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A 1962 Fawn JMI Vox AC15 Twin amplifier used and owned by John Lennon during his time in The Beatles. Lennon purchased this amp in 1962 and it was the first-ever Vox amp he used as part of The Fab Four. It is arguably one of the most significant Beatles and Lennon artefacts to come to market. It was the catalyst in forming the early tone and sound of one of The Beatles, considered one of the most influential bands of all time. The amp was used in many early live performances as well as the recording of The Beatles first album Please, Please Me recorded at Abbey Road studios. The history of this item was recently covered in a comprehensive article by Guitar World.
When Brian Epstein became The Beatles' manager, he decided to completely overhaul their public image, including upgrading the equipment they used to perform. Lennon and Epstein visited Hessy's Music in Liverpool and hire-purchased a Fawn Vox AC15 Twin amp in July 1962 for £123, making four payments over the next few months. A scan of the original hire-purchase agreement can be seen on page 572 of the book Vox Amplifiers: The JMI Years by Jim Elyea. On the agreement, the amp's serial number was incorrectly noted as "1583" when, at that time, the serial numbers would have been in the 4000 range, so it was actually "4583". George Harrison also acquired a Vox Fawn AC30 Twin amp around the same time.
Lennon can be seen using the amplifier extensively during the early days of The Beatles' rise to fame, including the only known film footage of them performing at the world famous Cavern Club, Liverpool on August 22 1962, four days after their newly appointed drummer, Ringo Starr had joined the band. This was the birth of what we now know as the legendary Fab Four. As well as many early live performances, the amp can be seen at the Abbey Road studios during the recording of the album Please Please Me in which Lennon's distinct Vox guitar tone can be heard on such tracks as "Love Me Do", "Please, Please Me", "How Do You Do It?" and P.S. I Love You".
Photographs taken by Bill Connell and Les Chadwick on 22 August 1962 document The Beatles rehearsing at the Cavern Club and show the Vox amp being used by Lennon. As Starr officially joined the group four days earlier on 18 August, these may be some of the first images to feature him as part of the band. The amp can also be seen in photos taken during the Please Please Me recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios in Studio 2 which took place in September 1962. In these images, Lennon's Vox AC15 is equipped with chrome stand, as opposed to George Harrison's Vox AC30, which has no stand.
As the band's popularity grew and their touring schedule increased, in early 1963 Brian Epstein secured an endorsement deal with Vox for their exclusive use of the brand and in return Vox would supply the band with amplifiers. Recent research shows the original Beatles Fawn amplifiers can be seen being used as late as November 1963 and possibly beyond and were used in conjunction with the new Black amplifiers due to the band's extensive schedules. Notable later performances where these amps can be seen in 1963 include January 31st at Birkenhead, March 7th at Harrogate and November 1963 in Ireland.
The amp comprises a pine cabinet with a fawn Rexine exterior. A previous owner of the amp, unaware of its link to Lennon and The Beatles, decided to paint its exterior matt black. This coat of paint has been meticulously removed to expose the amplifiers original Fawn covering, this along with period correct brown diamond-patterned grille-cloth and Goodman Alnico Speakers has restored the amplifier to its original 1962 Lennon, Beatles format. The top side features three leather handles and various controls, including six black pointer knobs and a voltage selector switch. A Vox Amplifier plaque on the back displays the model number "AC15" and the serial number "4358", as mentioned in Vox Amplifiers: The JMI Years. It is powered by an attached UK plug and cable and comes with a single-button Vox foot switch. The lot also includes a contemporary wheeled flight case and a metal tubular stand.
The amp's exterior exhibits signs of age, including general scuffing. Some of the Rexine has peeled away, revealing the pine underneath, and there are small holes in the grille-cloth cover. However, the lot remains in remarkable overall condition, considering its age and history. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to own a key piece of vintage equipment that established the sound of the Beatles. This lot is accompanied by a printed still.
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