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[[Rickenbacker]] makes several "Lennon" model electric guitars, Gibson makes a limited-edition replica of his J-160E<ref name="lennonj160">{{cite web |title=John Lennon J-160E Peace |url=http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Divisions/Gibson%20Acoustic/Signature%20Artist/John%20Lennon%20J%2D160E%20Peace/|publisher=Gibson Musical Instruments |accessdate=2008-02-26 }}</ref> and an "inspired by" John Lennon Les Paul replicating the modified Junior.<ref name="lennonlpjr">{{cite web |last =Bosso |first=Joe |title=A Look at Gibson's John Lennon Les Paul Junior |publisher=Gibson Musical Instruments |date=2007-08-17 |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/NewModels/JohnLennon/|accessdate=2008-02-18 }}</ref>
[[Rickenbacker]] makes several "Lennon" model electric guitars, Gibson makes a limited-edition replica of his J-160E<ref name="lennonj160">{{cite web |title=John Lennon J-160E Peace |url=http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Divisions/Gibson%20Acoustic/Signature%20Artist/John%20Lennon%20J%2D160E%20Peace/|publisher=Gibson Musical Instruments |accessdate=2008-02-26 }}</ref> and an "inspired by" John Lennon Les Paul replicating the modified Junior.<ref name="lennonlpjr">{{cite web |last =Bosso |first=Joe |title=A Look at Gibson's John Lennon Les Paul Junior |publisher=Gibson Musical Instruments |date=2007-08-17 |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/NewModels/JohnLennon/|accessdate=2008-02-18 }}</ref>


==Piano==
==The White Piano==


Lennon composed his greatest hit "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]" on a white [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] piano he bought for his home in England. This piano was bought by [[George Michael]] at an auction by [[Yoko Ono]] for £1.45 million.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/974485.stm George Michael buys Lennon's piano]</ref> Later, the piano was on charity tour.<ref>[http://greenskeptic.blogspot.com/2007/08/imagine-john-lennon-piano-on-tour-with.html IMAGINE: John Lennon Piano on Tour with Mission of Healing and Hope]</ref> The piano was the subject of many controversy when [[John Lennon]]'s son, [[Sean Lennon]], posted a picture on twitter of Pop star [[Lady GaGa]] playing it.<ref>[http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/220323/lady-gaga-photo-irks-beatles-fans/]</ref>
Lennon composed his greatest hit "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]" on a white [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] piano he bought for his home in England. This piano was bought by [[George Michael]] at an auction by [[Yoko Ono]] for £1.45 million.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/974485.stm George Michael buys Lennon's piano]</ref> Later, the piano was on charity tour.<ref>[http://greenskeptic.blogspot.com/2007/08/imagine-john-lennon-piano-on-tour-with.html IMAGINE: John Lennon Piano on Tour with Mission of Healing and Hope]</ref> The piano was the subject of many controversy when [[John Lennon]]'s son, [[Sean Lennon]], posted a picture on twitter of Pop star [[Lady GaGa]] playing it.<ref>[http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/220323/lady-gaga-photo-irks-beatles-fans/]</ref>

Revision as of 22:57, 10 October 2010

Lennon's guitars.

John Lennon played various guitars with The Beatles and during his solo career, including the Rickenbacker (four variants thereof), Epiphone Casino, and various models of Gibson and Fender guitars.

His other instrument of choice was piano, on which he also composed many songs. Lennon's jamming on a piano together with McCartney led to creation of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1963.

We wrote a lot of stuff together, one on one, eyeball to eyeball. Like in 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' I remember when we got the chord that made the song. We were in Jane Asher's house, downstairs in the cellar playing on the piano at the same time. And we had, 'Oh you-u-u/ got that something...' And Paul hits this chord [E minor] and I turn to him and say, 'That's it!' I said, 'Do that again!' In those days, we really used to absolutely write like that—both playing into each other's noses.[1]

He also played harmonica, specially on The Beatles' early records.

Replica Guitars

Rickenbacker makes several "Lennon" model electric guitars, Gibson makes a limited-edition replica of his J-160E[2] and an "inspired by" John Lennon Les Paul replicating the modified Junior.[3]

The White Piano

Lennon composed his greatest hit "Imagine" on a white Steinway piano he bought for his home in England. This piano was bought by George Michael at an auction by Yoko Ono for £1.45 million.[4] Later, the piano was on charity tour.[5] The piano was the subject of many controversy when John Lennon's son, Sean Lennon, posted a picture on twitter of Pop star Lady GaGa playing it.[6]

Percussion

Lennon used a variety of sound sources for his songs, such as radios, sound effect records, resonators, and even his own heartbeat. He recorded his, Ono's and a their baby's heartbeat for sounds on the Wedding Album and Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions. During the 60s and 70s he also played various percussion instruments in the studio.

Instruments

Guitars

  • Epiphone Casino, (In 1968 Lennon had his sunburst Casino professionally stripped of its paint, removed the pickguard and changed the tuning machines to gold grovers) [7]
  • Rickenbacker 325 (four models):
    • His original 1958 model, modified with Bigsby vibrato and nonstandard control knobs, nicknamed "Hamburg."
    • A 1964 6-string model, serial number DB122 (or the "Miami" model)
    • A 12-string model (similar to DB122), with a trapeze tail piece.
    • A Rose, Morris model 1996, finished in Rickenbacker's Fireglo finish, and with a standard sound f hole.
  • A 12-string Framus acoustic
  • Gibson Les Paul Junior which was modified with the addition of a Charlie Christian pickup.
  • Gibson J-160E Electric/acoustic guitar
  • 1962 Fender Stratocaster finish in Sonic Blue
  • Fender Telecaster
  • Gretsch 6120 (used on the Revolver sessions)
  • An Ovation acoustic
  • A custom Yamaha acoustic given to him by wife Yoko Ono
  • A 1967 Martin D-28
  • Höfner Club guitar
  • Gibson Les Paul 25/50(given to Julian for Christmas in 1974.
  • 4 string bass
  • Fender Bass VI

Amplifiers

Effects and Pedals

Pianos & Keyboards

Harmonicas

Percussion

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ The Beatles Ultimate Experience. Retrieved September 1, 2004.
  2. ^ "John Lennon J-160E Peace". Gibson Musical Instruments. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
  3. ^ Bosso, Joe (2007-08-17). "A Look at Gibson's John Lennon Les Paul Junior". Gibson Musical Instruments. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  4. ^ George Michael buys Lennon's piano
  5. ^ IMAGINE: John Lennon Piano on Tour with Mission of Healing and Hope
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ http://www.epiphone.com/story.asp