What acoustic guitars did each of the Beatles play?
 

Hello,

I have seen Paul McCartney with a Martin though I'm unsure which model. And with an ovation, also unsure of the model.

First question: What acoustic guitars did Paul, John and George play?

Second question: did any of them play luthier-built guitars?

Thanks.

Well, many will chime in with more details.

Paul played an Epiphone Texan. Lennon played rhythm on a J 160e in the early days.

I associate George with a J 200 later on.

I never remember the Fab Four playing anything luthier built during their fabdom.

Here's an interview with Paul from a few years ago where he talks about some of the guitars he's played. Paul has never been a gear head.

http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/gu...ar-2004-515780

These...

http://www.thecanteen.com/fabguitars.html

looks like Paul was playing a D-28 in the studio while recording Blackbird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ItrE0mZQCw

There were no luthier built acoustic guitars to be had during their fabdom ...

That's not true. I know that George Harrison, for example, had a Greven.

To the best of my recollection:

John Lennon - Gibson J-160E, Framus Hootenanny 12-string, Martin D-28
George Harrison - Gibson J-160E, Ramirez classical (reissued as the GH Model), Martin D-28, Gibson J-200, Harptone jumbo (TMK acquired just before the breakup; he may also have owned the Zemaitis 12-string featured on the "All Things Must Pass" by this time as well)
Paul McCartney - Epiphone Texan, Martin D-28
Ringo Starr - Harptone jumbo (TMK acquired just before the breakup; an upgraded version was marketed as the RS-6 until circa 1975 and appeared on the cover of the "It Don't Come Easy" 45 single)

Steve--Thanks for that detail--I remember the Zeimitis from All Things. I too wonder if he played it earlier. It's the first luthier built guitar that I associate with the Beatles--and it may well have been played when he was Fab.

I can't seem to find the source at the moment, but I remember reading that John and George were given a pair of identical slope shouldered Gibsons in the mid-60's.
There are a number of photos that do picture them with these guitars.
Also, in the early 90's Paul was given an Olson guitar via Phil Keaggy.

There is a great website called beatgear cavern which has very detailed info on the Beatles, gear, songs, recording notes etc. and has a very active forum. You will find no end of interesting stuff there.

www.beatgearcavern.com

The Beatles broke up years before John built his first guitar.

Bozo was building in the 60's.

Agreed, I don't think John was even working for Gruhn until the late 60s at best. I do think Harrison has a Greven now but he certainly didn't get it during the Beatles' "fabdom".

Alan Marshall (Northworthy Guitars) built a ukulele for George a few years before he died.