A legendary piece of music history, John Lennon’s Framus Hootenanny 12-string acoustic guitar, has emerged from decades in an attic to command a staggering price at auction. This iconic instrument, played by both John Lennon and George Harrison of The Beatles, sold for a record-setting $2,857,500, cementing its place as one of the most expensive guitars ever sold.
This Framus Hootenanny holds immense historical significance, having been used extensively during the recording sessions for two pivotal Beatles albums in 1965: “Help!” and “Rubber Soul.” According to Julien’s Auctions, the renowned auction house that handled the sale of celebrity memorabilia, this guitar was not just a studio instrument but also made a cameo in outtakes from the Beatles’ comedic film “Help!”.
John Lennon acquired this Framus guitar in late 1964, and photographic evidence places it firmly within the Beatles’ recording environment during this prolific period. Handwritten notes from the Beatles’ esteemed producer, George Martin, further confirm the guitar’s importance, indicating that both Lennon and Harrison utilized it on the track “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.” Beyond this, the Hootenanny’s strings resonated on other timeless Beatles tracks, including “It’s Only Love,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” “Girl,” and, fittingly, “Help!”
The journey of this iconic guitar took an unexpected turn at the close of 1965. Lennon gifted the instrument to Gordon Waller, one half of the popular pop duo Peter & Gordon, for whom Harrison and Lennon were writing songs. Subsequently, Waller passed the guitar on to his manager. It was in this manager’s attic that the guitar remained hidden for decades, a silent witness to music history gathering dust until its recent rediscovery.
The auction house has remained discreet about the specifics of how this piece of musical heritage was unearthed after more than half a century. However, they affirmed the guitar’s authenticity through the expert examination of musician and “Beatles Gear” author, Andy Babiuk. Key to the identification were the guitar’s unique markings, described by Julien’s Auctions as a distinctive “telltale wood grain” and the characteristic “swirl of tortoise shell pickguard material.”
Julien’s Auctions eloquently captured the essence of this instrument, stating, “With the Hootenanny, the real proof is in the sound. When strummed, it immediately identifies itself as ‘that’ guitar. If you know the chords, Beatles tunes fall out of the sound hole effortlessly.” They further emphasized its unique connection to a golden era of music, proclaiming, “Like an audio time capsule from 1965, the Framus is a direct link to those records.”
The auction event, held at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City’s vibrant Times Square, witnessed fervent bidding that culminated in the impressive $2,857,500 sale price. This figure positions the Framus Hootenanny as the fifth most expensive guitar ever to be sold at auction, placing it in an elite league of instruments with unparalleled historical and musical value.
The sale was not limited to the guitar alone. Included in the lot was the original guitar case, also documented in photographs with The Beatles, and a selection of Beatles memorabilia, notably a DVD of “Help!”. While the identity of the new owner remains undisclosed, Julien’s Auctions offered a poetic description, referring to the buyer as “the custodian of a piece of Lennon’s soul, a tangible link to the creative energy that flowed through him and touched the lives of millions.” This sale marks not just a transaction, but the passing of a cultural artifact into new hands, ensuring its legacy continues to resonate with music lovers worldwide.
