Two Jazz Basses and a Fender VI. Leo Fender's basses join the Beatles' gear starting with the White Album.
In 1968, at the height of the White Album sessions, Fender finally managed to break into the Beatles' world. Thanks to an initiative by executive Don Randall, the American brand provided the band with a special selection of instruments — including three basses: two 1966 Jazz Basses (one of them left-handed, for Paul McCartney) and a less conventional 1961 Fender VI. All finished in sunburst, these instruments would also appear in later recordings, including Abbey Road and Let It Be.
The Fender VI — a kind of six-string bass or baritone guitar, tuned one octave below standard guitar — was played by George Harrison and John Lennon on songs where Paul was on piano. With its deep and defined tone, it stands out easily, and can be seen in George and John’s hands in the promo videos for Hey Jude and Let It Be.
The Jazz Bass, more conventional but equally effective, was instead chosen for a more traditional bass sound — especially by Paul and George — and found its place in increasingly refined mixes such as the Abbey Road Long Medley.
These may be less iconic instruments than the famous Höfner or the Rickenbacker 4001s, but they played a key role in some of the Beatles' most complex and sophisticated studio productions.
In our photos: Fender Jazz Bass and Fender VI. If you'd like to see them in action, check out our videos of Back in the USSR e di Helter Skelter featuring the Fender VI) e di While My Guitar Gently Weeps (featuring the Jazz Bass).
