A guitar once played by George Harrison of The Beatles has exceeded expectations, fetching over £1 million at an auction in Nashville this week.
The Resonet Futurama guitar was a key instrument for Harrison during the early years of The Beatles, helping shape the band’s iconic sound as they performed in Liverpool and Hamburg. After Harrison moved on to more advanced instruments, he gifted the guitar to journalist Sean O’Mahony. O’Mahony then offered it as a prize in a competition through Beats Instrumental magazine. However, the winner chose to take cash instead of the guitar.
This week, the Czech-made guitar was auctioned by Julien’s Auctions in Nashville. Initially estimated to sell for between $600,000 and $800,000, the guitar ultimately sold for $1.27 million—surpassing expectations and setting a new record.
“George Harrison’s iconic Futurama guitar, one of the most significant guitars in rock and roll history and central to The Beatles’ early sound, has made history at today’s auction,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions. “We’re thrilled to add this guitar to the Julien’s Auctions’ million-dollar club, which already includes guitars from John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and Kurt Cobain.”
At just over £1 million, the sale makes the Futurama the most expensive Beatles electric guitar ever sold at auction. While it doesn’t surpass the $2,857,500 sale of John Lennon’s 12-string Framus acoustic guitar last year, which remains the most expensive Beatles guitar to date, it is among the highest-priced.
The Futurama guitar, a Fender replica Harrison purchased in Liverpool at Frank Hessy’s store on hire purchase, is now ranked as the 11th most valuable guitar ever sold at auction. Although Harrison once described it as a “dog” to play, it wasn’t a cheap instrument. The guitar cost about £1,500 in 2024 terms, and Harrison needed a parental signature to secure the purchase.
Harrison bought the guitar in 1959, signaling the Beatles’ serious intentions to pursue a professional music career. He played it during over 300 performances, marking a critical period in the band’s musical development.
The guitar sold after 16 bids, with the buyer remaining anonymous. Notably, the instrument had failed to sell at auction in 2019. With the growing demand for music memorabilia, particularly guitars, the Futurama’s sale highlights the booming market for rock ‘n’ roll collectibles. For context, Kurt Cobain’s “unplugged” Martin acoustic guitar set the record for the highest-grossing guitar at auction, selling for over $6 million in 2020.
Related Topics
- Fleetwood Mac’s Iconic Piano Used to Write Classic Hits is Set to Be Auctioned
- Kelvin Alaska Reflects on Father’s Influence in His Music Career
- Pink’s Son Jameson Steals the Show with Surprise Drumming Performance
