Peter Tork

Seen here in 1966. This is the closest model to what Tork had in '66. When The Monkees TV show was aired, the production company reached out to Gretsch to produce several models of guitars, basses, and drums for the members to play. With that, Peter received a Burgundy Gretsch Bass with the Model 6073. This Gretsch bass has been seen in countless appearances by The Monkees and used by Peter from late 1966 to the spring of 1967 (according to monkeeslivealmanac.com), from mimed TV performances to live shows. But, when 1967 rolled around, Peter replaced this Gretsch bass with a Guild Jetstar, and the main reason for it, was speculated to be feedback.

In this concert photo, Peter Tork is playing a Guild Jetstar II Bass, as captured by Monkeeslivealmanac.

Peter would bring out his Ode Banjo occasionally for several songs during The Monkees. He owned this banjo prior to being recruited into the band and is a professional player at it. One notable song that used this banjo would be "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round" and can be seen in the music video with a pickup attached next to the bridge to pickup the sound a bit more. This resulted in an electrified banjo sound.

During the 1965 Pilot episode of The Monkees, in the music video for I Wanna Be Free, Peter Tork is seen sporting a Fender Jazz Bass, complete with both a pickup and a bridge cover. It may be speculated that this is a '63 to '65 Jazz bass with the three knobs.

Peter would only use this bass for the Pilot episode, and was most likely a borrowed or supplied instrument by the TV show.

In the first season of The Monkees, when Peter would move to keyboards, he would play the Vox Continental organ, heard in their hit "I'm A Believer." Peter would also use this organ for live concerts throughout 1966 and 1967.

Sometime in 1967, Peter had replaced his Gretsch 6073 Burgundy bass with a Guild Jetstar bass. This bass bears a resemblance to Gibson's Non-Reverse Thunderbirds, but with only one pickup, and two plastic thumb rests/finger rest. During the Monkees 1967 summer tour, Peter would use the Guild as his main instrument of choice. The Guild Jetstar can also be famously seen in the Rainbow Room, where The Monkees performed most of their 1967 hits. It is also a given that whenever Peter had to move to keyboards, Davy Jones would move to bass and would play this bass (though he is given his own bass model). This particular model of the bass had been discontinued in 1970, and was first built in late 1966 due to the 4 in-line headstock configuration. This bass was last seen with Peter during The Monkees' Australia and Japan tour in 1968.

In this photo, Tork can be seen playing a Vox Super Continental with the Monkees from the episode “Card Carrying Red Shoes.”

In the 1969 special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee," Peter Tork is seen playing a Hohner Clavinet D6, particularly during the performance of "Listen to the Band." He likely used this instrument exclusively for the session, as he departed from the band soon after. There is also a possibility that Peter played the Hohner Clavinet D6 during live performances in 1968.

Seen in this 1967 concert in Winnipeg, Canada (according to MonkeesLiveAlmanac), on the far top right next to Peter, resides a Fender Rhodes Bass Piano, complete with the full keys. It may be that Peter used this keyboard occasionally when he did not have his Vox Continental organ with him.

Sometime in 1967, Peter acquired his Guild D-40 acoustic guitar. This guitar can mainly be seen in two occasions on television, The Monkees episode: Hitting The High Seas, and The Monkees movie: Head.

Peter also used this Guild during recording sessions for the Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd album.

According to monkeeslivealmanac.com, Peter acquired and used a 1969 Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar during the recording sessions for Head. Although seen in the picture above, Micky Dolenz is playing around with the guitar, but it was owned by Peter.

In this photo, Tork can be seen playing a modified Baldwin Electric Harpsichord on The Monkees television show. The harpsichord's legs have been removed and the harpsichord's body has been attached to a bicycle. (You can easily see the where the wooden leg was previously attached on the outside of the instrment). The song being played is "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" and the scene comes from the episode “Monkees Get Out More Dirt.” Additional photos here and here. Music video here.

In this photo, Tork can be seen playing a Fender Rhodes Sparkle-Top piano with the Monkees. Additional closeup photo here.

In this photo, Tork can be seen playing a Clavinet C with the Monkees.