The Beatles’ iconic recording console, the EMI TG12345, is up for auction, giving rock fans and musicians the chance to own a piece of music history. Used by the Beatles to track their legendary album “Abbey Road” in 1969, this rare console is a prototype that was installed in Abbey Road Studios in London.
Considered one of the most celebrated albums in rock history, “Abbey Road” features big hits like “Come Together,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Something,” all of which were recorded using the TG12345. Dave Harries, an engineer who worked with the Beatles during the 1960s, believes that this console played a crucial role in shaping the band’s final sound and success.
In addition to “Abbey Road,” the console was also used to record solo projects by John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison in the early 1970s. Only 17 models of the console were ever created, and after the Beatles were done using it, the original prototype was dismantled and stored away.
Five years ago, Brian Gibson, a former EMI engineer and Beatles collaborator, decided to restore the console. With the help of a team of audio engineers and technicians, they were able to reconstruct the device using 70 percent of its original parts and faithful replicas of missing pieces.
To celebrate the return of the TG12345, the console was set up at the former home of London’s Decca Studios, where musicians had the opportunity to test it out for the first time in over 50 years. Artists like Duke Garwood, Sam Simmonds, Rosalie Cunningham, Sara Hartman, and Hana Brooks gathered to experiment with the console, and a short documentary about its history and restoration was released by Reverb.
While there is no estimated price for the console, similar models have sold for millions of dollars in the past. In 2017, a TG12345 MK IV console used by various artists, including Pink Floyd and Kate Bush, sold for $1.8 million. The auction for this rare piece of music equipment begins on October 29, and Reverb officials are hopeful that it will find a new home with musicians who appreciate its historical significance.
Vintage electronics expert Antoine Bourgougnon emphasizes that the console has been restored to perfect working condition, ensuring that it can continue to make music for years to come. The Abbey Road console is not just a piece of history, but a functional and valuable tool for musicians seeking inspiration from the Beatles’ legendary sound.
