John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, used in the recording of The Beatles’ Help! album and film and many other seminal hits from the 1960’s will headline Julien’s Auctions’ Music Icons two-day auction event at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York on May 29 and 30. Considered the most important Beatles guitar ever to come to market it is expected to exceed its estimate of $600,000 – $800,000 and set a new world record for the highest-selling Beatles guitar. The guitar can be heard on “Help!” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”, “It’s Only Love” and “I’ve Just Seen A Face” and more. The Framus Hootenanny 12-string can also be heard on the The Beatles’ recording of “Girl” during the Rubber Soul sessions and on the rhythm track for “Norwegian Wood” played by George Harrison. By the mid to late 60s, the famous Framus was in the possession of Gordon Waller of Peter & Gordon, who later gave the Hootenanny 12-string guitar to their road managers. It was recently discovered in an attic in the rural British countryside where it had lain forgotten and unplayed for over 50 years.
Iconic rock’n’roll memorabilia from some of the biggest moments in music history will come under the hammer in a live and online auction at the Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square, New York on May 20.