You can buy the recording console that the Beatles used to make their iconic album ‘Abbey Road’

Rock fans, musicians, producers and engineers looking for inspiration will have the opportunity to bid on a rare recording console that the Beatles used to record one of their most famous albums.

The EMI-TG12345 console, which is sold by Reverbwas a prototype installed at Abbey Road Studios in London. That’s where the band used it while they worked on it Abbey Road (1969), the last album they recorded together – and one of the most celebrated in rock history.

“They have achieved the closest thing to the Beatles’ free form here, blending more diverse, intriguing musical and lyrical ideas into a piece that is far more than the sum of those ideas,” wrote Rolling stone‘S John Mendelsohn in a 1969 review.

The album’s big hits, such as “Come together,” “Here comes the sun“And”Something”—were all recorded with the TG12345. Dave Harrisan engineer who worked with the Beatles on many recording sessions in the 1960s believes the console played a crucial role in their final sound and eventual success.

“Abbey Road is one of the best albums ever made, and it sounds so good thanks to this recording console,” says Harries in a statement. “This particular console is unique. It’s unique. You can’t replace it.”

Next to Abbey Roadthe console was used to record several later solo projects, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), Ringo Starrs Sentimental journey (1970) and that of George Harrison All things must pass away (1970).

Only 17 models of the console were ever made. After the band members were done with it, the original prototype was retired, taken apart and put into storage.

Then, five years ago, Brian Gibson, a former EMI engineer and Beatles collaborator, decided to reassemble and restore the device. He organized a team of sound engineers and technicians, who were able to rebuild the console using 70 percent of the original parts. They also worked with British companies, who built faithful replicas of missing pieces.

To celebrate the return of the TG12345, the team has set up the device in the former home of the London Decca Studios earlier this fall. For the first time in over 50 years, musicians have put it to the test.

We recorded on the Beatles’ restored Abbey Road EMI console

Artists like Duke Garwood, Sam Simmonds, Rosalie Cunningham, Sara Hartman And Hana Brooks gathered to try it out, according to Rolling stoneby Jon Blistein. Reverb filmed the sessions and released a short documentary about the history and restoration of the console.

“It sounds so good that it rivals any modern console and in many ways it’s probably better,” Harries said in the statement. ‘Because at that time it was built to a different standard: the price did not matter. EMI built this to be the best in the world.”

Although there is no estimated price, the machine can be quite expensive. In 2017 there is a TG12345 MK IV console– which was used by Harrison, Starr and Paul McCartney, but also by artists such as Pink Floyd, Kate Bush and the Healing-sold for $1.8 million.

Sales begin on October 29, and Reverb officials hope the console will appeal to musicians who want to use it.

“Musical equipment is meant to be played,” says Antoine Bourgougnon, vintage electronics expert at the company Observerby James Tapper. “That’s what’s special about it Abbey Road console – it is of course a piece of history, but it has also been restored to be in perfect working condition so that it can make even more music for years to come.”