John and Paul meet Fender co-owner Don Randall

In July 1968, Don Randall, manager at the American manufacturer of musical instruments and amplifiers Fender, met with Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Yoko Ono — at the Apple offices. His aim was to persuade the group to adopt Fender guitars and amplifiers.

This was not Randall’s first attempt to interest Brian Epstein or The Beatles in Fender equipment. On this occasion, however, his approach proved successful. As a result, The Beatles began using some Fender amplifiers, two Rhodes pianos, and a Fender six-string bass, during the recording of the White Album.

Paul was outgoing and enthusiastic, a great guy to talk to, very upbeat. John and Yoko were not all that great. Yoko didn’t talk, period. And John said, ‘What the hell are we doing here?’ After he got us to explain, they took two of our Fender Rhodes pianos. They used them later in the Let It Be picture. […] We never had a formal agreement with them at all, but naturally we would sing the praises of who was using our product and why they were using it.

Don Randall – Manager of Fender – From “Beatles Gear” by Andy Babiuk, 2000

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.

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