An Iconic Beatles Recording Console Is Now Up for Auction

Abbey Road sign
RMAX/istockphoto

When you think of The Beatles, you think of “Abbey Road.” It’s a fact. And when it comes to commemorative, tangible items tied to the iconic album, few things compare to the equipment that helped create it.

Enter the EMI TG12345 console: the recording device instrumental in producing the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album. After spending years forgotten in a dumpster, this historical gem has undergone a four-year restoration and is now set to be auctioned on Reverb. It’s expected to fetch millions.

What’s Up for Auction?

Beatles console
Leo Solti / Lonely Media / SWNS
Leo Solti / Lonely Media / SWNS

The EMI TG12345 console, a unique recording device that helped produce the Beatles’ final (and legendary) album, “Abbey Road,” now stands ready for auction after a comprehensive four-year restoration. Originally discovered discarded in a dumpster, this historical piece of music equipment is currently available on Reverb, an online music marketplace, for a whopping $3 million and climbing.

What Is Its Significance?

Abbey Road album cover
Ian Burt/Flickr (CC BY)

This console shines for its role in recording “Abbey Road,” released on September 26, 1969. As the first of only 17 consoles produced by EMI, it serves as a significant artifact in music history, especially given its association with one of the most iconic bands of all time. Many describe its sound quality as exceptional, and the restoration has brought it back to full functionality. Imagine recording an album on the same equipment that helped create one of the most iconic albums in the world … c’mon!

How Was It Rescued?

Discarded console
MJQ / SWNS
MJQ / SWNS

Originally, someone donated the console to a school, but staff tossed it aside when they didn’t understand how to operate it. A quick-thinking musician recognized its potential value and rescued it from the dumpster. He should probably receive a knighthood immediately for his heroic act!

Who Led the Restoration?

Restored console
Leo Solti / Lonely Media / SWNS
Leo Solti / Lonely Media / SWNS

Malcolm and Hamish Jackson, a father-son duo from Hertfordshire, England, took charge of restoring the console. They collaborated with 31 British companies and worked under the guidance of Brian Gibson, a former EMI engineer who had previously teamed up with the Beatles. Their efforts not only revived the console but also preserved its rich history.

What Are Potential Buyers Getting?

Recording equipment in a professional recording studio
FilippoBacci/istockphoto
FilippoBacci/istockphoto

The restored EMI TG12345 console stands as both a functional piece of studio equipment and a collector’s item steeped in musical heritage. According to Hamish Jackson, owning this console means buying into its significant story, combining exceptional engineering with historical importance. For collectors and musicians alike, this presents an opportunity to own a piece of music history. It’s like taking your very own walk down Abbey Road.

Author
Rachel Schneider

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and English. Throughout her career, she has dabbled in a variety of subject matter from finance and higher education to lifestyle pieces and food writing. She also enjoys writing stories based on social media trends. Find her on Instagram @rachel.schneider922