The Beatles 1964 Fab Four set

[pjam]

Looks nice, you can add a small bit of wood putty or epoxy putty to the tip and make it round like a ball. That's what I did to the wooden handle on a cotton applicator after tapering that.

I'm waiting to see the Vox amps and speakers from Zappafan. I did a few papercraft versions of an Vox AC 15/30 Amps and the Vox 212 and 412 speakers (only I had no idea what the back of theses cabinets looked like so I made up my own.)

Mike

Thanks, Guys, I tried a few things with no success: a wooden matchstick tip which wouldn't cut properly, did a putty trial, I think I'm just gonna either whittle the end of the sticks and paint them white or whittle and sand the tip of a golf tee and glue it on.

Here's a pic of a Vox Speaker & Amp Set from a previous ebay listing. What you don't see is the back of the cabinets, they're very detailed. I'm sure Mark will have his listings up tomorrow so we'll see the other types as well. I'll prolly get 2 Sets, one for each side of the Drumset.

 

[pjam]

Finished my Drumsticks, they look pretty good.

Here's an update from Mark on the VOX Speakers.

Hello,
I failed to get anything listed on eBay tonight,but I do have pictures to post(except I can't figure out how to post them here-AAGGHH!). I can email them to anyone who wants to see them before next weekend. Contact me at [email protected] with VOX amps in the subject heading. Set1 has one amp and one speaker cabinet(20.00USD). Set2 has one amp/speaker combo(15.00USD). Set3 has one amp and two speaker cabinets(25.00USD). Set4 has one amp/speaker combo(18.00USD). Set5 is a Bass set with a separate head and bottom(25.00USD). I also have a Marshall set that has one amp and two 4-10 cabinets with working casters(30.00USD). I have six sets of types 1,2,3 available.Three sets of type 4 and four sets of type 5 available. I also have four sets of the Marshalls available too.

Thanks,Mark

 

[Star Puffs]

Hey, pjam, I know nothing about the practical aspects of rock music, so what amp/speaker sets should I buy for an accurate look?

I am still waiting for the guitar situation to sort itself out before I really start working on these figures.

 

[pjam]

Hey, pjam, I know nothing about the practical aspects of rock music, so what amp/speaker sets should I buy for an accurate look?

I am still waiting for the guitar situation to sort itself out before I really start working on these figures.

They used VOX Amps and Speakers in the early years, both in The US and World Tours. I don't think they used Marshalls until much later, like the Studio sessions for Let it Be in Twittingham.

So the answer is VOX

 

[Reinhardt]

Amazing stuff Paul!!

 

[drjedisith]

just checked in to see this fun set come alive. PJAM WOW! seriously man. wicked set up so far

 

[thecapn]

Ok so what SPECIFIC amp sets should I buy for that Sullivan-show look? I'm clueless with these VOXs...Zappafan has a lot of different setups available...

 

[pjam]

Thanks gang. Well worth the effort.

I think I have everything I need for a Set now, figure wise. Les will be painting the heads and Seb is doing my guitar straps w real lethaer before he retires. Just need to pick up Amps from Mark and a couple microphones somewhere, the only ones that look decent are the Elvis 68, but hard to find loose. Maybe Mark can help out there too, we'll see. siquisiri will prolly be the first to post pics of a completed set so look for that in the coming days.

Ok so what SPECIFIC amp sets should I buy for that Sullivan-show look? I'm clueless with these VOXs...Zappafan has a lot of different setups available...

I haven't seen pics of the sets yet so I can't comment, but I'm gonna get 2 sets to display on each side of the drumset. I recommend getting two sets because they'll frame the display nicely. What's really kind of funny is the Beatles used just a pair of speakers when they first toured the US.

EDIT. Mark just sent me pics in an email. He should have them posted here soon. I'm prolly gonna get what's in the pic of Frank w speakers below.

The figures in the pictures are my own kitbashed band members. Sets 1,2,3 are in the first picture(with Frank) and 4 & 5 are in the second pic(with Otto). The third pic shows the backside of the amps in sets 2 & 4. The forth pic shows the backside of the bass head in set 5. Set three doesnt have as much detailing as the other sets,but you get two speaker cabinets.

Thanks,Mark

This pic shows the backside of the amps in sets 2 & 4.

I think it's really up to you how you want to frame your display. Here are some ref images for you Guys.

The pic below was from late 64/early 65.

The pic below was from the DC Concert on first 64 US Tour right after the Landmark Sullivan performance.

 

[thecapn]

I actually came up with a home-brew solution for the mics and mic stands - I sculpted the mics on a toothpick with green stuff. I started with a ball for the mic, then once that dried, I built up the neck. For the stand, the base is one of the bases that came with the storerooms guitars; the top mic-holder piece is the top of the base that came with the storeroom guitars, the part that holds the neck. The main "shaft" is a wire hanger, over which is a cocktail straw so the base is a little wider, and a little green stuff for the join between the two. A little silver spraypaint, and I'm all done. I'll post some pics later, I'm really happy with how they came out. I also made my own guitar straps, no big deal.

Right now, now that I shot my order for the amps to zappafan (thanks, pjam!) All I really have left is the suits from spenser and more importantly, the hoffner. Don't know WHAT to do about that. I may build my own. I also think I'll replace the shoes, I can't get over how big those minibarbie shoes are! I'll constantly be staring at them.

As a side note, I'm also thinking of building the "Stage" that Ringo's drum set is on in the Sullivan Show shots...

 

[mikeap001]

Hello,

Those are nice. And the price is good... I was a bit of a gear head and did Papercraft versions of the AMPS. Anyway, Zappafan's are much better.

The equipment used for the Hamburg-Cavern era were the Vox amp/speaker combos: Vox AC 15... not pictured but the closest one is the box with the black control panel (the Vox AC 15 came factory equipped with a Single Speaker)... and the Vox AC 30... the larger one with the red control panel. Later added were a 212 cabinet speaker with separate tube amp set.

For the Sullivan show, the amps were an AC 50 (separate amp and speaker set... it looked just like the AC 30 but had a BLUE control panel for the amp). And, the tour versions up to the Shea Stadium era, the amp was the AC 100 (because that was the only amp strong enough to be heard over the screaming crowd.)

A bit of Beatles trivia, John Lennon wanted Paul McCartney to join the band because McCartney could tune guitars by ear, and they wanted George Harrison to join because Harrison knew how to set up the equipment and the amps (George had qualified to be an apprentice electician) and knew how to "play raunchy".

Thecapn's tip on the microphones works really well for the Sullivan era. Just make the handles about 1/4 inch tapering to 1/8 inch and about 3/4 in long and paint the mics black. The ball at the end of the snowcones (cardioid mics) varied in size but an upper limit of 3/8 inch would be abut right. I've got a set from the Jakks Pacific Josie and the Pussycats and the Hasbro Elvis. I'll get the measurements when I have the time.

If you've got a friend who bought the Barbara Streisand doll from Mattel, that came with the square ribbon mics similar in style to those in HELP! Just paint the mics gold...

Mike

 

[pjam]

This pic shows the backside of the amps in sets 2 & 4.

I think it's really up to you how you want to frame your display. Here are some ref images for you Guys.

The pic below was from late 64/early 65.

The pic below was from the DC Concert on first 64 US Tour right after the Landmark Sullivan performance.

I';m leaning on getting everything in the Zappa pic and display 2 sets of SET 1 (Speaker with amp) and SET 2 (Amp) -- basically 2 sets of what you see on left of Zappa and the Beatles DC Concert photo above) for each side of Ringo. I'll just remove the middle amp from the 3 stack and make risers for the amps out of paper clips or something. Eithet that or I'll just get 3 sets of SET 1

I actually came up with a home-brew solution for the mics and mic stands - I sculpted the mics on a toothpick with green stuff. I started with a ball for the mic, then once that dried, I built up the neck. For the stand, the base is one of the bases that came with the storerooms guitars; the top mic-holder piece is the top of the base that came with the storeroom guitars, the part that holds the neck. The main "shaft" is a wire hanger, over which is a cocktail straw so the base is a little wider, and a little green stuff for the join between the two. A little silver spraypaint, and I'm all done. I'll post some pics later, I'm really happy with how they came out. I also made my own guitar straps, no big deal.

Right now, now that I shot my order for the amps to zappafan (thanks, pjam!) All I really have left is the suits from spenser and more importantly, the hoffner. Don't know WHAT to do about that. I may build my own. I also think I'll replace the shoes, I can't get over how big those minibarbie shoes are! I'll constantly be staring at them.

As a side note, I'm also thinking of building the "Stage" that Ringo's drum set is on in the Sullivan Show shots...

Cool, me too, should be pretty simple. And please post pics of your mic mod, would love to see it.

Little Beatles Trivia. Speaking of Ringo's platform, see where the curtain on Ringo's platform is pulled away on the last pic? Wonder why? Well that Concert in DC was at a Roundabout Theater meaning a 360 degree Stage and the Roadies (prolly Mal and Neil) had to hurriedly change the stage around to face the audience, and they left the platform curtain messed up a bit.

 

[pjam]

After doing more image research I decided to just go with 3 sets of SET 1 to start. I may add amps later, but it seems they used more stuff than I thought. You can even see some Fenders in the pics below.

 

[mikeap001]

I took some measurements of the mic set I have from the toy companies. For the stand: the coat hanger wire is the perfect size for the stand (roughly 12 gauge from the hardware store), the length was 9 1/2" (8-10" should do). The mic handles themselves ranged from 1/8" to 5/16" in diameter and had a length of 1/2-1", the screen guard (the round ball) also varied but was roughly 1/4". The total length of the mic from handle end to sceen tip was about 1 1/2". And for the Sullivan era, the mics were silver.

Hope this helps anyone else doing custom stands.

The Beatles had access to both Vox and Fender amps. Their distribution company in the UK at the time was JMI which contracted the Beatles originally for Vox. In the US, the distribution companies were completely separate which supposedly caused a lot of problems during the Sullivan show... Anyway, the Beatles on tour used Vox AC 100s and at times a Fender Bassman.

For the Rooftop concert, the group used Fender Twin Reverb Amps (?), the mics were black, and the guitars were: Hofner bass, Rosewood Fender Tele (?), and Maplewood (?) Epiphone Cassino. If you think the Hofner was hard to find, try finding those in 1/6th.

I found this on wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Beatles'_instruments

Mike

 

[siquisiri]

I took some measurements of the mic set I have from the toy companies. For the stand: the coat hanger wire is the perfect size for the stand (roughly 12 gauge from the hardware store), the length was 9 1/2" (8-10" should do). The mic handles themselves ranged from 1/8" to 5/16" in diameter and had a length of 1/2-1", the screen guard (the round ball) also varied but was roughly 1/4". The total length of the mic from handle end to sceen tip was about 1 1/2". And for the Sullivan era, the mics were silver.

Hope this helps anyone else doing custom stands.

The Beatles had access to both Vox and Fender amps. Their distribution company in the UK at the time was JMI which contracted the Beatles originally for Vox. In the US, the distribution companies were completely separate which supposedly caused a lot of problems during the Sullivan show... Anyway, the Beatles on tour used Vox AC 100s and at times a Fender Bassman.

For the Rooftop concert, the group used Fender Twin Reverb Amps (?), the mics were black, and the guitars were: Hofner bass, Rosewood Fender Tele (?), and Maplewood (?) Epiphone Cassino. If you think the Hofner was hard to find, try finding those in 1/6th.

I found this on wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Beatles'_instruments

Mike

M001,
For the Rooftop Concert, I think you can pieces the set together with A LOT of work! but its doable

George used this 1968 Rosewood Telecaster:

john used this 1965 Epiphone E230TD Casino

Paul used a 1963 Hofner 500/1 bass with the famous "BASSMAN" sticker, minus pickguard.

Ringo used a Maple Ludwig Hollywood Kit

 

[smiff]

The Dragon Cheong makes a great ringo or john, im tempted to go with john on mine. Was posing the fingers in various chords last night

 

[pjam]

The Dragon Cheong makes a great ringo or john, im tempted to go with john on mine. Was posing the fingers in various chords last night

No dude, use Cheong for Ringo, it's a shorter Dragon body. That's what I did. Cheong measures 10 inches from toe to top of neck joint, other bodies measure 10.5 inches. Plus the older Dragon joints click and lock into place. You don't want your Ringo sliding off his Drum stool. I tested mine and it holds a seated pose very well.

Here are the Beatles heights as provided by Star Puffs.

John -Height-5' 11''
Paul -Height-5' 11''
George - Height-5' 11''
Ringo - Height-5' 8''

 

[siquisiri]

My suits are on the WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pjam]

My suits are on the WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky man! Those suits are gorgeous. Can't wait to see pics!

 

[mikeap001]

Smiff,

If you want, Dragon made bendy hands that could easily fit a standard DML body. If I remember right, Cheong had these rubber arms and bendy fingers.

Siqisiri, you're correct. The Rooftop is doable. I found a place that sells guitars that could pass for John and George's guitar. I posted that in the other thread and I'll did it up. ArtStudio wrote that he made 1/6th Telecasters and store-rooms used to sell an orange guitar that could pass for the Casino.

Mike

 

[pjam]

There are 2 Cheong Bodies, one with rubber sleeve arms and gloved hands which you don't want, and the Police Cheong, which will work. Neither have bendy hands, but you can pick those up from Toy Anxiety or many other online dealers. There is ALSO the Dragon Sepp Jung and Jackie Chan that are shorter bodies.