FYI: Hofner lap steel "like Lennon played"

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 7 May 2005 4:21 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7321119288&rd=1

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For the crazy Beatle collector who needs everything. This is the exact lap-steel guitar that John Lennon used on For You Blue. You need this for that exact tone! This instrument is in exceptionally fine condition. It is 100% original and everything works perfect. There isn't much left of the non-slip material on the back of the body. Check out the photos and you'll see it is the one. Original tweed case with green felt lining which is also in excellent condition with all latches and hinges working. Andy Babiuk's great book titled Beatlesgear states: "Lennon was also filmed using a Hofner lap-steel slide guitar on 'For You Blue'. Distributed in the UK by Selmer, these German-made Hofner instruments were advertised as Electric Hawaiian Guitars and available in two models: the Hawaiian Artist and - Lennon's choice - the Hawaiian Standard." I've collected guitars for thirty years and this is the first exact one I've seen. They are very rare. If you collect Beatle type Hofners, Rickenbackers, Gretschs, Epiphones, Gibsons, Selmer amps, Elpicos, Watkins, Ludwig drums, Vox amps, etc. you need this to complete your collection. E-mail with any questions, more photos, etc., and thanks for looking.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heh. "For the crazy Beatle collector who needs everything. " Starting bid $700.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 7 May 2005 4:39 pm

I wonder if the price includes a disposable lighter like the one Lennon used as a bar?

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 07 May 2005 at 05:44 PM.]

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 7 May 2005 5:10 pm

Hmmm... "This is the exact lap-steel guitar that John Lennon used"

Makes it sound like they're saying this is the very one, the one that previously belonged to John Lennon, and then the rest of the copy makes it sound like it's exactly like the one John used... Intentional?

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 7 May 2005 6:29 pm

He's not even damping the strings with his left hand.

He should have ordered the Jerry Byrd course!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 7 May 2005 6:40 pm

At least Jerry Garcia asked Mr. Byrd for lessons.

What's up with that bar technique, John!

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Mark

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 7 May 2005 6:56 pm

If you're familiar with "For You Blue," you have to admit that John Lennon's bar technique resulted in a tone that would be best described as "distinctive." Until recently I thought that it was somebody playing a very bad old Duolian rather than a lap steel ...[This message was edited by Russ Young on 07 May 2005 at 07:57 PM.]

Jan Hess · Post by **Jan Hess** » 7 May 2005 7:57 pm

Hello Guys, I've been listening to Lennon since the 60's. With all due respect to John,he either just finished playing or is posing.My guess is that he just had a few "PUFFS",and happened to have the lighter in his hand.

The instrument in it's own right is probably okay,but I don't buy the "sales pitch" itself.Out there is some Crazy guy with money to burn that will buy it, overpriced as it is!!Like it says in the bible..."Let those who have eyes see,and those who have ears hear"!Everyone else pays cash.

Soundhound

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 7 May 2005 9:57 pm

There's no way I'd pay $700.00 for any HOFNER ! (In Canada that equates to roughly $850.00)

Colin Brooks · Post by **Colin Brooks** » 8 May 2005 2:58 am

Looks like the one he bought on UK ebay for the equivalent of $470 + freight recently. I wondered why it went for twice what I would have expected.

Jan Hess · Post by **Jan Hess** » 9 May 2005 3:07 am

Hey Brad, There's another Hofner "beatle" steel on ebay.It'll be interesting to see where it goes. It's at $258.33CA/208.81US W/no bids yet and about 7-8 days left.If I'm handy at "closing time",I'll watch the last minute feeding frenzy. In all fairness to the seller,he's put a disclaimer that Lennon never played or owned this particular guitar. Soundhound

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 9 May 2005 3:43 am

The guitar Jan Hess is refering to is here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7321466131

Basil

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 May 2005 3:55 am

Ah, now the seller has edited the listing to read:

This is identical to the lap-steel guitar that John Lennon used on For You Blue.

He's no longer claiming it to be the exact one...

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 9 May 2005 11:02 am

And the price is down quite a bit too.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 9 May 2005 1:34 pm

I saw both of those laps. and a little later I saw both John Lennons.
there are a lot of lap steels on ebay today. is MF selling on ebay? seems overpriced.
er, am I missing something.
nah.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 10 May 2005 4:05 pm

Anybody remember the Hendrix guitar strap "just like the one Jimi used" that went for BIG bucks on ebay?

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 14 May 2005 3:22 pm

If you're familiar with "For You Blue," you have to admit that John Lennon's bar technique resulted in a tone that would be best described as "distinctive." Until recently I thought that it was somebody playing a very bad old Duolian rather than a lap steel ..

Hello Guys, I've been listening to Lennon since the 60's. With all due respect to John,he either just finished playing or is posing.My guess is that he just had a few "PUFFS",and happened to have the lighter in his hand.

Not a huge Beatles fan myself so I didn't recognize the name of the tune, though I'd heard it many times before. I just finished watching 'Let It Be' which has that footage and I'm pretty sure that's NOT Lennon OR that lap steel on the record. The film clip doesn't correspond to what he's playing and I don't see how the hell he's getting that resonator tone out of that thing. My guess (which could be all wet) is the slide is Harrison on a roundneck resonator, and was dubbed in later.

BTW, the footage of Lennon playing is exactly like that still shot above, no damping at all.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Jaime Miller · Post by **Jaime Miller** » 15 May 2005 6:57 pm

Sitting in a movie theater watching Let It Be, I was first introduced to the lap steel in 1970. I do have a soft spot for the song "For You Blue" and Lennon, as well as the instrument. As a "Beatles guy" I have been following this post and it caused me to dig out all my Beatles history books dealing with their recording and instruments history. There are 4 very good ones I referenced. This is probably more information than most care about.

As the film shows, Lennon did use a plastic disposable cigarette lighter as a bar, which probably help get the distinctive tone. No amps are shown, but Fender Silverface Twins were the main amp during the Let It Be recordings for John and George. Lennon did play the "Hofner Hawaiian Standard” in the recordings. There is an outtake video of the group jamming on an unnamed instrumental song with Lennon on slide, Harrison on bass, McCartney on piano and of course Ringo. Lennon is playing lead rifts with the Hofner slide.

As far as "For You Blue" goes, I would think the sound Lennon got was intentional tone-wise. A close look at the Bluthner piano McCartney plays on the song has newspapers stuffed in the strings to get the piano sound they were looking for. It seems to my biased ears the steel guitar sound, while not conventional in any respect, fits the song quite well, which is the main point.

In the movie, the shots of George singing and playing are in sync. The shots of Lennon and McCartney on piano are not. "For You Blue" was finished in one day on the 7th take, with take 6 being the one used in the film. Take 7 is on the album and single. There was not time for a lot of video to be taken. The only overdub was Harrison re-doing his vocals one year later. Keep in mind the Bealtes lost intrest in this project and thus things were overlooked to make contract requirements of one film and one album.

As far as Harrison playing slide on a resonator, no resonators are documented as being used by the Beatles, and they are a rather well documented band. Harrison himself said he never played slide guitar until he played with Clapton on a Delaney and Bonnie tour in 1969 after Let It Be was recorded. You can hear some slide work(not steel) on Abbey Road by George on Something, which was recorded after Let It Be, but released earlier.

Basically, the lap steel Lennon played was an instrument lying around the Apple Studios. Harrison had a kind of "happy go lucky" blues song, and it needed a slide. Lennon put down his Casino, picked up the Hofner, and away they went. It was another of their one time use of an instrument to get a particular sound.

If you are still reading, the tuning was DADF#CD.

Jaime

Ricky Newman · Post by **Ricky Newman** » 15 Dec 2021 10:20 pm

Bump for “Get Back.” The lap steel makes its appearance around the 2h27m mark of Part 2.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 18 Dec 2021 8:47 am

Can Get Back be bought on DVD or blueray?
Mahalo!

Colin Swinney · Post by **Colin Swinney** » 18 Dec 2021 12:52 pm

Tom Snook wrote:Can Get Back be bought on DVD or blueray?
Mahalo!

I’ve read that there is no plans for now to be released on dvd or blueray.

I thought it was a very enjoyable film and Billy Preston is my new favorite Beatle.