John Lennon and George Harrison's guitar sold for $2.9 million at an auction.
In 1965, the band had a Framus "Hootenanny" acoustic guitar for their recordings, sessions and performances, as reported by the California-based auction house Julien's Auctions. This guitar featured in songs like "Help!", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" and "It's Only Love". It broke the world record for the most expensive Beatles guitar ever sold, taking over from a 1962 Gibson J-160E owned by Lennon used to record hits such as "I Want to Hold Your Hand", which had sold for $2.4 million at Julien's in November 2015.
Lennon eventually gave this acoustic guitar to a friend. From that point, it was passed on to someone who popped it in their attic and left it there for years without paying any attention to it, reveals Julien's Auctions in a statement from April.
The guitar was crafted in Germany and featured a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a 19-fret rosewood fretboard, as the auction house described. They collaborated with Beatles expert Andy Babiuk to confirm its authenticity.
"It has some distinctive markings which make it easily identifiable," they shared, "but the real proof is in the sound."
"When you strum it, it immediately identifies itself as 'that' guitar," they remarked. "If you're familiar with the chords, Beatles tunes just flow out of the sound hole."
When it was unearthed, the guitar was in such a bad shape that it couldn't be played, noted the auction house. They decided to restore it and entrusted the task to Ryan Schuermann of LA Guitar Repair. He performed a neck reset only noticeable with close inspection, an exquisite repair job on the top, steam and heat treatment for the bridge - all to ensure the Hootenanny would be playable for more than just now, but also for the years to come.
The guitar was up for sale in Julien's Auctions "Music Icons" event that unfolded at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on May 29-30.
Beatles fans, take note: this guitar is priceless. Don't just listen to their music, play it, and it'll bring you closer to their era.
Read also:
- Caught up in the present: the end of "The Crown"
- Through New Year's Eve with TV shows
- What's next for the series hits?
- Which shows will be on?
This unique Framus "Hootenanny" guitar, popular among the arts and music community due to its association with The Beatles, showcases a distinct style with its spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Individuals interested in classical guitar playing might appreciate the Hootenanny's sound and craftsmanship.
Source:
