ANS signed "G.H.," one page, 10.75 x 8.5, no date but circa 1987. Harrison pens a note on the reverse of a letter to English guitar tech Alan Rogan from Richard R. Smith, author of Rickenbacker: The History of the Rickenbacker Guitar, commenting on the use of his 1963 Rickenbacker 360/12 electric guitar. In full: "The Rickenbacker 12 string is a well designed guitar and I particularly liked the layout of it[s] 12 machine heads. Along with its bright sound this guitar contributed a lot to the music of The Beatles and the 1960's. In fact I have used it recently on my new album and it still sounds terrific."
On the front, Smith writes to Rogan on June 3, 1987, in part: "Here is a copy of the book…As you can tell, we're still fixing things. Let me know what you think and if you have any luck with George…Enclosed is an original print of John's Model 325/12 from 1964 & a new Rick catalog." In fine condition, with intersecting folds and light creasing. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from REAL and Beatles experts Perry Cox and Frank Caiazzo, in part: "This is a fabulous note written by George, with his rarely expressed thoughts on an iconic guitar that had an impact not only on The Beatles' music, but also the music of many other bands and artists."
Also includes: the referenced original vintage photo of John Lennon's 1964 Rickenbacker twelve-string, an original 1964 print sent by the family of F. C. Hall (Rickenbacker owner) to Smith; the unbound draft copy/publisher's mockup of Smith's book; and the final version of Smith's book as published in 1987, signed and inscribed on the title page in black felt tip, "To Alan Rogan, thanks for all the help! Hope you enjoy the book. Richard Smith." The first page of the book features a portrait of George Harrison and quotes from this handwritten note; to our knowledge, it is the only handwritten testimonial by any Beatle about Rickenbacker guitars. At the end of his note, Harrison refers to his recent work on Cloud Nine.
The Beatles played a crucial role in popularizing Rickenbacker guitars during the 1960s, especially through John Lennon and George Harrison's use of them. Lennon's iconic Rickenbacker 325 became a signature part of the band's early sound, while Harrison's 12-string Rickenbacker 360/12 added a distinct jangle to their mid-60s recordings.
Originally from the collection of Alan Rogan (1951–2019), a noted English guitar tech known for his work with Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Joe Walsh, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Tom Petty. When Harrison was recording Cloud Nine, Rogan helped him tune up his old 12-string Rickenbacker, which can be heard on the track 'Fish on the Sand.'
