Andy BabiukBeatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, The Ultimate Edition

A great book for any Beatles fan.It makes me have more fun to see photos of the Beatles with their instruments.

If you love the Beatles, guitars/music gear, rock history or (especially) a combination of the three, you should buy this book right now. I was like a kid on Christmas when I received it; it’s much bigger than I’d anticipated, and there’s much more text, but don’t worry - there are still plenty of big, crisp, detailed photos of the band’s actual instruments, as well as replicas of those that have been lost or earlier iterations of those that were later modded by the band members or others.So far I’ve only had a chance to skim this tome, but what I’ve read so far has been fascinating and well-researched. There are facts and stories I’m not sure I’d find anywhere else, and this book appears to go VERY in-depth into its subject.It might be a bit much for you if you’re not interested in gear, as it is so in-depth; however, if you do like knowing about the different guitars, basses, and amps used by the lads throughout their career, why they chose them, how they got them, and what happened to them, this is the book for you.

The shipping was super fast and the quality of this used book was terrific. Just as promised. Love the book!

In the jungle of books written about the Fab Four, this one rates as one of the best Beatles books ever. It is authoritative and even more thorough than the original edition. Although I am a musician and a gear head, you don't have to be either to appreciate this excellent work. It seamlessly integrates the history of the Beatles with the history of their instruments, which is nearly as rich and colorful on its own. Having grown up playing guitar in the 70s, I can relate to the stories about how instruments are coveted, swapped, borrowed and sometimes even "nicked" - as well as the progressive improvement of their instrumentation over time. The photos in the book are great - some (like Pete Best singing lead and Paul McCartney on drums) that a diehard Beatlemaniac like me hadn't even seen before. The author - using unimpeachable original source documentation and extensive research and first-person interviews - also debunks some of the mythology that surrounds some of the most well-known Beatles instruments. If you're a Beatles fan, this is a great read. If you're a Beatles fan and a musician, this is a must read.

I enjoyed the book's Gear Specifics and Photos. As a lifelong Beatles' fan and guitar player, since my teen years, I was very happy to find and purchase this specialty book. ... I would highly recommend this one! For me: it was money well spent! You, too, will most likely love it - even if you have never played a guitar - but are a fan of all things: 'Beatle!'

If you are a musician, or a serious Beatles fan, this book by Andy Babiuk will be a favorite go-to book to figure out musically what the Beatles did, when they did it, and how they did it. You will learn about how their recordings were done, what instruments they used at various times, how songs were written and performed, and how their music and their careers evolved through chapters dealing with all of the information by year of happening. Andy has gone to incredible lengths to provide superlative information; the details are stunning. The pictures are great too. His passion for doing great work in gathering and communicating information is evident, as well is his expert skill in doing so. I highly recommend this book. It will provide you many hours of interesting, entertaining, and educational reading. It is excellent!

This new version of Andy Babiuk's groundbreaking work on the Beatles' musical instruments is a vastly enhanced version of the original. There is much more information covering every aspects of the band's instrumentation. I won't include any spoilers, but simply say that there is enough new material to keep you satisfied. At nearly twice the length of the first edition you will appreciate Babiuk's attention to detail, his utterly awesome scholarship and breadth of knowledge, and his passion for his subject.Visually you are in for a feast. Many, many more photographs adorn these pages, from documents to concert photos to close-ups of instruments. One excellent example of this is the photographs of Ringo's drum kits from above, showing the layout of drums and cymbals.If you own the first edition and are in two minds about this new one, don't be. It's like a new book. Andy Babiuk deserves a PhD for his outstanding research shown here. This is an essential purpose for any Beatles fan, especially if you are a musician.

It is obvious a lot of time went into the accuracy of this book. There is so much detail on all of the guitars that George, John and Paul played, including what happened to them. Lots of eye candy as this book is full of photos, some I have never seen before. Ringo's various drum kits, including the one that was on display in LA at the Grammy Museum, are in there too. Musicians starting a Beatles tribute band can gain detailed knowledge of what instruments were played during certain tours, on certain recordings and albums, etc. Great book for the coffee table.