It’s the Yesterday guitar. Instantly iconic in the hands of Paul McCartney, the Epiphone Texan is the only model to officially bear his signature.
In late 1964, when Paul McCartney walked into Sound City in London to buy his now-famous Casino, he also left with another Epiphone: a Texan FT-79 (Flat Top model 79), built that same year at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Once converted for left-handed playing, the Texan quickly became Paul’s go-to acoustic guitar.
He began using it during the sessions for the Help! album, and it can be heard on several tracks, including Michelle and I've Just Seen a Face. But it was Yesterday that truly cemented its legendary status: a solo recording accompanied only by his Texan and a string quartet. The same guitar also followed him onto the stage for the iconic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
With its bright and balanced tone, comparable to that of the Gibson J-45, the Texan stayed with McCartney well beyond the Beatles years. He continued to play it during solo concerts and historic appearances, such as Live Aid in 1985. It is also the only guitar Paul has ever officially endorsed, with a limited edition Epiphone Texan Signature model released in 2005.
In the photo: an Epiphone FT-79 Masterbilt Texan. A modern model inspired by Paul McCartney’s original 1964 acoustic.
