A previously lost guitar used by John Lennon, the Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, has become the most expensive Beatles instrument ever sold at auction. The guitar, found in an attic, sold for $2.9m (£2.3m) via a telephone bid at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
This Framus guitar is best known as the one John Lennon played on the song “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” in the 1965 film Help! It was also used on recordings on the album of the same name.
The guitar was sold by rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia auction house, Julien’s Auctions, which has broken world records with the sale of Beatles memorabilia.
Previous sales include another of Lennon’s acoustic guitars, which sold for $2.4m (£1.9m) and Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, which sold for $2.2m (£1.7m).
David Goodman, chief executive of Julien’s Auctions, said the Framus was the most important Beatles guitar to ever come to market.
He said: “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.”
