Casino HELP!

[gvdv]

 

Please state where you heard that? Actually McCartney bought the Casino on advice from John Mayall after they had discussed the guitar tones heard on old blues records (Page 152 "Beatle Gear ". by Andy Babiuk)..had nothing to do with feedback which in 1964 was a demon to be exorcised not embraced...but of course that all changed..it's the myth and misinformation that makes me crazy...

 

Mr.Nelson

Hi Mr. Nelson,

I quite agree - myth and misinformation make me crazy, too. I have also read that John Mayall advised McCartney to buy the Casino, and am not sure if he was responding to Macca's desire for a guitar that would feed back. Let me get to grips with my books and magazines and I will get back to you.

[bluelake07]

The Guitar Player article was twenty years after the breakup of The Beatles and about twenty-five years after Paul bought the guitar. He's lived quite a life; I think he can be forgiven if he doesn't exactly remember the events leading up to his purchase. Nobody really cares except for people in forums like this.

[gvdv]

Hi Mr. Nelson (and bluelake07),

This is going to be long, so brace yourself. Just wanted to give you the full context. And this is only *one* place I've heard/read Macca mention his desire to specifically get feedback from the Casino (will let you know if my failing memory takes me to any of the others).

 

This is incontrovertible proof though, coming straight from Paul, and is the full relevant text of one of the sources Babiuk quotes: 'Guitar Player', July 1990, 'Paul McCartney' by Tom Mulhern, pp.22 & 26.

 

It seems to me that Babiuk has ignored part of that article because he thinks he knows what happened, probably partly based on John Mayall's account:

 

'Guitar Player', July 1990, P. 22

[Question] "Do you have any favorite guitar parts that you played with the Beatles?"

 

[Paul] "I liked 'Taxman' just because of what it was. I was very inspired by Jimi Hendrix. It was really my first voyage into feedback. I had this friend in London, John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, who used to play me a lot of records late at night - he was a kind of DJ-type guy. You'd go back to his place, and he'd sit you down, give you a drink and say, 'Just check this out'. He'd go over to his deck, and for hours he'd blast you with B.B. King, Eric Clapton - he was sort of showing me where all of Eric's stuff was from, you know. He gave me a little evening's education in that. I was turned on after that, and I went and bought an Epiphone. So then I could wind up with the Vox amp and get some nice feedback. It was just before George was into that. In fact, I don't think George did get too heavily into that kind of thing. George was generally a little more restrained in his guitar playing. He wasn't into heavy feedback.

 

........"But with 'Taxman', I got the guitar and was playing around in the studio with the feedback and stuff......."

 

P. 26.

[Question] "Have you ever gone on an equipment-buying spree?"

 

[Paul] "Very occasionally. My first Epiphone was one of them, where I just went down to a guitar shop after having heard B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix, and I wanted something that fed back. He said, 'This Epiphone will do because it's semi-acoustic'. And he was right. The only reason I don't use it onstage is because it's a little too hot. It's great in the studio. You've got to stand in the right position for it not to feed back - we always had to do that in the studio, but nowadays guitars don't do this".

 

So, as you can see, in this, first hand (i.e. from Paul's mouth) account, there isn't even confirmation that John Mayall suggested that Paul get the Casino or another hollow-body (although it's possible that he did; I'm thinking that Mayall put him on to the idea of the hollow-body; Paul had the idea for wanting a guitar that fed back on his own; the shop assistant put him on to the Casino specifically in response to Paul's direct question about it).

 

So, it sounds like Paul got the idea of getting a guitar that fed back (possibly a hollow-body instrument) from one of two sources:

1. Either from John Mayall having played him B.B. King, and Eric Clapton, or from looking at photos of the guitarists Mayall was playing him, because people such as B.B. King (and other electric blues players) were using hollow-bodies, and /or

2. From his desire/inspiration to get feedback a la Jimi Hendrix. This inspiration from Hendrix might have preceded Macca's 'session(s)' with Mayall, so Paul may already have been thinking about getting an instrument that fed back, and Mayall's inspiration may have pushed him more towards this.

 

In my opinion, at this stage, it is unlikely he was thinking of a Casino specifically, and unlikely that Mayall mentioned the Casion as such because none of the guitarists named above played one (or were known for playing one - they played humbucking hollow-bodied instruments, not the single-coil Casino, and Clapton was playing solid bodies by that time). At this stage, he probably did not know that humbucking hollow-bodies would not feed back.

 

As Paul has specifically said (above) he deliberately went looking for a hollow body to get feedback, and the man in the shop suggested the Casino specifically.

 

As I said previously, there are also other places where I've read Paul saying that he deliberately wanted to find a hollow-body to get feed back, but I can't remember where they are in the hundreds of books and articles I've got. The above is very clear though.

There you go.

GVDV

[IntelligentAl]

Hehe, are we all Beatles fans here? It's like the number one topic of discussion! Thumbs up to the Epiphone forum! :-/

[Scott57]

I am so Gassing for a Casino! I would love to have a Lennon version but I will most likely get an Elitist.

[Mr.Nelson]

Hi Mr. Nelson (and bluelake07)' date='

This is going to be long, so brace yourself. Just wanted to give you the full context. And this is only *one* place I've heard/read Macca mention his desire to specifically get feedback from the Casino (will let you know if my failing memory takes me to any of the others).

 

This is incontrovertible proof though, coming straight from Paul, and is the [b']full[/b] relevant text of one of the sources Babiuk quotes: 'Guitar Player', July 1990, 'Paul McCartney' by Tom Mulhern, pp.22 & 26.

 

It seems to me that Babiuk has ignored part of that article because he thinks he knows what happened, probably partly based on John Mayall's account:

 

'Guitar Player', July 1990, P. 22

[Question] "Do you have any favorite guitar parts that you played with the Beatles?"

 

[Paul] "I liked 'Taxman' just because of what it was. I was very inspired by Jimi Hendrix. It was really my first voyage into feedback. I had this friend in London, John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, who used to play me a lot of records late at night - he was a kind of DJ-type guy. You'd go back to his place, and he'd sit you down, give you a drink and say, 'Just check this out'. He'd go over to his deck, and for hours he'd blast you with B.B. King, Eric Clapton - he was sort of showing me where all of Eric's stuff was from, you know. He gave me a little evening's education in that. I was turned on after that, and I went and bought an Epiphone. So then I could wind up with the Vox amp and get some nice feedback. It was just before George was into that. In fact, I don't think George did get too heavily into that kind of thing. George was generally a little more restrained in his guitar playing. He wasn't into heavy feedback.

 

........"But with 'Taxman', I got the guitar and was playing around in the studio with the feedback and stuff......."

 

P. 26.

[Question] "Have you ever gone on an equipment-buying spree?"

 

[Paul] "Very occasionally. My first Epiphone was one of them, where I just went down to a guitar shop after having heard B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix, and I wanted something that fed back. He said, 'This Epiphone will do because it's semi-acoustic'. And he was right. The only reason I don't use it onstage is because it's a little too hot. It's great in the studio. You've got to stand in the right position for it not to feed back - we always had to do that in the studio, but nowadays guitars don't do this".

 

So, as you can see, in this, first hand (i.e. from Paul's mouth) account, there isn't even confirmation that John Mayall suggested that Paul get the Casino or another hollow-body (although it's possible that he did; I'm thinking that Mayall put him on to the idea of the hollow-body; Paul had the idea for wanting a guitar that fed back on his own; the shop assistant put him on to the Casino specifically in response to Paul's direct question about it).

 

So, it sounds like Paul got the idea of getting a guitar that fed back (possibly a hollow-body instrument) from one of two sources:

1. Either from John Mayall having played him B.B. King, and Eric Clapton, or from looking at photos of the guitarists Mayall was playing him, because people such as B.B. King (and other electric blues players) were using hollow-bodies, and /or

2. From his desire/inspiration to get feedback a la Jimi Hendrix. This inspiration from Hendrix might have preceded Macca's 'session(s)' with Mayall, so Paul may already have been thinking about getting an instrument that fed back, and Mayall's inspiration may have pushed him more towards this.

 

In my opinion, at this stage, it is unlikely he was thinking of a Casino specifically, and unlikely that Mayall mentioned the Casion as such because none of the guitarists named above played one (or were known for playing one - they played humbucking hollow-bodied instruments, not the single-coil Casino, and Clapton was playing solid bodies by that time). At this stage, he probably did not know that humbucking hollow-bodies would not feed back.

 

As Paul has specifically said (above) he deliberately went looking for a hollow body to get feedback, and the man in the shop suggested the Casino specifically.

 

As I said previously, there are also other places where I've read Paul saying that he deliberately wanted to find a hollow-body to get feed back, but I can't remember where they are in the hundreds of books and articles I've got. The above is very clear though.

There you go.

GVDV

 

 

Gosh...I feel so guilty...I have that Guitar Player sitting right here.(on page 23 there's a Carvin advertisement "The Best You'll Ever Hear" lol). and "Beatle Gear" and Lewisohn's "The Beatles Recording Sessions" and Barry Miles "Many Years From Now" (I kept typing "All Those Years Ago...I must have George on the brain) .I could have saved you a lot of typing lol

 

If you take that interview literally then McCartney had already met Hendrix when he decided to buy the Casino and that Hendrix influenced "Taxman"...McCartney bought the Casino in December of 1964 Taxman was recorded on April 20, 1966..Hendrix didn't make it to England until September of 1966 ...it doesn't add up that Hendrix and using feedback influenced McCartney's decision to buy a Casino...and as I said before, in the days of not having stage monitors feedback was avoided on stage at all costs. I'm not questioning you but it drives me crazy when even the people involved can't get their stories straight...like in "Anthology when none of them can agree if "All You Need Is Love" was written for the "Our World" broadcast. If anything concerning feedback influenced McCartney it was the Beatles' own "I Feel Fine" which was recorded on October 18, 1964 just a few weeks before he bought the Casino....Thanx for the explanation and the effort.

 

and when I got out "Many Years From Now" I looked at my only confirmed Beatle autograph...on the inside face page of #978 (Of two thousand I think) "I Me Mine" ....."George Harrison 1980" Please keep Charlie away from my house lol...my ex bought that for me for I think it was our third Christmas and I think she paid $250 and I thought she was completely out of her mind...wonder what I'd get for it on E Bay...it can't be a fake because all the leather ones are authentic...I think I just found the answer to my financial problems lol on second thought...maybe not...thanx again for taking the time.

 

Mr.Nelson

[dubstar]

wasn't he also looking for a guitar with a bigsby...or did I miss someone already say that (also page 152)

[gvdv]

 

Gosh...I feel so guilty...I have that Guitar Player sitting right here.(on page 23 there's a Carvin advertisement "The Best You'll Ever Hear" lol). and "Beatle Gear" and Lewisohn's "The Beatles Recording Sessions" and Barry Miles "Many Years From Now" (I kept typing "All Those Years Ago...I must have George on the brain) .I could have saved you a lot of typing lol

 

If you take that interview literally then McCartney had already met Hendrix when he decided to buy the Casino and that Hendrix influenced "Taxman"...McCartney bought the Casino in December of 1964 Taxman was recorded on April 20' date=' 1966..Hendrix didn't make it to England until September of 1966 ...it doesn't add up that Hendrix and using feedback influenced McCartney's decision to buy a Casino...and as I said before, in the days of not having stage monitors feedback was avoided on stage at all costs. I'm not questioning you but it drives me crazy when even the people involved can't get their stories straight...like in "Anthology when none of them can agree if "All You Need Is Love" was written for the "Our World" broadcast. If anything concerning feedback influenced McCartney it was the Beatles' own "I Feel Fine" which was recorded on October 18, 1964 just a few weeks before he bought the Casino....Thanx for the explanation and the effort.

 

and when I got out "Many Years From Now" I looked at my only confirmed Beatle autograph...on the inside face page of #978 (Of two thousand I think) "I Me Mine" ....."George Harrison 1980" Please keep Charlie away from my house lol...my ex bought that for me for I think it was our third Christmas and I think she paid $250 and I thought she was completely out of her mind...wonder what I'd get for it on E Bay...it can't be a fake because all the leather ones are authentic...I think I just found the answer to my financial problems lol on second thought...maybe not...thanx again for taking the time.

 

Mr.Nelson

[/quote']

Hey Mr. Nelson,

You're most welcome.

 

I hate it when people can't get their stories straight, too, but sometimes I think that there are several, converging explanations for things.

 

I have been re-reading 'Many Years From Now' recently, and I can't stand the simple mistakes in their (he gets some song titles wrong, never mind years, and other typos). But to me, the worst thing about that books is the subtle twisting of some things to justify Paul - and he doesn't need justifying. It seems to me that that's also been part of Paul's insecurity for a while. I do love the stories, though. Those make the book worth it for me.

 

P.S. I envy your autographs. The closest I have is a photo of John that was taken outside the Dakota (not by me!!) a few months before he died. He has hair pulled back, and a HUGE, busy beard. Actually, I do have Bob Wooler's autograph - he confirmed to me how many times he thought he introduced The Fabs in the Cavern (I've forgotten now). I also have Leo McKern's autograph on my copy of the 'Help!' book, dedicated to me from 'Leo McClang', which I thought was quite funny. I didn't actually meet him, but was at school with his daughter (at the same time Heather McCartney was there, actually, but she was doing a different programme).

[charlie brown]

 

Gosh...I feel so guilty...I have that Guitar Player sitting right here.(on page 23 there's a Carvin advertisement "The Best You'll Ever Hear" lol). and "Beatle Gear" and Lewisohn's "The Beatles Recording Sessions" and Barry Miles "Many Years From Now" (I kept typing "All Those Years Ago...I must have George on the brain) .I could have saved you a lot of typing lol

 

If you take that interview literally then McCartney had already met Hendrix when he decided to buy the Casino and that Hendrix influenced "Taxman"...McCartney bought the Casino in December of 1964 Taxman was recorded on April 20' date=' 1966..Hendrix didn't make it to England until September of 1966 ...it doesn't add up that Hendrix and using feedback influenced McCartney's decision to buy a Casino...and as I said before, in the days of not having stage monitors feedback was avoided on stage at all costs. I'm not questioning you but it drives me crazy when even the people involved can't get their stories straight...like in "Anthology when none of them can agree if "All You Need Is Love" was written for the "Our World" broadcast. If anything concerning feedback influenced McCartney it was the Beatles' own "I Feel Fine" which was recorded on October 18, 1964 just a few weeks before he bought the Casino....Thanx for the explanation and the effort.

 

and when I got out "Many Years From Now" I looked at my only confirmed Beatle autograph...on the inside face page of #978 (Of two thousand I think) "I Me Mine" ....."George Harrison 1980" [b']Please keep Charlie away from my house lol...my ex bought that for me for I think it was our third Christmas and I think she paid $250 and I thought she was completely out of her mind...[/b]wonder what I'd get for it on E Bay...it can't be a fake because all the leather ones are authentic...I think I just found the answer to my financial problems lol on second thought...maybe not...thanx again for taking the time.

 

Mr.Nelson

 

LOL...Not to worry, Nelson...though I do envy you, that! Good show!

 

CB