The long-awaited reunion of the renowned Abbey Road EMI TG12345 MKI recording console and Lockwood Major Loudspeakers has marked a significant milestone in music history. Lockwood proudly provided a pair of original Lockwood Major Loudspeakers to support the special Bonhams auction held at London’s Knightsbridge. Named “Sound of The Beatles: The ‘Abbey Road’ Console,” this auction witnessed the first-ever sale of the iconic Beatles Abbey Road Console.
The historical significance of the EMI TG12345 MKI recording console and Lockwood Majors resonates deeply within Abbey Road Studios. During their tenure, these iconic pieces were the studio’s preferred pairing for recording and mixing. In 1968, the studio manager, Allen Stagg, replaced all studio monitors with Lockwood’s loudspeakers, swiftly establishing them as the industry-standard reference for studio sound. Abbey Road acquired over 30 pairs of Lockwood-designed Loudspeakers. Many original Abbey Road Lockwood speakers remain operational today, some in esteemed private collections.
Installed in 1968 as EMI’s groundbreaking first solid-state transistorised desk, the EMI TG12345 MKI recording console played an integral role in music history. The Beatles utilised it a year later to record and mix their landmark album, Abbey Road, achieving a notably smoother and refined sound. Beyond The Beatles, notable artists like Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney (solo), George Harrison (solo), Ringo Starr (solo), John Lennon & Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band also harnessed the prowess of this recording console alongside Lockwood Loudspeakers between 1968 and 1972.
The legacy of Lockwood Loudspeakers traces back to the 1930s, inspired by Stanley Timms’ visionary spark from the first UK television broadcast. Lockwood has continuously led the way in loudspeaker design, solidifying a partnership with the BBC that birthed the legendary Lockwood Loudspeakers. These speakers swiftly gained global acclaim, becoming the favoured choice of major TV, radio, and recording studios worldwide.
Music legends such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, R.E.M., Robbie Robertson, The Who, Iggy Pop, Daniel Lanois, Lenny Kravitz, The Rolling Stones, and many others have entrusted Lockwood Loudspeakers. Their influence has significantly shaped some of the world’s most iconic and exceptional-sounding albums, leaving an indelible mark on music history.
Lockwood’s Studio Client list encompasses the best studios in the industry, including Abbey Road, Decca, Trident, Vangelis’s Nemo studio, and The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Hundreds of studios worldwide select Lockwood as their loudspeaker reference for studio, cutting, and mastering facilities due to their unmatched sound quality.
On its website, Lockwood has a comprehensive discography dating from the present day to 1961, documenting iconic albums and soundtracks made with Lockwood Loudspeakers.
With established global distribution channels, Lockwood remains committed to delivering the same level of excellence to audiophiles for home enjoyment, allowing music enthusiasts to experience their favourite albums and soundtracks as intended by the artists. Each Lockwood Loudspeaker is meticulously handcrafted in the UK using original 1960s designs at Lockwood’s London production facility, utilising UK-sourced components, including custom-designed Volt point-source drive units with Alnico magnets.
The fortunate buyer of the console is expected to seek the matching Lockwood Majors that accompanied this storied console during its illustrious tenure at Abbey Road Studios, marking a complete chapter in the historical continuum of these revered audio legends.
