Iconic John Lennon Guitar, Missing for Half a Century, Discovered in Loft and Set for Auction

Estimated to fetch more than £600,000, auctioneers believe the 12-string acoustic guitar used in the recording of The Beatles' Help! album and film, could set a new world record as "the highest-selling Beatles guitar".

A guitar once used by John Lennon during the recording of The Beatles album and film Help! has resurfaced and is set to be auctioned after being discovered in a loft. The 12-string acoustic guitar, thought to have been lost, hadn't been seen or played for over 50 years until it was found in the home of a British couple.

Expected to fetch between £485,000 to £647,000 at auction, experts believe it could potentially set a new world record for the highest-selling Beatles guitar. The instrument, a Hootenanny model manufactured by German company Framus, was utilized by The Beatles in the 1965 Help! film, notably in the scene featuring the song "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away." Additionally, it was used during recording sessions for songs like "It's Only Love," "I've Just Seen A Face," and the rhythm track for "Norwegian Wood" played by George Harrison.

Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director at Julien's Auctions, likened the discovery of this guitar to finding a lost masterpiece by renowned artists like Rembrandt or Picasso. He expressed excitement about the guitar's excellent condition despite its decades-long storage in an attic.

The guitar is believed to have passed into the possession of Scottish guitarist Gordon Waller, one half of the pop duo Peter & Gordon, who then gave it to his band's road managers in the 1970s.

Source: Sky news‍