The Beatles’ EMI TG12345 recording console, which they used to make their beloved album Abbey Road back in 1969, has now been restored and will be available to purchase on the online musical instruments and equipment marketplace Reverb.com.
The Abbey Road recording console will go on-sale on October 29th via the official Reverb shop of London recording studio pros and collectors MJQ Ltd. The one-of-a-kind recording console was specially made for EMI studios 1968 and was eventually used the following year to record Abbey Road. It was the first of only 17 consoles made by EMI, and played a significant role in the ambitious sound that The Beatles sought for Abbey Road.
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“Abbey Road is one of the best albums that’s ever been made, and it sounds so good because of this recording console,” said Dave Harries, who participated in several Beatles recording sessions with the console. “Because of the way that Abbey Road was recorded, the album has a distinctive sound that hallmarked the future of pop recording.”
After the console was used to record Abbey Road, all four Beatles continued to use it for their various solo projects: John Lennon’s single “Instant Karma!,” George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Paul McCartney’s McCartney, and Ringo Starr’s Sentimental Journey. Apparently, George Harrison was so impressed with the console’s capabilities that he asked EMI to make a new one for him personally (they turned him down because they were worried it would be replicated by a competitor). In short, this piece of recording equipment has seen its fair share of iconic sessions.
It sat unused for over five decades, but has since been meticulously restored for the last five years under the guidance of Beatles collaborator and former EMI engineer Brian Gibson. “This particular console is a one-off. It’s unique. You can’t replace it,” said Harries. “EMI built this to be the best in the world.”
The console will go on-sale on Reverb.com on October 29th. You can sign up here to be notified when the item goes live. See below for a video of the legendary restored recording console being used at Abbey Road Studios 50 years later.
Meanwhile, to celebrate the release of the Abbey Road console, Reverb is launching a giveaway where fans can win a guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum kit that will help them both look and sound like The Beatles. Sign up here.
