Rabs Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22586301 John Lennon's guitar sells for $408,000 Beatles guitar Lennon gave the guitar as a birthday present to his friend Alexis Mardas A guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles has sold for $408,000 (£269,000) at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by the VOX company, was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York. Harrison played I Am The Walrus on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Lennon used it in a video for Hello, Goodbye later that year. Julien's Auctions said the guitar had exceeded its estimated value of $200,000-$300,000 (£132,000-£198,000). After playing the guitar, Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas, a member of The Beatles' inner circle in the 1960s. A plaque on the back reads: "To Magic Alex/ Alexi thank you/ for been [sic] a friend/ 2-5-1967 John." Mardas sold the instrument in 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Proof, once again....that some people have more money, than sense, or taste! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyK Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Agreed. Then again... if I had all the money in the world, what would I pay for a guitar previously played by Hendrix or Kossoff ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Have any of you Beatles fanatics ever seen this guitar before? I haven't. I just went and looked at the videos for the above mentioned songs and it was not there. George plays "Rocky" in I am the Walrus and John plays that Gibson J-160e in Hello Goodbye. I say that Rabs made that guitar and photoshopped it into some pics and just made a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Have any of you Beatles fanatics ever seen this guitar before? I haven't. I just went and looked at the videos for the above mentioned songs and it was not there. George plays "Rocky" in I am the Walrus and John plays that Gibson J-160e in Hello Goodbye. I say that Rabs made that guitar and photoshopped it into some pics and just made a fortune. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10066696/Guitar-played-by-John-Lennon-and-George-Harrison-sells-for-408000.html From the Telegraph paper Harrison played the instrument, distinguished by two symmetrical flared shoulders on the upper body, while practising "I Am The Walrus," and Lennon used it in a video session for the song "Hello, Goodbye," according to a statement from Julien's Auctions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 http://www.telegraph...for-408000.html From the Telegraph paper Harrison played the instrument, distinguished by two symmetrical flared shoulders on the upper body, while practising "I Am The Walrus," and Lennon used it in a video session for the song "Hello, Goodbye," according to a statement from Julien's Auctions. Like I said, I've been into the Beatles since they broke in America and have never seen a pic of that guitar before. I say it's a Chinese bootleg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenKen Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 "as bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York" Hmmmmmmm......... I'm guessing either Yoko or dem00n. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 "as bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York" Hmmmmmmm......... I'm guessing either Yoko or dem00n. B) ...and as dem00n has some taste and discernment that narrows it down a bit further.... P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 The guitar is new to me as well...I've never seen it before and yes it is extremely ugly. That row of push buttons reminds me of my dad's accordion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Ugly guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Aw geez, you guys got me. I couldn't help myself, just gotta throw a pair of EMG's on that baby and were good to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 It's true. The guitars were given to John and George by Vox. It was called the Kensington and George used his in rehersals for the MMT Walrus scene and John in rehersals for Hello Goodbye. It's all in Andy Babiuk's book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 All True, Cookieman...but, it's still Butt Fugly!! But, given The Beatles (John and George, especially) irreverent sense of humor, it's probably why they decided to use it, at all...if only for that short period of time. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVIL Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Jeeeeezuz!!! That's an ugly guitar!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 But, given The Beatles (John and George, especially) irreverent sense of humor, it's probably why they decided to use it, at all...if only for that short period of time. CB Haha, and then decided to give it away VERY quickly :) (possibly to someone they didn't like very much :P ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVIL Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Haha, and then decided to give it away VERY quickly :) (possibly to someone they didn't like very much :P ) Seems about right if Harrison hawked it off to Lennon, and then he gave it to Yanni "Magic Alex" Mardas. I can imagine the guitar being like passing a white hot piece of coal (or a turd)- can't get rid fast enough!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 I don't get the whole, "famous guy played it therefore it is worth more to me now, here's way more than its worth, take my cash." I'm a Henry James fan and may be tempted to pay extra for a pen he wrote with regularly, but original handwritten manuscripts, like original song drafts, would be far more valuable to me. Fugly guitar, good lord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Proof, once again....that some people have more money, than sense, or taste! CB If I had money I'd buy it. Some people in America wipe their *** with that kind of cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 If I had money I'd buy it. Some people in America wipe their *** with that kind of cash. Yeah? Must be where the term "dirty money," came from? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 It's true. The guitars were given to John and George by Vox. It was called the Kensington and George used his in rehersals for the MMT Walrus scene and John in rehersals for Hello Goodbye. It's all in Andy Babiuk's book. Can't find my copy of Bubiak's book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 As a Vox and John Lennon fanatic of the highest order,I have no qualms in saying that if I had a cornucopia of money I wouldn't bat an eye spending that much money or even double that for a guitar that John owned and that he and George actually played.Some people are surely going to think that I'm looney tunes to feel that way but I think completely otherwise.It is because of John and George that I not only chose to but felt compelled to become a musician and play guitar.They both pointed me in a direction that brought more joy and satisfaction to my life than anything else and their philosophies and actions also had a deeply profound effect on me and consequently I became heavily involved in human rights issues,anti-violence groups and an outspoken critic of corruption and wrongdoings in government and by politicians-my commentaries on these subjects are often broadcast on local news programs and in print media.These things aren't related to music but they are also things that John Lennon especially inspired me to get involved in-he helped me in a huge way to find my voice. Someone who has such an everlasting and profound effect on your life becomes more than a hero,John Lennon had a huge role in shaping who I am today and had almost as much to do with how I turned out as an adult as my parents.I feel the same way about John Lennon as I would a favourite uncle and have a deep love and respect for him.A few years ago I wrote Yoko and told her how important a part John played in my life,I mailed my letter and thought no more of it until about 6 weeks after I received a letter from Studio 1 in NYC and thought it was from a music store that I had been in touch with.When I opened it,it was a letter from Yoko saying how touched that she was with my letter and that she was happy to know that there were still people who loved John not only because he was a one of the Beatles but for what he stood up for and believed in.She also sent me an autographed picture of John and her at the Montreal Bed-In For Peace with "To Derek With Love,Yoko" written on it.That and my John Lennon Casino are my most cherished posessions. It is because of the special bond and the huge debt of gratitude that I owe John Lennon that I wouldn't mind paying such a huge amount for a guitar that he owned and played.Just to have something that he valued and loved would have me feeing the same way about it also.I doubt that many would understand where I'm coming from but I'm sure that there are others in the forum who may not feel that way about John Lennon but who would also be prepared to pay a king's ransom to own that someone who impacted and influenced their lives in a huge way once owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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