Restored Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ Recording Console Set for Sale
The Legendary EMI Console from Abbey Road Is Hitting the Market—Will You Be the One to Own a Piece of Music History?
By [Your Name] | October 22, 2023
Aspiring producers and audio engineers, mark your calendars and ready your wallets—next week, on October 29, the iconic EMI recording console used by The Beatles will be up for grabs on Reverb. This isn’t just any console; this is the original EMI TG12345 prototype, the very same board that helped shape the sound of one of music history’s defining albums—Abbey Road.
Imagine the stories it could tell.
Built in 1969 and installed at Abbey Road Studios, the TG12345 was responsible for capturing the magic of The Beatles as they recorded their legendary album. But its legacy didn’t end there; the console graced the production of solo projects for each of the Fab Four. From John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band to Paul McCartney’s self-titled debut, and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass to Ringo Starr’s Sentimental Journey, it served as a sonic canvas for their individual artistry. Not to mention the tracks cut by Billy Preston for his album That’s the Way God Planned It, produced by Harrison—this console has witnessed the evolution of rock and roll.
“Abbey Road has a distinctive sound that hallmarked the future of pop recording,” praised Dave Harries, an engineer who collaborated with The Beatles during those sessions. “This particular console is a one-off. It’s unique. You can’t replace it.” Harries asserts that the TG12345 stands the test of time, rivaling even the most advanced modern equipment. “Back then, it was built to a different standard—cost, no object. EMI built this to be the best in the world.”
However, since those glory days, the TG12345 has lain untouched, disassembled and stored away for over five decades. But five years ago, hope arose when the console was brought out from obscurity for restoration. Under the expert hands of Brian Gibson and his dedicated team of engineers, the prototype was revived, retaining 70 percent of its original components and capturing the spirit of its legendary past.
Recently, the console was set up at London’s Decca Studios for a fresh round of recordings with today’s crop of talent—artists like Better Joy, Jmonq, Duke Garwood, Sam Simmonds, Rosalie Cunningham, Sara Hartman, and Hana Brooks—all of whom had the chance to harness the sonic prowess of this storied machine. Footage from these modern sessions will be highlighted in a recently released short documentary by Reverb, showcasing both the console’s illustrious history and its contemporary revival.
On October 29 at 7 a.m. CT, the console will go live on Reverb, not as an auction piece but as a direct sale with a fixed price. Past sales of similar TG12345 models hint that it could fetch millions. A 2017 auction saw a different TG12345—one that recorded Dark Side of the Moon and tracks for other legendary artists—sell for a staggering $1.8 million, setting the stage for what could be a monumental sale.
For those with deep pockets and dreams of rocking a piece of music history, this is an opportunity like no other. Will you step up to claim a console that vibrated with the magic of the Beatles and echoes through music history? The stage is set, but time is running out.
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