The Beatles' 1966 Vox Kensington
Musician
John Lennon
(English, 1940 - 1980)
Musician
George Harrison
(English, 1943 - 2001)
Musician
The Beatles
(English, 1960 - 1970)
Owner
Alexis Mardas
(Greek, 1942 - 2017)
Maker
Vox Amplification
(English, founded 1958)
Date1966
ClassificationsMusic
Description1966 Vox Kensington custom-made guitar, serial number 71597 (on a neck plate believed to have been added at a later date), in natural finish. The guitar features a mahogany double-cutaway hollow body with a scroll design on the upper bouts and one f-hole. The headstock reads "Vox Custom." It has several white plastic electronic controls. A dedication plaque attached to the back of the guitar reads "To Magic Alex / Alexi thank you / for been [sic] a friend / 2-5-1967 John." The guitar was built by Mike Bennett with electronics by Dick Denney who both worked at Vox in the 1960s. Vox presented this custom guitar to The Beatles during the recording of Magical Mystery Tour. George Harrison was photographed playing the guitar by a photographer for Beat Instrumental magazine as the band played played "I Am The Walrus" in a scene for the Magical Mystery Tour shot at the West Mailing Aerodrome in Kent, September 1967. The photographed was published in the November 1967 issue. Lennon was filmed playing the guitar during the recording of the second promotional video for "Hello Goodbye" at the Saville Theatre in London in November of 1967.
Lennon later gave the guitar to his friend Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas for his 25th birthday in 1967. The dedication plaque on the back of the guitar was made out to Mardas by Lennon. Mardas clarified that the date on the plaque was his birth date earlier in the year and not the date that Lennon gave him the guitar. The guitar remained in Mardas' possession until he offered it at auction in 2004.
John Lennon (1940-1980) was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the co-lead vocalist and guitarist for The Beatles. Lennon and Paul McCartney served as the primary songwriters for The Beatles, and their collaboration is credited as one of the most successful musical outputs of all time. Lennon was born in Liverpool, England where he was raised by his aunt, Mimi Smith. In 1956, Lennon received his first guitar and formed a band, the Quarrymen. While playing with the Quarrymen, Lennon met Paul McCartney and George Harrison who joined the skiffle and rock and roll group. The band changed their name to The Beatles in 1960.
Lennon and The Beatles released their first single in 1962, "Love Me Do," and their debut album, Please Please Me, in 1963. By 1964, the band had reached international stardom, with Beatlemania taking over both European and American airwaves. The Beatles toured extensively from 1964 to 1966, when they became a studio band. Their initial rock and roll sound transformed into new styles, with influences of the 1960s psychedelic and counterculture movements - led by Lennon's anti-war and protest activism. After the dissolution of The Beatles in 1970, Lennon embarked on a solo career. His 1971 album Imagine and its title track became his most popular solo release. Lennon left the music world during the mid-1970s, returning to the studio in 1980 for the album Doubly Fantasy.
On December 8, 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside of his apartment building in New York City by a disillusioned fan of The Beatles. Lennon is remembered as one of the most influential musicians of all time. His work with The Beatles is credited with shaping the musical landscape of the 20th century. His early demise led to many tributes by his friends and colleagues such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Elton John, and the other Beatles.
