Beatles Rickenbacker Guitar Bought in Illinois Fetches $657K at Auction

Harrison bought the guitar in 1963 at Fenton's Music store in Mount Vernon, Illinois

A guitar George Harrison bought in Illinois has sold at an auction for $657,000.

The Julien’s Auctions sale was held Saturday at the Hard Rock Café in Manhattan, featuring the 1962 Rickenbacker 425 and several other items from “music icons, legends and rebels.”

Harrison bought the guitar in 1963 at Fenton's Music store in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He had gone there to visit his sister.

He had the guitar refinished from a Fireglo red to black to match John Lennon's Rickenbacker.

Auction officials estimated the Beatles memorabilia would bring up to $600,000.

Other highlights from the auction included Lady Gaga’s 1990 Red Rolls-Royce Corniche III luxury automobile, which sold for $125,000, Elvis Presley’s 1955 contract with Col. Tom Park, which sold for $93,750, Steven Tyler’s organ used to write “Dream On,” which sold for $28,125 and a ring worn and owned by Janis Joplin, which sold for $15,000.

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A collection of Beatles memorabilia closed the night, featuring the John Lennon and Yoko Ono original signed “Bed-In” drawing and Paul McCartney’s played Hofner Bass.

In total, the auction house said it raised more than $3.5 million.

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