John Lennon's Lost 12-String Guitar Discovered, Set for Auction

A rare 12-string Framus Hootenanny guitar that belonged to John Lennon and was used on numerous Beatles classics has resurfaced after being lost for decades. The guitar was discovered in the attic of a home in the British countryside and will be auctioned off by Julien's Auctions on May 29-30, 2024 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.

The guitar, which Lennon acquired in late 1964, is expected to fetch between $600,000 and $800,000 at the auction, potentially setting a new record price for a Beatles guitar. The instrument was lost for decades before being discovered in the attic of a home in the British countryside. Julien's Auctions has verified the guitar's authenticity with the help of Beatles historians.

The Framus Hootenanny was featured on many iconic Beatles songs and appeared in the film Help!. Specific tracks the guitar can be heard on include the title track Help!, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, It's Only Love, and I've Just Seen A Face. The guitar's original Maton Australian-made case was also discovered and will be included in the sale.

Why this matters: The discovery of John Lennon's long-lost guitar is considered the greatest find of a Beatles instrument since Paul McCartney's missing 1961 Höfner bass guitar resurfaced. The auction of this historically significant piece is expected to generate immense interest from music memorabilia collectors and Beatles fans worldwide.

Darren Julien, the co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions, called the discovery of this guitar "the greatest find of a Beatles guitar since Paul McCartney's missing 1961 Höfner bass guitar" and described it as a "sacred honor to awaken this sleeping beauty". The guitar will be on display at Hard Rock Cafe locations in the UK and New York prior to the highly anticipated auction in May 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Rare 12-string Framus Hootenanny guitar used by John Lennon rediscovered.
• Guitar expected to fetch $600,000-$800,000 at Julien's Auctions in May 2024.
• Guitar featured on iconic Beatles songs like "Help!" and "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away".
• Discovery considered the greatest find of a Beatles instrument since Paul McCartney's missing 1961 Höfner bass.
• Guitar will be displayed at Hard Rock Cafe locations before the highly anticipated auction.