Auction
A Beatles lost guitar, once owned by John Lennon, has finally been found 50 years after its disappearance. The guitar, a 1962 Gibson Acoustic, was used to write many of the bands early hits, such as; Love Me Do, She Loves You, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
In December 1963, during The Beatles Finsbury Park Christmas Show in the UK, John’s guitar vanished without a trace. Eventually the missing guitar would be replaced with a 1964 model from the same manufacturer. Apparently the guitar ended up in the collection of amateur guitarist, John McCaw, having found it's way to America. McCaw bought the guitar at an auction in the 1970s, completely unaware of who had previously owned the guitar.
It was brought to McCaw's attention that he might have a rare find by his close friend and guitar instructor Marc Intravaia. Intravaia had contacted Babiuk, who is a well known Beatles expert who wrote a book called Beatles Gear-All The Fab Four's Instruments From Stage to Studio. Babiuk examined the guitar and was able to match wood grain exactly. Wood grain is like a fingerprint, there are no two that are the same.
The guitar will be put up for auction through Julien’s Auctions on November 6th and 7th. It is expected to fetch between $600,000 and $800,000. Prior to going on sale at Julien’s in November, Lennon’s J-160E will be on display at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, from June 13th to the 29th during the opening of the Grammy Museum. It will then be displayed at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles from July 2nd to September 7th and at Julien’s Auctions Beverly Hills from November 2nd to 6th. Click here to view the full press release from Julien's Auctions.