Millions of dollars worth of Beatles memorabilia changes hands every year, so the owners of a mixing console used to create Abbey Road hoped they might reap a £1.4m bonanza when they auctioned it last year. But bids didn’t meet their reserve price, so now they have taken a different tack: instead of targeting fans, they are appealing to musicians who might actually use it.
Although there is no Beatlemania index showing fluctuations in the value of John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics or Paul McCartney’s collarless jackets, markets for vintage wines, rare whiskies, classic cars and fine art have seen a downturn in the past year, as people who view these luxuries as investment vehicles have turned elsewhere for profit. Musical instruments and equipment are different: both objects of desire and inspirations of creativity. Musicians can spend years lusting after a microphone or synthesiser they believe will allow them to create a particular sound.
“Music gear is meant to be played,” said Antoine Bourgougnon, vintage electronics expert at Reverb, an online marketplace for musical instruments. “That’s what’s so special about the Abbey Road console – of course, it’s a piece of history, but it’s also been restored to be in perfect working condition, so that it can go on to make even more music for years to come.” The EMI TG12345 Mk1 desk will be available to buy on Tuesday from Reverb, where Noel Gallagher, Green Day and Evanescence have all sold equipment in the.
