World Record : Lost John Lennon Guitar Sells for $2.9m @ HRC NY

A guitar used by Beatle John Lennon was sold for 2.9 million at an auction. This sets a new world record for the most expensive Beatles instrument ever sold at an auction. It has been more than 50 years since the Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar was supposedly lost, according to auctioneers.

California-based auction house Julien’s Auctions sold the guitar for $2.9m (£2.3m) via a telephone bid at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.

Scottish guitarist Gordon Waller, known for being one half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon, was the original owner of the instrument. He later gave the guitar to his band’s road managers.

Decades later, new owners living in the rural British countryside came across the guitar and put it up for auction while on their move.

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Lennon had used the guitar for the 1965 movie “Help!” for the song “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”. During the “Help!” album recordings, Lennon used the guitar.

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Julien’s Records’ previous Beatles memorabilia sales include another John Lennon guitar

This isn’t the first time Julien’s Records have sold Beatles memorabilia. The rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia auction house has sold another of Lennon’s acoustic guitars for $2.4m (£1.9m). This J-160E Gibson acoustic guitar was stolen from Lennon. A musician had bought it in the late 1960s, unaware of the incident. Another remarkable Beatles memorabilia sale would be Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, which sold for $2.2m (£1.7m). The sale had made a world record for “Most Expensive Drum Kit” back in 2015.

According to David Goodman, chief executive of Julien’s Auctions, the Framus was the most important Beatles guitar to ever come to market. “This guitar is not only a piece of music history but a symbol of John Lennon’s enduring legacy. Today’s unprecedented sale is a testament to the timeless appeal and reverence of The Beatles’ music and John Lennon,” said Goodman.