Elpico AC55 Amplifier THE BEATLES PAUL McCARTNEY Green 1956

THE ELPICO AC55

History

The Elpico Amplifier was favoured throughout the band’s early live and public performances and can be seen in many images from 1960 - 1961. The Elpico was also used in later Beatle Recordings inc the 1966 Revolver Sessions, in which it was used to record the Fuzz Guitar Solo on 'Taxman'. The amp is favoured by Paul McCartney who still uses his original for both rehearsal and recording purposes, details as follows 

McCartney Interview Discusses his Original Elpico 

“This is my very first amp I ever had when I was 14, it was called an Elpico. As you can see it is very 50s, it looks like a piece of 50s furniture.

“Instead of putting guitars into it, it says Mic1, Mic2, Gramophone, anything but guitars really. In those days amps were used more for putting your records through or microphones, for little PAs.

“That was the first thing and I have kept it ever since. I have now had it fixed up because it is so old. When you put an electric guitar through it now it sounds a bit like a fuzz guitar so it is quite a funky sound that I use sometimes. It is a dear little thing from many years ago.”

The amp was first manufactured by British company Lee Products around 1956, and went on to become a favourite of other iconic artists including The Kinks‘ Dave Davies

Elpico AC55 MKI

1956 (Circa) 

Green Tolex

Trapezoid Design

ECC83, 2 x EL84 and EZ81 rectifier , 2 x ECC83 for the pre-amp

Condition 8/10 - Normal Use 

BEATLE USE

Please see the time line of Paul McCartney's Original Elpico Amplifier

1956 - Paul McCartney purchases his original MKI Amplifier

1960-61 - Paul Uses the Elpico on his first public Beatle Performances in Hamburg

1966 - Amplifier used on the Beatles Revolver Sessions for 'Tax Man' for guitar solo.

1966 -Present - Used by Paul McCartney and The Beatles for various studio and recording purposes 

Comments 

The above based on rarity, history and sound will appeal to both players, collectors and investors whom have interest in amplifier that was a key Ingredient to the sound, tone of the worlds most iconic bands.

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