Music News

George Harrison’s guitar collection on display as iPad app

By Patrick Luce Feb 23, 2012, 16:51 GMT

George Harrison’s first-ever career-spanning solo hits collection, Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison. Special packaging includes a 28-page booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos, and newly-written liner notes by Warren Zanes. The collection’s 19 tracks have been digitally remastered by Giles Martin at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios. “Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is a gathering of material that takes us far into the ...more

BANDWDTH Publishing, in conjunction with the George Harrison Estate, has announced a a special iPad app that celebrates rock icon George Harrison and his historical guitar collection. The Guitar Collection: George Harrison iPad app is available through iTunes today, two days before Harrison's birthdate.
 
The new app brings George Harrison's private guitar collection to life through photographs, detailed descriptions, audio, and video footage. For the first time, with the help of unique 360° imaging by photographer Steven Sebring, fans can see the scratches, dings, and worn threads on the guitars as if they were themselves holding the instruments.

The app features a number of Harrison's best known guitars, including the Gretsch G6128 Duo Jet, the Gibson J-160E, the Rickenbacker 360/12, the Fender Stratocaster named 'Rocky', the Ramirez Classical, the Fender Rosewood Telecaster, and the Zemaitis Lotus 12-String, Additional guitars will be added to the app in the future.
 
Fans can examine Harrison's private guitar collection, through personal audio recordings from Harrison himself as he introduces many of the guitars and plays sections of songs.
 
The history of each guitar is laid out in great detail; including the origin of the guitar, when and how it became part of Harrison's collection, modifications he made to it and why each was so important in creating his distinctive sound. Songs from his catalogue are organized by the guitars used on each track, which allows the user to appreciate the personalities of each instrument.
 
The video section of the app contains footage of Ben Harper, Josh Homme, Mike Campbell, and Dhani Harrison each playing and showcasing the guitars and exploring their feel and tone. In addition, Conan O'Brien and Dhani discuss what make these guitars so exceptional.  Also in this section, guitar great Gary Moore shares his views on what made George Harrison such a distinctive and influential guitar player.
 
The app, available now, is selling for $9.99 at the Apple App Store.