George Harrison's first guitar
Ringo famously obtained his first drum while in hospital. A spell on the children’s ward was also the catalyst for George Harrison obtaining his first musical instrument.
When he was thirteen, George was admitted to hospital with what turned out to be a minor kidney problem. To cheer up his sick son, Harry Harrison agreed to buy a classmate’s Dutch Egmond flat-top acoustic guitar.
What George would later describe as a ‘cheapo, a horrible little guitar’ had a selling price of £3 ($4). This was a large sum for a poorly paid bus driver, though it would prove an inspired long-term investment.
Technical issues
The Egmond proved very difficult to master, partly because it was poorly set up (a common problem with cheaper mass-produced guitars).
Progress was also hampered by an ill-advised experiment. Curious to see how the guitar was engineered, George unscrewed the head and was unable to fix it back on.
Abandoned in a cupboard in two pieces, the Ergmond was eventually rescued and repaired by George's brother. Nothing could be done about the warp, though, which remains to this day.
In 2003, it was sold at auction for $800,000.
How did George learn guitar? (5 min Medium article)
