Lennon's Lost Guitar to Auction

OWNER OF JOHN LENNON’S LONG LOST 1962 GIBSON J-160E SPEAKS EXCLUSIVELY TO COLLECTIBLE GUITAR | THEN AND NOW MAGAZINE! Most guitar players and collectors alike have dreamt of one day finding that rare one-of-a-kind vintage guitar at a pawn shop, yard sale or small-town music store. For John McCaw of San Diego, California, the dream actually happened in 1969. But he didn’t realize his good fortune until late last year! For 46 years, McCaw played, cherished and cared for a truly magnificent 1962 Gibson J-160E with a Sunburst finish. The guitar always seemed special to him, but he never understood why. For most of those 46 years the guitar hung on a wall inside his home, surviving two adventurous sons, six rambunctious cousins, eight dogs, and scores of friends and family gatherings at “McCaw Central” in San Diego. No one ever had any inclination whatsoever of the guitar’s history or provenance, and NEVER in his wildest dreams did McCaw ever imagine just how valuable – and special – this Gibson J-160E truly was. It was only after a series of events during the fall of 2014 that McCaw finally realized the 1962 Gibson J-160E he’d owned since 1969 was actually John Lennon’s original long lost J-160E – the same guitar Lennon used to record and write many early Beatles’ hits, including “Please, Please, Me,” “From Me To You,” “Ask Me Why,” “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “All My Loving,” and “This Boy.” The guitar’s existence was announced to the world this past June by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, who will offer the guitar during its Icons & Idols Rock N Roll auction on Nov. 6-7. The estimated price range is $600,000 to $800,000, though some experts believe it could fetch well over $1 million, which could make it the new record holder as the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. McCaw has been hounded for interviews ever since Julien’s press release hit the newswires. But other than one interview with a local San Diego television station, McCaw has remained silent. Until now! Collectible Guitar | Then and Now magazine is honored to offer McCaw’s first in-depth interview regarding this legendary guitar in its July/August issue, which is now available through the magazine’s web site at www.collectibleguitar.com. You can also buy the magazine at all Guitar Center retail store locations throughout the USA. In this exclusive story, written by longtime journalist and owner of Nashville’s Blues Vintage Guitars, Inc. shop, Gabriel J. Hernandez, McCaw reveals the complete story behind the guitar and how he discovered it was Lennon’s long lost J-160E. Additionally, Hernandez’s in-depth investigative reporting reveals the true story behind the guitar’s mysterious disappearance, and its journey from Liverpool to San Diego. “I read the initial press release and was blown away,” Hernandez said. “And after doing research it really upset me that people were being so negative about such a wonderful story. That’s when I decided the ‘real’ story needed to be flushed out.” And what a story it is. “I played that guitar for 45 years and then found out it was Lennon’s. And ever since the guitar has had this wonderful aura around it, especially to the true believers and fans of Lennon and The Beatles,” McCaw said. “This is a very special guitar, and I believe it wants to be played again.” Others who have played it echo the same sentiments. “I have been absolutely blown away by this guitar. It’s really freaked me out,” said Andy Babiuk, owner of Fab Gear in Rochester, New York, and author of the critically acclaimed book Beatles Gear-All The Fab Four’s Instruments From Stage To Studio. “All I can tell you is that I’ve played guitars owned and played by Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, and many, many others. But this one … this one sent a chill up my spine the second I touched it, and that in itself is pretty amazing,” Babi