great video, as always.

[@benallmark9671]

Great video Keith. Thank you Sir and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

[@TheAdjacents-ABQ]

I still recall the Ed Sullivan Show appearance. I was born in '56 and music was finding its way into my soul. They were the guides. My grandmother had given me stacks of Beatles cards. They had the puzzle pieces of portraits on the backside. Now that I have seen this video, I am wondering if my flagging romance with the group was the dreadful audio of the live concerts. At the same time, I discovered The Rolling Stones and the dirt on Richards' guitar riffs. It is only in the last few years, during lessons and band practice, that I have rediscovered the Beatles through Come Together and Luck in the Sky. "Trying" to play their songs is a revelation of sorts. I have added dirt to my guitar work on the cuts we do. LOL. I don't remember feeling badly for their breakup, I was listening to other bands. John's passing was tragic,a dn George was surprise. Ringo remains my favorite. Thanks for this video.

[@matthewcollis-long5233]

Wonderful video Keith - looking forward to part 2❤

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

Considering how big they were they were quite humble as far as their gear went! An interesting fact about V81: It was there very first 325, the prototype hand-built by Roger Rossmeisl himself. (from the book Rickenbacker Guitars Out of the Frying Pan into the Fireglo, p94) It seems fitting that it was the one that John ended up with! 👍👍

[@MrJoelalcasey1971]

John bought his Rickenbacker 325 for £100, and got it painted down the road from me Cleveland Street Birkenhead which is a town across the Mersey River from Liverpool. I had a Rickenbacker 325 and sold it 20 years ago and I'm regretting it, but still have the Gibson j160 John Lennon 70th anniversary and epiphone casino. Great little documentary on Lennon's guitars 👍

[@davidmacleod9313]

18:51 Lol Love his cigarette holder. 😊

[@doublelifeatributetothecar2185]

A couple of side notes: John had a fretless guitar at the studio during the White Album sessions. It may have been used on Happiness is a Warm Gun and Helter Skelter. He also had a very strange electric with a sort of tulip shaped body. John's other guitar of note was a Les Paul Junior with a Charlie Christian pickup in the neck position. He used that one during solo concerts. As for the J160e inspiration, there are photos of Tony Sheridan for the Hamburg time frame playing an acoustic Gibson (possibly a Dove or something similar) that had a pickup and control knobs. I suspect this was the guitar John & George wanted to emulate so they could get an "acoustic-like" sound on stage.That makes more sense to me than them thinking they were getting ES-175s, which are decidedly different looking and sounding.

[@leddygee1896]

My older brother was 16 When Abbey Road came Out. I was also 10 years old, and vividly remember Him playing that record Over and over again. But The big older brother at The time, (he was 22) got Out of the Army and came Home with 2 albums that Changed my listening Perspective. Led Zeppelin I and II and the rest of the Zep catalogue up to a point,shaped my musical Landscape till 1976, and That’s when I experienced RUSH 2112. I really like the Beatles, but it never Connected with me the Way it did with my brother, so I guess maybe It’s the ongoing fight of The next greatest thing Within a generation…☺️ Fantastic presentation Mr. Williams.🇺🇸

[@richardburrows8998]

Fantastic episode..as usual. One of the many many things I love about The Beatles and their legend is the fact that so much enduring music was recorded with such shonky instruments.

[@paulsimmons5726]

My 17yo daughter has been a Beatles fanatic since she was 5 or 6 and I was lucky enough to find a 325V64 a few years ago for her; she loves that guitar! She likes the shorter 20” scale and I’m glad; I can’t play it to save my life, lol! I’m thinking John loved swapping to his Casino because I never saw any later pictures of his 325 in the background. Great video, Keith, as always!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Although I've heard most of this info before, it's great to hear it all again, presented by Keith in his clear and inimitable way, with his insights and tidbits of new info interspersed throughout. This goes for all of his "The Guitars Of" and "Short History Of" vids, where you can get a comprehensive overview of all these iconic instruments and their importance throughout the 60s. Most excellent work here Keith, ditto for your entire channel's content!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks!

[@user-qm7nw7vd5s]

Excellent overview, love the clean, detailed closeup pics of the guitars! 👍

[@bazilbrushrocks]

Keith, I really enjoy your content and wear my 5 Watt cap with pride.

[@monstrok]

So much great research, especially with the photo history. Well done Keith!

[@TucoDog-ho6fw]

Content like this makes me wonder what the boys would have been using in the way of gear that’s available currently. Thanks for all the videos Keith. I appreciate each and every one.

[@dr_tomK]

Some friends and I played with this idea for a year or so, doing Beatles songs with great we thought they might use today. We were probably way off the mark, but had some fun gigs doing it.

[@davidchase-lopes8413]

Another Sunday moment of enjoyment thanks to you Keith!!!

[@FreeSociety1]

John Lennon played the Lap Steel guitar, and did the lead solos, on the recording of the song: "For You Blue" (while George played acoustic rhythm). There is video footage of John playing the Lap Steel in the "Get Back" documentary as they are rehersing this song, and some additional KZbin clips can be found. On the recording, as John is doing the Lap Steel lead guitar solo break...you can hear George saying in the background: " Go....Johnny....go" and ... "Elmore James' got nothing on this..." In other words, George liked John's solo guitar work here.

[@lewolf2884]

Great Video, Keith! Thanks! 🐺

[@roughcutguitars]

I guess as a short history it made sense to focus on John's Beatle years, but his career spanned a decade plus and several albums after the break-up both with the Plastic Ono Band and solo. It would have been interesting to see the guitars he used in that time as well such as his beloved Les Paul Jr with the added Charlie Christian (of whom he was a great admirer) pickup in the neck position.

[@firebald2915]

Now I can use this video to listen to the tonal differences between guitars used on each song thru the years. Valuable history lesson, Keith ! Thanks, once again !

[@mariodriessen9740]

Wow…., what a wonderful story! You got me emotional for a moment there, Keith. ❤️

[@meteor1237]

The Beatles will never be “history”. Relevant forever. Amazing! Thx!

[@buzzawuzza3743]

There's no one to touch you with these videos. Thorough and to the point. Well done as always. Would love to see you do a history on the wah-wah pedal even though other people have done so.

[@brianlegg6009]

This is my favorite KZbin channel. Great video, Keith!

[@michaelgregory2231]

Another excellent installment, Keith. Brilliantly done. And yes, Jonathan Cordy is fab as well. 🙂

[@embreesmith7613]

Thanks Keith. 🙂. John and Yoko were my neighbors in Meridale New York in the 1970s

[@monday6524]

Loved it as usual. Always learn something new and find them very interesting.

[@bldallas]

Great job on another killer story, Keith! To say thanks and more so, to show off my love of your channel, I just ordered a black long sleeve 5 Watt tshirt and a decal for one of my guitar cases. Keep going what you’re doing!

[@elducko1951]

Yet ANOTHER well done history lesson! Great Job!!

[@teddownum7428]

Superb! Always good to learn new Beatles lore. Thank you, Keith!

[@squire7618]

@five watt world Did you know that the Framus Hootenanny has been found in an attic after 50 years and is up for auction next month at The Hard Rock Cafe in New York?. Estimates are £600,000 plus.

[@marcosdorado9695]

Thank you for this video. The Beatles’s music is quite special to me and so it was wonderful to learn about some of the instruments that made the mosaic I love. Thank you.

[@briangardner5905]

I saw a "champagne Sparkle" drum set in a Montgomery Ward's catalogue for $69 in late 1968 and just had to have that set - a snare drum and hi-hat. I later kept adding pieces to it until I had a "Ringo Star" looking 4 piece set. All Champaign sparkle finish. I was 18 at the time, rather late to begin what would eventually (to date) be 55 years ( and still going) as a drummer now singer-songwriter-guitarist performing musician. Decades later, I bought, in a Haight-Ashbury (San Francisco) music shop, a Crest drum set for $160, took off the weird blue striped veneer finish, gave the now bare drums several coats of dark brown stain and to this day the bass drum sounds as good as a Gretsch bass drum. Gretsch drums, my favorite because of what recently departed Charlie Watts played. Since this is primarily a guitar site - better get to this side of my history: I started out my guitar collection with a Martin 12 string and then Japan made blue Stratocaster, before a selection of other guitars including a Washburn 12-string acoustic, Squier 51, Yamaha Pacifica, Ibanez Jumbo body acoustic, Gretsch semi-hollow body electric, Ibanez double cutaway solid body, Squier thinline Telecaster and Musicman (low end) Stingray and most recently a Amazon/Fender exclusive $119 Stratocaster which is being modified with high end tuners and electrics/pickups from the Fender Ventura line. The Beatles were and remain an absolute inspiration for my drumming and now my guitar playing and song writing. Thanks Five Watt World for the look back and I HAVE gotten a lot of music gear for very little spent and have been happy with my choices. B-GUITAR FAN-Gardner - Las Vegas

[@carlmontney7916]

Keith this was an awesome video about an awesome person and musician who was taken from the world far too soon. John Lennon thought it was no big deal, just a band breaking up. But to the people like me who were teenagers that grew to be young adults during the time of the Beatles, It truly was like losing a piece of oneself.

[@victorbeebe8372]

Mahalo Keith! I remembered watching all those Beatles TV shows as a kid. I used to listen to my brother's Abbey Road, Revolver and Rubber Soul albums at night with headphones. He kept coming back into our bedroom, cause I was trying to sing over the headphones. Aloha!

[@willtopper]

I have a Framus 1968 Texan 12 string... Framus has a very unique sound. I have had mine since my parents got it for me for Christmas 1969. It is a beautifully playable instrument.

[@macsarcule]

Mr. Keith. I’m old enough to have seen sooooo many Beatles documentaries and shows. I’m 52 and have no living memory of the Beatles as a band together, but certainly went through a Beatles phase (obsession) from my late teens to early 20s, cutting my guitar teeth on the Beatles like so many of us. That was about the time of a Beatles anniversary and all the media I consumed back then can make recent Beatles content get pretty tired and repetitive. I was expecting this to be informative and fun, like your short histories always are, but kind of “girding my loins” for one more slog through the Beatles. No slog at all. I felt like I was hearing the Beatles story for the first time. I also finished this really caring about the Beatles again for the first time in decades. You hit the perfect notes in your story of their history to reconnect me to how much I loved and still love that music. Probably because you’re a musician and your focus was on the music rather than a cultural moment or celebrity. Great thanks to you and all the folks on your team. Sure, you “just make the videos,” as you say. But Keith, you hear what we hear, and you speak to things sometimes we can only feel and can’t really put into words. You pair meaning with feeling, and isn’t that why any of us really enjoys hearing, making, and playing music? Much peace to you, sir. ✌️😌🎸

[@hippojuice23]

Have you heard the podcast Something About the Beatles? In every listen there is some kind of revelation- some piece of information or way of looking at things that you previously didn't think of.. Good stuff!

[@bobsteel6916]

Kieth your such an awesome narrator, i can't say the enough. NEWSALERT: Dickie Betts died today, maybe a future video. I'll truly miss him.

[@adamcoe]

Great stuff as always. I just bought a Bass VI (Lake Placid Blue ftw!) and it's unlike anything else I've owned. To quote a phrase, if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

[@frankierodriguez8661]

Thanks again Keith for another excellent straight to the bone story about guitar which I'm fairly sure made another guys like me go kinda emotional. This is a very serious matter for many people and the good news is that you know it very well. Thanks and much love , as always, from West Spain ❤

[@DesertRat332]

Keith, you always make the best videos. I thought I would only check out 5-10 minutes and before I knew it I had watched the whole thing.

[@stickman55100]

Another great installment of FWW! It’s amazing how much I learn from watching your posts!!! Thank you so much!🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎🎸

[@victorrowntree8041]

A well presented and very interesting video. Thank you for all your work and historic research. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this.

[@justinjayaddams9084]

Great video! John Lennon had some rather busy but fun rhythm parts in some of the early Beatles tunes. “All My Loving,” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” were a bit difficult for me to learn when I picked up the guitar many many moons ago! Any chance we’ll get a video on the guitars of Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd or Robby Krieger of the Doors? Love all the thoughtful work and research you put into these, Keith. Peace, love, and happiness! 🎸

[@son0fsocal]

👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Master Piece Keith! had their manager not died ,. we all know the Beatles would have gone on even longer, he was the ole glue that held them together.

[@joeceonnia1954]

Thanks Keith, I really enjoyed this video about the instruments/guitars of the Beatles also my favorite band growing up, I’m 66 years young and a wannabe guitarist, but I’ll stick to the sticks. Again, thank you & the team at 5 watt!

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

Thanks for creating this, I always enjoy your content.

[@Peasmouldia]

First chance I've had to watch this one. Usual spot on KW stylee. I'm 70, thought I knew a little about those lovable moptops, but knew nothing of the Larry Parnes connection. I wonder what our Larry wanted John, Paul and George to change their names too? Thanks and blessings KW.

[@fredstevens799]

terrific vid Keith! thanks again! anything Beatles is sure to get me excited and you do such a great job!!! thanks also for your mention of The Fool! hope you got my reply about that. keep up the great work!!!

[@davidmacleod9313]

28:21 I remember walking down Rosemount Avenue (Toronto) in 69 or 70 (?) looking up and seeing a skywriter spelling out “Welcome John and Yoko”

[@bradconklin2878]

Keith, thank you for a wonderful show.

[@coolk3dat754]

Great knowledge of what types of guitars are used and when❤ Thank you for sharing.

[@Stratocus]

Another great one, thanks Keith. Only...what about John's Gibson Les Paul Jr that he used during his solo years?

[@fivewattworld]

After the Beatles his guitars aren’t as well documented.

[@markdoyle9642]

Thank you Keith, Respect! Paul's Martin D-28 is strung for playing left handed. but looking closely, the Saddle and Bridge Compensation retain the factory configuration, for a right handed player. The high and low E intonation must be off, or perhaps this simply adds tone. We have a '65 D-35 on the bench, I think I'll ask my Students to String a South Paw, Setup (Smile) measure intonation. and play along with the records! As Always, you provide Great Teaching I can use with my students, Thank You!~ (huge Smile)

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

Thanks Keith. Always love a good Beatles story. Peace

[@legomrrevies]

THIS VIDEO WAS AMAZING! Please do a follow up on John's guitars during his solo career. Love from Shanghai!

[@RaccoonHenry]

if the Beatles breaking up was "nothing important", sitting here talking about it, 50 years later, it sure doesn't seem like "nothing important". those guys changed the world more than they could have possibly foreseen...

[@StarQueenEstrella]

12:22 this is actually why, when it came time to rerecord “She Loves You” in German, John Lennon isn’t playing an acoustic guitar on the German version. He does, however, play the J-160E on the English-language version.

[@irgnj180]

As always a great video Keith! Never knew that Toots Tielemans (a national musical hero in my country), was the inspiration for Lennon wanting a Rick.

[@mikeedwards2621]

Very well done and extremely informative!

[@Tom-mo2dr]

Great rock doc ! There always seems to be something about the Beatles lying around . I found a Beatles book at a thrift store it sitting against a wall . I have been listening to the group a cappella , amazing , try it . Thanks . 🇬🇧

[@fatabeeno]

Thanks Keith, I enjoyed this very much. Excellent work !!!

[@scotthendricks7813]

Another great one Keith!!

[@peterobrien1499]

I read somewhere that George was given his Telecaster as a present from Delaine and Bonnie after working with them circa 1968.

[@chrisjoosten9819]

Thank you, Keith. I always enjoy ❤ your work.

[@artrogers3985]

Whenever I see Beatles pix that I have never seen, I’m ……. I don’t know 🎸 Great video Keith

[@wayfaringoverlander]

Julian Lennon got royally shafted. He should have one of the 325’s. Does he have any of his dad’s guitars? This was really well put together, you should write a book about it!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I could’ve sworn that John’s lap steel was fully audible on George’s “For You Blue”. I could be mistaken, however. Beginning to play guitar in 1995, I once wanted a Rickenbacker 325. By the time I finally picked one up 20 years later, I was too accustomed to standard-scale guitars for it to hold my interest. Hi Van, I think I had completely lost interest in the brand and discovered I only really wanted it because of the Beatles, the Byrds, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and other musicians noted for playing Rickenbacker instruments.

[@franciscoperez8854]

Very interesting video but I missed some gear when Lennon went solo. For example the Les Paul Jr and a red and white Stratocaster from a picture of him in the 70s.

[@alexanderullian7650]

This is wonderful! I’d love a “guitars of Paul Simon” episode!

[@JReyes624]

Thank you for this! I love these "The Guitars of..." videos.

[@fredkruse9444]

Maybe Lennon used the lap steel guitar for the slide solo on "For You Blue?" He definitely had a guitar across his lap when he played it in the "Let it Be movie."

[@avantegarde365]

I really appreciate these videos Keith particularly the strat history (I have a strat and use wound G string); new years show with Rick Beato was great too, how do you do it?

[@dr_tomK]

Thank you for this Keith. 🎸

[@RaggedRomeo]

29:25 I was about 10 too, I just knew it was important because of the way I was told about it by adults... their shocked tone just told of something earth shifting that had just happened, like the moon landing!

[@themisfits-crazyoldtymemus1923]

Very enjoyable! The Beatles are endlessly fascinating.

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Keith 🌈 Wow Lennon really was into less gear 😎

[@Vinyl_guy]

I bought my acoustic guitar in the sunburst finish because of john lennon, its been my best instrument since

[@richardhill6640]

Great job, as always

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

Any chance y’all might make a documentary about G&L?

[@jeremythornton433]

The Beatles spitting up was heart breaking at the time. it still is, a bit.

[@texpig13]

Once again, WELL DONE!

[@squire7618]

Great video mate,I really enjoyed that.

[@woodyh4650]

It’s amazing what the accomplished in such a relatively short amount of time.

[@kyotosal]

Great video. Thank you Keith!!! Sal : ).

[@rager1969]

What did John play on For You Blue? He's playing a lap steel in the Let It Be/Get Back movie footage and on the Let It Be album, George says "go Johnny, go" during the lap steel solo.

[@RobertNolan]

John also had a few guitars which he used in his solo years. I believe there was a Les Paul Jr with a Charlie Christian pickup in it that he played a lot until his untimely passing.

[@briannacery9939]

I'm gaga over Telecasters the way I used to be gaga over Johns Rickenbacker. I would still like a Rickenbacker 12 for the studio. I love John, he was my mentor!

[@monahantp3767]

After enjoying the McCartney video, this Beatle-adverse viewer thought, "hey-- I liked the Mc video, I'll probably like this one..." Sorry Kieth-- not enough to get me over the hump on this one LOL! Made it a little beyond the True Fire spot, then just had to stop. Great video work as always, just not a topic conducive to keeping my lunch down. Looking forward to the next non-Beatle video though! :D

[@casario2808]

Thanks, very interesting Surely that's the lap steel being played by John on "For You Blue"?

[@RickRomanelli]

Great video, Mr Williams.

[@j.f.brunet6218]

John Lennon plays slide guitar on “For you Blue”.

[@Pablo_063]

Great video as always, please do a Dick Dale history video, my favorite player of all time and one of the most influential🎸

[@jeffsaginaw1769]

Thanks Keith!

[@garydiamondguitarist]

I just had Jeff Beck blow my mind Then stopped here only to find That Lennon's main was a short scale, like mine. And yes this was an accidental rhyme. I left it in, I hope that's fine.