Custom Beatles Vox guitar auctions for $408,000 at Juliens

A custom-built Vox guitar used by the Beatles has sold with impressive results in Julien's much-anticipated Music Icons auction in New York.

Beatles Vox guitar auction
This isn't the guitar played in the official promo for Hello, Goodbye, but was used in a separate video session



The guitar brought $408,000 to New York's Hard Rock Cafe on May 18, selling with a 36% increase on its $300,000 high estimate. The prototype model, made especially for John Lennon in 1966, is now the property of an anonymous US collector.

The guitar was previously sold at Christie's for just over $100,000 - a perfect demonstration of the ever-increasing value of quality Beatles items.

According to Julien's, the distinctive guitar was used by John Lennon in a video session for the song Hello, Goodbye, but is not present in the official promo. It was also used by George Harrison while practising the song I Am The Walrus.

The guitar saw just one year of use in the hands of the band, before being gifted to "Magic Alex" Mardas by Lennon in 1967. Mardas, an electronics engineer, was responsible for the design of the Beatles' Apple Studio in London's Savile Row.

Also selling was Elvis Presley's Hagstrom guitar, which brought a $50,000, alongside a pair of The King's stage-worn and inscribed shoes, which made $46,875.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a premier collection of Beatles memorabilia for sale, as well as signed photographs and an authentic strand of hair from Elvis Presley.

Our sister company, PFC Auctions, has John Lennon-worn jeans and Elvis' velvet jacket headlining a selection of world-class memorabilia.

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