November, 2024
One of Beatle George Harrison's favourite guitars has changed hands at auction for $1 million (€950,000). With commissions added, that comes to $1.27 million, says auction house Julien's. The instrument had been valued at between $600,000 and $800,000.
Harrison bought the Resonet Futurama guitar in 1959. He was 16 at the time and was already playing with a precursor to The Beatles. In the group's early years, Harrison played this guitar the most. Beatles expert Andy Babiuk calculated that ‘the silent Beatle’ played the instrument on more than 324 performances.
The guitar from the Czech manufacturer was actually a clone of the better-known Fender Stratocaster, with similar looks and function, but at a fraction of the price.
The electric guitar was auctioned off along with its worn original case, during a two-day auction of all kinds of music memorabilia. Among them were former possessions of Prince, Eric Clapton, Freddie Mercury, Johnny Cash and Madonna.
