A Beatles fan was offered the chance to win George Harrison’s guitar – but turned it down for cash. AJ Thompson from Saltdean won a magazine competition to take home the guitar or £100 in cash in 1964. Mr Thompson chose to take the money – equivalent to around £2,500 today.
The guitar is now likely to be sold for around £750,000. Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions who sold the guitar, said: “He probably took about £100 at most, because that would be the intrinsic value of the guitar at the time. “He probably took his friends and family out for a nice evening and a good dinner and some drinks and then went on with his life.
If only...
Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve!” The Futurama electric guitar was bought by The Beatles star when he was a 16-year-old apprentice electrician in 1959 and was paid for in 44 instalments after his mother signed a hire purchase agreement at Frank Hessy’s music shop in Liverpool. Next month, it will go under the hammer in Nashville, Tennessee, in the US, at Julien’s Auctions’ Played, Worn & Torn sale. Unveiling the instrument at The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, where it will be on display until October 17, Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said: “We know he played this guitar in over 324 shows at the Cavern and numerous times in Hamburg in Germany in 1960 and 1961.
” The guitar was originally priced at 55 guineas, which would have been about £58 but was £74 with the hir.