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Paul McCartney, 78, took fans back in time as he revealed his “Little Green Amp”, more commonly known as the Elpico AC55, while at his Hog Hill Mill Studios in East Sussex. The hour-long audio tour was included in the re-release of his 1997 solo album Flaming Pie.

Very first amp I ever had

Paul McCartney

The Elpico amp has often featured in iconic Beatles performances on stage.

It can amplify one gramophone and two microphones, but Paul uses it as his guitar amp.

In the 23-year-old clip, the singer can be seen showing the nostalgic piece of equipment to the camera.

Paul said: “This is my very first amp I ever had when I was 14, it was called an Elpico. 

“As you can see it is very 50s, it looks like a piece of 50s furniture.

“Instead of putting guitars into it, it says Mic 1, Mic 2, Gramophone, anything but guitars really.

“In those days amps were used more for putting your records through or microphones, for little PAs.

“That was the first thing and I have kept it ever since. I have now had it fixed up because it is so old,” he added.

Paul spoke of what the amp meant to him, as the singer prefers using it for the special sound it creates.

He continued: “When you put an electric guitar through it now it sounds a bit like a fuzz guitar so it is quite a funky sound that I use sometimes. 

“It is a dear little thing from many years ago.”

During the ’60s, the amp was a favourite used by rock and roll bands.

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The Kinks guitarist Dave Davies admitted that previously he had slashed the speaker cone of his “little green amp”.

Nowadays it retails for £800 – £1000, however, it is not known how much it would have cost at the time of purchase.

On the Beatles 1966 song Tax Man, the “fuzz guitar” sound features as Paul is said to have played through an Elpico.

Paul’s studio comes complete with a double bass used on Elvis Presley’s iconic song Heartbreak Hotel.

Paul explained: “Step this way, here is a very prized item… this is the original Elvis Presley bass.

“It used to be played by a guy called Bill Black.”

Bill was an American musician and bandleader who is noted for being one of the pioneers of rock and roll.

He played as the bassist in Elvis’ early trio and later formed Bill Black’s combo.

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