This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/23/2023
The Beatles Abbey Road Studios RLS10 Loudspeakers and Amplifiers (2) known as "White Elephant" Used on “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”, "The White Album," "Abbey Road" and More Including Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
Offered here could be one of the most iconic pieces of Beatles recording equipment in history, the actual Loudspeakers and Amplifiers used for all of the Beatles recordings in Abbey Road Studios.
The lot comes with two Loudspeakers, which were the only two in Abbey Road Studios.
The speakers have incredible provenance as you can trace ownership from when the Speakers were built until now.
These speakers were built in 1962 and remained in Abbey Road Studios until 1972. Nicholas Butt, a friend of Bon Scott and Vytas Serelis, was tasked to find Loudspeakers for a new up and coming band “Mount Lofty Rangers” featuring Peter Head and Bon Scott.
Nicholas, from London, knew the chief engineers at Abbey Road studios and bought these pair of Loudspeakers directly from E.M.I. disposal in 1972. Studio’s 1 & 2 were being refurbished and these Loudspeakers built by E.M.I in Kent were taken out of service.
After purchasing the speakers, Nicholas had them shipped to Australia where they were used in Sunflower Studios in Adelaide, then at Music Farm near Byron Bay until 1977.
Afterwards they remained with Vytas Serelis house ever since, until now.
These speakers are featured in tons of photographs in Abbey Road Studios with the Beatles. You can practically see them in every shot!
Even David Crosby was impressed with the speakers, after visiting the studios in 1967 David Crosby writes, “The best thing that ever happened to me was visiting The Beatles when they were making Sgt. Pepper,” he began. “I came in and I was very high. They sat me down on a stool in the middle of the studio and rolled up two six-foot-tall speakers on either side of me. Then, laughing, they climbed the stairs back to the control room and left me there. And then they played ‘A Day in the Life.’ At the end of that last chord, my brains just ran out my nose onto the floor in a puddle. I didn’t know what to do, I was just stupefied.”
One speaker still holds the original tag, reading, “E.M.I. LTD LOUDSPEAKER & AMPLIFIER TYPE RLS IO NO 167 MADE IN ENGLAND”
These pair of speakers were used in practically every Beatles album, “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”, "The White Album," and "Abbey Road" as well as Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”.
The speakers have been partially restored, having been repainted and minor wood restoration. The speakers and components are all original!. The inside of the speakers are the same as when used by The Beatles. The original bar on the back has been removed.
Words can’t describe the importance of this item and would make an incredible display for any Beatles collector!
Authentication: Letter of Authenticity from Nicholas Butt, Original EMI Tag and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.