The Guitars of Paul McCartney, the Beatles Years: A Short History

[@RickBeato]

Excellent Hypes!! Love the pacing and your ending reminded me of listening to the Beatles on the radio in the late 60s.

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Hypes!

[@frankierodriguez8661]

@@fivewattworld It's funny that I went on the one and only @RickBeato partly because of 5 Watt World.. You guys are the best.

[@cuda426hemi]

You young puppies JUST missed it in real time, the core of the earth shifting on that Sunday night in Feb. and subsequent 2 weeks. The AM radio - FM was years away was nothing BUT Beatles leading up to and after Ed. 🎧

[@GeekNerdNoir]

@@fivewattworldstill in hopes for a “The Guitars of Joe Satriani”. My all time favorite player and teacher of many others.

[@williampayne7678]

Paul McCartney is a living Lengend.

[@tgray119]

Should be awarded an Oscar!!!😊

[@PaulFormentos]

@@tgray119 Shears sure does

[@dandydave1949]

Thanks to you, Sir Paul and his (3) mates! Life would have been boring and less colorful and loving without the tunes they gave us!

[@gilbertspader7974]

I’m a Bassist/ vocalist in large part because of Paul McCartney and the inability to play guitar or keys and sing. One thing if found out recently is that Sir Paul’s Hofner Basses don’t have fret markers on the edge of the neck !!!!! This is complete insanity considering you only get a split second to look at the neck for reference when singing and moving around on the neck and this was the beginning of his career on an unfamiliar instrument. The frets are much further apart on a Bass and requires a lot more strength and effort to play and technique to mute open strings.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Paul is just an amazing player. How did he do that?

[@jobiazgarza9571]

there is only one person on the planet who can play a 60s 500 hofner fiddle bass and get a good sound out of it and you can probably guess who that person is

[@LDN76]

Typex, marker.....

[@TheBoomtown4]

@@jobiazgarza9571Is it Bill Cosby?

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

Sir Paul McCartney is the reason why I love playing the Bass guitar.

[@yotaiji012]

I always forget he was a bassist. He made amazing guitar riffs. Truly a genius.

[@smartmammal9926]

So happy Sir Paul got that bass back after all these year. Kind of miraculous. I am honored to have met and spoken with him (and his current bandmates). Cherish that and will never forget it.

[@554LH]

Thank you for another fine video production. The “where I was” comments at the end really drive home to all us aging boomers how iconic this music was in our shared experience, anchors in time.

[@merickbrother2122]

Great video, but one correction: Paul isn't playing along to a metronome on Blackbird. That's the sound of his feet tapping, as shown in the clip at the start. They mic'd up his feet and that's what you hear on the record.

[@IamMagPie]

So happy to see an episode on Macca's gear. The episode turned out fantastic. The timing is perfect since the lost bass recently was found and returned to Paul. Loved the "Band on the run" cover in the intro and outro as well.

[@macsarcule]

The apple crate story at the end really got me and it instantly took me to my own growing up on a farm later in the 70s. The way sometimes music was a backdrop to the work and sometimes made you stop your work to take a break and enjoy. Really reminds me that gear is fun, but it’s just transportation to the real destination - the music. Thank you, Keith! ✌️😌🎸

[@thorenshammer]

Excellent historical study of, arguably, one of the most influential bands from that era. The sound of the Beatles, and its individual members, still influence musicians today. Keith, thank you, and your incredible team at five watt world, for the research that you put in every one of your pieces, this is why I keep coming back for more.

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Umm, inarguably.

[@fishjones4618]

Finally! A bassist! Thank you. 🙏🏾 😊

[@Scaredycat-dad]

Shared this with my daughter, she’s a huge Beatles fan, love a Saturday morning video, thanks Keith!

[@malcocreative]

This is a nice addition to my life. Thanks for doing what you do. All of us are still learning from the Beatles. SOMEBODY had to be the best.

[@jeffsquires6620]

I've seen many versions on this topic but can't help myself and watch them all. 5 Watt World is a continuous source of credible information.

[@tsunami6082]

I think Paul had to order the bass from Hofner to have a left handed one. It has been suggested that this custom order was the first left handed version Hofner produced.

[@WannaBeatle-Paul_McMichael]

Yes, he had the Steinway store custom order him a left-handed model. By the time of '63, Hofner gave him his famous one to him, shortly before the Royal Variety Command performance.

[@BadDreamFucker]

I heard that Paul was going to purchase a right handed model, but when the store owner saw that he was a lefty, he suggested a custom one.

[@stickman55100]

Another FABULOUS installment of Five Watt World. Being a huge Beatles fan (my first concert ever was watching the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl on 8/23/64), this post really resonated with me. Great job documenting McCartney’s instruments (and also Harrison’s; I really enjoyed that installment as well)! Thank you.

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

The Beatles are awesome!!!

[@musicauthority674]

I grew up in a household where country western music was normally played. my brother and I were Johnny Cash junkies we watched the Johnny Cash show religiously. and there was every album that Johnny Cash and Merle Haggerd ever made in our house. that was my parents choice of music. but one day while at the City swimming pool where they played what was known as top forty music? I heard for the first time "I Want to Hold You're Hand". and from that moment on I knew I would be a huge Rock and Roll fan thanks to the Fab Four. and over the years have really grown to like George Harrison. not only for being a member of the Beatles but also for his Solo works and his time with the Traveling Wilburys. he definitely was a brilliant musician.

[@ToddBrittain1963]

Keith, my sincere thanks for an excellent presentation. The anecdote in which you recall listening to 'Band on the Run' brought back a nice memory of my own. I recall a bright summers day in 1975 when I was 13 years old, hanging out with my mother while she was sketching boats at the local mariner. The water was lapping the pylons on the pier, and I was listening to 'Listen to What the Man Said' on the car radio. Whenever I hear that song, I'm immediately transported back to that moment. 🙂

[@jeremythornton433]

Thanks for this one! I've always been a huge fan of Sir Paul. I too was born on June 18 although much later, in 1955. And I'm also left handed and my mom was from England. That makes us practically brothers! I'm also a musician. About the only difference between the 2 of us is, well, he's a Beatle and I'm not, and about a billion dollars! 🤩

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

Thank you Keith. Well done, as always. The book you mentioned in the credits is wonderful. Lots of information and great pictures. I get lost in it often. Peace

[@StarQueenEstrella]

8:27 coincidentally, a little bit after The Beatles had secured their recording contract (which, funnily enough, was actually a comedy record label and not a music label), the A&R fellow at Decca asked George which guitar band they should sign. George’s answer? “The Rolling Stones.”

[@davewhiteman8353]

Enjoyed that. Some great archive photos I've never seen before.

[@franktaconelli9095]

nice…something to look forward to for this rainy evening’s viewing

[@cuda426hemi]

2:58 The drummer behind J,P,G, & Stu that looks like he'd rather be having a root canal is Johnny "Hutch" Hutchinson who graciously filled in for a late Tommy Moore at the Parnes audition. Hutch allegedly didn't like them little Beatle wimps. 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@fflat5150]

These FWW videos are fast becoming my favorites. Meticulously researched and beautifully presented. Always informative and educational. My thanks to all involved in these fantastic productions.

[@Mediocre_Bass_Player]

Once again you have knocked it out of the park! I learn something with every one of these videos, thanks for doing this!!

[@michaelspencer-arscott]

You are one in a million. Thank you for your obvious dedication!

[@optimusminimus-v3d]

Seeing Hessy’s in Stanley street was a blast from my past, whenever we were in town a visit to Hessy’s was a must the bus we travelled into town in had a stop literally around the corner in Whitechapel thanks Keith for making my morning.

[@monday6524]

I do love me do Paul McCartney and the Beatles! I find these short histories very informative. Thank you for doing them as I always learn something new. 😊

[@martynreed835]

The bass was found in Hastings right under Maccas nose. His main home and studio is a few miles from Hastings.

[@brucelong5125]

Thanks!

[@brcmiami]

This video filled some gaps in my Beatles gear knowledge that didn’t even know I had! So glad it focused on McCartney’s guitars as well as his basses! 🎸

[@brenthays6539]

As a left handed guitar player, Paul McCartney could not help but be an inspiration. He was the first lefty player I ever saw, and it helped me realize I could play lefty if I wanted to. Of course, there are a lot of south paws among the great guitarists, and each is unique.

[@lightningshoulder]

Nice touch at the end. I feel like we have some type of memory hearing our favorite tunes while doing chores.

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Excellent video, will have to look into that gold plated Hofner bass, never heard of it before. Rock on, Keith.

[@jasonschnitker6526]

I had that radio in the 70s here in Cincinnati, man. Great video, as usual!

[@travgpeters1]

Perfect timing . having lunch atm and watching this !

[@edkutschke814]

Thanks Keith another excellent video. As a lefty myself Paul always was my guy. As a teen in the 70's it was impossible to find a left handed guitar in a store.

[@DannerPlace]

Great video. The Beatles played 293 times at the Cavern, but most of the performances were lunch hour and early afternoon shows. Of course, they played night shows as well.

[@Thomas-xs2kq]

If I had a time machine I would go back to Hamburg!

[@kirbygraham8265]

Great video! The Ibanez bass which Paul used a lot in the 80’s is left out though.

[@davidkastin4240]

Great video. Thanks Keith and F.W.W. 👍

[@danschneider9921]

What was funny is for years I had always heard the lore on the stolen '61 is that it was stolen during the "Get Back" sessions. Great that it was recovered but the early 70s date surprised me.

[@kindredwinecoff]

Yep, that was a new discovery from this search process run by Hofner.

[@luvcats4132]

But is it really true?

[@santanajesus38]

Thank you for making this video Paul has always been my favorite Beatle and I’ve built my collection based off his gear.

[@Xin200O]

its always a joy seeing a vid from this channel in my reccomended

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Looking forward to this!

[@sisyphushappyxvx]

Love your videos, and I would like to commend your use of imagery when describing scenes to really capture mood. Your anecdote about patching apple crates was great.

[@coreyparsons2946]

@five watt world You should really make a video about Tom Scholz's equipment, the Rockman headphone amp, the Rockmodule units and the Power Soak attenuator if there's one person who defied the sound and music technology of rock music in the 1980s alongside Eddie Van Halen its Mr. Scholz.

[@JudyMora-oq2rb]

Thank you guys for a great spot , I own a Martin D-28 and I’m soooo excited to try to learn Paul’s version of Blackbird . Maybe I’ll get some wild tap shoes and try to tap out the beats like the greatest musician / songwriter/ and all around Hot Guy as I don’t eat ANY meat on Mondays !

[@sanddab]

Great video Keith! There’s some cool b&w shots of Paul playing a non-reverse Gibson Firebird on the RAM album inner sleeve. I’ve always wondered about this ukulele. I believe it’s a Gibson tenor given to him by George. He plays it during The Concert for George on the song “Something”.

[@kmajor44]

Awesome video Keith!! ❤’d it!

[@mikeh2520]

I was in a conversation about drumming and drummers and my example of a great drummer who didn't stick out of the track and just played to perfectly complement the track was the drumming on Wings' "Band On The Run". I always loved that one and I asked "who is that drummer?" It was Paul McCartney when he was recording in Nigeria and he ended up playing most of the parts on that track including guitars.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

It’s March 2024 as I leave my comment. For the last three years or so, since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, I have been playing with these hobbyist musicians in Long Island who call themselves Outer Fringes. There is a running gag that comes up if ever we play a song that involves the guitar players using a capo. After a flood involving the original bass guitarist in the ragtag bunch, they can’t resist a joke about the bass capo. While I was watching this video, I took the liberty of sharing it with those guys and directing them to 16:05. Beforehand, I had no concept that Sur Paul had employed a bass capo himself.

[@alasdairmunro1953]

Great video Keith. Wings over America seemed to be on all the time in our house.

[@frankierodriguez8661]

thank you Keith for another great one from your ol' pal in West Spain ❤

[@tomdaoust]

Another outstanding presentation. Well researched and documented, with some great photos. Thanks for sharing. Btw, I also signed up to try Truefire. Thanks for the tip.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

Saw your quote on the Beato CNN story. Great that you are getting wider notice.

[@davidthompson4649]

Pete Best was the Drummer on the first recording of Love Me Do, which is why they had to go back and re record it in September..

[@tonyneal4716]

And then they used a session musician.

[@crazybeatlefan]

@@tonyneal4716 Andy White

[@jamesrichardson4988]

Amazing as always Keith, thanks!

[@davehossack7191]

You are a master story teller. Thank you.

[@okayestguitar66]

The guitars of Alex Lifeson would be cool as heck, I love Rush! Probably do Geddy's basses in there as well, so I guess you would call it the guitars of Rush. Thanks for doing these fun videos Keith!

[@mariodriessen9740]

Thanks, Keith! I enjoyed this episode. ❤

[@firebald2915]

I've been on a Beatles binge for the past 3 months. It's not unusual... because I get bored with other music quickly and always return to the Beatles because of Paul's bass melody. Melody, it seems to be missing in much of the music I enjoyed. That, and the quirky intros George Martin taught them to do if they want a hit record and to fill their songs with variable guitar riffs throughout the song. Paul has been a deep study of late, mostly because I purchased a bass and want to learn Melody like Paul had. Your video was spot, Keith. Perfectly timed especially after the resurrection of Paul's lost bass. Have you tried playing Bass yet ? They really are fun and quite easy because you already play guitar. But they are best played with flat wound strings. Mine is an Ibanez Mikro short scale and around $200.oo bucks, you can't go wrong. It needed just a little setup and holds tune very well. Plus, it's light weight and balanced. Both styles of pickups are always on until you turn the tone control all the way off. And, you get your groove back when it tends to falter when guitar playing looses it allure. Your soul will dance. One thing of note... later in the studio era, Paul would come back to the studio and retrack his bass lines alone over the music that was completed. It makes sense now. His riffs were so free and harmonistic melodies placed just right in the mix. Genius. Thanks for all the work you do, Sir. State of the Pedalboard... I swore I wouldn't do pedals but somehow experimenting just doesn't work just painting with black and white. Color, rightly placed, is spellbinding to the viewer/listener.

[@reneaceves8820]

love the ending. movingly personal.

[@StarQueenEstrella]

9:08 it was also during their audition for Parlophone that when asked by George Martin if there was anything they were unhappy with, George Harrison replied with “I don’t like your tie”. John and Paul and even Brian were all freaking out, fearing this would doom their chances at success, but Martin knew it was a joke and was having himself a grand old laugh about it.

[@stratmad]

Another excellent video. Thank you Keith.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Excellent once again Keith!

[@migueldospachangas7716]

Well said, the part about apples and Wings.

[@deepiper6529]

Well done Keith, well done.

[@Valvey789]

At 16:20 you see Paul with a capo on his bass at the fifth fret. Any bass player would tell you that's kind of weird. Wonder what song he was working on there.

[@iPro3million]

Michelle

[@NLBassist]

A small thing on the first Höfner. After the refin it got black knobs. You show a pic of a bass with teacup knobs. Nick Wass found out the whole control panel was replaced some time after the refin, so it started with teacups, after the refin it had black knobs and a while later a new control panel with teacups again. it's in my Nick Wass interview, Great vid, love it as ever!!

[@NLBassist]

I think Macca got his bass direct from Rickenbacker, making it a 4001S: a slightky cheaper version of the bound 4001: No body and neck bindings and no triangle inlays. The basses made for the UK are the RM 1999 models. The same, but just another name. I can be wrong.

[@mr_bassman6685]

@@NLBassist correct, the 4001S also didn't have the Rick-o-Sound (stereo) output.

[@dominiquecoladon8343]

Great Video, as always learned something new 😁

[@brettgayer8170]

Keith, I am always impressed with the depth that you go into as you describe deep into the music world. Most of us have never heard of. Perhaps the thing that impresses me the most is a description of you experiencing whatever musician you’re talking about describing the radio or the tape deck, or the A-Trak machine or the turntable whatever was closed at the time. These bands made history keep sharing that stuff that’s heartfelt and I love it. God bless Brett Gayer woodshed guitars.

[@lonewolffgrey8983]

sweet story, love the apple crate bit,,

[@bobdekett]

....another great video - thanks Keith:)

[@richardwolffe]

Awesome content. Great video!

[@justinparkerthewildwolf6394]

Been looking forward to this one

[@benallmark9671]

Great video Keith , I really the touch at the about your youth.

[@MikeJamesHayden]

I think you can see it in the Beatles Now and then Music video. It is in the stand on the right when they all sing together!

[@dimitriskouzounis1069]

very interesting video, as always! I am still curious about his '60 Les Paul, as only a handful of left-handed Les Pauls were made back then...just a curious lefty :D

[@es330]

There is one electric guitar that McCartney used on the Ram album. It was a Gibson non reverse Firebird. There are photos of him playing it during the sessions on the albums cover. Don't know if he owned it or borrowed and I've never seen photos of him playing it again.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a good weekend Keith also my memory of Paul McCartney is him singing with Michael Jackson called the girl is mine as a kid to be honest ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@damianhooper4427]

Post Beatles basses & Guitars would also be great to do some content on. What's that sunburst Les Paul he uses?

[@jonathanhorne6503]

The Beatles played the Sullivan show on my 11th birthday. I was ripe. I’m 71 and still a musician

[@jameskeyes1131]

Well done. Interesting and different.

[@richardhill6640]

Great as always.

[@briannacery9939]

I really appreciated this presentation!❤❤

[@markzappasodi]

Nice job that you did here. I do have few corrections for you. I see that several people have already pointed out the John Mayall one but you said that in November 1965 the Beatles recorded videos for their songs for Rubber Soul. They recorded videos for all of their hit singles of 1965 (Ticket To Ride, Help!, We Can Work it Out and Day Tripper plus '64's I Feel Fine). They started work on Revolver in April 1966. You said 1965 but I'm sure that you meant '66 since you had already discussed 1965. You don't show any photos of their actual last concert at Candlestick Park. I don't think that Mia Farrow was a friend before they got to India. I hope that this is helpful to you.

[@Cap683]

It came as a surprise to me how much Paul actually played guitar of Beatles songs. I first learned that the lead on Taxman was Paul McCartney which blew my mind and then I later learned that he played guitar on other Beatles songs although I forget which ones. Another revelation was which basses Paul used on which albums. Often I would assume that a song would be played on his Hofner when in fact it might be his Rickenbacker or assume that he is using a Rickenbacker when in fact he is using a Fender bass or even more confusing is assuming the Paul is playing the bass when in fact one of the other Beatles is playing the bass (especially on the White Album.) It is interesting to note that Paul did at least at times use a foam mute under his bass strings near the bridge. I saw a photo of Paul during the Sargent Pepper's sessions with his Rickenbacker setting in his lap and you can see the foam mute. On YT there are isolated bass tracts of Paul bass parts and they are really compressed although you don't hear it that way in the completed song. Using foam mutes was standard procedure for recording the electric bass in the 1960s in the USA. The engineers wanted the fundamental notes without the harmonics.

[@batesblues]

You're video's are so good. Thanks!!

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

Sir Paul McCartney is the reason. Why love the Bass,Guitars, and Bassits.

[@alexarteaga-caseyjunior5098]

The upgraded version? Great idea mostly to honor of finding the 61 lost bass which already found it's way home. Most significantly to talk about the guitars of what Paul plays when he doesn't play the bass, as well as the ones that everyone never talked about. Also in the other video "The Beatles' Guitars of "Get Back": A Short History: featuring Tim Pierce" you were right the 61 bass was stolen "After the filming" since it turns out that it was actually stolen from the back of a van in 1972 long after the Beatles had split, and Paul had started his solo career band "Wings". I guess he was planning on reusing it for the band which explains why it was in the van.

[@mcb2043]

Is that a d28e at 5:41? Didn’t know Tony Sheridan played one of those.

[@lil_redspun]

A video in this series on Jaco Pastorius would be neat. Not enough info on Jacos other basses

[@scoruja]

Great episode

[@shoominati23]

Could you do one on the Guitars of The Yardbirds? In permanent rotation in my playlist is Yardbirds - Having a Rave Up (which I understand were live recordings from different occassions spliced together) But I would really like to know what guitars they were using (especially the bass guitar and rig as it's sorta more the subbass that vibrates the room rather than the sort sharp attack 'thunk' bass we are used to of more modern recordings)

[@bradlena6286]

Great work, just wondering what you thought about the PID, memoirs of billy shears, sage of quay info with Mike Williams, thanks

[@ebencharles3228]

The reason Paul didn't accept the Rickenbacker in 1964 was because it was right-handed

[@matthewblanchard9301]

Keith, no mention of Paul's 12 - string Ovation he used in concert with Wings or any of his left - handed Les Paul's. Not to mention his ukulele that both Paul and George always had handy to pick -up and play. Just wondering why they were not included. Thank You, 'five watt world' Rules.....🕶️

[@fivewattworld]

This was the Beatles years. After that they aren’t very well documented.

[@NigelJones01]

Brilliant - thank you!