Beatles Guitar Sells for Over $400,000

A custom-built VOX prototype guitar that was played by both John Lennon and George Harrison during the the Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour' era was sold for $408,000 at auction.

The auction was held over the weekend at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manhattan, and organized by Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills. An anonymous buyer claimed the instrument, which was specially constructed for Lennon in 1966.

Lennon played the guitar, noted for its distinctive flared shoulders, in the video for the song 'Hello, Goodbye,' which topped the American and UK charts in 1967, while Harrison practiced with the instrument during sessions for 'I Am The Walrus.'

Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's, said Lennon subsequently gave the VOX to Yanni Mardas, the electronics engineers for the Beatles' Apple Corps who was better known as "Magic Alex."

The same guitar had already sold for just over $100,000 in an auction at Christie's a few years ago. It had been on display at a museum in Ireland before this sale.