Forgotten “hootenanny” guitar belonging to John Lennon is being auctioned off

The 12-string is said to have been used during the recording of the song “Help” in 1965, before it then disappeared into an attic.

Friday 26 April at 03:09

according to Julien’s AuctionsAmerican auction house An acoustic guitar used by John Lennon and George Harrison has been rediscovered after being hidden away in an attic for years.

The auction house says that due to the guitar’s serial number, it can be determined that this is the guitar that was used during the recording of “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”, “It’s Only Love”, “I’ve Just Seen a Face” and “Help!”.

The guitar is also said to have been used by Harrison on parts of “Norwegian Wood”.

Towards the end of 1965, Lennon is said to have given the guitar as a gift to musician Gordon Waller. Waller is said to have later passed the guitar on to one of his managers, who simply stowed it away in an attic for several decades.

The instrument is said to have been in poor condition, but now it has been restored and is ready for the auction on 29 May.

An expected price has not been mentioned, but according to CNN, the auction house says it is expected to be the most expensive Beatles guitar ever.

The most expensive so far is John Lennon’s “Gibson J-160E”, which was sold in 2015 for 2.4 million dollars – 26 million Norwegian kroner in today’s currency.