George Harrison’s guitar work with The Beatles was nothing short of revolutionary. While John Lennon brought rhythm and raw energy, and Paul McCartney drove melodic invention, it was Harrison who added colour, tone, and sophistication. Through the band’s evolving sound—from skiffle beginnings to psychedelic experiments and beyond—Harrison’s gear choices charted the very evolution of electric guitar in pop music.
Let’s explore the most iconic instruments and equipment he used during his time with The Beatles.
Early Days: The Gretsch Period (1960–1963)
In the early 1960s, Harrison became synonymous with Gretsch guitars, particularly:
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Gretsch Duo Jet (1957) – Used during the Beatles’ Hamburg era and on early recordings like Please Please Me. This was Harrison’s first serious electric guitar and gave him a distinctively sharp, biting tone.
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Gretsch Country Gentleman – Seen on The Ed Sullivan Show and during Beatlemania, this hollow-body model with Filter’Tron pickups helped define Harrison’s jangly, articulate lead tone on early hits like She Loves You and All My Loving.
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Gretsch Tennessean – Another mainstay in the pre-Rubber Soul period, often used live and in the studio.
These Gretsch's ran through Vox amplifiers, most notably the AC30, which gave The Beatles their signature British Invasion chime.
Rickenbacker Revolution (1964–1965)
A pivotal moment came in 1964 when Rickenbacker gifted Harrison a 12-string Rickenbacker 360/12 during the band’s first U.S. tour.
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Used prominently on A Hard Day’s Night, this guitar gave rise to the “jangly” sound later associated with The Byrds and jangle pop at large.
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Tracks like You Can’t Do That and Ticket to Ride feature that shimmering, chorus-like sound unique to 12-string electrics.
Also during this period, Vox developed the AC50 and AC100 amps specifically for The Beatles’ louder live shows.
Fender & Sonic Expansion (1965–1966)
The band’s move into more complex compositions saw Harrison exploring new sonic textures:
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Fender Stratocaster “Rocky” (1961) – Originally Sonic Blue, Harrison later painted this guitar in psychedelic colours. It featured on Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer, and much of Sgt. Pepper.
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Epiphone Casino – Though mostly associated with Lennon, Harrison also used this hollow-body guitar, particularly around the Revolver era. Its P-90 pickups offered rawness and bite.
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Harrison also began experimenting with volume pedals, Tone Benders, and primitive fuzz effects as the band’s sound grew more experimental.
The Indian Influence and Beyond (1966–1968)
As Harrison immersed himself in Indian classical music, his instrument choices diversified:
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Sitar – First used on Norwegian Wood, this instrument marked one of the first uses of Indian instrumentation in Western pop. He later studied under Ravi Shankar.
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Coral Electric Sitar – A modified electric version used for easier recording applications.
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Harrison also briefly experimented with fuzz boxes and Leslie speaker cabinets to create swirling, modulated textures.
The Late Beatles Era: Les Pauls & Telecasters (1968–1970)
As the band matured, so did Harrison’s taste in gear:
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Gibson Les Paul “Lucy” – Gifted from Eric Clapton, this red 1957 Les Paul (refinished by Gibson in the ’60s) was used on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, with Clapton playing lead.
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Fender Rosewood Telecaster – Custom-made for Harrison and famously used during the Rooftop Concert and Let It Be sessions. It had a warm, clear tone perfect for slide work.
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Martin D-28 – His main acoustic during the White Album and Abbey Road period.
Amplifier-wise, Harrison moved beyond Vox and began using Fender Twins and Silverface amps in studio settings, favouring their clean headroom and warmth.
Recording Innovations and Studio Gear
By the time of Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, Harrison was as much a tone sculptor as he was a guitarist:
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Leslie cabinets were used to re-amp guitar signals.
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Studio effects like ADT (Artificial Double Tracking), tape delay, and flanging played a key role.
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Capitol Studios’ compressors and Abbey Road’s EMI REDD desks shaped his final tones.
Legacy of Harrison’s Gear Choices
George Harrison’s gear journey reflected his role as the quiet innovator—never the flashiest player, but always one of the most tasteful and progressive. From the clang of Gretsch Filter’Trons to the weeping sustain of his Les Paul “Lucy,” Harrison’s sonic palette helped drive The Beatles’ constant reinvention.
His gear wasn’t just about what was popular—it was about what suited the song. That ethos made him one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century.
