Famously heard on “Because”—the trippy, mournful second cut on side two of The Beatles’ album Abbey Road—this electric harpsichord was used extensively throughout the psychedelic ’60s. Popularized by Baroque revivalists and bands like The Doors, the Beach Boys and the Grateful Dead, the instrument was produced in very small numbers—with only 500 units remaining in existence today. Essentially consisting of an acoustic harpsichord, turbocharged by an electric guitar’s pick-up system, the electric harpsichord is now a highly prized collector’s item.
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