Abbey Road Studio 2 lectures

Posted by: John3 on 20 March 2013

Anyone else attend these? Apparently only the third or fourth time the studio has been opened to the public.

 

I went for the Saturday afternoon session and very interesting it was too. For an hour before the talk, we were allowed to take photos and look around the studio. The room was much smaller than I was expecting. On display was old recording equipment, microphones and mixing desks. Also a number of pianos used on famous recordings by the Beatles and Pink Floyd. The talk included anecdotes and accompanying films and music. Quite surreal hearing Beatles and Floyd music being played in the room it was created.

 

A surprise at the end when it was revealed that Ken Scott (Beatles engineer) was sat in the audience.

 

I got the impression that the room was mostly unaltered from its heyday in the 60s and 70s. Apparently, in the late 70s someone had the idea to redesign the building to create car parking spaces, which would have effectively destroyed the existing studio. Luckily someone realised the historical importance of studio 2 and the idea was scrapped (brings to mind the travesty of the original Cavern being knocked down and being rebuilt up the road).

Posted on: 30 April 2014 by joerand

I'm envious of all who have made (and paid for) the pilgrimage, and appreciate the responses. A very interesting thread for me to read. I look forward to any other nuances folks find and share during their Abbey Road experience.

 

As much as The Beatles' music is ingrained in everyday culture, it still amazes me how much dedicated, productive, and progressive work those four artists were able to conduct within that building during a relatively short period of time. And then there was Pink Floyd. Such a mystical place. I'm glad the public has a chance to experience some of that magic.

Posted on: 01 May 2014 by Redmires

Here's a suggestion to Naim, if anyone is listening. Hire Studio 2 out for a weekend and play Beatles/Floyd etc master tapes through the Statement setup used in the recent hifi show demo's. Charge a decent fee if you like - you would have us all queueing round the block for tickets.

 

Posted on: 04 May 2014 by FangfossFlyer
 

Hi Redmires,

 

Great idea....esp. if Naim can get hold of some mater tapes to play either on a Statement or other system as what we heard the other Saturday was moving enough.

 

Now such a Musical Event would make a real Statement!

 

Richard

Posted on: 04 May 2014 by FangfossFlyer

Hi Meerkat,

 

it was also being sat in the canteen having a cup of tea remembering all those pictures I have seen of The  Beatles, Floyd etc all having a cup of tea in the same place I was sat.

 

Richard

Posted on: 04 May 2014 by Quad 33
Originally Posted by FangfossFlyer:
 

Hi Redmires,

 

Great idea....esp. if Naim can get hold of some mater tapes to play either on a Statement or other system as what we heard the other Saturday was moving enough.

 

Now such a Musical Event would make a real Statement!

 

Richard

+1 go for it Naim 

Posted on: 11 May 2014 by FangfossFlyer

I have been in touch with Abbey Road and to hire out Studio 2 is about £12,000 per day ( excludes security etc.) and can hold 130 people max.

 

So if a ticket event maybe £100 each unless it is part funded of course.

 

Richard

 

 

Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Redmires

Nice work FF. Count me in for a couple of tickets

 

 

Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Quad 33
Originally Posted by Redmires:

Nice work FF. Count me in for a couple of tickets

 

 

+1 Would be very interested, depending on date - x2 tickets.

 

Graham.

Posted on: 11 May 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Redmires:

Here's a suggestion to Naim, if anyone is listening. Hire Studio 2 out for a weekend and play Beatles/Floyd etc master tapes through the Statement setup used in the recent hifi show demo's. Charge a decent fee if you like - you would have us all queueing round the block for tickets.

 

From what I have been told by people at Abbey Road and Warners and Universal (who now own the Floyd and Beatles catalogues) the master tapes of many of the albums by these two groups (and also Led Zeppelin II, I believe) are now so fragile that they may never be played again, which is why they were all transferred to hi-res digital files some time ago.

 

I can't imagine Apple, Warners, or UMG letting Naim or anyone else get their hands on anything other than a copy.

 

Also, I have done the Abbey Road pilgrimage, and while it is a very special place with huge emotional and historical resonance, I'm not sure that Studio 2 or (especially) Studio 1 would actually make very good listening rooms. If you've been in Studio 1, you'd know that even a Statement with a great big pair of Focals would actually struggle to fill it - it's designed for orchestras.