John Lennon's Beatles-era guitar vanished for more than 50 years before resurfacing in a British attic; the forgotten instrument was valued at up to £647,000

Rare pieces of music history can sometimes vanish for decades before it unexpectedly makes a comeback to the spotlight. A guitar associated with John Lennon and George Harrison has showcased the same by resurfacing in a British attic after being missing for over 50 years.

A Guitar Connected to Beatles History

The Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar was used by Lennon and Harrison in the making of Help! and Rubber Soul. The instrument is associated with many Beatles recordings, like “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” “It’s Only Love,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” “Norwegian Wood” and “Girl.”

The guitar was also used by Lennon in the Beatles’ Help! film, featuring another link between the instrument and the band’s history.


Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, emphasized the significance of the discovery, stating: “Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso, and it still looks and plays like a dream after having been preserved in an attic for more than 50 years,” cites Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, in a statement. “To awaken this sleeping beauty is a sacred honor.”

The Guitar’s Long Journey

The instrument reportedly changed hands after Lennon offered it to Gordon Waller, who was part of the pop duo Peter and Gordon. Waller then handed the guitar to a road manager, after which it stayed with the current owner.

Although the owner had mentioned possessing the historic guitar over the years, he eventually assumed that it had vanished. The mystery concluded when his son found the instrument in the attic in a house move.

Julien’s Auctions subsequently traveled to Britain to analyze the guitar. Beatles historians supported examining the instrument by comparing its unique features with historical images.

“The woodgrain of a guitar is like a fingerprint in that no two guitars are the same,” Julien stated to the Guardian’s Ben Beaumont-Thomas. “Not only is the woodgrain a perfect match to the guitar that John and George are playing, but so is the pickguard, which can be exactly photo-matched.”

The Guitar’s Estimated Auction Value

Julien’s Auctions plans to give the guitar at its ‘Music Icons’ auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. It reportedly estimates its value at between £485,000 to £647,000.

The auction house anticipated the instrument to attract major interest because of its link to Lennon and Harrison.

“Our expectation is that this guitar will be in the top five most expensive guitars ever sold at auction,” Julien states to the Independent’s Roisin O’Connor. “It’s likely the last chance for someone to buy and personally own an iconic John Lennon/George Harrison guitar.”

It reportedly identifies Lennon’s Gibson J160E as the current record-holder among Beatles guitars, after it sold for $2.4 million in 2015.

Lennon’s Framus guitar currently joins that remarkable series of rediscovered Beatles instruments. After spending over five decades out of public view, the guitar is once again attracting attention because of its link to Beatles’ best-known recordings and its remarkable journey from Lennon’s hands to a forgotten British attic.

FAQs:

Q1. What is the rediscovered guitar?

It is a Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar connected with John Lennon and George Harrison.

Q2. How long was the guitar missing?

The guitar had been out of the spotlight for over 50 years.